Civil aerospace news and insights from Forecast International
By Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. A Zenit 2SB launch vehicle lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on December 12 carrying the Elektro-L2, a geosynchronous meteorological …
Multiple Issues Lead to Last Zenit Launch Read MoreBy Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. Virgin Galactic recently announced upgrades to its LauncherOne launch vehicle. When Virgin Galactic initially announced development of LauncherOne, the company said it …
SmallSats vs Rideshare: What Holds the Future in the Lightweight Launch Vehicle Market? Read MoreBy Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. The European Space Agency on August 12 signed contracts for the development of a new launch vehicle designated Ariane 6, its launch …
ESA Awards Contractors $3.8 Billion for Launch Vehicle Development Work Read Moreby Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. The average size, or launch mass, of commercial communications satellites is declining. After the average launch mass reached a peak of 4,424 kilograms …
Average Commercial Communications Satellite Launch Mass Declines, Again Read Moreby Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. On June 27, a SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying a Dragon cargo spacecraft on its way to the International Space Station (ISS) broke apart …
Launch Failure Won’t Be a Long-Term Setback for SpaceX Read Moreby Bill Ostrove, Space Systems Analyst, Forecast International. Over the next 10 years, the launch industry will be greatly shaped by how the United States pursues its ambitious space exploration goals. …
Ambitious Human Spaceflight Plans Driving the Launch Industry Read Moreby Bill Ostrove, Forecast International. U.S. company United Launch Alliance (ULA) has unveiled its next-generation launch vehicle, dubbed Vulcan. In a much anticipated April 13 press conference, CEO Tory Bruno …
ULA Introduces Future Vulcan Launch Vehicle Read Moreby Bill Ostrove, Forecast International. The launch vehicle market continues to be dominated by a few select regions. Between 2011 and 2013, Russia, China, the United States, and Europe accounted …
Launch Vehicle Market Still Held by Major Powers, but New Contenders Emerge Read More