flight
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Why the First Launch of a 3D-Printed Rocket Wasn’t a Total Failure
Despite a second-stage engine failure three minutes into the highly anticipated flight, Relativity Space is declaring the mission a partial success.
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This Weird Australian Drone Is a Tailsitter Biplane That Can Launch From a Helipad
Nearly 120 years into the history of modern flight, I did not expect biplanes to make a comeback in drone form. Yet the STRIX, from the Australian wing of defence giant BAE Systems, is exactly that. What’s more, this odd duck of a biplane drone is a tailsitter, resting on its wheels at an angle…
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Uncontrolled Chinese Rocket Segment Disintegrates Over Texas
The Long March 2D second stage is believed to have reentered over an unpopulated part of Texas on March 7 and so far there are no reports of injuries or damage to property. Sadly, as more rockets are sent to space and as rules around these matters remain vague, it’s the new normal we have…
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Japan’s New H3 Rocket Forced to Self-Destruct During Inaugural Launch
Space is hard — even in 2023. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, instead of celebrating the launch of its new H3 rocket, is now trying to figure out what went wrong during today’s failed flight.