Defense Industry Europe reports, “Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, and Boeing have marked the upcoming completion of the CV-22 Program of Record for the U.S. Air Force … According to Bell, the U.S. Air Force is the first service branch to complete its program of record for new CV-22 aircraft, which feature improved nacelles. The final aircraft under this program is expected to be delivered in the coming months.”
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Tag: Aerospace
SpaceX Launches 250th Starlink Satellite Mission on Falcon 9
SPACE reports SpaceX launched its 250th dedicated Starlink mission on Sunday night (April 27), sending 23 of the broadband satellites to low Earth orbit. Liftoff took place “from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Sunday at 10:09 p.m. EDT (0209 GMT on Monday, April 28). It was the 250th time SpaceX had sent a batch of Starlink craft skyward, the company noted via X shortly after launch.”
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Video
SpaceX launches dedicated Starlink mission for 250th time (Launch occurs at 00:13)
(VideoFromSpace; YouTube)
European Study Shines New Light on Persistent Helicopter Safety Issue
Flight Global reports, “A European study into Vortex Ring State (VRS) – one of the helicopter industry’s most pernicious and persistent safety risks – has concluded there are only minor differences between the effectiveness of two different recovery techniques.”
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Boeing Says Progress is Being Made on Containing Starliner Costs
Space News reports, “Boeing executives said the company is making progress on containing the costs of its CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle, but offered few details on technical work getting the spacecraft ready for its next flight. In an April 23 earnings call to discuss the company’s first quarter financial results, Kelly Ortberg, president and chief executive of Boeing, cited Starliner as one of the company’s fixed-price programs where the company has improved cost management after serious overruns.”
Full Story (Space News)
NASA and Boeing Pause X-66 Development to Focus on Ultra-Thin Wing Design
Interesting Engineering reports, “NASA and Boeing are pausing the development of the X-66 full-scale Sustainable Flight Demonstrator. Instead, they will re-focus their efforts on demonstrating the benefits of thin-wing technology. Until recently, the US space agency and Boeing touted the X-66as a great leap for sustainable aviation. That aircraft design featured extra-long, thin wings supported by diagonal struts. Though those plans have been put on ice, they still believe in the benefits of thin-wing technology.”
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NASA’s Lucy Probe Beams Back Pictures from Latest Asteroid Flyby
AP News reports, “NASA’s Lucy spacecraft has beamed back pictures from its latest asteroid flyby, revealing a long, lumpy, odd-shaped space rock. The space agency released the images Monday, a day after the close approach. It was considered a dress rehearsal for the more critical asteroid encounters ahead closer to Jupiter.”
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Italy Places $47-Million Order for AeroVironment Jump Drones
The Defense Post reports, “Italy has signed a $46.6-million deal with AeroVironment for the delivery of Jump 20 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), set to replace its aging fleet of AAI RQ-7 Shadow drones. The five-year contract includes engineering, technical support, and maintenance services from AeroVironment to ensure the UAVs are fully operational from day one.”
Full Story (The Defense Post)
SpaceX Marks 300th Orbital Flight from Cape Canaveral’s Pad 40 with Launch of Bandwagon-3 Mission
Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX completed its third Falcon 9 rocket launch in less than 48 hours with a rideshare mission carrying payloads to a mid-inclination orbit. Liftoff of the Bandwagon-3 mission happened at 8:48 p.m. EDT (0048 UTC) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It was the 245th orbital launch for SpaceX from SLC-40 and the 300th total orbital flight from this pad … Update 9:38 p.m. EDT: The Falcon 9 first stage booster successfully landed at Landing Zone 2.”
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Video
Launch of SpaceX Bandwagon-3 ride-share mission (Launch occurs at 59:55)
(Spaceflight Now; YouTube)
Gecko Robotics and L3Harris to Partner on Inspector Drones to Reduce Aircraft Maintenance Times
Defense One reports, “A robotics company and a defense contractor have teamed up for a high-tech fix to the military’s aircraft maintenance problem. Gecko Robotics and L3Harris announced Wednesday they will use drones to take thousands of images of aircraft and build digital twins, leading to much faster turnaround times for maintenance.“
Full Story (Defense One)
SpaceX Launches 32nd Space Station Resupply Mission for NASA
Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX launched an uncrewed Cargo Dragon to the International Space Station early Monday on a resupply mission with increased importance after a transportation mishap derailed a flight by another U.S. cargo ship. Liftoff from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center happened on Monday, April 21, at 4:15 a.m. EDT (0815 UTC).”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Video
SpaceX Space Station Cargo Launch (Launch occurs at 59:44)
(Spaceflight Now; YouTube)