Tag: Aerospace

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 20 Starlink Satellites from California

Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX launched its latest Falcon 9 rocket on a Starlink mission as Tropical Storm Helene pushed back the launch of the next mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff of the Starlink 9-8 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California happened at 9:01 p.m. PDT (12:01 a.m. EDT, 0401 UTC). This was SpaceX’s 64th Starlink launch of the year.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)

 

Video

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 20 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg (Launch at 30:30 mark)
(Spaceflight Now; YouTube)

Innovators Invited to Compete to Build Best Autonomous Emergency Response Aircraft

Flying Magazine reports, “Calling all students, engineers, businesses, and other innovators. Time is running out to join a competition that will award $2 million in prizes to whoever can build the best autonomous emergency response aircraft. December 11 is the submission deadline for Stage 1 of GoAERO—a three-year contest backed by NASA, Boeing, RTX, and other key aviation stakeholders seeking to aid the estimated 4.5 million Americans living in ‘ambulance deserts,’ who may need to wait longer than 25 minutes for emergency services to arrive. The aircraft created by competitors could rescue people in danger and respond to disasters, medical emergencies, or humanitarian crises.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)

Space Force Selects Four Companies to Develop Concepts for ‘Resilient GPS’ Satellites

Space News reports, “The U.S. Space Force selected four companies to develop concepts for smaller, more cost-effective GPS satellites based on commercial designs, aiming to augment the existing Global Positioning System network, the Department of the Air Force announced Sept. 23. Astranis, Axient, L3Harris Technologies and Sierra Space have been chosen to submit proposals for the Resilient GPS (R-GPS) program, which seeks to explore the use of proliferated small satellites transmitting core GPS signals.”
Full Story (Space News)

Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 Makes 4th Successful Test Flight

Simple Flying reports, “Boom Supersonic conducted a fourth and successful Boom XB-1test flight, this time reaching an altitude of 16,150 feet and a speed of Mach 0.617 (about 313 knots equivalent airspeed) during tests for flutter, g-forces, handling, and landing gear. The proof-of-concept XB-1 is helping educate Boom Supersonic on how to build and test supersonic aircraft in the lead-up to building Boom Overture.”
Full Story (Simple Flying)

Challenger Center and AIAA Open Nominations for 2025 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Three winners will be honored for enthusiasm and dedication to STEM education

Washington and Reston, Va. (September 24, 2024) –  Challenger Center and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced they are accepting nominations for the 2025 Trailblazing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Educator Award. The annual award celebrates K-12 teachers going above and beyond to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators. Nominations can be submitted online through December 1, 2024.

Three winners will be selected from the nominations. Each winner and their respective school or organization will be awarded $5,000. They will receive free access to Challenger Center’s STEM education programs. In addition, they will receive a trip to Washington, DC, to be honored at the 2025 AIAA Awards Gala, as well as a special presentation ceremony at their school. The winners also will have the opportunity to attend a space launch experience and/or a VIP tour of an aerospace facility.

“Teachers are essential in unlocking the potential of today’s students and fostering their interest in STEM,” said Valerie Fitton-Kane, vice president, Challenger Center. “We are excited to partner once again with the AIAA Foundation to celebrate outstanding STEM educators nationwide who go above and beyond to bring STEM to life for their students, inspiring them to explore the many opportunities available in STEM careers.”

“Educators are invaluable to our communities. We share a commitment with Challenger Center to invest in trailblazing educators because they are the clear force multiplier to inspiring our future workforce. They can spark students’ interest in STEM subjects, especially the science and engineering behind aerospace, that can drive a student’s future career choices,” said Laura McGill, chair, AIAA Foundation.

The award recognizes teachers who connect classroom lessons to the country’s current and future plans of STEM exploration and innovation, introduce students to STEM careers, and activate students’ imagination about space exploration.

The U.S. aerospace and defense industry leads the world in innovation, while still facing challenges of staffing a properly skilled and qualified workforce. Crucial gaps in diversity, equity, and inclusion must be addressed – more STEM-literate graduates are needed, greater participation is needed by women and ethnic minorities, and early retirements are creating a growing knowledge gap.

About Challenger Center
As a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, Challenger Center provides hundreds of thousands of students annually with experiential education programs that engage students in hands-on learning opportunities. These programs, delivered in Challenger Learning Centers and classrooms, strengthen knowledge in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue careers in these important fields. Challenger Center was created by the Challenger families to honor the crew of shuttle flight STS-51-L. For more information about Challenger Center, please visit https://www.challenger.org/ or connect on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

About AIAA Foundation
The AIAA Foundation inspires and supports the next generation of aerospace professionals. From classroom to career, the AIAA Foundation enables innovative K-12 and university programming, including STEM classroom grants, scholarships, conferences, and hands-on competitions. Founded in 1996, the AIAA Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational organization connected to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, andInstagram.

