Space News reports that Blue Origin “launched its New Shepard suborbital vehicle on its first flight of the year March 31, carrying six people on a brief trip to space and back.” The rocket “lifted off from the company’s Launch Site One in West Texas at 9:59 a.m. Eastern.” The crew of Blue Origin’s NS-20 mission were paying customers Marty Allen, Sharon and Marc Hagle, Jim Kitchen and George Nield, and Blue Origin New Shepard Chief Architect Gary Lai.
Full Story (Space News)
More Info (AIAA News)
Tag: 2022
AIAA Statement on Blue Origin’s Successful NS-20 Mission
March 31, 2022 – Reston, Va. –The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Executive Director Dan Dumbacher made the following statement:
“On behalf of the 30,000 professional and student members of AIAA, we congratulate the Blue Origin team on its successful NS-20 mission. This mission continues building on Blue Origin’s vision to see millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. Through this mission, we are seeing Blue Origin’s progress opening up access to space travel for more even people from all walks of life.
We are especially thrilled to follow George Nield’s journey as part of the NS-20 astronaut crew. Dr. Nield is a member of the AIAA Board of Trustees, a lifetime member of the Institute, and an AIAA Fellow. We can’t wait to hear about his experience!
We recognize the dedicated aerospace industry professionals involved in making today’s mission a success. We salute our corporate member, Blue Origin, and their entire team, for helping shape the future of aerospace.
AIAA is honored to be one of Blue Origin’s Club for the Future partner organizations to help develop and inspire the next generation of space professionals.”
Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell
About ASCEND Powered by AIAA, ASCEND promotes the collaborative, interdisciplinary, outcomes-driven community of professionals, students, and enthusiasts around the world who are accelerating humanity’s progress toward our off-world future! For more information, visit ascend.events, or follow ASCEND on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
About AIAA The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Register for ASCENDxTexas, set for 27–28 April in Houston, TX, or learn more.
Video
New Shepard Mission NS-20 Webcast Replay (Blue Origin via YouTube)
AIAA Announces 2022 Election Results
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2022 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced today the results of its recent 2022 elections. The newly elected AIAA officials will take office on 28 April.
“Thank you to all AIAA members who volunteer to help lead this great organization,” said Basil Hassan, AIAA president. “I am grateful to all the candidates for your willingness to serve. Thank you also to all members who cast their vote. The aerospace industry is an extraordinary place to work because of AIAA members’ commitment and dedication. Congratulations to the new leaders.”
2022 Election Results for Board of Trustees Member-at-Large
Larry D. James, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Ben Marchionna, Electra.aero
Stephanie D. Wilson, NASA Johnson Space Center
2022 Election Results for Chief, Integration and Outreach Activities Division
Peter Hartwich, The Boeing Company
2022 Election Results for Council of Directors Positions
Director–Region IV
Ellen Gillespie, Retired
Director–Region V
James Guglielmo, Boeing Research & Technology
Director–Aerospace Outreach Group
Kevin Burns, Retired
Director–Integration Group
Thomas Irvine, TBI Aerospace Consulting, LLC
Director-Elect–Young Professionals Group
Dominic Pena, Ball Aerospace
Director–Information Systems Group
Michel Ingham, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Director–Propulsion and Energy Group
Rusty Powell, Axient, LLC
Media contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270
About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
Rocket Stage Headed for Moon Impact Likely from 2014 Chang’e Mission
Space News reports that a rocket stage “expected to impact the moon is still most likely to belong to China’s 2014 moon mission, despite a denial from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” Independent spectral analysis “by students at the University of Arizona also adds to the evidence that the object’s identity most likely belongs to China’s Chang’e-5 T1 mission.” University of Arizona associate professor Vishnu Reddy said, “We took a spectrum and compared it with Chinese and SpaceX rockets of similar types, and it matches the Chinese rocket. This is the best match, and we have the best possible evidence at this point.”
Full Story (Space News)
China to Launch More Than 50 Space Missions in 2022
Space News reports that the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation “aims to launch at least 140 spacecraft across more than 50 launches in 2022 following its busiest year in space so far.” Major missions “will include six launches to complete the construction phase of the Tiangong space station.”
Full Story (Space News)
AIAA Hosting NASA’s Bhavya Lal for Policy Webinar
MEDIA ALERT
February 8, 2022 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will host Bhavya Lal, NASA Associate Administrator, Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, for an ASCENDxWebinar, 12 p.m. EST, Tuesday, Feb. 15. The webinar is sponsored by Jacobs. Registration for the free Zoom event is open now, however participation is limited:
ASCENDxWebinar: Policy Discussion with NASA’s Bhavya Lal
During the webinar, Dr. Lal will speak about NASA’s newly established Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, its responsibilities, how it will support the Biden Administration’s priorities, and review other agency activities. The session will include questions from the webinar moderator, as well as those attending the Zoom event, using the chat function.
Powered by AIAA, ASCEND stands for Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration and New Discovery. ASCENDx events accelerate momentum toward the October ASCEND apex event.
AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270
NASA Headquarters Media Contact: Robert Margetta, [email protected], 202-358-0918
About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
About ASCEND
Powered by AIAA, ASCEND promotes the collaborative, interdisciplinary, outcomes-driven community of professionals, students, and enthusiasts who are accelerating humanity’s progress toward our off-world future! For more information on ASCEND, visit ascend.events, or follow ASCEND on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
AIAA Announces 2022 Premier Award Winners
Aerospace’s Best and Brightest to be Honored at AIAA Awards Gala
February 1, 2022 – Reston, Va. –The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the 2022 recipients of its most prestigious awards, the AIAA Premier Awards, recognizing the most influential and inspiring individuals in aerospace, whose outstanding contributions merit the highest accolades.
