Industry News

Aviation International News reports that Gulfstream Aerospace “is making its cabin air even cleaner with a new plasma ionization system. An enhancement to its cabin product offerings, the plasma ionization system operates when the aircraft environmental control system is active.” The system “emits positive and negative oxygen ions that Gulfstream said inactivate harmful molecules on surfaces

Florida Today reported that SpaceX is scheduled to launch 58 “Starlink communication satellites and three PlanetLab SkySat Earth-imaging satellites” at 10:31 a.m. Tuesday from Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 40. The forecast for the launch “is a 70% ‘go’ as calculated by the U.S. Air Force. The primary concern[s] for launch are rain showers and

USA Today reports that Rolls-Royce North America announced that it intends to shutter its aircraft-component manufacturing facility in Prince George County, Virginia, by mid-2021. In a statement Saturday, company spokesperson Donald Campbell indicated that the closure is attributable to a decline in business during the COVID-19 crisis. Campbell said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a historic

Phys (UK) reports that NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter “received a checkout and recharge of its power system on Friday, Aug. 7, one week into its near seven-month journey to Mars with the Perseverance rover.” The recharge “marks the first time the helicopter has been powered up and its batteries have been charged in the space environment.”

FlightGlobal reports that the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) posted a request for information notice Wednesday regarding the Expendable Hypersonic Multi-Mission Air-Breathing Demonstrator program, also known as Mayhem. Mayhem “would be a competition to design, fabricate and integrate a large cruise missile, says AFRL.” The AFRL said, “The Mayhem System Demonstrator will need to be

Spaceflight Now reports that the United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket is set to launch from Cape Canaveral on August 26, in a launch window that opens and closes sometime between 1:50 a.m. and 6:25 a.m. EDT. The rocket “will carry a classified payload into orbit” for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Twelve Delta 4-Heavy missions

Aviation International News reports that “worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales plunged 37.3 percent, to $490.7 million, in the second quarter as the market hit its expected pandemic-induced low point, according to the Aircraft Electronics Association’s latest Avionics Market Report. In the first six months of 2020, avionics sales amounted to $1.15 billion, down 23.6

SPACE reports that NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) space telescope finished its primary mission on July 4, “having discovered 66 confirmed alien planets and nearly 2,100 ‘candidates’ that scientists still need to vet, NASA officials said.” Despite its primary mission being completed, NASA is still using TESS to find exoplanets in “an extended mission that

Air Force Magazine reports that on August 5, the HH-60W Jolly Green II completed its first aerial refueling at Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base. Air Force and Sikorsky pilots flew the aircraft “at 110 knots to connect with an HC-130J tanker during the initial test, which lasted just under two hours.” According to a USAF release,

Aerospace America reports that on Tuesday, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft “will attempt a very close encounter with the near-Earth asteroid Bennu 300,000 kilometers away.” The rehearsal “is the last of two leading up to” the attempt to collect a sample from the asteroid, which is scheduled for October 20. During the four-hour rehearsal, the spacecraft will

ExecutiveGov reports that Northrop Grumman announced Monday “that the company will expand its local…aerospace and defense workforce in Utah and has projected that it will fill more than 600 positions.” Northrop Grumman Director of Air Force Programs Katie Qian said, “We are building facilities to support these new projects that are coming on. … For example,

SPACE reported that NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is scheduled to practice its touchdown sequence on asteroid Bennu for the second time on Tuesday. The spacecraft “will rehearse the touch-and-go sample-collection event, similar to the mission’s April 14 checkpoint rehearsal, which practiced the first two maneuvers of the descent.” The spacecraft also “will add a third maneuver, called

Air Force Times reported that the US Air Force “has concluded a two-day, $1.4 million exercise that evaluated the F-35 fighter jet’s ability to provide its electronic warfare capabilities to other stealthy reconnaissance and bombing platforms.” The exercise, held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, from August 4-6, “tested the ability for the F-35 to provide

SpaceNews reports that a SpaceX Falcon 9 successfully launched Friday at 1:12 a.m. EDT from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center with “the latest set of the company’s Starlink satellites, along with two BlackSky imaging satellites.” Following liftoff from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A, and “a pair of burns, the upper stage deployed BlackSky’s Global-7 satellite nearly 62

GovCon Wire reports that the US Air Force “has indicated its intent to solicit design proposals from The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies for a hypersonic cruise missile technology that can be launched from a fighter or a bomber aircraft.” The Air Force “is asking all three contractors to submit statements that will describe

UPI reports that NASA and The Boeing Company “said Thursday they completed a crucial test of propulsion systems on the Space Launch System moon rocket in Mississippi, advancing toward a full hot-fire or ‘green run’ of the massive vehicle’s engines in October.” Boeing Green Run Director Mark Nappi said in an interview, “We’ve learned that

