US orbital launch provider Rocket Lab has today confirmed it will open a 14-day launch window this month to conduct the company’s first fully commercial launch. The mission, named ‘It’s Business Time’, includes manifested payloads for launch customers Spire Global and GeoOptics Inc., built by Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems.

Pump and metering equipment supplier, Haar Australia, has attained Trade Measurement Unit approval from New Zealand’s Measurement Standards Laboratory for its PreciFUEL aviation fuel metering systems.

Rolls-Royce today launched its pioneering IntelligentEngine vision at the Singapore Airshow.  With more people flying than ever before and an increasing demand for more efficient travel, Rolls-Royce has defined a vision for the future of aircraft power that will help deliver passengers more reliably and more efficiently than ever before.

Feb 4, 2018  -  A year after its tiny, experimental rocket failed to reach orbit a year ago, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched (via Engadget) an experimental rocket into orbit this weekend, the smallest ever to do so. According to JAXA, the launch was a demonstration experiment, that carried the TRICOM-1R — a three-unit cubesat— into lower Earth orbit, where it will observe the Earth with a set of cameras. Now in orbit, JAXA says that its status is “nominal.” With its successful launch, the SS-520-5 is the smallest rocket to ever deliver a satellite into orbit.…

Jan 21, 2018  -  Rocket Lab has successfully launched its second flight as well as launching three mini-satellites into a low Earth orbit. The 17-metre Electron booster launched on a test flight from the Mahia Peninsula was carrying three mini-satellites that have gone into orbit on behalf of paying customers. Yesterday the company tried six times to launch its rocket, with one attempt stopping 60 seconds before take off due to a boat entering the exclusion zone downrange from the launch pad. The launch was later scrubbed as high winds passed over the Mahia Peninsula. Rocket Lab chief executive Peter…

19 January, 2018 - A newly-signed contract discloses key details of Russia’s design goals for the country’s first high-bypass gas turbine engine in the 75,000lb-thrust power class launched on 19 January to support the CRIAC CR929 widebody, Ilyuishin Il-96-400 and several military projects. The $1.13 billion (₽64.3 billion) contract awarded by the Russian government on 19 January calls on United Engine Corporation-Aviadvigital to develop a demonstrator engine named the PD-35-1 by 2023 featuring several state-of-the-art technologies, including wide-chord composite fan blades and composite fan case, ceramic matrix composites and advanced cooling systems. The PD-35-1 also will be designed with a…

Jan 16,  2018  - Airbus has strengthened its position following a record year for jet sales, extending an order lead over rival manufacturers such as Boeing.  The European company booked contracts for 1,109 airliners in 2017, Airbus announced, widening its margin over its US competitor to 197.

Dec 20, 2017  -  Eagle Australasia has been selected by BLR Aerospace as exclusive dealer for BLR products in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, the company announced on 15 December. Eagle will represent BLR products in these markets, including the FastFin system for the Bell 204, 205, 212, 412 and UH-1 model helicopters; as well as the Dual Tailboom Strakes for the Bell 206 series, including the Bell PH-58 and Agusta Bell models. The FastFin tail rotor enhancement and stability system is designed to provide improved OGE loads, enhance productivity and improve stability during hover operations to reduce…

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- AirMap has joined forces with Airways New Zealand to deploy an unmanned traffic management system that enables safe and compliant drone flights for a three-month trial in the Canterbury and Queenstown regions of New Zealand. Drone flights in New Zealand are growing exponentially. Over the past three years, weekly recorded drone flights in the country's controlled airspace have increased 20-fold. As drones take off in increasing numbers, unmanned traffic management (UTM) technology will allow them to integrate safely with New Zealand's national airspace system. The Airways-AirMap trial brings digital authorization capabilities first…

Nov 28, 2017  -  Kiwi-owned and operated VigilAir has launched its semi-autonomous aerial surveillance drone technology onto the global market – a product that has the potential to change the face of security worldwide. “The VigilAir software product is one of the first of its kind and will undoubtedly disrupt the security industry. Simply put, our software will enable drones to be the first-response security guards of the future,” says director of VigilAir Limited, Mike Marr. Mr Marr’s company has spent some years pioneering the use of drones with new technology for security purposes, including self-funding their own research and…

RocketLab  are looking for summer interns to join their New Zealand team from November 2017 - February 2018! Exciting opportunities are available in the following teams: Analysis  -   Guidance & Navigation  -   Production & Manufacturing  -   Avionics  -   Software  -   Propulsion and the Launch Range. If you are a third or fourth year engineering student who is innovative, intelligent and completely enthusiastic about aerospace, then this is your chance to spend the summer learning from the best and contributing towards making space accessible to all. View Positions Here . . .  Please note the positions…