26 September 2019 Aviation Week reports that “a yearlong study of 101 countries around the world concludes that 95 of them have an active inventory of military unmanned air vehicles, up 58% from a decade ago.” The Center for the Study of the Drone’s “The Drone Databook” indicates that “there are a confirmed 21,000 UAVs in

25 September 2019 The Dallas Morning News reports that The Boeing Company invited airlines to send pilots for 737 MAX training in Miami this week. That training session will run through mid-October, with other sessions to be held in China, Singapore, Turkey, and the UK. Boeing spokesman Charles Bickers said that the sessions “are part of our

25 September 2019 NBC News reports that on Wednesday, NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and Hazza Ali Al Mansouri, “one of only two astronauts in the nascent Emirati space program, are scheduled to lift off in a Russian Soyuz rocket at 9:57 a.m. EDT from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.” Al Mansouri’s participation

24 September 2019 ExecutiveGov reports that “the U.S. Air Force’s 548th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group and 9th Security Forces Squadron have partnered to test an artificial drone technology designed to map infrastructure.” On September 21, the Air Force “said…that the Hivemapper airborne video map program currently in beta testing at Beale Air Force Base

24 September 2019 Florida Today reports that “Blue Origin has job openings like Robot Operator, where workers ‘program and operate robotic processing machines to produces high-value aerospace components.’” SpaceX, which “seems to always be looking for more engineers,” also offers “other types of jobs…that don’t require being a rocket scientist.” SpaceX is currently seeking applicants

23 September 2019 Aviation Week reported that “a test asset for the MQ-25 unmanned tanker completed the first test flight on Sept. 19 at an airport in Illinois, the U.S. Navy and Boeing announced.” (Image: Boeing MQ-25 | Boeing) Full Story (Aviation Week – Subscription publication)

23 September 2019 Aerospace America reports that “cybersecurity experts are sounding the alarm about the vulnerability” of Internet-enabled microsatellites. AIAA Aerospace Cybersecurity Working Group Chair Sam Adhikari said, “Microsatellites are completely driven by software and completely networked. That’s where the vulnerability comes in.” Adhikari also detailed the usage of satellite honeypots for counter-intelligence purposes against

20 September 2019 The Houston Chronicle reports that “NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine vowed Thursday to speak to the head of the Russian space agency after reports that the cause of a hole found on the International Space Station last year would be kept secret.” Bridenstine said, “They have not told me anything.” He added, “I don’t

20 September 2019 Aviation Week reports that American UAV manufacturers Skydio, Impossible Aerospace, and Teal Drones “are mounting a buy-American campaign, arguing that widespread use of drones made in China is suppressing the domestic industry for small unmanned aircraft types and helping to develop Chinese military capabilities.” The American Drone Alliance “is committed to increasing the

19 September 2019 ABC News reports that FAA Administrator Steve Dickson “will get into the MAX flight simulator later this week at Boeing’s headquarters to see for himself if he can handle the automated flight control system misfire that led to the grounding of the aircraft around the world.” Dickson “said it’s premature to point

CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] September 19, 2019 – Reston, Va. – To encourage entrepreneurial activity and promote space commerce, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is hosting the Techstars Startup Weekend D.C., Space, 22–24 October. The event is co-located with the International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2019), held from 21–25 October at the Walter

18 September 2019 Aviation Week reports that Virgin Galactic’s The Spaceship Company “has announced completion of fuselage and wing mating for the spaceline’s second suborbital vehicle at its Mojave site in California.” Virgin Galactic “continues to transition flight testing to its New Mexico operations site.” (Image: Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo. Credit: Associated Press–©) Full Story (Aviation Week –

18 September 2019 CNET News reports that “Bigelow Aerospace’s Genesis II, an inflatable space habitat test mission that launched in 2007, has a 5.6% chance of colliding with the dead Kosmos 1300 satellite early on Wednesday.” In a message on Twitter, Bigelow Aerospace said, “Although this is a relatively low probability, it brings to light that

17 September 2019 Aviation Week reports that “a group of high-altitude RQ-4 unmanned aircraft systems will be drafted into service to support an upcoming series of hypersonic missile flight tests, the commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) says in an interview.” DARPA and the U.S. Air Force “are preparing to stage an

17 September 2019 The University of Alabama in Huntsville  reports that University of Alabama in Huntsville undergraduate student Joseph Agnew “recently provided a standing room only crowd at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Propulsion and Energy Forum in Indianapolis, Ind. with an overview of the state of the art of warp drive theory

CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] September 17, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of its 2018–2019 Design Competitions. “AIAA’s Design Competitions are more than winning a prize—they help students solve real-life problems and prepare them to make a difference in the aerospace

16 September 2019 Aviation Week reported that Gulfstream Aerospace “has opened a new $55 million maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at its headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, following the recent entry-into-service of the new Gulfstream 500 and Gulfstream 600.” (Image: Gulfstream G600 | Gulfstream) Full Story (Aviation Week)

