CNBC reports that right before Artemis I lifted off from Cape Canaveral, “NASA announced an additional Starship award under the lunar Artemis program. SpaceX is now on tap for about $4 billion worth of Starship flights for NASA – an uncrewed demonstration mission and the two crewed landings during Artemis 3 and 4 – and it’s clearly crunch time for the company.” SpaceX still has a ways to go, however, with the Federal Aviation Administration saying that the company still needs to provide the regulatory agency with more information on the “environmental mitigations that the regulator outlined in June.”
Full Story (CNBC)
Tag: aeospace
How Dangerous Are Bird Strikes to Planes?
The Washington Post reports that the Federal Aviation Administration maintains a database of airplane wildlife strikes, and 97% of the over 2,300 recorded in 2023 so far have been birds. The FAA website says, “Wildlife strikes with aircraft are increasing in the United States and elsewhere. Expanding wildlife populations, increases in number of aircraft movements, a trend toward faster and quieter aircraft, and outreach to the aviation community all have contributed to the observed increase in reported wildlife strikes.”
Full Story (Washington Post)
Used Business Jet Inventory Up 59% Year Over Year, Data Show
Aviation Week reports Jefferies data reveal “the number of used business jets for sale in April 2023 increased 59% year-over-year (YOY) and was up 4% when compared to March levels.” Used inventory on the market “is equal to 3.6% of the total fleet, below a five-year average of 5.6%,” even as pricing “is up 15% compared to April.”
Full Story (Aviation Today)
NASA to Dismantle Lunar Gantry Crane at Langley Research Center
Aerospace America reported that NASA plans to demolish the lunar gantry crane, citing “annual maintenance costs and pending corrosion repair.” NASA Office of Strategic Infrastructure Assistant Administrator Joel Carney “informed staff at Langley Research Center about the decision last week.”
Full Story (Aerospace America)
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))