Industry News

14 May 2019 Spaceflight Now reports that “SpaceX ground teams at Cape Canaveral transferred a Falcon 9 rocket to launch pad 40 and rotated the booster vertical Monday for a preflight hold-down firing, ahead of a liftoff scheduled for Wednesday night carrying 60 satellites into orbit for the company’s planned Starlink broadband constellation.” (Image: SpaceX Falcon

13 May 2019 Reuters reported that “a failed fuel tube caused the first crash of an F-35 jet in September of last year, U.S. government investigators said in a report issued this week.” (Image: F-35 Lightning II performs demonstration flight at Paris Air Show, Tuesday, 20 June 2017. Credit: Associated Press–©) Full Story (Reuters)

10 May 2019 Space News reports that “the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center on Thursday awarded United Launch Alliance a $149 million contract for a Delta 4 Heavy launch of the National Reconnaissance Office mission NROL-68, the second of three missions awarded to ULA under the Launch Vehicle Production Services contract in October

9 May 2019 The AP reports that “Swedish manufacturer Saab plans to open” a $37 million facility at Purdue’s Discovery Park District “as part of its production of a new Air Force training jet, bringing a major aviation project” near Purdue University. Saab CEO Hakan Buskhe “said the facility is expected to open next year

9 May 2019 Aviation Week reports that in materials dated May 7, the FAA “‘cannot confirm the legality’ of using technologies designed to detect small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), the agency states.” The FAA provided “information to airport operators interested in testing systems that can detect and track drones flying within the vicinity of an

8 May 2019 FlightGlobal reports that Pegasus Universal Aerospace’s vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) business jet “will make its first public outing this month at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva.” The startup “will debut a one-eighth-scale model of the all-composite aircraft and open the orderbook for the eight-passenger type.” The

8 May 2019 CBS News reports that a hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina, is “pioneering the use of drones to speed up the delivery of critical medical samples across WakeMed Hospital’s campus.” WakeMed “partnered with…UPS and drone-maker Matternet to launch the program in March.” The program debuts the “first revenue-producing commercial drone flights approved by

7 May 2019 CNET News reports that “NASA on Monday tweeted out a time-lapse video of” SpaceX’s uncrewed Dragon cargo spacecraft as it was “being captured” by the ISS. NASA posted on Twitter, “Checkout this incredible time lapse video of this morning’s capture of the @SpaceX Dragon cargo craft by astronaut @Astro_DavidS of @CSA_ASC, backed

1 May 2019 SPACE reports that “six flybys of relatively large asteroids will happen over a span of two years, beginning in June 2027,” and they “will offer an incredible spree of close asteroid flybys, and none will pose a threat to life on Earth.” NASA JPL Radar Specialist Lance Benner said in remarks April

1 May 2019 The Los Angeles Times reports that “a video circulating on the internet that appeared to show SpaceX’s astronaut capsule exploding during an April 20 test was leaked from the test area, according to an internal memo issued by a major NASA contractor.” Both “NASA and SpaceX have been tight-lipped about the extent

26 April 2019 Reuters reports that “Japan expanded its search for a missing F-35 stealth fighter on Thursday with a maritime survey vessel joining a navy ship and a U.S. Navy salvage team is expected in the area in coming days, a Japanese air force spokesman said.” Only small pieces of the aircraft’s tail have

26 April 2019 Reuters reports that the FAA will host a meeting of top civil aviation officials May 23 to discuss the safety of the 737 MAX. The FAA said that the meeting “is intended to provide participants the FAA’s safety analysis that will inform its decision to return the 737 MAX fleet to service

25 April 2019 The Orlando Sentinel reports that NASA “reinforced its confidence in SpaceX on Wednesday as the company moved ahead with a planned resupply mission to the International Space Station despite an apparent explosion over the weekend during testing of its astronaut capsule.” In a statement Wednesday, NASA spokesperson Stephanie Martin said that the

25 April 2019 ExecutiveGov reports that Layne Merritt, head of U.S. Army’s Aviation Development Directorate, “said the service plans to conduct a series of demonstrations for a new fleet of air-launched unmanned aircraft in the coming years, Defense News reported Tuesday.” The military branch “looks to develop a capability to deploy drones from a larger

24 April 2019 Reuters reports that “NASA’s robotic probe InSight has detected and measured what scientists believe to be a ‘marsquake,’ marking the first time a likely seismological tremor has been recorded on another planet, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California reported on Tuesday.” (Image Credit: NASA) More Info (Reuters)

24 April 2019 The Los Angeles Times reports that the use of “hypergolic propellants” by SpaceX could be part of “the investigation into an accident Saturday during a ‘static fire’ test of a Crew Dragon’s SuperDraco engines in Florida.” The SuperDraco thrusters are “powered by monomethylhydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide – propellants that, when combined, immediately

18 April 2019 Space News reports that “a Northrop Grumman Antares rocket successfully launched a Cygnus spacecraft April 17” at 4:46 p.m. local time from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. The Cygnus carried “nearly three and a half metric tons of cargo bound for the International Space Station,” and it “separated from the Antares rocket’s upper

CNET News reports that NASA and Blue Origin “have signed an agreement that will provide Blue Origin access to the historic test stand and strengthen growth in the commercial space sector, NASA announced Wednesday.” Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith said in a press release, “Through this agreement, we’ll provide for the refurbishment, restoration and modernization of

CNET News reports that NASA is studying the lunar South Pole as part of its “plan to return astronauts to the moon within five years.” Although “the Apollo missions of the ‘60s and ‘70s all landed around the moon’s equator…the pole has” ice capable of extraction and use in various applications. NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for

16 April 2019 Reuters reports that United Continental Holdings Inc. announced Monday that it was removing flights operated using Boeing 737 MAX jets from its schedule “through early July.” The carrier has limited the number of cancellations to date by using Boeing 777 and 787 passenger jets to service its 737 MAX routes, but United Airlines