16 September 2019 Aerospace America reported that under an agreement with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), “NASA must recalculate the estimated cost of the SLS program to see if, in fact, the overrun exceeds a 30% threshold that would trigger a legally required reauthorization review by Congress.” An overrun in excess of 30 percent “could

13 September 2019 CNET News reports that asteroid 2010 C01 “is about 400 to 850 feet (120 to 260 meters) in size and will fly by late on Sept. 13.” On Saturday, asteroid 2000 QW7, “at 950 to 2,100 feet (290 to 650 meters) in size,” will fly past Earth. NASA Planetary Defense Officer Lindley

13 September 2019 The Midland Reporter-Telegram reports that UAVs “are increasingly dotting Permian Basin skies, looking for methane and pipeline leaks and scouring both proposed pipeline routes and well locations.” The “rise of wind and solar farms” in the West Texas region has also opened “new markets for drone companies, such as Midland’s Thermal Cam USA.” Thermal

12 September 2019 The Guardian (UK) reports that “the police commander in charge of policing drone protests intended to shut down Heathrow airport has said his officers will take any opportunity to pre-emptively stop activists from causing disruption to flights.” London Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor “said protesters taking part in the action

12 September 2019 CNBC  reports that Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg told an industry conference, “I think the phased ungrounding of the airplane amongst regulators around the world is a possibility.” He said that he still believes that the 737 MAX will return to service in the fourth quarter of 2019. Muilenburg said, “We’re going to

11 September 2019 Space News reports that “SpaceX hopes to launch 24 Starlink missions in 2020 as the company builds out a broadband megaconstellation that could ultimately number close to 12,000 satellites, a company executive said Sept. 10.” In remarks at the World Satellite Business Week conference, SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell said, “Next year, I

11 September 2019 The Los Angeles Times reports that UAVs “became a permanent part of the Los Angeles Police Department’s crime-fighting arsenal Tuesday, despite opposition from privacy advocates who fear the remote-controlled aircraft will be used to spy on people.” Regulations approved by “the five-member civilian Police Commission…enshrine the drones’ use in specific situations, including active shooters,

CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] September 10, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Foundation has announced the 12 winners of its 2019 undergraduate scholarships. 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.

10 September 2019 The AP reports that “the U.S. has reached a new ‘Sputnik moment’ in which the military must act to keep the nation’s competitive advantage in space against adversaries such as Russia, China, and to a lesser extent, Iran and North Korea, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday.” In remarks at

10 September 2019 Aviation Week reports that UAV “delivery service provider Flirtey on Sept. 9 unveiled the Flirtey Eagle, a boxy quadcopter that it expects will begin delivering food and packages to households by the end of the year.” Flirtey CEO Matthew Sweeny “said the launch site for the delivery operation will be Reno, Nevada, which

CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] September 9, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Foundation has announced the ten winners of its 2019 graduate awards. Through its Foundation and supported by nearly 30,000 members, AIAA awards academic scholarships and STEM education awards to support the next generation of aerospace professionals.

10 September 2019 Florida Today reported that on Friday, “the 45th Space Wing, which oversees Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Patrick Air Force Base, was reverted to an ‘all clear’ status” following Hurricane Dorian’s “last-minute shift.” A Patrick AFB spokesperson said, “Initial reports show no damage that will affect mission operations, but we have

10 September 2019 Aviation Week reported that the FAA “has postponed the release of a draft rulemaking for remote identification of drones by two months until December, delaying definition of a means of identifying small unmanned aircraft systems…from the ground that is considered essential to expanding their use.” The FAA plans to publish its Remote ID

CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] “Communications Satellites — Then, Now, and Where Next?” September 6, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has selected Eddy W. Hartenstein to give its 2019 David W. Thompson Lecture in Space Commerce. Hartenstein will deliver his lecture, ““Communications Satellites —  Then, Now, and Where

6 September 2019 DroneDJ reports that Prairie Village, Kansas, has passed an ordinance “to limit how and where people can fly drones in the city.” The new ordinance “makes it illegal to fly a drone near people without their consent, or over large events without permission, or over private property without authorization.” Pilots who “violate

6 September 2019 Building Indiana Magazine reports that “Trine University has received a $3,000 grant from the Indiana Space Grant Consortium to support a student team” at AIAA’s Design/Build/Fly competition. The annual contest “provides a real-world aircraft design experience for engineering students by giving them the opportunity to validate their analytic studies.” Trine’s Research and Outreach

5 September 2019 An article in Aerospace America details an August 30 interview with veteran NASA engineer Lisa Watson-Morgan regarding the agency’s 2024 lunar mission plans “and the strategy underlying them.” Watson-Morgan expressed optimism despite the challenges of meeting the planned 2024 launch date, and she emphasized the role of collaboration between NASA and commercial partners.

