New Atlas

Space Audio available

Orbex unveils world’s largest 3D-printed rocket engine

David Szondy February 9, 2019

Orbex has unveiled the world's largest 3D-printed rocket engine. The single-piece, cryogenic liquid-fueled engine was installed in the second stage of an engineering prototype of the company's Orbex Prime launcher and is claimed to be more powerful by volume than many heavy launchers.

The new Orbex Prime engine burns liquid oxygen and propane

Science Audio available

Autonomous Chinese semi-submersible launches weather rocket at sea

Ben Coxworth January 31, 2019

Rocketsondes, which are a type of sounding rocket, are used to make high-altitude weather observations. Given that they require launch sites, they're not used much over the ocean. That could change, though, as Chinese scientists have now launched one from an autonomous semi-submersible vehicle.

The USSV during its first sea trial, in June 2017

Space

Tenth successful rocket test flight for Blue Origin

David Szondy January 23, 2019

The number of Blue Origin rocket flights went into double digits today as the company's New Shepard booster completed its 10th suborbital mission (NS-10). At 9:05 am CST, the rocket lifted off and reached an altitude of 350,775 ft (66 mi, 107 km) during the 11-minute flight.

The 10th Blue Origin test flight gets underway

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.

Space Audio available

Historic SpaceX launch sees same rocket reused for a third time

Nick Lavars December 3, 2018

When SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks about reusable rockets, he imagines them functioning like airplanes. The company has taken an important step towards this future, for the first time ever flying a Falcon 9 booster that had already flown twice before.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster lifts off earlier in the year

Military

Sandia brings back sounding rockets for missile tests

David Szondy October 22, 2018

After a 15-year hiatus, Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) is returning to flying sounding rockets. The centerpiece of the HOT SHOT program, the suborbital rocket launches are designed to cut the development time for new weapon systems by a third while lowering R&D costs.

Sounding rockets will be used for experiments and to test missile components

Space

US Air Force backs Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket with $500 million contract

Nick Lavars October 10, 2018

Jeff Bezos has high hopes for his New Glenn rocket and its development has just received a nice helping hand. The US Air Force today announced it will handing Bezo’s space company Blue Origin half a billion dollars as part of its plan to usher in a new generation of heavy lift boosters.

Blue Origin has previously targeted 2020 for the first flight of the New Glenn rocket

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SpaceX to send Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa to the Moon ... with room for his friends

Nick Lavars September 17, 2018

If Elon Musk’s palms were sweaty during any SpaceX rocket launches of late, just imagine eight famous cultural icons were strapped in for the ride. "We will be doing everything we possibly can to make sure that is a good flight," the CEO said today, and not in a hypothetical sense.

Japanese art curator Yusaku Maezawa, pictured inside a component of the BFR, says he has always ...

Space

Virgin Orbit fixes rocket-carrying pylons to Cosmic Girl mothership

Nick Lavars September 2, 2018

Virgin Orbit is edging ever closer to its goal of firing rockets into space from an airborne 747, with the pylons that will carry its two-stage orbital launch vehicle, LauncherOne, to altitude now firmly fixed to the wing of its Cosmic Girl Mothership.

Virgin Orbit's Cosmic Girl mothership has been undergoing testing at a base in the Mojave Desert

Space

Stratolaunch unveils new rocket booster fleet

David Szondy August 20, 2018

Stratolaunch has yet to send its first payload into orbit, but the company announced today that it is developing a new family of air-launched boosters that will enter service in 2020. The four rockets of various sizes will be carried by the world's largest aircraft, the Stratolaunch.

Artist's concept of the Stratolaunch family of boosters