FlightGlobal reports that the FAA has “adopted a controversial rule aimed at modifying early Boeing 777s to reduce the risk of a centre fuel-tank explosion, having dismissed multiple objections by foreign operators of the type.” The FAA “claims the indicating system design has ‘potential for latent faults,’ with closely-bundled wiring, and poses the threat of

Reuters reports that The Boeing Company “is nearing a decision to shift more 787 Dreamliner production to South Carolina, industry sources said, a cost-cutting strategy accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic that would deplete its iconic factory north of Seattle.” Unless there is a “last-minute U-turn, Boeing is ‘all but certain’ to move the rest of 787

SlashGear reports that NASA “has released the latest update on its OSIRIS-REx mission, which involves a spacecraft that is closely orbiting” asteroid Bennu. NASA “notes in a new animated educational video that a handful of boulders found on Bennu are quite a bit brighter than the other boulders and rocks on the asteroid.” NASA’s OSIRIS-REx

ExecutiveGov reported that Rocket Lab completed a “wet dress rehearsal” at its Launch Complex 2(LC-2) in Wallops Island, Virginia. The company’s representatives said in a statement Thursday, “With this major milestone complete, the Electron launch vehicle, launch team and the LC-2 pad systems are now ready for Rocket Lab’s first launch from US soil.” Rocket Lab’s

ExecutiveGov reported that NASA said Thursday that the agency and Lockheed Martin Skunkworks have begun assembling the X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) aircraft. QueSST “would collect data on how quiet the aircraft would appear to the public during flights. The aircraft features the eXternal Vision System, a forward-facing camera that uses augmented reality to provide the

SPACE reports that on Thursday, SpaceX said it was delaying the launch of 60 Starlink satellites scheduled to launch atop a Falcon 9 rocket at 2:19 p.m. Thursday. The cancellation was announced 15 minutes before the rocket was scheduled to lift off. SpaceX said on Twitter, “Standing down from today’s Starlink launch due to recovery issue;

Reuters reports that on Thursday, Southwest Airlines announced that it returned nearly half of the 115 Boeing 737-800 aircraft to service that it had temporarily grounded. Southwest said that the planes were grounded “to enter the correct weights of the aircraft in question into the system and reset the program.” The weight discrepancy was 75

September 17, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced the publication of “Ensuring Economically Viable Lunar Settlements,” a workshop proceedings report stemming from the space ecosystem event ASCEND. Using “NASA’s Plan for Sustained Lunar Exploration and Development” as a starting point, a panel of experts gathered at the

Aerospace America reports that Dynetics’ Human Landing System (DHLS), the concept of which “the company is refining under a $253 million NASA contract, would be a low-slung lander standing about 1.5 meters from the ground, according to an animated video of the lander that the company released online Tuesday, before executives participated in an AIAA webinar

ExecutiveGov reports that Aerion Supersonic “has awarded BAE Systems a contract to provide the flight control system for Aerion’s AS2 supersonic business jet, BAE Systems reported on Wednesday.” BAE Systems “will design, develop and integrate a fly-by-wire flight control system, including active inceptors, for the aircraft.” The “flight system will comprise active inceptors, primary flight

Air Force Times reports that the US Space Force “confirmed that its Space Based Infrared System [SBIRS] satellites were used to detect more than a dozen Iranian missiles aimed at U.S. war fighters in Iraq in January, giving Americans and their partners crucial warning.” On Tuesday, during the Air Force Association 2020: Air, Space and

Reuters reports that General Motors is exploring options for entering the aerial taxi market, “including whether to build the vehicles known colloquially as ‘flying cars,’ as part of a push by the US automaker to look for growth in related transportation markets, two people familiar with the matter said.” According to CEO Mary Barra, this would

Florida Today reports that SpaceX plans to launch a batch of Starlink satellites atop a Falcon 9 rocket Thursday. Liftoff is scheduled for no earlier than 2:17 p.m. EDT from Kennedy Space Center. Weather “is currently 60% ‘go’ for the Thursday attempt with the primary concern being rain showers and thunderstorms, according to the 45th

Bloomberg reports that Airbus “is preparing to deliver its first U.S.-made A220 jetliner to Delta Air Lines Inc. as soon as this month, underscoring the European planemaker’s growing presence on The Boeing Company’s home turf.” Airbus’ Mobile, Alabama, site has been used to make A320 for US customers since 2015, but the recent expansion of the

Spaceflight Now reported that on Friday, Astra attempted launch its small satellite launcher for the first time. However, the launch vehicle “crashed shortly after liftoff from” Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Astra “confirmed on Twitter that the flight ended during the rocket’s first stage burn, following a successful liftoff and initial climb from”

Aviation International News reported that the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is supporting a “Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recommendation that a portion of the C-band radio frequency spectrum be reserved for drone use rather than the more heavily used L-band,” after evaluating the use of both bands, per the request of Congress. NBAA Air Traffic

Spaceflight Now reports that SpaceX is ready to build the “first prototype for the next-gen rocket’s huge first stage booster” after last week’s Starship hop test. The company will also begin testing the Raptor engine model required for orbital Starship missions. On August 31, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said that production of the test vehicle for

Aviation International News reports that Aerion Supersonic announced that it has begun wind tunnel tests of its AS2 business jet. The tests “will subject the aircraft design to more than three times the speed of sound, Aerion said. Testing will be used to evaluate high-speed performance, loads, stability, and control at both transonic and supersonic velocities.”

