Lockheed Martin is developing a new spaceflight system consisting of the Jupiter space tug and Exoliner disposable supply module that the company hopes will support future cargo missions beyond low Earth orbit, Space.com reported Thursday. Mike Wall writes that Lockheed presented a concept video of the new system to show how it could be used for NASA missions to the International […] More

At least five companies have submitted bids to NASA to deliver supplies to the International Space Station through a second round of commercial resupply services competition, the Washington Post reported Monday. Christian Davenport writes NASA’s decision to partner with industry for ISS cargo resupply missions has drawn interest from bigger contractors and encouraged investor-backed startup […] More

Science and Technology Corporation has been awarded a potential $25 million contract from NASA to provide support services for the space agency’s aeronautics laboratory in Virginia. The five-year contract includes the fabrication of flight test components for various mission requirements at Langley Research Center, including assemblies for aircraft, spaceflight, research facilities and ground support equipment, […] More

Boeing has received initial signals from its first all-electric propulsion satellites that were launched into space over the weekend. The two 702SP satellites took off as a conjoined stack onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Boeing said Monday. Mark Spiwak, president of Boeing Satellite Systems International Inc., said the paired, lightweight satellite system model is intended to […] More

DB Consulting Group Inc. has won a $50.5 million contract to help operate and maintain NASA’s information technology setup. This award follows on the first option of NASA’s IT and multimedia services contract with DB Consulting that is set to expire on Jan. 17, NASA said Friday. DB Consulting will extend work at the agency’s Houston-based […] More

Boeing has completed NASA’s ground segment critical design review of its CST-100 crew space transportation system as part of the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA said Dec. 10 that Boeing underwent a three-week review of its ground-based operation processes and system designs for the spacecraft, including planned assembly and processing facilities at the Kennedy […] More

SpaceX is preparing for the launch of its Falcon 9 rocket as the mission marks the first time that a rocket component will be retrieved post-launch for reuse, Popular Science reported Saturday. Loren Grush writes that the rocket’s first-stage component is due to land on a spaceport in the Atlantic Ocean as the rest of the spacecraft delivers cargo to the International Space […] More

Boeing, Blue Origin, Sierra Nevada Corp. and SpaceX have reported their current statuses on their respective agreements with NASA under the Commercial Crew Program for space transportation systems. “Our partners’ detailed progress on launch and spaceflight capabilities expands domestic access to space,” Kathy Lueders, manager of the Commercial Crew Program, said Friday. NASA said these industry partners are working with […] More

A United Technologies Corp. subsidiary will produce materials for the environmental control and life support system of a crew capsule Boeing is building under a $4.2 billion contract with NASA. UTC Aerospace Systems will design, build and manufacture ECLSS components for Boeing’s CST-100 spacecraft and is scheduled to deliver the hardware in 2016, UTC Aerospace […] More

  Aerojet Rocketdyne has finished work on a service module propulsion system for a human spaceflight program that Boeing holds a contract with NASA for. Aerojet Rocketdyne built the service module and launch abort propulsion system for Boeing’s CST-100 spacecraft, the company said Thursday. Terry Lorier, Aerojet Rocketdyne’s CST-100 service module propulsion system program manager, said […] More

Lockheed Martin and Sierra Nevada’s space systems division have introduced the orbital spacecraft composite airframe of the Dream Chaser vehicle that SNC is developing for NASA’s human spaceflight program. Mark Sirangelo, corporate vice president of space systems, said Friday that Lockheed has begun work to to manufacture the Dream Chaser orbital structure airframes. The structure will serve as […] More

Orbital Sciences Corp. has launched three satellites into space in an effort to help the U.S. Air Force gain situational awareness of man-made objects in Earth orbit. Two satellites took off aboard a Delta IV rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida on July 28 as part of the Air Force’s Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program, […] More