Contacts

 

Challenger Center
Lisa Vernal
[email protected]
202-827-1573

AIAA
Rebecca Gray
[email protected]
804-397-5270

NASA’s Plan for Deorbiting ISS Contingent Upon Russia’s Plans

Ars Technica reports, “Assuming the ISS international partners will retire the laboratory as planned in 2030, the final deorbit maneuver could happen in early 2031. NASA would like to have the deorbit vehicle ready for launch in 2029, up to a year and a half before the space station’s final plunge. If these dates hold, the final crew for the ISS would likely launch in late 2029 and remain aboard the complex for a year, then come home before the final deorbit burns to guide the massive lab back into the atmosphere.”
Full Story (Ars Technica)

AIAA Announces its Class of 2025 Associate Fellows

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 23, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce its newly elected Class of 2025 Associate Fellows. AIAA will formally honor and induct the class at the AIAA Associate Fellows Induction Ceremony and Dinner, Wednesday, 8 January 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Orlando during the 2025 AIAA SciTech Forum, 6–10 January 2025, Orlando, Florida.

“Congratulations to each member of the Class of 2025 Associate Fellows,” said AIAA President Dan Hastings. “This distinguished group of professionals has made significant and lasting contributions to the aerospace profession. They exemplify a dedication to excellence in advancing their specific technical disciplines. We are proud of their achievements. They are shaping the future of aerospace.”

The grade of Associate Fellow recognizes individuals “who have accomplished or been in charge of important engineering or scientific work, or who have done original work of outstanding merit, or who have otherwise made outstanding contributions to the arts, sciences, or technology of aeronautics or astronautics.” To be selected as an Associate Fellow an individual must be an AIAA Senior Member in good standing, with at least 12 years of professional experience, and be recommended by three AIAA   members.

“The AIAA Associate Fellows personify the innovation that drives our industry forward,” said AIAA CEO Dan Dumbacher. “The members of the Class of 2025 Associate Fellows embody the ingenuity that is crucial for developing solutions to the complex questions raised across aeronautics, aerospace R&D, and space. On behalf of the Institute, we recognize the families, friends, and colleagues who support the Associate Fellows as they contribute their expertise to our community.”

For more information on the AIAA Honors Program or AIAA Associate Fellows, contact Patricia A. Carr at [email protected].

