FROM THE INSTITUTE
The debate over right to repair in the defense sector has intensified as Congress considers sweeping changes to data access and repair rights. Efforts to improve system readiness and reduce sustainment costs are clearly essential, but emerging legislative proposals risk unintended consequences for national defense. This article outlines the core engineering, acquisition, and industrial implications of proposed mandates while highlighting opportunities to preserve innovation, security, and warfighter readiness through carefully scoped data-access policies.
Tag: aerospace engineering
AIAA Fellow Saric Died in April 2025
William S. Saric, Ph.D., NAE, died on 22 April 2025. Saric dedicated his academic career to 1) foundational theoretical and experimental understanding of boundary-layer instability, laminar-turbulent transition, and flow control including under flight-operational conditions, 2) establishing the standards for careful validation-quality experiments and flight research, and 3) freely educating, collaborating with, and serving the international community and the next generation of researchers.
Joby Flies New Hybrid-Electric VTOL Aircraft for First Time
Breaking Defense reports, “Joby Aviation flew a demonstrator of a new hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for the first time, which it plans to pitch to military customers through an agreement with L3Harris, the company announced today.”
Full Story (Breaking Defense)
Monday’s Falcon 9 Launch Breaks Record for Most Satellite Launches in Calendar Year from World’s Busiest Spaceport
Ars Technica reports, “Another Falcon 9 rocket fired off its launch pad here on Monday night, taking with it another 29 Starlink Internet satellites to orbit. This was the 94th orbital launch from Florida’s Space Coast so far in 2025, breaking the previous record for the most satellite launches in a calendar year from the world’s busiest spaceport. Monday night’s launch came two days after a Chinese Long March 11 rocket lifted off from an oceangoing platform on the opposite side of the world, marking humanity’s 255th mission to reach orbit this year, a new annual record for global launch activity.”
Full Story (Ars Technica)
Boeing’s Strong Delivery Pace Continues Through October
Reuters reports, “Boeing said on Tuesday that it delivered 53 jets in October, bringing its total for the year to 493, and received 15 new orders last month. The U.S. planemaker delivered 39 of its best-selling 737 MAX jets, including nine to Southwest Airlines and five to Irish budget airline Ryanair. It delivered one 737 NG to be converted into a P-8 maritime patrol plane for the U.S. Navy. Boeing also delivered 13 widebody jets: seven 787 Dreamliners, two 777 freighters and four 767s.”
Full Story (Reuters)
Becoming a Technical Fellow Takes More Than Expertise
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Early- and mid-career engineers looking for a career boost might want to look beyond everyday problem-solving and consider becoming a technical fellow. Four Senior Technical Fellows at Lockheed Martin — experts in artificial intelligence, sensor fusion, propulsion, and directed energy — who collectively support a technical community of nearly 17,000 professionals, discussed what it takes to become a Technical Fellow during a Hub session at AIAA AVIATION Forum and ASCEND in July.
Blue Origin Set to Launch New Glenn Following Weekend Weather Delay
Spaceflight Now Update at 10:40 am ET: “NASA scrubbed the launch due to strong solar impacts.”
Spaceflight Now reports Blue Origin was able to secure permission from the Federal Aviation Administration for a daytime launch. According the article, Blue Origin will “take another crack at launching its 98-meter-tall (321 ft) New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Wednesday, Nov. 12.” An 87-minute launch window “opens at 2:50 p.m. EST (1950 UTC) on Wednesday.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
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Rocket Lab Postpones First Neutron Launch Until 2026
Space News reports, “Rocket Lab has delayed the first launch of its reusable Neutron rocket to 2026, saying it wants to maximize the chances that the flight will be a success.”
Full Story (Space News – Subscription Publication)
US Marine Corps Plans for Two More XQ-58A Test Flights Before Year-end
Flight Global reports the US Marine Corps will conduct two more test flights with the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie “before year-end to continue assessing the potential of so-called manned-unmanned teaming for ‘electronic warfare, autonomous missions and survivability’ applications.”
Full Story (Flight Global)
Arc Orbital Supply Spacecraft Designed to Deliver Military Supplies Anywhere on Earth Within an Hour
The War Zone reports, “California-based space startup Inversion has unveiled its design for a fully reusable, lifting-body spacecraft named Arc. The spacecraft is intended to deliver critical cargo from space to any point on Earth within an hour, landing on water, snow or soil with a precision of around 50 feet, the company says. The concept, aimed squarely at the defense sector, reflects longstanding U.S. military interest in using space-based systems to rapidly move cargo around the globe to meet commanders’ urgent needs.”
Full Story (The War Zone)