April 11, 2017

Aerojet Rocketdyne "Competitive Improvement Program" Means Consolidation and Job Cuts (Source: Aerojet)
Aerojet Rocketdyne plans additional consolidation and optimization over the next two years. Aerojet Rocketdyne plans to consolidate two California sites and one Virginia site while centralizing and expanding in Huntsville with a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for AR1 engine production, Additive Manufacturing, Composites production and R&D, expected to be ready for production in mid-2019.

Approximately 1,100 of the existing 1,400 positions in Sacramento are expected to be relocated or eliminated. Approximately 170 positions in Virginia will be relocated or eliminated with relocations planned to Huntsville and the company's facility in Orange County, Virginia. Overall growth plans for Huntsville include the addition of approximately 800 jobs to support America's space and defense needs for the next quarter century and beyond. (4/11)

Time for Common Sense with the Satellite Catalog (Source: Space Review)
While the US Air Force provides the most detailed satellite catalog officially available, some objects are either missing or not updated. Charles Phillips discusses why that catalog should be made more complete, and how it could be done. Click here. (4/10)
 
Blue Origin’s Status Update (Source: Space Review)
The highlight of last week’s Space Symposium conference in Colorado was arguably the display of Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicle and an appearance by company founder Jeff Bezos. Jeff Foust reports on the status update Bezos provided on the company’s plans to send people on suborbital spaceflights, perhaps in 2018. Click here. (4/10)
 
The Small Launch Industry is About to be Amazoned (Source: Space Review)
At a media event last week about Blue Origin’s plans, Jeff Bezos suggested the company could get into the small launch vehicle business as well. A.J. Mackenzie argues that if that happens, it spells trouble for the various other small launcher ventures out there today. Click here. (4/10) 
 
All at Sea About Reusability (Source: Space Review)
SpaceX is talking about not only increasing their flight rates, but attempting to recover the Falcon 9 payload fairing and second stage as well. Dick Eagleson examines how efforts to prove out second stage and payload fairing recovery might proceed and looks at related logistic challenges for SpaceX as it moves to greatly increase its launch cadence. Click here. (4/10)