Vector and Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority announce three upcoming orbital launches from Wallops Island

RICHMOND – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced Thursday, Oct. 19, that Vector, a nanosatellite launch company comprised of new-space and enterprise software industry veterans from SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, McDonnell Douglas, Boeing, Sea Launch and VMware, has entered into an agreement with Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority (Virginia Space) to conduct three commercial orbital missions out of Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic … Continue reading →

International News / National / U.S. News

US, allies seek ways to up pressure on Islamic State group

Posted on 03/22/17 by hswannblog

WASHINGTON (AP) — With U.S.-backed Iraqi forces battling to retake Mosul, officials from the 68-nation coalition fighting the Islamic State group are looking for ways to increase the pressure as planning intensifies on the next objective, dislodging the extremists from their self-declared capital in Syria. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis … Continue reading →

Technology

Explosion at SpaceX launch pad destroys rocket, satellite

Posted on 09/02/16 by jazzlr05

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A massive fireball and explosion erupted Thursday at SpaceX’s main launch pad, destroying a rocket as well as a satellite that Facebook was counting on to spread internet service in Africa. There were no injuries. The pad had been cleared of workers before what was supposed to be a routine … Continue reading →

Local / Virginia

Federal appeals court upholds 2 Somali pirates’ convictions

Posted on 04/06/15 by dee6williams

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Two Somali pirates convicted in the shooting deaths of four Americans aboard a yacht off the coast of Africa got a fair trial, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the convictions of Abukar Osman Beyle and Shani Nurani … Continue reading →