Major STEM Enhancement Program Gets Delayed Due To COVID-19 Concerns

To ensure the health and safety of our rocketeers, mentors, teachers, and their families, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is officially postponing the 2020 American Rocketry Challenge competition and will roll over this year’s rules into the 2021 competition. Last month, teams were directed to suspend all qualification flights and launches and follow the guidance of their schools, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and state and local health departments. Teams were notified of the competition’s postponement at the end of March. All registered 2020 teams will be automatically registered to compete in the 2021 season. The 2021 season of the American Rocke

Boeing Releases Statement on Starliner's Next Flight

After a series of embarrassments and errors involving the Boeing 737MAX program and the abortive Starliner development, the company has admitted it will have to refly the Starliner after an earlier launch attempt resulted in the vehicle being unable to reach the ISS as well as a number of other failed objectives. In typical Boeing-speak, the company tried to make the situation seem a bit less embarrassing, stating, "The Boeing Company is honored to be a provider for the Commercial Crew mission.  We are committed to the safety of the men and women who design, build and ultimately will fly on the Starliner just as we have on every crewed mission to space.  We have chosen to refly our Orb

Simulated Emergency Training Preps SpaceX, NASA Crews

Safety is a top priority as NASA and SpaceX prepare for liftoff of the company’s second demonstration flight test (Demo-2), the first flight to carry astronauts to the International Space Station onboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The teams conducted an emergency egress exercise at Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 3. The end-to-end demonstration is the latest in a series of similar exercises to ensure the crew and support teams can quickly evacuate from the launch pad in the unlikely event of an emergency prior to liftoff.