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.
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
