SpaceNews.com
• Jeff Foust
The FAA has authorized Dream Chaser to land at Vandenberg Space Force Base, clearing a key step for the spaceplane’s orbital return and runway-recovery profile. Sierra Space plans the spacecraft’s first flight in spring 2027; the vehicle is designed to carry up to 12,000 pounds of cargo.
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The FAA has authorized Dream Chaser to land at Vandenberg Space Force Base, clearing a key step for the spaceplane’s orbital return and runway-recovery profile. Sierra Space plans the spacecraft’s first flight in spring 2027; the vehicle is designed to carry up to 12,000 pounds of cargo.
The FAA has licensed Sierra Space to return its Dream Chaser spaceplane from orbit and land on a runway at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The approval clears one of the last regulatory steps before the long-delayed vehicle’s first flight.
The Philippines’ Department of Tourism is seeking to reverse restrictions on turboprop operations at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. The department says relocating those flights to other airports has increased travel costs and inconvenience, and is pressing for their return.
An editorial warns that Democrats’ control of Congress gives lawmakers both the authority and the appetite to challenge major spending commitments by President Trump, including those tied to preserving U.S. strategic advantage in space. The dispute raises the prospect of political gridlock shaping the direction and funding of national space priorities.
The US Department of Transportation is seeking carriers to provide Essential Air Service at Pueblo, Colorado, and Dodge City, Kansas. The announcement puts service to both communities into a carrier-selection process; the available report does not specify proposed routes, schedules, or contract terms.
Lufthansa has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to complete its review of a motion seeking to add ITA Airways to the A++ transatlantic joint venture. The request puts the focus on the remaining regulatory step for ITA’s proposed participation in the partnership.
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As the first global scheme requiring airlines to pay for their planet-warming emissions takes effect, a shortage of available carbon credits could make it difficult for carriers to settle their bills. Industry participants and analysts describe the credit supply crunch as a critical test for the program.
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