Seven astronauts lost their lives during the Challenger space shuttle disaster on Jan. 28, 1986. SPACE reports that four decades later, human spaceflight remains difficult, “despite progress in ‘lessons learned.’”
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Tag: Aerospace News
Boeing Posts 57% Jump in Quarterly Sales as Deliveries Surge
Boeing’s aircraft deliveries have surged over the past year as the manufacturer expects to continue to increase production. CNBC reports, “The company’s airplane deliveries last year were the highest since 2018, helping drive revenue.”
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NASA Seeks External Partners to Help Extend Earth Science Missions
Space News reports, “NASA’s Earth Science Division is exploring partnerships with external organizations to support instruments mounted on the International Space Station and free-flyer missions. ‘For some of these missions that are well into or well beyond their planned lifetime, we decided to explore whether or not there might be partners who would be interested in taking on some of the burden with us of keeping these missions going,’ Karen St. Germain, Earth Science Division director, said Jan. 26 at the American Meteorological Society annual meeting.”
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Drone Delivery Firm Zipline Raises $600 Million for US Growth
Aerotime reports pioneering autonomous drone delivery Zipline “has raised $600 million from private investors, in order to fuel its continued expansion into at least four US states.”
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Virgin Galactic Taps All-Female Team for Upcoming Suborbital Research Mission
CBS News reports, “Virgin Galactic is sending an all-female research team to space. Kellie Gerardi, who is leading the crew, joins ‘CBS News 24/7 Mornings’ to discuss the goals of the mission.”
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FAA Moves to Permanently Restrict Helicopters, Powered Lift Near Reagan National
Flying Magazine reports, “Close to one year after a fatal midair collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington, D.C., the federal government is moving to permanently restrict certain aircraft types from operating around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Thursday that the FAA is formalizing restrictions for helicopters and powered lift aircraft in certain areas near Washington National unless they are conducting essential operations.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Blue Origin Sends Six Space Tourists to Edge of Space
Blue Origin launched six people to suborbital space Thursday (Jan. 22). SPACE reports it “was the 17th human spaceflight” for the company, “and the 38th mission overall for New Shepard, the company’s autonomous, reusable rocket-capsule combo.”
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Aviation Week Podcast: What Did SciTech Reveal About the Future of Aerospace?
Listen in as Aviation Week’s Guy Norris and Graham Warwick report back from their annual pilgrimage to AIAA SciTech.
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Audio
Rocket Lab Sends First Open Cosmos Satellites Into Polar Orbit
Space News reports, “A Rocket Lab Electron launched the first satellites for a new constellation being developed by Open Cosmos that will use spectrum previously assigned to Rivada Space Networks. The Electron lifted off from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 5:52 a.m. Eastern Jan. 22. It deployed two satellites into a circular polar orbit at an altitude of about 1,050 kilometers one hour and nine minutes after liftoff.”
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Video
RocketLab Electron Launch from New Zealand (Launch takes place at the 23:07 mark)
The Launch Pad | YouTube
Aftermarket Strength Lifts GE Aerospace’s 2026 Profit Forecast
Reuters reports, “GE Aerospace forecast annual profit above estimates on Thursday, driven by strong demand for high-margin aftermarket parts and services as airlines are expected to prioritize maintenance spending due to aircraft supply constraints.”
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