New Atlas

Aircraft Audio available

World’s largest plane completes maiden flight

David Szondy April 14, 2019

The world's largest aircraft by wingspan and largest all-composite took to the air for the first time on Saturday as the Stratolaunch completed its maiden flight. At 6:58 am PDT, the twin-hulled space-launcher platform took off from the Mojave Air and Space Port for a two and a half hour flight.

The Stratolaunch has the world's longest wingspan

Space Audio available

EU pursuing a "rocket catcher" to chase down boosters in mid-flight

Nick Lavars March 31, 2019

Historically, space launches are anything but cheap, but reusable rocket programs like those from SpaceX and Blue Origin promise to significantly reduce costs (if they’re not already). In a similar vein, the EU is looking to develop a "rocket catcher" that snaffles boosters in mid-air for reuse.

Example of what the DLR's rocket-catching aircraft might look like

Space Audio available

Rotating pulse rocket may find use in space launches

David Szondy March 25, 2019

Combustion experts from the University of Sydney are working on a revolutionary new rocket engine that can not only breath air while in the atmosphere, but can burn incoming air at supersonic speeds, promising to make space launches cheaper and more efficient.

Unlike this Atlas rocket launching the Mercury-Atlas 2 mission in 1961, the RDE can act both ...

Aircraft Audio available

World's largest plane edges towards takeoff speeds on the runway

Nick Lavars January 13, 2019

The Stratolaunch aircraft has been slowly but surely edging towards takeoff with a series of increasingly rapid taxi tests. Its latest outing has seen the team clock the gargantuan dual-fuselage plane at speeds fast approaching those typically needed for regular aircraft to lift-off on the runway.

The latest taxi test brings Stratolaunch closer to take-off

Space Audio available

The first voice beamed from space – President Eisenhower's Christmas message turns 60

Anthony Wood December 18, 2018

December 19 marks the 60th anniversary of the first-ever voice transmission relayed from space. The Christmas address was given by then-president Dwight D. Eisenhower, via a top-secret satellite launched atop a converted Atlas intercontinental missile.

Aircraft Audio available

Massive Stratolaunch aircraft hits 90 mph on road to maiden flight

Rich Haridy October 21, 2018

After successfully completing low-speed taxi testing earlier this year, the giant Stratolaunch aircraft successfully hit a new milestone recently, reaching 90 mph during its latest stage of runway testing. The announcement comes days after co-founder of the company Paul Allen passed away.

The Stratolaunch aircraft has passed another key milestone on the road to getting into the air

Space

Crewed spacecraft bound for ISS forced to make emergency ballistic descent

Anthony Wood October 11, 2018

NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin were forced to make an unplanned descent through Earth's atmosphere today following a malfunction of their Soyuz launch vehicle. The crew has now touched down in Kazakhstan, where they are being attended by rescue personnel.

The Expedition 57 Soyuz rocket seen launching today from Baikonur Cosmodrome

Aircraft

Stratolaunch, the world's largest plane, speeds down the runway for the first time

Rich Haridy February 28, 2018

The gargantuan Stratolaunch dual-fuselage aircraft, with a wingspan of 385 ft (117 m), is one step closer to reaching the skies after it recently completed a second taxi test that saw it hit a speed of 46 mph (74 km/h) as it stormed down a runway in Mojave, California.

The giant Stratolaunch aircraft has now successfully completed two runway taxi tests reaching a top speed ...

Space

Rocket Lab announces window for next Electron launch

David Szondy November 29, 2017

Rocket Lab has announced a launch date for its next Electron rocket test. The 10-day launch window opens on December 8 in what will be the first flight of the commercial booster since its not entirely successful inaugural launch in May.

The Electron rocket will be tested for a second time in December

Aircraft

First tests of world's largest plane's massive engines

Rich Haridy September 20, 2017

Back in June, the world’s largest plane emerged from its hangar for the first time. Now the team has crossed another milestone by completing the first round of engine testing, continuing the groundwork needed to get the beast into the air in 2019.

Successful engine tests are another milestone crossed in the journey to getting this beast into the ...