CNET News reports that this week, SpaceX may ignite “Falcon Heavy, the biggest rocket currently in its stable, as well as its next-generation Starship, designed to eventually take passengers to Mars.” The opportunity for “so-called static or ‘hold down’ test firings of both rockets could take place as soon as…Monday, April 1 for Falcon Heavy.” SpaceX

SPACE reports on Vice President Pence’s remarks March 26 “during the fifth meeting of the National Space Council (NSC) at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.” Pence said, “Make no mistake about it – we’re in a space race today, just as we were in the 1960s, and the stakes are even higher.”

The Houston Chronicle reports that “on Wednesday, NASA’s leader said that using a commercial rocket wasn’t feasible” for transporting humans to the moon. Administrator Jim Bridenstine added in remarks before the US House Appropriations Subcommittee, “I don’t think it’s in the cards to meet June 2020.” Bridenstine also concluded that using the Space Launch System rocket for

The Seattle Times reports that The Boeing Company is finalizing its “proposed software fix” for the 737 MAX 8, with flight tests “likely to begin this week.” The manufacturer “has invited airlines to order [the software fix] pending formal approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.” Boeing spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the software patch will be provided to

Reuters reported that “teams from the three U.S. airlines that own 737 MAX jets headed to Boeing Co’s factory in Renton, Washington, to review a software upgrade on Saturday, as U.S. regulators prepared to receive and review the fixes in coming weeks.” More Info (Reuters)

Reuters reported that “teams from the three U.S. airlines that own 737 MAX jets headed to Boeing Co’s factory in Renton, Washington, to review a software upgrade on Saturday, as U.S. regulators prepared to receive and review the fixes in coming weeks.” More Info (Reuters)

Spaceflight Now reported that “Northrop Grumman is gearing up for up to four launches this year at Wallops Island, Virginia, including two launches with Cygnus cargo ships heading to the International Space Station, and a pair of Minotaur rocket flights carrying classified payloads into orbit for the U.S. government’s spy satellite agency.” The USAF “confirmed plans

Space News reports that “Blue Origin has studied repurposing upper stages of its future New Glenn launch vehicle to serve as habitats or for other applications as part of a series of NASA-funded commercialization studies.” Blue Origin Vice President of Government Sales and Strategy Brett Alexander “said the company looked at ways it could make use

SpaceRef reports that “American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) members Col. Eileen Collins, Daniel Dumbacher, Sandra ‘Sandy’ Magnus, and Wanda Sigur will lend their expertise on human space exploration at the fifth meeting of the National Space Council on March 26 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.” AIAA Executive Director Emeritus

Reuters reports that The Boeing Company “has delayed by at least three months its first uncrewed flight to the International Space Station under NASA’s human spaceflight program, and pushed its crewed flight until November, industry sources said on Wednesday.” Initially scheduled for August, the crewed mission “will be delayed until November” following reports last month about

SPACE reports that on March 18, NASA officials said in remarks at a NASA town hall during the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference that the agency is seeking to land a rover on the moon by 2023. Science Mission Directorate Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration Steve Clarke said, “We’re trying to get to the moon with

Air Force Times reports that Northrop Grumman “last week launched a new campaign website focused on hypersonic defense as part of a broader push into the business area, where the Pentagon expects to spend more than $10 billion in the next five years to develop offensive and defensive capabilities.” Vice President, Missile Defense Solutions Kenn Todorov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: John Blacksten 703.264.7532 [email protected] March 21, 2019 – Reston, Va. – American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) members Col. Eileen Collins, Daniel Dumbacher, Sandra “Sandy” Magnus, and Wanda Sigur will lend their expertise on human space exploration at the fifth meeting of the National Space Council on March 26 at the

Reuters reports that The Boeing Company unveiled a prototype fighter-like jet “developed in Australia and designed to fly alongside crewed aircraft in combat for a fraction of the cost.” The multi-role, uncrewed aircraft “is Australia’s first domestically developed combat aircraft since World War II.” Boeing did not specify a dollar amount for the jet, but it

CBS News reports that NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft “flying in close formation with a tiny asteroid named Bennu, has found clear signs of water-rich clays on its rock-strewn surface, as well as another mineral – magnetite – that forms in aqueous environments, project scientists said Tuesday.” OSIRIS-REx “also observed repeated outbursts that send small particles and pebbles

ExecutiveGov reports that “the U.S. Air Force Laboratory’s composites branch partnered with the University of Miami, Louisiana Tech University, University of Arkansas and the University of Texas to highlight the application of 3D printed carbon fiber and epoxy components on air and spacecraft structures.” The USAF indicated that additive printing “supports the integration of metal and

