SPACE reports, “NASA’s new X-59 supersonic jet is a step closer to flight after passing an important ground test in March. Known as “engine speed hold,” the test ensured that the X-59 can maintain a specific speed when it flies for the first time later this year. “Engine speed hold is essentially the aircraft’s version of cruise control,” Paul Dees, NASA’s X-59 deputy propulsion lead at Armstrong Flight Research Center in California, said in a statement. “The pilot engages speed hold at their current speed, then can adjust it incrementally up or down as needed.”
Full Story (SPACE)
Tag: engineering
Fram2 Astronauts Launch on Polar Orbit Mission
Spaceflight Now reports, “A historic mission took flight from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Monday night. Against the backdrop of an off-shore band of thunderstorms, four first-time astronauts soared off the pad at Launch Complex 39A onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and headed into a polar orbit. Malta resident Chun Wang funded the orbital polar expedition and flew alongside Norwegian cinematographer, Jannicke Mikkelsen; German arctic robotics researcher, Rabea Rogge; and Australian polar guide, Eric Philips.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Video
Fram2 Astronauts Launch on Polar Orbit Mission (Launch occurs at 2:00:17)
(Spaceflight Now; YouTube)
Belgium’s First MQ-9B SkyGuardian Performs Maiden Flight
Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and the Belgian Ministry of Defence have marked a significant milestone with the successful first flight of Belgium’s new MQ-9B SkyGuardian® Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). This aircraft is the first of four MQ-9Bs ordered by Belgium and took to the skies on February 20, 2025, from GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon Flight Operations Facility in El Mirage, California.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)
AIAA Announces 2025 Election Results
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has released the results of its recent elections. The newly elected AIAA officials will take office in May.
“We are proud to announce the newest AIAA leaders who will play key roles in serving our members and advancing the Institute,” said AIAA President Daniel Hastings. “I am grateful to each of the candidates for their willingness to lead important activities that benefit our profession. Their service is essential to the smooth functioning of the Institute. Congratulations to our new leaders.”
Read about all members of the Board of Trustees here. Read about all members of the Council of Directors here.
2025 ELECTION RESULTS FOR BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Dana “Keoki” Jackson, The MITRE Corporation, was chosen as AIAA President-Elect for 2025-2026. He will serve as AIAA President 2026-2028.
In January, the Board of Trustees elected three Members-At-Large:
- Michael Gazarik, University of Colorado Boulder
- Tina Ghataore, Aerospacelab
- Jill Marlowe, Retired
Ben Linder, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, also was elected to fulfill an unexpired term.
2025 ELECTION RESULTS FOR COUNCIL OF DIRECTORS
Integration and Outreach Activities Division (IOD)
- Chief: Jeanette Domber, BAE Systems
- Director–Aerospace Outreach Group: Sofia Russi, Denmar Technical Services
- Director–Integration Group: Abdollah Khodadoust, The Boeing Company
- Director-Elect–Young Professionals Group: Nathan Crane, Advanced Development Programs, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Regional Engagement Activities Division (READ)
- Director–Region IV: Ellen Gillespie, Jacobs Engineering
- Director–Region V: James Guglielmo, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Technical Activities Division (TAD)
- Director–Information Systems: Michel Ingham, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Director–Propulsion & Energy: Rusty Powell, Axient
Media contact: Rebecca B. 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, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
NASA Opts for SpaceX Dragon for Starliner Crew as Testing Continues on Boeing Capsule
Spaceflight Now reports, “The makeup of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station was announced publicly Thursday evening and it includes three astronauts who were previously assigned to other missions. Leading the flight, scheduled for no earlier than July 2025, is NASA astronaut Zena Cardman. She will be joined by fellow NASA astronaut and pilot Mike Fincke, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
FlightSafety International Partners with ZeroAvia to Train Pilots on Hydrogen-Electric Aircraft
Flying Magazine reports, “FlightSafety International is preparing aspiring aces for a hydrogen-powered future. The company on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ZeroAvia, a hybrid-electric engine developer, to build flight simulators, ‘digital learning platforms,’ and other training materials geared toward the introduction of hydrogen fuel cell electric aircraft. The partners said they will work with regulators to ‘explore future governance of training for new, clean alternative propulsion technologies’ for pilots and maintenance technicians.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
NASA, Boeing to Begin Testing Starliner for Next Flight Targeted for Early 2026
Reuters reports, “NASA said on Thursday it was moving toward certifying Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner for crewed flights later this year or by early 2026 after its inaugural mission to the International Space Station was marred by a system fault, forcing an extended stay. The agency is working with Boeing to resolve the Starliner’s faulty propulsion system, which caused its debut eight-day crewed mission to stretch into a nine-month stay in space for NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.”
Full Story (Retuers)
AIAA Announces Recipients of 2025 Roger W. Kahn Scholarship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Roger W. Kahn Scholarship. The four $10,000 awards go to the following high school seniors:
Farrah Berry from Midlothian, Virginia
Currently attending Trinity Episcopal School
Kazi Afra Saiara from Fairfax, Virginia
Currently attending Chantilly High School
Logan Speight from Greensboro, North Carolina
Currently attending James B. Dudley High School
Sowmya Venkatesh from Pleasanton, California
Currently attending Amador Valley High School
Read their full profiles on the AIAA website. They will be recognized during the AIAA Awards Gala on Wednesday, 30 April, at Grand Hyatt Washington, Washington, DC. Tickets for the event are available now.
The Roger W. Kahn Scholarship was created to honor the memory of Roger W. Kahn (1907–1962) and his passion for aviation and entertainment. Kahn spent the latter part of his career at Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation as a test pilot and then managed the technical service and sales division. In the 1940s, he was actively involved with the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences (one of the predecessor organizations of AIAA) and later served as its vice president.
Kahn also was an accomplished jazz musician as early as the 1920s, composing songs often featured in stage productions and early films, as well as leading numerous orchestras. He became a recording artist for some of the first record labels including Victor, Brunswick, and Columbia.
Kahn left a legacy gift to AIAA – a song called “Crazy Rhythm” – that he wrote in 1928. AIAA used the proceeds of his trust to establish the scholarship in 2020. Since then, 16 students have received the scholarship to pursue university degrees in engineering.
“AIAA is pleased to honor the memory of aviation pioneer Roger W. Kahn. His enthusiasm for aviation nearly 100 years ago will remain relevant in the next 100 years of innovation. The scholarship that bears his name will support four more bright minds driving the next technology breakthroughs in aerospace,” commented AIAA CEO Clay Mowry.
Laura McGill, chair of the AIAA Foundation, added, “The AIAA Foundation is pleased to use part of Roger W. Kahn’s gift to identify, mentor, and promote promising young aerospace talent on their first steps from classroom to career. We can’t wait to see them shape the future of aerospace.”
Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell
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 X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
ULA Vulcan Receives Certification for US National Security Missions
Via Satellite reports, “The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket is now certified for U.S. national security missions after receiving certification from the U.S. Space Force. Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Assured Access to Space organization announced the certification on Wednesday for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions. ULA is now eligible to launch NSSL missions as one of two certified providers, the other being SpaceX.”
Full Story (Via Satellite)
NASA Completes SLS Core Stage Stacking for Next Year’s Artemis 2 Moon Mission
SPACE reports, “NASA’s next moon rocket is coming together, piece by piece. The core stage of NASA’s next Space Launch System (SLS) rocket recently completed integration with the vehicle’s side boosters inside the agency’s Vehicle Assembly Building in Florida. SLS will launch NASA’s Artemis 2 mission to fly four astronauts aboard an Orion spacecraft around the moon and back sometime next year.”
Full Story (SPACE)