Aerospace America reports that NASA “is challenging U.S. and non-U.S. companies to tell it how they would collect between 50 and 500 grams of lunar regolith (three tablespoons to 2.5 cups) and what that would cost.” NASA “will pay between $15,000 and $25,000 for the regolith, Bridenstine said.” Companies “have until Oct. 9 to submit

Space News reports that NASA’s Juno mission, which has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016, “is finalizing a proposal for an extended mission that would keep the spacecraft operating through September 2025, said Scott Bolton, principal investigator for Juno, at a Sept. 2 meeting of the Outer Planets Assessment Group online.” The spacecraft’s current mission, which “is

Air Force Times reports that Secretary of Defense Mark Esper “announced Wednesday that the Pentagon intends to conduct live trials pitting tactical aircraft controlled by artificial intelligence against human pilots in 2024.” A simulated dog fight between an AI algorithm developed by Heron Systems and a human pilot, both operating F-16s, took place on August 20,

NextGov reports that during an episode of Nextgov’s Critical Update podcast, NASA’s Chief of Staff Gabe Sherman laid out the agency’s strategies and goals for the Artemis program. Sherman said, “The strategy overall is to go back to the moon, prove out the technologies and capabilities – not to stay at the moon, but to

Aviation International News reports that The Boeing Company “has identified a new production quality issue leading to improper shimming and gap verification between certain components in the 787’s horizontal stabilizer, further slowing deliveries as it performs special inspections to address imperfections in fuselage skins and shimming problems within some of the airplanes’ aft fuselages, the company

September 8, 2020 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) commends the release of Space Policy Directive 5 (SPD-5), which establishes key cybersecurity principles for cyber protection of space systems. AIAA commends the work of the National Space Council to highlight best practices for a whole-of-government approach to protect our space assets from

CNBC reported that, according to documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, Virgin Galactic plans to conduct its next crewed spaceflight test on October 22 from the company’s operating base at Spaceport America in New Mexico. A spokesperson with the company confirmed this, but said that the launch may happen in the days following

Space Policy Online reported that AIAA “will hold a webinar on September 15, 2020 from 1:00-2:30 pm ET on ‘To the Moon With Dynetics: The Importance of Lunar Exploration and Utilization.’” Participants will include AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher, Dynetics Deputy Group President Steve Cook, and Dynetics HLS Kathy Laurini, among others. Full Story (Space Policy

The Daily Mail (UK) reports that ISS crewmembers “still haven’t found the source of an air leak that was first detected” in September 2019. The “recent surge in air loss, which suggests the hole is getting bigger, means NASA can’t put off finding the source any longer.” Most “of the station’s modules have already been ruled out

SPACE reports that on Thursday morning, SpaceX successfully launched its latest batch of 60 Starlink internet satellites atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff occurred at 8:46 a.m. EDT from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.  The additional satellites will join those already on orbit to add to the constellation, which will form the backbone of SpaceX’s broadband

Aerospace America reports that on Wednesday, Honeywell Aerospace “announced the creation of an avionics laboratory in Phoenix for simulating flights” of air taxis in emergency situations. Honeywell Aerospace’s UAS/UAM unit CTO Hector Garcia “likened the lab to the desktop simulators on which airline pilots practice scenarios considered too dangerous to attempt during real-world flight tests.”

Space News reports that NASA and the Department of Energy “will seek proposals [from the] industry later this year for the development of a compact nuclear power system that can support the agency’s long-term lunar and Martian exploration plans.” During a Tuesday “presentation to the Technology, Innovation, and Engineering Committee of the NASA Advisory Council,

SPACE reports that at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday, “a full-scale flight support booster (FSB) test” of NASA’s Space Launch System was conducted from Promontory, Utah. The results of the two-minute test “will be analyzed to see how well it went, officials said during” a live broadcast of the test. The booster “was supposed to fire 3.6

Space News reports that the US Space Force “in the coming weeks will add more than 2,400 new members who agreed to leave the Air Force and volunteered to join the space service.” The Space Force “will hold a virtual swearing-in ceremony Sept. 15 during the Air Force Association’s Virtual Air, Space and Cyber Conference.” The

Aviation International News reports that “a resurgence in Covid-19 cases in various regions and a failure by governments to coordinate on travel restrictions and quarantines have frustrated the airline industry’s recovery efforts, leading to ‘disappointing’ traffic gains in July, according to officials from” the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In July, international travel was down 91.9%

