The U.S. Space Force’s X-37B spaceplane lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on December 28, 2023. [Courtesy: U.S. Space Force]
Key Takeaways:
The U.S. Space Force launched its secretive X-37B robot spaceplane on its seventh, likely deeper-orbit mission using a powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, drawing comparisons to China's recently launched, similar Shenlong spaceplane.
Rocket Lab secured a $515 million contract to design, manufacture, and operate 18 satellites for an undisclosed U.S. government agency, while Alphabet's Wing expanded its drone delivery service with a second Walmart Supercenter in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, now serving 60,000 people.
Predictions for 2024 include a banner year for American-made drones due to new defense spending bills and FAA regulatory advancements (BVLOS grants, Remote ID), alongside significant progress in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) with anticipated eVTOL sales, air taxi operations, and finalized regulations.
Hello, and welcome to the Future of FLYING newsletter, our weekly look at the biggest stories in emerging aviation technology. From low-altitude drones to high-flying rockets at the edge of the atmosphere, we’ll take you on a tour of the modern flying world to help you make sense of it all.
Now for this week’s top story:
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