Class of 2025 AIAA Associate Fellows

Abdessattar Abdelkefi, New Mexico State University
Mujahid Abdulrahim, University of Missouri Kansas City
Jennifer Abras, HPCMP CREATE
Jason Action, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Elena Y. Adams, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Ademola Adejokun, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
CS Adishesha, Collins Aerospace
David R. Alexander, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
Susie C. Allen-Sierpinski, NASA Kennedy Space Center
Jason M. Anderson, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division
J. Gregory Anderson, Textron Aviation
Nathan F. Andrews, Southwest Research Institute
Phuriwat Anusonti-Inthra, U.S. Army Research Laboratory
Manan Arya, Stanford University
Armen Askijian, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc.
Mohammad A. Ayoubi, Santa Clara University
Efstathios Bakolas, University of Texas, Austin
Brett F. Bathel, NASA Langley Research Center
Francine Battaglia, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Ivan Bermejo-Moreno, University of Southern California
Sanjeeb T. Bose, Cadence Design Systems
Dean Bryson, Air Force Research Laboratory
Kerry Buckley, The MITRE Corporation
Suman Chakravorty, Texas A&M University
Irene Chan, Summit Technologies & Solutions, Inc.
David A. Chart, Sierra Space Corporation
Sunil Chintalapati, Boston Geospatial
Lt. Col. Heather Cohea, USAF, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Christopher S. Combs, University of Texas at San Antonio
Elizabeth Congdon, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Stuart “Alex” Craig, University of Arizona
Mark Lawrence Darnell, GE Aerospace
Laine D’Augustine, The MITRE Corporation
Albert Dirkzwager, Textron Aviation
Steven A. Dunn, Lockheed Martin Space
Jessica Edmonds, Aurora Flight Sciences, A Boeing Company
Jason Etele, Carleton University
Enanga Daisy Fale, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Tanvir Farouk, University of South Carolina
Gary Fears, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Anthony Ferman II, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Juan M. Fernandez, NASA Langley Research Center
Travis C. Fisher, Sandia National Laboratories
James M. Free, NASA Headquarters
Andrew B. Freeborn, USAF Test Pilot School
Carolin Elisabeth Frueh, Purdue University
Francesco Giannini, Aurora Flight Sciences, A Boeing Company
Darrell E. Gillette, RTX
Ponnuthurai Gokulakrishnan, Combustion Science & Engineering, Inc.
Christopher S. Goldenstein, Purdue University
Eric Golliher, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Kara M. Greene, Engineering Systems, Inc.
Eric Greenwood II, Pennsylvania State University
Michael Gregg, Air Force Research Laboratory
Gyula Greschik, TentGuild Engineering Company
Wenjiong Gu, GE Aerospace
Kyle M. Hanquist, University of Arizona
Kai Harth, AST SpaceMobile
Christine Hartzell, University of Maryland
Santosh Hemchandra, Indian Institute of Science
Koki Ho, Georgia Institute of Technology
Kai A. James, Georgia Institute of Technology
Jean-Baptiste Jeannin, University of Michigan
Michael Joly, RTX Technology Research Center
James C. Jones, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Thomas Carno Jones, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Jin Kang, U.S. Naval Academy
Prashant Khare, University of Cincinnati
Michael T. Kio, University of Maryland
Lisa Danielle Koch, NASA Glenn Research Center
Anjaney Kottapalli, Lockheed Martin Space
Phillip A. Kreth, University of Tennessee Space Institute
Kawai Kwok, Purdue University
Andrea L’Afflitto, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Bhavya Lal, NASA Headquarters (retired)
David S. Lazzara, Boom Supersonic
Sam Lee, HX5, LLC
Steven Lincoln, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Kyle P. Lynch, Sandia National Laboratories
Filippo Maggi, Politecnico di Milano
Richard A. Manwell, Textron Aviation
Eric Nesbitt, NASA Langley Research Center
Eric C. Marineau, Office of Naval Research
Michael W. Martin, Benchmark Space Systems
Kaela Mae Martin, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
Matthieu M. Masquelet, Blue Origin LLC
Piyush M. Mehta, West Virginia University
Craig Gordon Merrett, Mississippi State University
James B. Michael, Auburn University
Craig Morris, LaminarEdge Aerospace
Benjamin P. Mottinger, Lockheed Martin Space
Sameer B. Mulani, University of Alabama
Patrick R. C. Neumann, Neumann Space
Idahosa A. Osaretin, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Dustin Otten, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control
David J. Piatak, NASA Langley Research Center
Richard J. Prazenica, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Markus Raffel, DLR Göttingen
Jasenka Rakas, University of California Berkeley
Reetesh Ranjan, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Christopher Ruscher, Spectral Energies, LLC
Onkar Sahni, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Radhakrishna G. Sampigethaya, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Jonathan F. Sauder, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
Mark Schoenenberger, NASA Langley Research Center
Geza H. Schrauf, Airbus, DLR (retired)
Wolfgang Schröder, RWTH Aachen University
David W. Sleight, NASA Langley Research Center
Clifford B. Smith, Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems
Lt. Col. Derek Spear, U.S. Air Force
Rachelle Lea Speth, Air Force Research Laboratory
Dipak K. Srinivasan, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Akbar Sultan, NASA Headquarters
Rachel E. Tillman, The Viking Mars Missions Education & Preservation Project (VMMEPP)
William Tsai, California State University, Maritime Academy
Milton E. Vaughn Jr., U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Aviation and Missile Center
Catherine Venturini, The Aerospace Corporation
Laura Villafañe Roca, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Kenneth D. Visser, Calvin University
Nathan Joseph Webb, Ohio State University
Isaac E. Weintraub, Air Force Research Laboratory
Thomas K. West, NASA Langley Research Center
Andrew Wick, Helden Aerospace
Jay Wilhelm, Ohio University
Tin-Chee Wong, U.S. Army, Aviation & Missile Center
Namiko Yamamoto, Pennsylvania State University
Ann M. Zulkosky, Lockheed Martin Corporation

AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

SpaceX Preps for Upcoming Test Flight by Firing Up Engines on 6th Starship

SPACE reports, “SpaceX fired up the engines of its sixth Starship vehicle on Wednesday (Sept. 18) to gear up for a test flight that’s probably still several months away. The company performed a “static fire” on Wednesday (Sept. 18) at its Starbase site in South Texas, briefly igniting the six Raptor engines of Ship 31, the upper stage of the vehicle that will conduct the sixth Starship test flight.”
Full Story (SPACE)

 

U.S. Air Force Shares Video of B-21 Raider Taking Off and Landing

Flying Magazine reports, “The U.S. Air Force released footage of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber undergoing flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Wednesday’s video marks the service’s first reveal of the aircraft’s flight operations. ‘A B-21 Raider conducts flight testing, which includes ground testing, taxiing, and flying operations in California,’ the Air Force said in a statement accompanying the video.”
Ful Story (Flying Magazine)