Masten Space Systems, a small company working on vertical takeoff and landing (VTL) rockets, has successfully done a mid-air engine restart during a test flight. They say it's the first time a rocket has been shutdown and relit during flight. Very cool.
Not to be outdone, Armadillo Aerospace, another small group working on such rockets (and a sentimental favorite of mine), did a longer fall with rocket engine off. They used a drogue chute and then relit the engine midair. The vectored thrust rocket was able to right itself and then land back on the pad it launched from. Spectacular!
Finally, the Japanese Huyabusa probe is returning to Earth, hopefully carrying a sample of material from an asteroid. This would be the first time we've ever had asteroid material (apart from meteorites) to investigate.
nicodemusrat) wrote, 