Rob Coppinger / London
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Andrews Space, Lockheed Martin and Orbital Science have joined Northrop Grumman in receiving contracts to study Hybrid Launch Vehicle (HLV) concepts under the US Air Force’s Operationally Responsive Spacelift programme. The HLV is to place up to 6,800kg (15,000lb) into orbit within 48h. The contracts could lead to a subscale demonstrator, with a full-scale vehicle planned to be operational by 2018.
Source: Flight International
In a first of its kind flight, a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Gray Eagle short take-off and landing uncrewed aircraft has launched from a South Korean amphibious assault ship, the equivalent of a light aircraft carrier
China’s AVIC has secured a contract from the China Manned Space Agency to develop a winged, reusable spacecraft called Haolong.
As part of the evaluation, the navy controlled a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-20 Avenger uncrewed aerial vehicle using the Lockheed Martin control station that will be installed in the service’s fleet of aircraft carriers.