SPACE reports that SpaceX has delayed the launch of 60 Starlink satellites atop a Falcon 9 rocket to Thursday. SpaceX announced Monday that the Falcon 9 rocket will launch Thursday at 8:46 a.m. instead of Tuesday. SpaceX said on Twitter, “Now targeting Thursday, September 3 at 8:46 a.m. EDT for launch of Starlink from Launch Complex

Reuters reports that after seeing a decline in simulator sales when the COVID-19 outbreak nearly halted air travel, “aviation training specialists” are now seeing an increase “in demand from cargo carriers and airlines gearing up for the Boeing…737 MAX’s return to service.” Simulator producers CAE and Textron had wagered on a sales windfall “with The Boeing

September 1, 2020 – Reston, Va. –The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Foundation has announced the 22 winners of its 2020 undergraduate scholarships and graduate awards. Through its Foundation and supported by nearly 30,000 members, AIAA awards academic scholarships and STEM educational grants to support the next generation of aerospace professionals. “Preparing the

Army Technology reports that Airbus “will deliver 17 UH-72B helicopters to the US Army next year.” The delivery of Airbus’ “latest variant of the light utility helicopter” will come after the delivery of the “463rd and…final UH-72A model” next month. Full Story (CNN)

CNN reported that the early morning launch of a “Delta IV Heavy rocket was scrubbed on Saturday, just seconds before its planned liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida.” The rocket’s engines “briefly ignited as the countdown neared zero, but a computer aborted the launch at T-minus 3 seconds, according to United Launch Alliance (ULA), which is conducting

FlightGlobal reports that Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) “is inviting foreign suppliers to help develop the country’s next-generation fighter aircraft, known as the Future Fighter programme, or F-X.” The solicitation “was made via a public notice and a press briefing by Japanese defence minister Taro Kono on 25 August, according to reports.” The MoD is looking

Florida Today reports that the launch of a National Reconnaissance Office satellite by the ULA Delta IV Heavy rocket, which was scheduled to launch on Thursday morning, was postponed to Saturday at 2:04 a.m. If “extra time is needed, teams have until 6:25 a.m. to launch” the Delta IV Heavy rocket. Thursday’s launch “was scrubbed during

ExecutiveGov reports that Masten Space Systems “has chosen SpaceX to launch Masten Mission One (MM1), which will deliver nine NASA science and technology demonstration experiments and several commercial payloads to the lunar south pole, Masten Space Systems reported on Wednesday.” MM1 “was developed under collaboration with NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Project Office.” The

Airforce Technology reports that Dynetics “has carried out the flight test of the second X-61A Gremlins Air Vehicle (GAV).” The flight took place at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, and included tests of “the Gremlins airborne recovery system.” The tests “concentrated on lowering risk and verification of system and subsystem performance,” and “covered all of Gremlins

Accelerating Innovation Through Diversity August 26, 2020 – Reston, Va. – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced that AIAA SciTech Forum, held 11–15 January 2021, will be fully online. The world’s largest event for aerospace research, development, and technology, AIAA SciTech Forum brings together more than 5,000 participants from around the

Air Force Times reports that on August 17, the US Air Force opened the Virtual Test and Training Center (VTTC), “a new, $38 million building where pilots will practice advanced tactics in a simulated environment that replicates war against a near-peer nation.” The center, located at Nellis Air Force Base, “could be key for the

Space News reports that this week, three launches are scheduled in three consecutive days from Cape Canaveral. On Thursday, ULA is scheduled to launch a Delta 4 Heavy rocket as part of a mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. On Friday, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch a SAOCOM 1B satellite for

SPACE reports that on Sunday, SpaceX “fired up the latest prototype of its Starship Mars-colonizing spacecraft, keeping the vehicle on track for a possible test flight this weekend.” The SN6 Starship “prototype’s single Raptor engine briefly roared to life during a ‘static fire’” at SpaceX’s “facilities in South Texas, near the village of Boca Chica.” SpaceX

Aviation International News reports that The Boeing Company “flew the latest ecoDemonstrator – an Etihad Airways 787-10 – from Seattle to Glasgow, Montana, on Monday in preparation for two and a half weeks of environmental testing before flying to its customer’s base in Abu Dhabi.” The aircraft – “a new-build airplane assembled at Boeing’s Dreamliner plant

Bloomberg  reports that The Boeing Company “is preparing to bolster the long-term safety of its troubled 737 Max with technology borrowed from space vehicles and urban drones that can provide data to help back up its sensors.” The system – “known as synthetic air data – takes existing information on the aircraft, runs it through

Florida Today reports that “the weather forecast around Cape Canaveral looks favorable for the upcoming launch of United Launch Alliance’s three-core Delta IV Heavy rocket, the Space Force said Sunday.” Teams “at Launch Complex 37 will likely see 70% ‘go’ conditions for the planned 2:16 a.m. Wednesday liftoff, forecasters said, noting that cumulus clouds were the

Space News reports that “the Blue Origin-led team that is one of three working on lunar lander concepts for NASA’s Artemis program has delivered a full-sized mockup of that lander to the agency for testing by engineers and astronauts.” Blue Origin “announced Aug. 20 that its ‘National Team’ has installed an engineering model of the