Tag: aerospace engineering

Executive Order Aims to Advance Space Industry by Reducing Environmental Regulation

Defense One reports, “The U.S. government must reduce environmental and other regulations to make it easier for commercial space companies to launch rockets, expand launch facilities, and perform “novel” space activities, according to a new executive order. “It is the policy of the United States to enhance American greatness in space by enabling a competitive launch marketplace and substantially increasing commercial space launch cadence and novel space activities by 2030,” says the order, signed Wednesday by President Donald Trump.”
Full Story (Defense One)

Defending Space from Emerging Threats “A Team Sport,” Says USSF

FROM THE INSTITUTE
Every week, the head of U.S. Space Force’s Space Rapid Capabilities Office is briefed on the growing number of capabilities that adversaries like Russia and China are launching in the space domain. “It’s a little discouraging to see the pace and scale in which capabilities are being fielded into a domain that threatens the Space Force posture and our commercial capabilities,” said Kelly Hammett during last month’s ASCEND panel on navigating the evolving threat landscape.
Full Story (Aerospace America)

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 28 More Starlink Satellites into Orbit from Florida

SPACE reports a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Florida on Thursday morning (Aug. 14), carrying 28 Starlink broadband satellites into low Earth orbit.  “SpaceX now has more than 8,100 active Starlink satellites in its megaconstellation.”
Full Story (SPACE)

 Video

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Cape Canaveral with 28 Starlink satellites (Launch at the 1:00:44 mark)
Spaceflight Now; YouTube

Europe’s Ariane 6 Rocket Launches for Third Time

SPACE reports, “Europe’s Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket launched for the third time ever” on the evening of August 12, “sending an advanced weather and climate satellite to orbit. The powerful Ariane 6 lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana … at 8:37 p.m. EDT (9:37 p.m. local time in Kourou; 0037 GMT on Aug. 13).”
Full Story (SPACE)

 Video

Ariane 6 Rocket Launches for Third Time Ever (Launch at the 30:12 mark)
Arianespace; YouTube

Members Share Flight Deck Lessons on Psychological Safety for Every Work Environment

FROM THE INSTITUTE
Pulling from personal experiences in the flight deck and applying them to the business meeting room, Amanda Simpson joined U.S. Air Force Test Pilot Lt. Col. Carlos Pinedo for an AIAA webinar highlighting the importance of psychological safety in every work environment. They especially emphasized how leaders and subordinates can create and maintain an environment where all ideas and opinions are valued.
Full Story (Aerospace America)

A University as an AIAA Corporate Member? Aerospace Takes Flight at Ole Miss

FROM THE INSTITUTE
At first glance, a university that has no academic aeronautics department might be a curious partner for AIAA, the professional society for aerospace engineering. Yet that is exactly the reason it makes sense, at least for the University of Mississippi. With a student body that can major in any of the other major engineering disciplines, such as Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Geological, Mechanical, and Computer Science, Ole Miss is missing something – a dedicated academic aeronautics engineering department. That may be the rationale why it has partnered with AIAA to become the first academic institution to become a Corporate Member.
Full Story (Aerospace America)

North Carolina Partners with Georgia to Study AAM ‘Interstate in the Sky’

Flying Magazine reports, “The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Division of Aviation and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) are joining forces to study a first-of-its-kind testbed for autonomous, electric, and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. The state transportation departments announced a partnership to create the nation’s first “interstate in the sky” for AAM aircraft, including uncrewed drones and eVTOL air taxis. The proposed corridor is intended to serve as a “real-world testbed” for the technology and could one day bring commercial AAM passenger and cargo operations to the Southeast.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)

ULA Vulcan Rocket Launches on its First Mission for Space Force

Spaceflight Now reports, “Equipped with four solid-fuel strap-on boosters for additional takeoff power, the 198-foot-tall Vulcan’s two methane-fueled BE-4 engines thundered to life at 8:56p.m. EDT, instantly propelling the rocket away from pad 41 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)

 Video

Launch of a ULA Vulcan rocket carrying the U.S. Space Force (USSF)-106 mission (Liftoff at 19:39)
ULA; YouTube

AIAA New England Celebrates Aerospace Excellence and Innovation

FROM THE INSTITUTE
On 16 May, the AIAA New England Section held its annual Honors & Awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding members whose efforts have helped the New England aerospace community flourish for another great year. The evening featured a keynote address by AIAA President and MIT Professor Daniel E. Hastings, who reflected on the value of recognition, the importance of service, and the continued need for innovation.
Full Story (Aerospace America)