Tag

Suborbital

All articles tagged with #suborbital

technology21 days ago•1 min saved

SpaceX Debuts Starfall on First Test Flight for Microgravity Research and Rapid Space Cargo

SpaceX launched the Starfall capsule on its first test flight from Cape Canaveral, a compact two-section vehicle designed to provide microgravity access for research and potential rapid space cargo delivery; about 2,200 lb of payload capacity, it cannot deorbit itself (deorbits via a preset path or another spacecraft) and will splash down in the Pacific. The demo aims to prove affordable, routine microgravity access and hints at Pentagon interest for rapid deployment.

via Axios|

#in-space-manufacturing #microgravity #spacex

technology2 months ago•6 min saved

Virgin Galactic presses on with next-gen ship as cash dwindles

Virgin Galactic reveals its next-generation spaceship and warns of a long, costly test program as cash reserves have fallen to $338 million. The company aims for its first flight with the new ship in summer 2026 and to enter service by late 2026/early 2027, but profitability hinges on rapidly scaling up flights before funds run out.

via Ars Technica|

#cash-reserves #spaceflight #spaceship-development

military3 months ago•13 min saved

Rocket Lab lands Pentagon deal to run 20 hypersonic tests with HASTE

Rocket Lab won a $190 million Pentagon contract to conduct 20 hypersonic flight tests over four years using its HASTE suborbital variant of the Electron rocket, enabling payloads to experience Mach 5+ conditions before release. The MACH-TB 2.0 program aims to accelerate hypersonic testing by leveraging commercial launchers, complementing constrained government test infrastructure; Rocket Lab’s backlog now exceeds 70 missions.

via SpaceNews|

#haste #hypersonic #mach-tb-20

space-exploration5 months ago•44 min saved

Blue Origin sends six space tourists to suborbital space on NS-38 after last-minute crew swap

Blue Origin launched six space tourists aboard its New Shepard for the NS-38 mission on Jan 22, 2026, after Laura Stiles replaced Andrew Yaffe due to illness. The brief suborbital flight delivered minutes of weightlessness and views of Earth before a safe recovery, marking another milestone in the company’s space-tourism program (17th human spaceflight to date, 38th NS mission; Blue Origin has flown about 98 people to space).

via Space|

#blue-origin #new-shepard #ns-38

space-exploration2 years ago•1 min saved

Blue Origin's New Shepard Rocket Set for Long-Awaited Return to Space

Blue Origin plans to resume operations of its New Shepard suborbital rocket with an uncrewed mission on December 18, following a 15-month pause. The mission, called NS-24, will carry 33 science and research payloads. Blue Origin had been grounded since September 2022 due to an engine nozzle issue, but has now implemented corrective actions and received a modified launch license from the FAA. While the company has other ambitious projects in development, the New Shepard flight program is currently its only operational program.

via TechCrunch|

#blue-origin #faa #new-shepard

space-tourism3 years ago•2 min saved

Virgin Galactic's Historic First Commercial Spaceflight Launches Live

Virgin Galactic is set to launch its first commercial space tourism flight, Galactic 01, with a three-person crew from the Italian Air Force and National Research Council of Italy. The mission will carry out suborbital science experiments and last for about 90 minutes. Virgin Galactic plans to livestream the launch and aims to offer commercial trips to the edge of space every month for $450,000 per ticket. The company's launch comes at a time when the risks of extreme tourism have been highlighted by the recent tragedy involving the Titan submersible. Virgin Galactic has faced safety concerns in the past, including a fatal crash in 2014.

via Gizmodo|

#commercial-mission #research-experiments #space-tourism