Northrop Grumman test fires first stage of Sentinel nuclear missile

Northrop Grumman has successfully completed the first full-scale static test fire of the stage-one solid-rocket motor for the LGM-35A Sentinel that will replace the US Air Force’s Minuteman III nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM).C… Continue reading Northrop Grumman test fires first stage of Sentinel nuclear missile

NASA’s rotating detonation rocket engine posts record test results

Explosions get you much more bang from your fuel buck than combustion – if your engine can withstand them. NASA believes the rotating detonation engine could be the future of deep space travel, and it’s getting strong results in prototype testing.Conti… Continue reading NASA’s rotating detonation rocket engine posts record test results

Second stage engine malfunction blamed for UK space launch failure

The mystery of why the first orbital mission launched from the UK fell into the sea on January 9 had some light shed on it today as Virgin Orbital announced that telemetry indicated that the second stage engine shut down prematurely.Continue ReadingCat… Continue reading Second stage engine malfunction blamed for UK space launch failure

Ultra-light electric motor to feed Australia’s first home-grown rocket

Equipmake says it’s got the lightest and most power-dense electric motor on the market, and if there’s one place where weight is critical, it’s on a launch pad. The company has developed an ultra-lightweight motor for Australia’s first rocket launch.Co… Continue reading Ultra-light electric motor to feed Australia’s first home-grown rocket

Rocket Mounted 3D Printed Camera Wheel Tries, Succeeds, and Also Fails

[Joe] at BPS.space has a thing for rockets, and his latest quest is to build a rocket that will cross the Kármán Line and launch into the Final Frontier. And being …read more Continue reading Rocket Mounted 3D Printed Camera Wheel Tries, Succeeds, and Also Fails

Firefly Aerospace rockets into orbit with successful Alpha launch

Texan startup Firefly Aerospace has joined the growing group of orbit-capable space startups, with the successful launch of its Alpha rocket over the weekend. The mission saw a set of satellites deployed into low-Earth orbit and marks a long-awaited st… Continue reading Firefly Aerospace rockets into orbit with successful Alpha launch

Rocket Lab’s recycled booster engine fires flawlessly after ocean landing

Rocket Lab has big aspirations when it comes to reusable launch vehicles, and back in May ticked off a huge achievement, successfully catching its Electron booster as it fell from space. The company has since been busy refurbishing the rocket and has n… Continue reading Rocket Lab’s recycled booster engine fires flawlessly after ocean landing