Ariane 6, the new heavy-lift launch system being developed by the European Space Agency, will make its inaugural flight as soon as the fourth quarter of 2023. Briefing media gathered at ESA’s Paris Bertrand headquarters on 19 October, Director General Joseph Aschbacher said sufficient progress had been made over the past several months to anticipate a Q4 2023 first flight, pending the realization of three key milestones before April next year.

For all the optimism about the development of commercial space stations, the International Astronautical Congress also showed the lingering concern about the business case for such stations, be it for research, tourism or other space agencies.

The European Space Agency has again delayed the first flight of Europe’s Ariane 6 launch vehicle, this time to late 2023, as the new vehicle makes slow progress to the launch pad.

The post Ariane 6 first launch slips to late 2023 appeared first on SpaceNews.

The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has captured a lush, highly detailed landscape – the iconic Pillars of Creation – where new stars are forming within dense clouds of gas and dust. The three-dimensional pillars look like majestic rock formations, but are far more permeable. These columns are made up of cool interstellar gas and dust that appear – at times – semi-transparent in near-infrared light.

Nottingham UK (SPX) Oct 19, 2022
Virgin Orbit, a US company which provides launch services for satellites, has announced that the first orbital space mission from the UK will blast off from Cornwall. The rocket, which will carry nine satellites, along with a launch aircraft have been delivered by an RAF C-17 - a military, heavy-lift strategic transport plane. This is primed to be a new phase for the UK and its involvement

Bay St. Louis MS (SPX) Oct 19, 2022
Relativity Space, the first company to 3D print rockets and build the largest metal 3D printers in the world, has detailed its plans to operate one of the largest rocket engine test facilities in the United States. Through an agreement with NASA, Relativity is significantly expanding its facilities and infrastructure at NASA's historic Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi. T

London, UK (SPX) Oct 19, 2022
Increasing levels of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere will result in a long-term decline in air density at high altitudes, according to new research from British Antarctic Survey. Such decreased density will reduce drag on objects orbiting in the upper atmosphere, between 90 and 500 km altitude, extending the lifetime of space debris and elevating the risk of collisions between debris and satellite

Zurich, Switzerland (SPX) Oct 19, 2022
Beyond Gravity, a leading space systems company, has been selected to supply equipment for Loft Orbital's Longbow spacecraft based on Airbus Arrow platform. The physical equipment is referred to as the Power Control and Distribution Unit (PCDU). The PCDU provides mission critical power supply capabilities and in-orbit configurability for "The Hub" that carries all payloads of a Loft Orbita