5 September 2019 Florida Today reports that Hurricane Dorian “barely brushed by Brevard County overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, sparing the Space Coast from major damage.” On Wednesday afternoon, teams at Patrick AFB and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station “started assessing facility conditions.” Starting Thursday, Kennedy Space Center (KSC) teams “will be evaluating possible damages…ahead of

3 September 2019 Politico reports in its Morning Transportation rundown that the FAA has warned UAV pilots to avoid flying in areas affected by Hurricane Dorian “unless conducting an active disaster response or recovery mission.” (Image: DJI Phantom 4. Credit: Associated Press-©) Full Story (Politico)

4 September 2019 CNET News reports that ISS astronauts “have been tracking” Hurricane Dorian “from orbit.” On Monday, NASA astronaut Nick Hague “shared a close-up of Dorian’s deep eye” in a message on Twitter. Said Hague, “You can feel the power of the storm when you stare into its eye from above. Stay safe everyone!”

3 September 2019 An article in Aerospace America details a recent visit to ULA’s Vulcan rocket factory in Decatur, Alabama. According to Hofacker, “Vulcan is on track for its 2021 debut, ULA CEO Tory Bruno told me last week at AIAA’s Propulsion and Energy Forum in Indianapolis, and the company is ‘confident to go directly to

3 September 2019 The Washington Post reported that NOAA scientist Frank Marks “and his team have been experimenting with…specialized drones that can fly around a hurricane’s eye and sophisticated plane-mounted radar units that can measure wind motion, all to better understand what happens inside the storm during intensification.” The aircraft-launched UAVs “can fly…for up to an hour

30 August 2019 ExecutiveGov reports that NASA “has docked its Mars Helicopter to the Mars 2020 rover for the upcoming exploration mission on the red planet.” NASA said Wednesday that JPL engineers installed the twin-rotor helicopter to the rover’s underside. JPL Project Manager for Mars Helicopter MiMi Aung said, “Our job is to prove that

30 August 2019 CBS News  reports that “NASA civil servants and contractors at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida are bracing for high winds and rain from Hurricane Dorian.” Staff at the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) have made preparations to store “a 6.7-million-pound mobile launch tower” at the VAB, which “was designed to withstand winds

CONTACT: Michele McDonald 703.264.7542 [email protected] Air Force Gen. John Raymond to Lead New Combatant Command August 29, 2019 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) applauds the establishment of the U.S. Space Command. The new combatant command prioritizes the protection of our assets and sustains our advantages in space. AIAA Executive

29 August 2019 CNET News reports that “NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellites are tracking” Hurricane Dorian as the weather formation “takes shape.” NASA’s Terra satellite has captured images of the storm, which “is making its way across the Atlantic and looks set to impact the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and

29 August 2019 Aviation Week reports that the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) “is looking at leveraging NASA’s work on hybrid- and turbo-electric propulsion to increase the performance and capability of large unmanned aircraft, including ‘loyal wingman’ vehicles that would support manned fighters.” Power & Control Division Chief Engineer John Nairus said, “Near term, we

28 August 2019 ExecutiveGov reports that “a transport helicopter built by Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky subsidiary to replace the aging Marine One presidential aircraft is on track to achieve [initial] operational capability next year, National Defense Magazine reported Monday.” The Sikorsky VH-92A helicopter, a twin-engine “based on the company’s S-92A commercial aircraft,” is meant “to succeed

28 August 2019 SPACE reports that NASA’s Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC) mission team confirmed August 23 that the clock has been activated successfully. The mercury-ion atomic clock, launched in June, “is now in orbit around Earth and ready to begin a year-long tech demo.” The DSAC, “developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory,” is meant to

27 August 2019 Aviation Week reports that UAS manufacturer AeroVironment “said it has donated 87 Quantix hybrid drones and supporting data analytics systems to agricultural departments at 35 U.S. universities.” The Quantix, introduced in 2016, is “designed for automated ‘crop-scouting’ of agricultural tracts.” The UAS “lifts off and lands vertically using four small rotors, then transitions

27 August 2019 SPACE reports that at 6:43 a.m. ET Monday, the U.S. Air Force’s X-37B space plane surpassed its spaceflight-duration record “of 717 days, 20 hours and 42 minutes, which was set by the previous mission, known as Orbital Test Vehicle 4 (OTV-4).” The current campaign, which is classified, “began on Sept. 7, 2017,

26 August 2019 Fleet Owner reported that UPS, which “flew the first Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-sanctioned commercial drone delivery earlier this year,” is now “seeking exemption from FAA regulations to allow its UPS Flight Forward (UPS FF) division to expand, according to its application, published Aug. 22 in the Federal Register.” UPS has been working

26 August 2019 CNET News reported that when NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine “addressed engineering students at the University of Colorado Boulder on Friday,” a student asked via livestream “near the end of the Q&A if NASA had considered sending an all-female crew for the Artemis mission.” Bridenstine answered, “Have we considered it? Yes, and it wouldn’t