Rocket Lab

By Irene Klotz
A record 223 orbital-class rockets lifted off last year, a 20% hike over 2022.
Commercial Space

By Garrett Reim
Rocket Lab has received a $489 million contract to design, build and operate 18 space vehicles on behalf of an undisclosed U.S. government customer.
Commercial Space

By Steve Trimble, Guy Norris
As the first U.S. hypersonic weapons enter service, defense officials are searching for new ideas for high-speed propulsion and to dramatically reduce prices.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Irene Klotz
Rocket Lab’s 42nd launch of a two-stage Electron booster lifted off from the company’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 11:05 p.m. EST Dec. 14.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Michael Bruno
Launcher manufacturer Rocket Lab is taking over the historic Middle River, Maryland, factory that Lockheed Martin is exiting.
Space

By Jen DiMascio
Frank Calvelli, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, spoke at Aviation Week’s A&D Programs conference on Nov. 7.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Garrett Reim
The type, a step down in size from cubesats, is popular for experiments and tech demos.
Commercial Space

Aviation Week Staff
South Africa is working to develop an indigenous launch capability within five years, with plans to develop a former military site on the Western Cape into a commercial spaceport.
Space

By Michael Bruno
Rocket Lab warned investors on Sept. 26 that it had to lower its financial expectations for the current third quarter ending Sept. 30.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
Rocket Lab is investigating the failure of an Electron rocket during a mission to deliver a radar-imaging satellite into low Earth orbit for Capella Space.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
Rocket Lab took another step toward reusing its Electron small-satellite launch vehicles by flying a recovered engine for the first time.
Space

By Brian Everstine
The linkup between Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and Australia’s Hypersonix Launch Systems is the latest in Hypersonix’s growth into the U.S. market.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
Seven missions have been set aside for the third-place winner.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Garrett Reim
Swarming paths could be useful for deep-space scientific missions.
Space

By Guy Norris
The first version of the Electron rocket modified for use as a booster for hypersonic and suborbital flight tests launched successfully on June 17.
Space

By Irene Klotz
The final two members of a novel cubesat quartet were launched into orbit to track developing storms on a near-hourly basis.
Commercial Space

By Michael Bruno, Guy Norris
Like a shooting star, Virgin Orbit’s quick flare-up and steady diminution punctuates new space’s financial struggles.
Commercial Space

By Michael Bruno
Virgin Orbit will close after its assets were bought by four bankruptcy bidders including Rocket Lab and Stratolaunch.
Commercial Space

By Mark Carreau
The NASA-funded Capstone has completed its six-month primary mission in orbit around the Moon with a successful autonomous navigation demonstration.
Space

By Irene Klotz
Rocket Lab was awarded another NASA contract to launch a second multi-cubesat mission to demonstrate autonomous swarm technologies.
Space

By Jen DiMascio
Turkish trainer flies; a look at two U.S. Space Force programs; Rocket Lab’s hypersonic test and Biden picks new Army chief.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
The HASTE uses the same Rutherford engines as Rocket Lab's Electron, but modifies the third stage to carry larger payloads and for suborbital deployment.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Irene Klotz
A pair of 6U science sats, originally slated to piggyback a ride to Mars with NASA’s Psyche asteroid probe, will instead launch aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn.
Commercial Space

By Jen DiMascio
It was Rocket Lab’s first from the Wallops Island facility, opening a new venue for the Electron rocket and marking a new beginning for the Virginia spaceport.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
As a reusable booster, Neutron is designed to carry 8 tons into low Earth orbit.
Commercial Space