Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), in collaboration with South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace, has achieved a significant milestone with the Gray Eagle STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). On November 12, 2024, the Gray Eagle STOL successfully launched from the South Korean Navy’s amphibious landing ship Dokdo and completed its flight with a smooth landing at Pohang Navy Airfield.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)
Tag: 2024
Japan Clears V-22 Osprey Fleet to Resume Flights
Flying Magazine reports, “The Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) has cleared its V-22 Osprey fleet to return to flight after determining pilot error was the cause of an October accident on Yonaguni Island. The incident occurred during a joint exercise with U.S. military where the V-22 Osprey tilted and hit the ground as it was taking off, though no injuries were reported among the 16 on board.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
U.S. Air Force to Order More Autonomous Fighter Prototypes
Aviation Week reports, “The U.S. Air Force plans to add more orders for the first batch of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) prototypes to equip a newly established experimental operations unit, acquisition chief Andrew Hunter said on Nov. 13. The additional orders come after the Air Force selected Anduril and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) for CCA Increment 1 prototypes in April.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
More Space Companies Betting their Future on Reusability
Space News reports, “On the fifth integrated test flight of Starship, launched Oct. 13 from the company’s Boca Chica, Texas, site, the Super Heavy booster aimed to fly back to the launch tower, where massive mechanical arms — dubbed ‘chopsticks’ — would grapple it. So many things could go wrong that most expected failure, much like SpaceX’s early attempts to land Falcon 9 boosters a decade ago. Inside the company, though, there was confidence.”
Full Story (Space News)
SpaceX Targets November 18 for Starship Flight 6 Launch
Spaceflight Now reports that SpaceX “announced on Wednesday a target launch date of Nov. 18” for its sixth test flight of Starship. This will be the fastest turnaround for the Starship program as SpaceX works towards what needs to become a weekly launch cadence for NASA’s Artemis program.
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
US Air Force Carries Out Dramatic Nighttime Minuteman III Test
Defense News reports, “Air Force Global Strike Command carried out a test of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile late Tuesday night. The ICBM, which was equipped with multiple targeted reentry vehicles, launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at about 11 p.m. Pacific time. It then flew about 4,200 miles, at roughly 15,000 miles per hour, to a ballistic missile test site in the Marshall Islands’ Kwajalein Atoll.”
Full Story (Defense News)
Video
US Air Force launches unarmed ICBM (Launch at 0:01 mark)
(VideoFromSpace); YouTube)
CityAirbus NextGen Prototype Performs First Liftoff
Vertical Magazine reports, “The CityAirbus NextGen prototype eVTOL aircraft has performed its first liftoff, marking the official start of the type’s flight test campaign. The news was announced by Bruno Even, the CEO of Airbus Helicopters, on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Nov. 6.”
Full Story (Vertical Magazine)
AstroForge Prepares for Deep-Space Mission to Mine Asteroid
Mining.com reports, “California-based AstroForge, a pioneer in the field of space mining, is preparing to launch the first fully commercial deep-space mission with the ambitious goal of harvesting precious metals from asteroids. CEO Matt Gialich envisions a future where mining in space alleviates Earth’s resource constraints by tapping into the vast, untapped deposits found on asteroids and other celestial bodies. In a conversation with MINING.COM’s host Devan Murugan, Gialich said that AstroForge’s unique positioning in space will enable the company to achieve profit margins superior to traditional, earth-based mining, largely due to the abundance and purity of space resources.”
Full Story (Mining.com)
Boeing’s Largest Union Approves New Contract, Ending Lengthy and Costly Strike
The New York Times reports, “Members of Boeing’s largest union approved a new contract on Monday, ending a weekslong strike that was one of the country’s most financially damaging work stoppages in decades. The contract was endorsed by 59 percent of those voting, according to the union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.”
Full Story (New York Times – Subscription Publication)
SpaceX Launches Cargo Dragon Spacecraft on 31st ISS Resupply Mission
Spaceflight Now reports that a SpaceX Cargo Dragon spacecraft launched Monday evening to begin its fifth journey to the International Space Station, carrying with it “more than 6,000 pounds of cargo and science experiments to the orbiting outpost. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) happened at 9:29 p.m. EST “
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Video
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Cargo Dragon from Kennedy Space Center (Launch at 1:31:11 mark)
(Spaceflight Now); YouTube)