Florida Today reports that SpaceX plans to launch 57 Starlink satellites and two BlackSky Earth observation satellites atop a Falcon 9 rocket at 1:12 a.m. EDT Friday. Conditions “should be 70% ‘go’ for” the launch. If the launch is delayed by a day, “conditions are expected to slightly improve to 80% ‘go.’” Full Story (FlightGlobal)

FlightGlobal reports that Airbus and The Boeing Company “have collectively accumulated a backlog of more than 120 passenger jets that had their first flights more than 60 days ago but are yet to be delivered to customers.” Cirium fleets data “show in 2019, an average of 60 days elapsed between the first flight of an Airbus

ExecutiveGov reports that NASA has completed the systems integration review of the Lucy spacecraft’s “subsystems, electrical components, scientific instruments, navigation systems and communications, NASA said Monday.” The systems integration review of the Lucy mission, which will explore Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids, ran from July 27 to July 30. NASA “had to delay some of Lucy’s production

Reuters reports that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency would not comment on the FAA’s documents detailing the agency’s plan for the return of the Boeing 737 MAX. An EASA spokesperson said that the agency is “still working to conduct our test flights, scheduling of which has been hampered by the travel restrictions due to COVID-19.”

The Seattle Times reports that on Monday, the FAA released “its final list of required design changes to the Boeing 737 MAX, as well as changes to operation and maintenance procedures and to proposed pilot training, that must be completed for the jet to return to passenger service.”  Included in the required desgin changes are

FlightGlobal reports that Russia “has ordered United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) to speed up deliveries of its S-70 Okhotnik ‘Hunter’ unmanned air vehicle (UAV) to 2024.” The UAV was originally scheduled to be delivered in 2025. The UAV “is designed to carry a payload of 6,000kg (13,200lb), have a flight range of 3,240nm (6,000km) and an operating

Space News reports that Virgin Galactic “has pushed the beginning of commercial flights of its SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle to no earlier than the first quarter of 2021.” The company, “in its fiscal second quarter financial results released Aug. 3, said it expected to perform two more test flights of SpaceShipTwo from Spaceport America in New Mexico,

Spaceflight Now reported that NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance mission “resumed normal operations Friday after cold temperatures forced the spacecraft into safe mode soon after a successful launch from Cape Canaveral.” NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Mars 2020 Mission Deputy Project Manager Matt Wallace said, “With safe mode exit, the team is getting down to the business of

Reuters reported that on Friday, Canada “said it had received three bids in a multibillion-dollar contest to supply the country with 88 new fighter jets, with a final contract to be awarded in 2022 and first delivery as early as 2025.” The proposals “were from a Saab AB-led consortium, Lockheed Martin Corp with Pratt & Whitney,

CBS News reports that NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley “returned to Earth in a dramatic retro-style splashdown, parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico,” aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Endeavour, at 2:48 p.m. EDT Sunday, successfully concluding SpaceX’s historic Demo-2 mission to the ISS. Full Story (CBS News)

Aviation International News reports that Boom Supersonic and Rolls-Royce “have entered into a so-called engagement agreement to explore the pairing of a Rolls-Royce propulsion system with Boom’s proposed supersonic passenger aircraft called Overture, the companies announced Thursday.” Boom “said the agreement calls for the companies to work together to identify the propulsion system that would complement

Aviation International News reports that Boom Supersonic and Rolls-Royce “have entered into a so-called engagement agreement to explore the pairing of a Rolls-Royce propulsion system with Boom’s proposed supersonic passenger aircraft called Overture, the companies announced Thursday.” Boom “said the agreement calls for the companies to work together to identify the propulsion system that would complement

SPACE reports that NASA said in a statement that the agency and SpaceX plan to land astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken off the coast of Florida on Sunday at 2:42 p.m. The astronauts will land “in one of these locations: off the coasts of Pensacola, Tampa, Tallahassee, Panama City, Cape Canaveral, Daytona or Jacksonville, NASA

Aviation International News reports that “in addition to testing sound signatures of new supersonic airplanes, NASA’s X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) experimental demonstrator is breaking ground in another area: flight without a forward-facing window.” Instead of a forward-facing window, the NASA and Lockheed Martin X-plane will come equipped with an eXternal Vision System (XVS). The XVS

TechCrunch reports that NASA successfully launched its Mars 2020 mission early Thursday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, with NASA’s Perseverance rover mounted atop, lifted off at 7:50 a.m. EDT.  Following lift off and deployment of the rocket’s second stage, the spacecraft was positioned into a

SPACE reports that NASA “and its international partners have officially assigned the astronauts to fly on SpaceX’s Crew-2 mission in spring of 2021, the U.S. space agency announced” Tuesday. The astronauts in Crew-2 include: NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan McArthur, “who will serve as spacecraft commander and pilot, respectively,” Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Akihiko

Aviation International News reports that Gulfstream “is reporting progress in the testing program for its new flagship G700, completing more than 100 flights to date.” The company “also has conducted flutter testing and expanded the flight envelope at both low and high speeds.” The G700 aircraft, which is powered by two Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines, “has

