Tag: aerospace engineering

Joby Conducts Successful Demonstration of its Superpilot Autonomous Flight Technology

Military Aerospace reports Joby Aviation Inc. “announced a first-of-its-kind demonstration of its autonomous flight technology. As part of the Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC), a Department-Level Exercise led by Pacific Air Forces, Joby conducted a successful demonstration and validation of its Superpilot autonomous flight technology over the Pacific Ocean and Hawaii, logging more than 7,000 miles of autonomous operations across more than 40 flight hours.”
Full Story (Military Aerospace)

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 28 More Starlink Satellites into Orbit from Cape Canaveral

SPACE reports a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Wednesday morning, Sept. 3, carrying 28 Starlink wireless internet satellites “into low-Earth orbit (LEO), deploying the satellites about an hour after liftoff,” which took place at 7:56 a.m. EDT.
Full Story (SPACE)

Video

SpaceX launches 28 Starlink Satellites from Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Launch at the 0:14 mark)
VideoFromSpace; YouTube

US Army Apache Helicopters Show Counter-UAS Capabilities

Aerotime reports the US Army demonstrated the AH-64E Apache’s ability to detect, track, and defeat drone threats, underscoring its value as a mobile counter-UAS platform. “The tests, conducted with the South Carolina Army National Guard, involved the Army’s Program Manager Apache, Program Manager Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions, and the team responsible for the helicopter’s 30mm proximity-fused ammunition.”
Full Story (Aerotime)

Space Command Headquarters to Move from Colorado to Alabama

CBS News reports, “President Trump announced Tuesday afternoon that U.S. Space Command headquarters is moving from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Huntsville, Alabama. In 2018 he had signed an order reestablishing U.S. Space Command, after it had been absorbed in 2002 into U.S. Strategic Command. Its main goal is to find ways to defend U.S. interests in space.”
Full Story (CBS News)

To Succeed, Space Startups Must Leverage Agility and Their Unique Value

FROM THE INSTITUTE
Space startups must set themselves apart from established competitors by delivering something distinct – whether it’s better technology, reliability, or price – and leveraging their agility and passion. “That means offering a higher level of reliability and mission services to your customers,” said former SpaceX space mission engineer Laura Crabtree, who is now CEO and co-founder of software-as-a-service (SaaS) startup, Epsilon3.
Full Story (Aerospace America)

Electric Air Taxis Expected to Reach Operational Scale by 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles

Flying Magazine reports, “The FAA’s Innovate28 blueprint forecasts 2028 as the year electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis reach operational scale in major U.S. cities, such as Los Angeles. The City of Angels is slated to host the 2028 Olympic Games that summer,” but more work is needed before they fly at the games.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)

SpaceX Launches 1,900th Starlink Satellite to Orbit in 2025

Spaceflight Now reports SpaceX continued its blistering pace of orbital launches with its ninth and final Starlink launch of August. Liftoff of its Falcon 9 rocket “from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station” took place “at 7:49 a.m. EDT (1149 UTC). It flew on a north-easterly trajectory upon departure from Florida’s Space Coast.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)

Video

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 28 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral (Launch at the 1:00:28 mark)

Aviation Week Shares Rendering of New Boeing F/A-XX That Has Similarities to F-47

Aviation Week reports, “A new rendering of Boeing’s proposed F/A-XX design provided to Aviation Week indicates the company may be incorporating parts of its design for the U.S. Air Force’s F-47 into the Navy program. The new rendering, first shown in a presentation at the Tailhook Symposium last week, shows the aircraft highly obfuscated by clouds as it flies over a Navy carrier.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)

Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 3 Opens in Virginia

Via Satellite reports, “Rocket Lab hosted the opening of its Launch Complex 3 in Virginia on Thursday. The site at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport will serve as the test, launch, and landing facility for its Neutron rocket in development. Rocket Lab built the site in less than two years after starting construction in late 2023. It is the company’s fourth launch site — the launcher has two pads at Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, and also operates Launch Complex 2 at the Virginia spaceport.”
Full Story (Via Satellite)

Video

Rocket Lab hosts the opening of its Launch Complex 3
Rocket Lab; YouTube

General Atomics’ YFQ-42A Performs First Flight Test

Aviation Week reports, “Flight testing for the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) began Aug. 27, with the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. YFQ-42A taking off for the first time. The company, in an announcement after the close of business, confirmed the aircraft conducted flight testing in coordination with the U.S. Air Force.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)

Video

YFQ-42A unmanned fighter conducting flight testing
Media Magik Entertainment; YouTube