Runway Girl
• Mary Kirby
Viasat says ViaSat-3 F2 is now in the middle of in-orbit testing, with the operator expecting the satellite’s capabilities to materially improve inflight connectivity. Alongside the spacecraft test campaign, Viasat also unveiled AERA, a new multi-beam ESA platform positioned for aviation connectivity use cases.
Space.com
• Mike Wall
By Space.com: SpaceX will launch its Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time in 18 months on Monday morning (April 27), and you can watch the dramatic action live.
NASA Spaceflight
spacecoastdaily.com
By Spaceflight Now: SpaceX launched its 50th Falcon 9 rocket of the year from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sunday, carrying another batch of satellites for its Starlink internet service.
SpaceNews.com
• Andrew Jones
By SpaceNews.com: China took its total launches this year to 26 over the weekend, with a trio of flights of legacy and newer Long March rocket models.
New York Times
• Emily Baumgaertner Nunn
By New York Times: Researchers identified a species that can survive radiation, extreme heat and simulated Martian soil, posing a new challenge for protocols intended to keep the red planet pristine.
NASA Spaceflight
• Justin Davenport
By NASA Spaceflight: Two weeks after the CRS NG-24 mission launched cargo to the International Space Station (ISS), another cargo ship is ready to fly to the orbital outpost.
SpaceNews.com
• Sandra Erwin
By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force is sharply increasing its demand for the most capable rocket launches, adding pressure to a market currently limited to two certified providers.
NASA
• Mark A. Garcia
By NASA: The Progress 95 cargo spacecraft from Roscosmos stands atop its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan counting down to a liftoff at 6:21p.m.
Space Intel Report
• Peter B. de Selding
SpaceNews.com
• John David Callison, Joseph Minafra
SpaceNews.com
• Jason Rainbow