GovCon Wire reports that NASA has selected Ball Aerospace, Maxar Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, and Southwest Research Institute to take part in the $6 billion indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition IV contract. Rapid IV “will include firm-fixed-price orders for ancillary equipment, components and operational assistance, NASA said Saturday.” NASA “expects contract services to

Aviation International News reports that during the EAA Spirit of Aviation virtual event held last week, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine discussed how the agency views the future of urban air mobility (UAM). Bridenstine said that current air traffic infrastructure “is not going to be able to manage” UAM, with “thousands of unmanned aerial systems operating [at]

The AP reported that the US “wants to build nuclear power plants that will work on the moon and Mars, and on Friday put out a request for ideas from the private sector on how to do that.” The US Department of Energy (DOE) “put out the formal request to build what it calls a fission surface

Reuters reported that The Boeing Company “is preparing to delay its all-new 777X jet by several months or up to a year, three people familiar with the matter said.” Boeing “hopes to bring the jet to market as passenger travel rebounds after a downturn caused by the pandemic. It would also hope for a detente in

SPACE reports that NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover is on track to launch July 30 after passing its flight readiness review (FRR) Wednesday, NASA officials announced. Agency officials wrote in a Wednesday update that the FRR “was an opportunity for the Mars 2020 team and launch vehicle provider United Launch Alliance to report on the readiness

Reuters reports that American Airlines and Southwest Airlines “said on Thursday they are still committed to the 737 MAX despite delays in its return to flight and the coronavirus pandemic,” though Southwest CEO Gary Kelly “said contracts need to be ‘completely reset.’” American Airlines CFO Derek Kerr “said the carrier is in ‘good discussions’ with

CNET News reports that SpaceX CEO Elon Musk “said on Twitter Tuesday that SN5, the latest iteration of the Starship developmental craft, ‘will attempt to fly later this week.’” The first test “flight of SN5 is expected to be a 150-meter (492 foot) ‘hop.’” Full Story (CNET News)

Space News reports that the “first flight of Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rocket failed to reach orbit in May when a propellant line broke seconds after the ignition of the rocket’s first stage engine, the company’s chief executive said” Wednesday. During a Space Generation Advisory Council webinar, CEO Dan Hart “said the demonstration mission for the

The AP reports that on Tuesday, NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Chris Cassidy completed their final spacewalk outside the ISS before preparing for the SpaceX Dragon crew capsule’s return flight to Earth. The astronauts “routed cables, hooked up a tool storage chest and removed thermal shielding from a docking port that will house a commercial airlock later

Daily Mail (UK) reports that Rolls-Royce “will provide the engines for Bell Textron’s V-280 Valor aircraft – which is one of two models competing for a potentially mammoth deal to make the replacement for the famous Reagan-era Black Hawks.” The US Army “is due to choose one design for the catchily named Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft

ExecutiveGov reports that NASA “is seeking feedback on a proposed liability framework to ensure the implementation of certification guidelines and insurance policies for private astronaut missions (PAM).” NASA “will accept feedback on the recent RFI through Sept. 1st, 2020.” NASA “intends to select a PAM provider through which the agency will ‘impose requirements with respect

Reuters reports that Alphabet Inc. subsidiary Wing is using its UAVs in Christiansburg, Virginia, to deliver medicine and groceries to local residents. Wing “has seen a major uptick in interest amid the coronavirus pandemic, as emergency regulations keep people at home and complicate many of the simplest tasks.” Last year, Wing “became the first drone

CBS News reported that NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken, “who were launched to the International Space Station on May 30 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, plan to return to Earth on August 2, weather permitting.” The two astronauts “will descend by parachute to an ocean splashdown to close out a historic 64-day test

Aviation International News reports that Rolls-Royce “continues to report ‘good progress’ on fixing durability problems with the Trent 1000 engine, adding that it has achieved the target of single-digit numbers of aircraft grounded by the end of the second quarter.” This update came after a July 9 statement where the company said, “We have now reached

Reuters reports that British Airways (BA), “the world’s largest operator of Boeing 747, said late Thursday it would retire its entire jumbo jet fleet with immediate effect due to the downturn in travel industry caused by the coronavirus pandemic.” BA “added that it will operate more flights on modern, fuel-efficient aircraft such as its new A350s

The AP reports that NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Chris Cassidy “completed their part of a three-year power upgrade to the International Space Station on Thursday, replacing six more outdated batteries with powerful new ones.” The astronauts completed their original task an hour ahead of schedule, and were able “to complete the battery swaps in a single

Bloomberg reports that BAE Systems Plc, “the developer of Britain’s next fighter jet, said it’s considering powering the planned warplane using alternative propulsion such as hybrid or fully electric systems.” BAE Systems, “which is working with engine-maker Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc and others, is ‘examining all options’ to power the plane, manufacturing director Dave Holmes said on