CNN reports that “NASA’s planet-hunting TESS mission has found its first Earth-size exoplanet,” dubbed HD 21749c, “in a star system only 53 light-years from Earth.” Researchers determined in a study “published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on Monday” that the planet “completes an orbit of its host star every eight days,” and “the density suggests that

15 April 2019 Reuters reports that “the world’s largest aircraft took off over the Mojave Desert in California on Saturday, the first flight for the carbon-composite plane built by Stratolaunch Systems Corp.” The Roc aircraft “has a wingspan the length of an American football field and is powered by six engines on a twin fuselage.” The

15 April 2019 SPACE reported that on Thursday, NASA “announced that SpaceX will fly its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) planetary-defense mission.” DART “will launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in June 2021,” and it will have a “total launch cost for NASA” of “about $69 million, agency officials

Reuters reports that the FAA confirmed on Thursday that it will hold a meeting on Friday with airlines and pilot unions to discuss the 737 MAX. The FAA said that the purpose of the meeting is to help the agency “gather facts, information, and individual views to further understand their views as FAA decides what needs

The New York Times reports that researchers have published the results of the NASA Twins Study, which found both temporary and permanent changes to astronaut Scott Kelly’s biological makeup and genetic mutations. Researchers studied the impact of time spent in space by comparing astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent 340 days in space on the ISS, with his

SPACE reports that “SpaceX called off the much-anticipated second launch of its massive Falcon Heavy rocket on Wednesday (April 10) due to unacceptable wind conditions in the upper atmosphere.” In a Twitter post, SpaceX representatives said, “Standing down from today’s Falcon Heavy launch attempt; next opportunity is tomorrow, April 11.” The rescheduled Thursday launch “would occur

The Wall Street Journal reports that the FAA has created an international panel featuring regulators from the European Union, China, Canada, Brazil, the UAE, Indonesia, and others that will assess the Boeing 737 MAX’s safety certification and The Boeing Company’s software fix for the jet. Sources believe that the 737 MAX grounding could be lifted in early

Reuters reports that “search and rescue teams found wreckage from a Japanese F-35 stealth fighter that crashed over the Pacific Ocean close to northern Japan, but the pilot remains missing, authorities said on Wednesday.” An Air Self Defence Force (ASDF) spokesman said, “We recovered the wreckage and determined it was from the F-35.” More Info (Reuters)

CNET News reports that Alphabet’s startup Wing “on Tuesday launched its commercial drone delivery service in North Canberra, Australia.” The UAVs “will deliver fresh food, hot coffee and over-the-counter health products to customers’ homes within minutes, the company said.” In a blog post, the company said, “Wing has teamed up with local Canberra businesses to give

Aviation International News reports that Gulfstream set a new city-pair speed record after “the ultra-long-range G650ER flew” March 29 “from Singapore to Tucson, Arizona, in 15 hours and 23 minutes, with fuel in excess of NBAA IFR reserves, eclipsing the previous record set earlier last month by a Bombardier Global 7500 by 44 minutes.” The flight

The Orlando Sentinel reported that “SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket launch is officially scheduled for Tuesday night” with a launch window from 6:36 p.m. to 8:33 p.m. local time “from Kennedy Space Center’s launch pad 39A.” However, “the 45th Space Wing [weather] forecast from Patrick Air Force Base calls for just a 30% chance of the weather cooperating

FlightGlobal reported that “combat units of the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter fleet within the three US military services and eight international programme partners are on track to reach an 80% mission capability rate by September 2019.” In prepared testimony before the US House Armed Services Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee on April 4, Joint

FlightGlobal reports that manufacturer Piper Aircraft has launched its Pilot 100 and 100i entry-level trainers, “which are designed to plug a gap in the market from the growing training school sector for aircraft with ‘optimal acquisition and operating costs and economics.” The $259,000 “value-priced” trainers “are trimmed-down derivatives of the PA-28 Archer TX and feature a

CNET News reports that “NASA announced on Wednesday that Boeing will target August for the first uncrewed Orbital Flight Test of the CST-100 Starliner,” and “a crewed mission is unlikely to happen until late 2019.” Although “the Starliner spacecraft is close to completion and is designed to be reusable up to 10 times,” NASA has yet

CNET News reports that “early Tuesday morning, Elon Musk said on Twitter that the first test of a Raptor engine as part of Starship had been set back by ‘some challenges with ice formation in the cryogenic propellant prevalves. Hopefully overcome soon.’” SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket’s test firing also was delayed, but the rocket “is still

Reuters reports that the U.S. Air Force “said on Tuesday that it again stopped accepting deliveries of Boeing Co’s KC-46 tanker aircraft after finding foreign object debris in the planes.” USAF spokesperson Captain Hope Cronin said, “Our inspectors identified additional foreign object debris and areas where Boeing did not meet quality standards.” More Info (Reuters)

Reuters (4/1) reports that The Boeing Company announced Monday that it will submit its software patch for the 737 MAX “for FAA review once completed in the coming weeks.” The company added, “We will take a thorough and methodical approach to the development and testing of the update to ensure we take the time to get

The Washington Post reports that NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine “said Monday that the agency will need additional funding to meet a White House mandate to land people on the moon by 2024.” In remarks at a town hall meeting at NASA headquarters, Bridenstine said, “In the executive branch, people are very serious, we are going to the

FlightGlobal reported that “Japan’s air force stood up its first operational F-35A fighter squadron, the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, on 29 March.” The nation joins the US and other military services “with operational F-35 squadrons.” Vice Admiral Mat Winter said, “This is a major milestone for the F-35 enterprise, as it marks the first F-35 IOC

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