FROM THE INSTITUTE
More than 40 volunteer leaders from the United States and Australia met in Las Vegas for the 2025 AIAA Regional Leadership Conference. Attendees heard vital updates from Institute leaders on the new logo and branding rollout, plus details on upcoming events. A powerful aspect of the day was the exchange of best practices, as participants shared insights to support planning events in their local areas.
Full Story (Aerospace America)
Tag: July 2025
AFWERX: Accelerating Technology from Civilian to Military Use
FROM THE INSTITUTE
The U.S. Air Force is always looking for novel technology where industrial innovation can be leveraged into the Department of Defense. So says Lt. Col. Jonathan “Spades” Gilbert, who leads the Prime Division of the U.S. Air Force’s innovation arm, AFWERX, in a wide-ranging interview with Aerospace America Staff Writer Paul Brinkmann.
Full Story (Aerospace America)
Air Force to Purchase More KC-46s in Lieu of New Competition
Defense One reports, “After years of uncertainty about the Air Force’s tanker plans, the service has decided to buy more KC-46s instead of launching a new competition for its next tanker buy. This decision ends speculation that the service might launch a contest, likely between Boeing and Airbus, for an interim tanker buy of 75 aircraft to replace the aging KC-135 fleet. Instead, the Air Force will purchase more of the troubled but already-in-production KC-46 as a ‘bridge’ solution until it figures out its long-term tanking needs.”
Full Story (Defense One)
Space Force Takes Delivery of GPS Control System Following Years of Delays
Space News reports, “The U.S. Space Force has accepted delivery of the initial version of its long-delayed Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX), marking a key milestone for a GPS infrastructure upgrade that has become emblematic of Pentagon software development challenges. The Space Force’s Space Operations Command announced it accepted delivery of the ‘modernized operating system for the Global Positioning System, which is designed to maintain resiliency of the constellation and improve positioning, navigation and timing services to meet user demand now and in the future.’”
Full Story (Space News)
AIAA Educator Associate Member Conducts Experiments on Blue Origin Spaceflight
FROM THE INSTITUTE
On 31 May 2025, Blue Origin completed its 12th human spaceflight and the 32nd flight for the New Shepard program. The crew included middle and high school teacher, and AIAA Educator Associate Member, Aymette “Amy” Medina Jorge from Odyssey Academy in Galveston, Texas. Born in Puerto Rico, Amy is passionate about boosting Hispanic representation in STEM fields. She is a recipient of the 2023 AIAA and Challenger Center Trailblazing STEM Educator Award.
Full Story (Aerospace America)
Blue Origin to Launch ESCAPADE on Second New Glenn Mission
Space News reports, “Blue Origin has confirmed that a NASA Mars smallsat mission, bumped from the inaugural launch of the New Glenn rocket, will be on the vehicle’s second flight later this year. Blue Origin announced in a social media post July 17 that NASA’s Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers, or ESCAPADE, mission will be the primary payload on the NG-2 launch, the second flight of New Glenn after its inaugural launch in January.”
Full Story (Space News – Subscription Publication)
FAA Study Led by Embry-Riddle Warns of Drone Flights above 400 Feet
Aviation International News reports, “An FAA-funded nationwide study led by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) has found that small uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) are frequently flying above the 400-foot ceiling established for drones, raising concerns about potential mid-air conflicts with crewed aircraft. The report used Remote ID signals collected from sensors across the U.S. to analyze flight activity at 43 aerodromes, including airports and heliports.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Space Force Releases Launch Guidelines Prioritizing Military Missions as Demand Surges
Space News reports, “In these new guidelines the Space Force seeks to balance its dual role as both a supporter of the thriving commercial space sector and steward of national security space capabilities.
Full Story (Space News – Subscription Publication)
Joby Aims to Double Air Taxi Production Rate
Flying Magazine reports, “Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi developer Joby Aviation this week took a key step toward its envisioned electric aerial ridesharing service. After expanding its pilot production facility in Marina, California, to about 435,000 square feet, Joby on Tuesday said it expects to double its air taxi production rate to 24 per year. Ramping up in Marina—the epicenter of its manufacturing efforts and a critical test site for the air taxi—will allow Joby to expand its test fleet, which comprises five eVTOL air taxis plus one liquid hydrogen-powered demonstrator.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper
Spaceflight Now reports, “Amazon now has the third launch of its Project Kuiper broadband internet satellites in the books. This time around, they launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The mission, dubbed KF-01 or Kuiper Falcon 1, lifted off at 2:30 a.m. EDT (0630 UTC). The rocket took off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and will begin deploying the 24 Project Kuiper satellites about 56 minutes after liftoff.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Video
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 24 Project Kuiper Satellites for Amazon, July 16, 2025 (Launch takes place at the 1:00:24 mark)
Spaceflight Now; YouTube