SpaceShipTwo in powered flight. (Credit: Virgin Galactic)

Last month, the FAA issued a waiver to Scaled Composites on the experimental permit that allows the company to conduct powered flight tests of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo.

The waiver was necessary because when Scaled applied to renew its one-year experimental permit in March, the company did not full meet requirements for identifying how it would deal with all potential hazards caused by powered test flights from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California.

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This artist’s concept shows the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE spacecraft, in its orbit around Earth. In September of 2013, engineers will attempt to bring the mission out of hibernation to hunt for more asteroids and comets in a project called NEOWISE. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

PASADENA, Calif. (NASA PR) — A NASA spacecraft that discovered and characterized tens of thousands of asteroids throughout the solar system before being placed in hibernation will return to service for three more years starting in September, assisting the agency in its effort to identify the population of potentially hazardous near-Earth objects, as well as those suitable for asteroid exploration missions.

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Dream Chaser in a captive carry flight over the Mojave. (Credit: Sierra Nevada Corporation

EDWARDS, Calif. (NASA PR) — NASA partner Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) of Louisville, Colo., successfully completed a captive-carry test of the Dream Chaser spacecraft Thursday, Aug. 22, at the agency’s Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif.

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Asteroid Initiative Idea Synthesis Workshop Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2013 Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, Texas After receiving more than 400 responses to the Asteroid Initiative RFI, NASA continues to review the submissions received from industry, scientists, engineers, and space enthusiasts worldwide. As a follow up to the RFI, we will invite many of the submitters to share their ideas for discussion with the broader Asteroid Initiative community during […]

The FAA has accepted Virgin Galactic’s application for a commercial flight license and is now reviewing it as the company gears up for the second powered flight of SpaceShipTwo. The acceptance of the application is only the first step in the licensing process for the company, said CEO George Whitesides on Monday. “That does not mean we are licensed. We entered the formal start of the licensing process. Then, obviously, […]

Space News reports that the Senate Appropriations Committee wants to cancel DARPA’s Space Enabled Effects for Military Engagements (SeeMe) project, which aims to develop a constellation of low-cost imaging satellites capable of delivering data to handheld devices in real time. The committee has nixed $10.5 million from the FY 2014 budget that the agency would use to finish tests on six prototype satellites and receiving technology. The House does not […]

The Air Force has released its final request for proposal for hosted payloads: The Developmental Planning Directorate (SMC/XR), Air Force Space Command, invites all prospective contractors to review the Request for Proposal (RFP) and submit a proposal for the Hosted Payload Solutions (HoPS) contract. The HoPS contract will provide SMC and other Government organizations with a capability for hosting Government payloads on commercial spacecraft to meet mission objectives. SMC/XR is […]

Credit: Twentieth Century Fox

In “Return of the Jedi,” Darth Vader arrives unexpectedly at Death Star 2.0 to check on how construction is progressing.  The ashen faced Death Star commander, Moff Jerjerrod, assures him the men are working as hard as they can, and that the Empire’s newest planet killer will be operational as planned. A skeptical Vader disagrees and vows to find new ways of motivating the men. Jerjerrod gulps — hard.

This must be the way Russian space officials feel every time Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin pops in for a visit. The nation’s hardline space czar toured the Vostochny cosmodrome on Wednesday, and he was likewise unimpressed with the progress.

“I will view any deviation from the plan as sabotage,” Rogozin said at a meeting with representatives of agencies involved in building the cosmodrome. “I have no intention of being one of those public servants who accept failure to deliver on instructions.”

Sabotage? Seriously? That’s his motivational plan?

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Video Caption: Orbital Sciences’ Cygnus cargo craft is bound for the International Space Station on a test flight. This flight will prove Cygnus’ ability to rendezvous with the station and be captured by the crew on board. Once this is completed, the Cygnus will join the station’s current fleet of cargo vehicles delivering supplies to the crew in space. This test flight is also the final set of milestones as […]

Masten Space Systems Director of Business Development Colin Ake is departing after 4.5 years with the company. CEO Sean Mahoney just made the announcement on the company’s website. Joy for Colin as he leaves us to return to his alma mater, Georgia Tech, in a role as a facilitator and champion for technology transfer. If you haven’t encountered Georgia Tech’s VentureLab or the sister group, Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), […]