FlightGlobal reports that Australia “will obtain four modified Gulfstream G550 business jets that will be modified for the electronic warfare (EW) mission in the USA.” In a deal worth $1.7 billion, “the aircraft will be designated the MC-55A Peregrine, [said] a joint statement from Australia’s defence minister and the country’s minister for defence industry.” Australian Defence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: John Blacksten 703.264.7532 [email protected] March 8, 2019 – Reston, Va. –The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) congratulates the SpaceX and NASA teams on the safe return to Earth of Crew Dragon this morning. The importance of what has been accomplished during the successful Demo-1 mission cannot be overstated. Today,

Reuters reports that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) “is investigating the Federal Aviation Administration’s approval of Boeing Co’s 737 MAX jetliners, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the probe.” The DOT inquiry began “in the wake of October’s Lion Air accident that killed 189 people and is being conducted by

BBC News Online (UK) reported that Reaction Engines’ “project to develop a hypersonic engine that could take a plane from London to Sydney in about four hours is set for a key demonstration.” The company’s Sabre engine “is part jet, part rocket, and relies on a novel pre-cooler heat-exchanger technology.” The ESA-approved review “sets the stage

Aviation Week reports that beginning March 27, “air navigation service providers (ANSPs) in the UK and Canada later this month will start a joint trial of space-based surveillance of aircraft flying over the North Atlantic, a capability that will deliver immediate safety and capacity benefits for oceanic travel.” More Info (Aviation Week)

Space News reports that “a day after announcing that NASA was studying the possibility of shifting an Orion mission from the Space Launch System rocket to commercial vehicles, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said he and the agency still support development of the SLS.” Bridenstine said in remarks at a Space Transportation Association luncheon held March 14,

Spaceflight Now reports that “United Launch Alliance ground crews are putting the final touches” on a 218-foot-tall Delta 4 rocket scheduled for liftoff at 6:56 EDT Friday evening from Cape Canaveral with a USAF 10th Wideband Global SATCOM communications satellite payload. The satellite “will relay high-data-rate communications in X-band and Ka-band frequencies during a mission expected

Reuters reports that FAA Acting Administrator Dan Elwell said in “a conference call with reporters that the ‘black boxes’ from Sunday’s Ethiopian Airlines plane crash are headed to France later on Wednesday.” Elwell “expects it will take months before a software fix for Boeing 737 Max planes is complete.” Elwell also indicated “that he does not

Reuters reports that the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 passenger jet by many nations “sent shockwaves through global aviation after a crash in Ethiopia, but many airlines are managing to keep to schedule with other jets while economic woes mean some may be grateful for a pause.” More Info (Reuters)

Reuters reports that Japan’s space agency announced Tuesday that they have agreed to cooperate with Toyota to develop a crewed lunar rover that runs on fuel cell technologies. The rover “is still in the conceptual stage, but an illustration in the news release showed a six-wheel vehicle that somewhat resembled an armored personnel carrier.” According to

Reuters reports that the USAF announced that a Boeing KC-46 Pegasus tanker jet is scheduled for delivery on Monday to Altus AFB in Oklahoma. An Air Mobility Command representative “said that under the corrective action plan, subsequent deliveries would occur as The Boeing Company successfully completes each aircraft’s inspection.” The USAF had stopped accepting the tankers

USA Today reports that NASA awarded a nearly $19 million contract for the development of nuclear rockets, and “this year’s NASA budget contains $100 million for nuclear thermal research.” More Info (USA Today)

Reuters reports that The Boeing Company announced Sunday that it has postponed the planned ceremonial debut of its 777X widebody aircraft after the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines plane on Saturday. Boeing “said after the crash of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 is focused on ‘supporting’ the airline and would not proceed with Wednesday’s

Bloomberg reported that the Crew Dragon “splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean around 8:45 am Eastern time Friday about 250 miles east of Kennedy Space Center in Florida, roughly six hours after undocking.” More Info (Bloomberg)

Airforce Technology reported that the USAF “has completed the first flight test of the long-range, high subsonic unmanned air vehicle, XQ-58A Valkyrie demonstrator” at Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona. The 76-minute test flight is the first of five planned flights that will be carried out in two phases, testing the aircraft on factors that include “system

FlightGlobal reports that USAF’s X-60A hypersonic research vehicle has completed its critical design review and has moved into its fabrication phase. AFRL “is developing the X-60A to increase the frequency of flight testing at hypersonic speeds, which it hopes will lower the cost of maturing hypersonic technologies.” According to USAF, the X-60A’s initial flight is scheduled

CNET News reports that NASA captured the “first air-to-air images of the interaction of shockwaves from two supersonic aircraft flying in formation.” These images “show for the first time how shockwaves interact in flight,” giving “a gorgeous visualization of the shockwaves that are heard on the ground as loud sonic booms.” NASA’s advanced air-to-air imaging system

SPACE reports that “NASA’s recently deceased Kepler space telescope launched atop a Delta II rocket from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on March 6, 2009,” a milestone that occurred exactly 10 years ago as of Wednesday. More Info (SPACE)  