Presentation of the 2022 AIAA Premier Awards and recognition of the Institute’s Class of 2022 Honorary Fellows and Fellows will take place at the AIAA Awards Gala, Wednesday, 27 April, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington, DC. Tickets are available now.
“Congratulations to our premier award winners,” said AIAA President Basil Hassan. “We are inspired by their hard work, skill, and achievements, and we thank them for their dedication to the aerospace industry. AIAA is committed to ensuring that aerospace professionals are recognized and celebrated for their achievements, innovations, and discoveries that make the world safer, more connected, more accessible, and more prosperous.”
The winners are:
AIAA Public Service Award – Lori B. Garver, Earthrise Alliance
AIAA Reed Aeronautics Award – Peretz P. Friedmann, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
AIAA Distinguished Service Award – David A. Throckmorton, National Institute of Aerospace
AIAA International Cooperation Award – Dominique Collin, Safran Group (retired)
AIAA Engineer of the Year Award – Paul R. Gradl, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
AIAA Goddard Astronautics Award – Kyle T. Alfriend, Texas A&M University
AIAA Lawrence Sperry Award – Michael P. Snyder, Redwire Space
Award Citations
AIAA Public Service Award
The award honors a person who has demonstrated sustained and visible support for aviation and space goals.
- Lori B. Garver, Earthrise Alliance, honored “For sustained leadership in the arenas of public, private, and commercial aviation and aerospace research, development, technology transition, and mentorship.”
AIAA Reed Aeronautics Award
The highest honor AIAA bestows for notable achievements in the field of aeronautics. The award is named after Dr. Sylvanus A. Reed, aeronautical engineer, designer, and founding member of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences in 1932.
- Peretz P. Friedmann, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, honored “For inventing on-blade control for vibration reduction in rotorcraft and developing aerothermoelastic scaling laws facilitating hypersonic vehicle wind tunnel testing and design.”
AIAA Distinguished Service Award
AIAA recognizes an individual member who has provided distinguished service to the Institute over a period of years.
- David A. Throckmorton, National Institute of Aerospace, honored “For over three decades of leadership and exemplary service to AIAA at the section and national level.”
AIAA International Cooperation Award
The award is presented to a member who has made a recent individual contribution in the application of scientific and mathematical principles leading to a significant accomplishment or event worthy of AIAA’s national or international recognition.
- Dominique Collin, Safran Group (retired), honored “For sustained leadership in building international collaborations on noise and emissions reduction strategies for subsonic transport aircraft.”
AIAA Engineer of the Year Award
The award is presented to a member of the Institute who has made a recent individual, technical contribution in the application of scientific and mathematical principles leading to a significant technical accomplishment.
- Paul R. Gradl, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, recognized “For exceptional engineering and technical innovation developing metal additive manufacturing techniques, advanced materials, and large-scale techniques for rocket components while proactively promoting technology transfer.”
AIAA Goddard Astronautics Award
The highest honor AIAA bestows for notable achievement in the field of astronautics. It was endowed by Mrs. Goddard in the 1940s as the ARS Goddard Memorial Award to commemorate her husband, Robert H. Goddard—rocket visionary, pioneer, bold experimentalist, and superb engineer whose early liquid rocket engine launches set the stage for the development of astronautics.
- Kyle T. Alfriend, Texas A&M University, honored “For extraordinary contributions and advancements in the fields of orbital mechanics and space situational awareness.”
AIAA Lawrence Sperry Award
The award is presented for a notable contribution made by a young person, age 35 or under, to the advancement of aeronautics or astronautics. This award honors Lawrence B. Sperry, pioneer aviator and inventor, who died in 1923 in a forced landing while attempting a flight across the English Channel.
- Michael P. Snyder, Redwire Space, honored “For outstanding and notable contributions to advance in-space additive manufacturing to ensure safer, sustainable spaceflight missions and manufacturing industrial products to benefit Earth.”
Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell
About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
ULA Atlas V Rocket Rolls to Pad at Cape Canaveral, Setting Stage for Friday Liftoff
Florida Today reports that a “nearly 200-foot Atlas V rocket rolled to its pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday, setting the stage for liftoff from Launch Complex 41 a little more than 24 hours later.” Just before noon, United Launch Alliance confirmed that the “rocket’s mobile platform secured itself on four “piers” at the pad, marking the end of rollout operations with two Space Force satellites onboard.” Unlike other rockets, “Atlas V is configurable based on mission needs. For this flight known as USSF-8, the rocket is set to the 511 configuration: a five-meter payload fairing, one upper stage engine, and one additional side-mounted solid rocket booster.” Liftoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Friday, the “opening of a roughly two-hour window.”
Full Story (Florida Today)
SpaceX Launches 100 Smallsats into Orbit
Space News reports that a SpaceX Falcon 9 “placed more than 100 smallsats into orbit Jan. 13 as the company accelerates the pace of its dedicated rideshare missions.” Thursday’s launch was dubbed Transporter-3. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 “lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 10:25 a.m. Eastern.” The launch carried 105 satellites, and the largest single customer was Earth observation company Planet, “which flew 44 SuperDove spacecraft.”
Full Story (Space News)
Virgin Orbit to Launch Seven Satellites into Space Thursday
The Daily Mail (UK) reports that Virgin Orbit “is set to fire seven satellites into space later today, when RAF pilot [Matthew Stannard] ‘Stanny’ unleashes the LauncherOne rocket from a Boeing 747.” The jet “will fly up to 35,000ft over the Pacific Ocean for an hour, before deploying the Launcher One rocket and roughly 660lb of satellites contained within,” sending the satellites “into a 310 mile orbit” at 16:00 ET (21:00 GMT).
Full Story (Daily Mail (UK))