Civil aerospace news and insights from Forecast International
China has launched one Beidou-3 navigation satellites into space aboard a Long March 3B (CZ-3B) launch vehicle. Liftoff occurred at 11:57 p.m. local time (3:57 p.m. UTC; 11:57 a.m. EDT) …
First 3rd-Gen Beidou Navigation Satellite Launched to Geosynchronous Orbit Read Moreby Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. ULA has selected Blue Origin’s BE-4 engine for the Vulcan Centaur’s booster stage. The selection follows the completion of a competitive procurement …
ULA Selects Blue Origin’s BE-4 Rocket Motor for Next Generation Launch Vehicle Read Moreby Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. With much fanfare, SpaceX successfully conducted a test launch of its Falcon Heavy rocket. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 3:45 …
Falcon Heavy Launches Successfully, but What Does the Future Hold for SpaceX’s Giant Rocket? Read Moreby Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. Forecast International has just released its 2017 launch vehicle year in review. The 12-page document provides a broad overview of the 90 launches …
2017 Was a Banner Year for the Launch Industry Read Moreby Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. On October 30, 2017, SpaceX successfully launched the Koreasat-5A satellite from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Falcon 9 delivered the Koreasat-5A to its …
SpaceX Falcon 9 Positioned as the Most Popular New Launch Vehicle in a Generation Read Moreby Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. Two years ago, Forecast International published a blog post about a trend toward decreasing launch mass in commercial communications satellites. Since that post …
Commercial Communications Satellite Launch Mass – It’s Complicated Read Moreby Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. International Launch Services (ILS) recently announced that it will introduce a new Proton launch vehicle variant with a larger payload fairing – …
Launch Vehicle Flexibility Increasingly Important Read Moreby Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. On the morning of February 15, 2017, ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (designated PSLV-C37) launched the 714-kilogram Cartosat-2 Series Satellite and 103 …
PSLV Launch with 104 Payloads Opens New Opportunities for Small Satellites Read MoreRecent Decline Continued, but Stage Set for Renewed Activity in 2017 by Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. The year 2016 saw 85 launches into Earth orbit (this count …
Launch Vehicles: Year in Review 2016 Read Moreby Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. United Launch Alliance (ULA) has announced a new website that enables customers to shop for launch services and sets standard price transparency. …
New ULA Website Marks New Era in Launch Industry Transparency and Competition Read More