Defense News reports, “The U.S. Air Force has not abandoned its program to build an advanced next-generation fighter, but it does need a redesign to get costs under control and better integrate its planned drone wingmen, the service’s secretary told Defense News. Secretary Frank Kendall also said a revamped Next Generation Air Dominance fighter platform could end up with a less complex, smaller engine than originally intended to try to hold down its price.”
Full Story (Defense News)
Tag: engineering
NASA Orders More Starliner Tests as Crew Remains in Space
Ars Technica reports, “NASA and Boeing officials pushed back Friday on headlines that the commercial Starliner crew capsule is stranded at the International Space Station but said they need more time to analyze data before formally clearing the spacecraft for undocking and reentry. Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and pilot Suni Williams will spend at least a few more weeks on the space station as engineers on the ground conduct thruster tests to better understand issues with the Starliner propulsion system in orbit.”
Full Story (Ars Technica)
Boeing Striving to Inspect Aircraft Autonomously
Defense Daily reports, “Using small third-party drones for high-resolution imaging and its own artificial intelligence-based software algorithms, Boeing [BA] is expanding an effort to speed the inspection of military aircraft exteriors and and increase readiness while…”
Full Story (Defense Daily – Subscription Publication)
Breakup of Russian Satellite Creates Over 100 Pieces of Debris
Via Satellite reports, “U.S. Space Command confirmed that a defunct Russian satellite broke up in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) on Wednesday, creating more than 100 pieces of debris. Space Command said the breakup took place on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. MT. It was not clear why the satellite broke up, such as if it was the result of an anti-satellite test.”
Full Story (Via Satellite)
ULA Planning September Launch of Vulcan to Qualify for Space Force Missions
Breaking Defense reports, “ULA CEO Tory Bruno explained that Air Force space acquisition czar Frank Calvelli asked Lockheed Martin and Boeing to create an independent review team to ‘help’ Vulcan production rates and launch site readiness remain on track.”
Full Story (Breaking Defense)
Boeing Says Added Inspections Are Raising 737 Max Production Quality
The New York Times reports, “Boeing says it has achieved significant quality improvements in the production of the 737 Max since one of the planes lost a panel in a harrowing flight in January.”
Full Story (The New York Times – Subscription Publication)
Wisk Aero Acquires Aerospace Software Company Verocel
Flying Magazine reports that Wisk Aero “on Tuesday announced the acquisition of Verocel, a software verification and validation (V&V) company focused on the certification of aerospace software—with a particular focus on autonomous designs.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Astronauts Remain at ISS as Engineers Examine Issues with Starliner’s Propulsion System
The Washington Post reports, “Before Boeing’s first flight with humans on its Starliner spacecraft earlier this month, the company and NASA said repeatedly that a rigorous testing program following years of delays and costly setbacks meant it was finally ready to fly astronauts. Instead of coming home after about eight days, the spacecraft remains docked to the station, its return delayed indefinitely while teams continue to troubleshoot a series of problems in the capsule’s propulsion system.”
Full Story (The Washington Post – Subscription Publication)
Joby May Perform Air Tours and Market Survey Flights before Starting Commercial Operations
Aviation Week Network reports, “Joby Aviation may fly passengers on air tours and market survey flights before starting commercial air taxi operations, the company says. The flights, done under FAA 91 general operations regulations, could be a sort of soft launch for the electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) developer and operator…”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
China Becomes First Country to Retrieve Rocks from Far Side of the Moon
The New York Times reports, “China brought a capsule full of lunar soil from the far side of the moon down to Earth on Tuesday, achieving the latest success in an ambitious schedule to explore the moon and other parts of the solar system. The sample, retrieved by the China National Space Administration’s Chang’e-6 lander after a 53-day mission, highlights China’s growing capabilities in space.”
Full Story (New York Times)