CNN reports that recent incidents involving UAVs at worldwide airports show how UAVs “have become an increasing nuisance for airports worldwide in recent months, and good solutions to keep them from interfering with flights aren’t yet available.” Airports Council International-North America Senior Vice President Chris Oswalds said, “One major underlying concern across industry sectors is the

SPACE reports that the ESA is “asking the public which questions the agency should tackle with ‘Voyage 2050,’ its space science program for the 2035-2050 timeframe.” In a statement Monday, ESA Director of Science Günther Hasinger said, “We wish to encourage a sense of ownership and involvement in the space science program with our public, and

Aviation Week reports that Bombardier’s Global 7500 “has set a record for the longest mission ever flown by a purpose-built business jet in a nonstop flight spanning 8,152 nm,” beating the advertised range of 7,700 nm. The flight “also set a long-range speed record for the Singapore to Tuscon, Arizona, city pair,” and “landed with 4,300

Florida Today reports that “the first all-female spacewalk is scheduled to take place March 29.” NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Christina Koch will have CSA Flight Controller Kristen Facciol “serving as console at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.” More Info (Florida Today)

Reuters reported that the US Air Force announced Friday that it had stopped accepting The Boeing Company’s KC-46 tankers since February 20, and it is “working with the company to resolve the issue of foreign object debris (FOD) that were found in the aircraft.” A USAF official “told Reuters that the issue was not with the

CNET News reported that NASA announced in a mission update issued Thursday that the Curiosity rover is back in working condition after a unknown glitch temporarily took it out of commission two weeks ago. NASA previously announced that the rover experienced a “hiccup during boot-up” and went into a protective safe mode. Curiosity is transmitting fresh

FlightGlobal reports that the US Navy announced February 28 that the Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC). The Navy’s first F-35C squadron “completed aircraft carrier qualifications aboard USS Carl Vinson and received a Safe-For-Flight Operations Certification.” The Israeli Air Force, the Italian Air Force, and the UK’s Royal Air Force have

SPACE reports that “SpaceX’s first Crew Dragon spacecraft is poised for a historic test flight Saturday.” In remarks during a prelaunch conference February 28, NASA Deputy Manager Joel Montalbano said, “We’re looking forward to the launch this weekend.” SpaceX Vice President Hans Koenigsmann said, “The task ahead of us is really historic.” Added Koenigsmann, “I’m pretty

ExecutiveGov reports that the USAF’s Kessel Run software development team has developed the Kronos application with the purpose of accelerating the process of planning the weekly maintenance and flight schedule for F-35 fighter jets. The Kessel Run team “partnered with developers from Lockheed Martin, Pivotal Software and the Blended Operational Lightning Technician team at Nellis Air

The Houston Chronicle reports that Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) filed a bill Wednesday to continue US operations on the ISS until 2030. In a statement, Cornyn said that the bill “sets the stage for a new era of space exploration and to reassert American leadership in space discovery.” Cornyn “hopes this measure, when passed, will provide some

Florida Today reports that Air Force 45th Weather Squadron Forecasters currently anticipate 80 percent “go” conditions for the liftoff of a Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule on Saturday from the Kennedy Space Center on DM-1. After a flight readiness review “last Friday,” NASA officials “confirmed the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket will

Aviation Today reports that the FAA “is proposing a final rule requiring that small” UAVs display a “unique identifier.” The move bypasses “the normal notice and comment period of up to 180 days,” and the interim final rule “will take effect Feb. 25.” According to a February 13 Federal Register notice, “Small unmanned aircraft owners are

AP reports that the US Air Force released a plan Friday detailing a potential roadmap for creating the Space Force as a separate service, estimating that doing so would cost the Trump Administration $3.3 billion in the first year and $12.9 billion in the new branch’s first five years. The Air Force’s number is the “first

Orlando Sentinel reports that Lockheed Martin “pulled up the curtain on a new innovation lab Tuesday,” demonstrating technologies including “3D printers, virtual and augmented reality headsets and a robotics lab meant to encourage its employees to experiment.” The 6,500-square-foot lab is located at the company’s Missiles and Fire Control campus in Orlando, Florida, and “will also

CNN reports that Virgin Galactic has scheduled the rocket-powered spaceplane VSS Unity to “attempt one of its highest and fastest test flights ever on Wednesday, potentially bringing the company closer to its goal of launching paying customers to space this year.” VSS Unity is set to lift off from Mojave Air and Space Port in California,

Business Facilities reports that it has named Virginia as its “2018 State of the Year.” While announcing Virginia as the recipient of the award, BF Editor in Chief Jack Rogers said, “Virginia snared more than $5.5 billion in capital investment for its top two projects, and its top five job-creation efforts netted nearly 28,000 new jobs