The War Zone reports, “We now have our first actual look at General Atomics’ YFQ-42A ‘fighter drone’ prototype. The YFQ-42A, as well as Anduril’s YFQ-44A, are being developed under the first phase, or Increment 1, of the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, and both designs are expected to make their maiden flights later this year.”
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The YFQ-42A drone by General Atomics
(Techno Thunder; YouTube)
CompositesWorld reports, “Joby Aviation Inc. (Santa Cruz, Calif., U.S.) has successfully flown two of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft simultaneously for the first time, marking another important milestone in the company’s flight testing program.”
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Joby Aviation’s Two Aircraft Flight
(Joby Aviation; YouTube)
SPACE reports, “Houston-based startup Venus Aerospace has completed the first-ever test flight of a rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) in the United States. The launch took place on Wednesday (May 14) from Spaceport America in New Mexico. A small rocket equipped with Venus’ RDRE lifted off at 9:37 a.m. EDT (1337 GMT; 7:37 a.m. local time in New Mexico).”
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SPACE reports, “Rocket Lab launched an Earth-observing satellite for the Japanese company iQPS early Saturday morning (May 17). An Electron rocket lifted off from Rocket Lab’s New Zealand site on Saturday at 4:17 a.m. EDT (0817 GMT; 8:17 p.m. local New Zealand time).”
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Rocket Lab electron rocket launches private Japanese Earth-observing satellite. (Launch occurs at 19:29)
(Rocket Lab; YouTube)
Space News reports, “Virgin Galactic says production of its new suborbital spaceplanes remains on track to allow commercial flights to begin in the middle of next year as it contemplates restarting ticket sales. The company spent much of a May 15 earnings call talking about the technical progress it has made in the assembly of its first Delta-class vehicles, or SpaceShips, in areas such as structures, propulsion and avionics.”
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Ars Technica reports, “SpaceX fired six Raptor engines on the company’s next Starship rocket Monday, clearing a major hurdle on the path to launch later this month on a high-stakes test flight to get the private rocket program back on track. Starship ignited its Raptor engines Monday morning on a test stand near SpaceX’s Starbase launch facility in South Texas.”
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SPACE reports, “SpaceX launched 26 more of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit from California Monday night (May 12), on the first leg of a spaceflight doubleheader. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 26 Starlink spacecraft lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on California’s central coast Monday at 9:15 p.m. EDT (6:15 p.m. local California time; 0115 GMT on May 13).”
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SpaceX launches 26 Starlink satellites from California. (Launch occurs at 00:11)
(VideoFromSpace; YouTube)
Reuters reports, “SpaceX received key U.S. regulatory approval on Tuesday to increase the annual rate of Starship rocket launches from Texas and booster landings in various bodies of water, allowing” the space company “to significantly expand development of its giant Mars rocket … The Federal Aviation Administration, capping a years-long review, said SpaceX’s proposal to increase the number of Texas Starship launches from five to 25 would not have a major impact on the surrounding environment, nor would associated booster landings or potential rocket explosions over the Gulf of Mexico and some international waters.”
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Aviation International News reports, “While continuing a transition with changeover in leadership and new U.S. administration, the FAA is prioritizing activities surrounding advanced air mobility (AAM), drones, and rulemaking that may enable future technologies, including eVTOL aircraft, according to acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau.”
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SPACE reports Houston company Axiom Space “announced on Tuesday (April 29) that it’s targeting May 29 for the launch of its fourth” astronaut mission to the International Space Station, “a mission known as Ax-4.”
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