Spaceflight Now reports, “SpaceX launched a joint NASA-European environmental research satellite early Monday, the second in an ongoing billion-dollar project to measure long-term changes in sea level, a key indicator of climate change. The first satellite, known as Sentinel-6 and named in honor of NASA climate researcher Michael Freilich, was launched in November 2020. The follow-on spacecraft, Sentinel-6B, was launched from California atop a Falcon 9 rocket at 12:21 a.m. EST.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Tag: November 2025
28th Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Conference and Seminar
CALL FOR CONTENT: The 28th Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Conference and Seminar invites submissions of abstracts on parachute and aerodynamic decelerator design, testing, and analysis, from Orion and Artemis Mission parachute systems to deployable decelerators and/or aero-capture. Submit your abstract by 18 December 2025.
Pipistrel’s Velis Electro Aircraft Certified for Canadian Owners and Operators
Flying Magazine reports, “The world’s first type certificated and commercially available electric aircraft is becoming increasingly widespread as more regulators authorize it for commercial and flight training purposes. Textron Aviation subsidiary Pipistrel on Wednesday announced that Transport Canada, the country’s aviation regulator, has validated the type certificate for its two-seat, single-engine Velis Electro, allowing Canadian operators to own and fly it.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
ULA Atlas 5 Rocket Launches ViaSat-3
Spaceflight Now reports the mission was the second of three planned spacecraft that Viasat plans to operate in geostationary orbit. United Launch Alliance launched from pad 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station “at 10:04 p.m. EST (0304 UTC), the opening of a 44-minute-long window. The rocket headed due east upon leaving Florida’s Space Coast.”
Full Story (Spaceflight Now)
Video
ULA Atlas 5 launches ViaSat-3 F2 communications satellite. (Launch occurs at the 59:66 mark)
Spaceflight Now; YouTube
Smart Sustainment in the National Interest: Protecting Innovation While Enabling Readiness
FROM THE INSTITUTE
The debate over right to repair in the defense sector has intensified as Congress considers sweeping changes to data access and repair rights. Efforts to improve system readiness and reduce sustainment costs are clearly essential, but emerging legislative proposals risk unintended consequences for national defense. This article outlines the core engineering, acquisition, and industrial implications of proposed mandates while highlighting opportunities to preserve innovation, security, and warfighter readiness through carefully scoped data-access policies.
AIAA Fellow Saric Died in April 2025
William S. Saric, Ph.D., NAE, died on 22 April 2025. Saric dedicated his academic career to 1) foundational theoretical and experimental understanding of boundary-layer instability, laminar-turbulent transition, and flow control including under flight-operational conditions, 2) establishing the standards for careful validation-quality experiments and flight research, and 3) freely educating, collaborating with, and serving the international community and the next generation of researchers.
Joby Flies New Hybrid-Electric VTOL Aircraft for First Time
Breaking Defense reports, “Joby Aviation flew a demonstrator of a new hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for the first time, which it plans to pitch to military customers through an agreement with L3Harris, the company announced today.”
Full Story (Breaking Defense)
Monday’s Falcon 9 Launch Breaks Record for Most Satellite Launches in Calendar Year from World’s Busiest Spaceport
Ars Technica reports, “Another Falcon 9 rocket fired off its launch pad here on Monday night, taking with it another 29 Starlink Internet satellites to orbit. This was the 94th orbital launch from Florida’s Space Coast so far in 2025, breaking the previous record for the most satellite launches in a calendar year from the world’s busiest spaceport. Monday night’s launch came two days after a Chinese Long March 11 rocket lifted off from an oceangoing platform on the opposite side of the world, marking humanity’s 255th mission to reach orbit this year, a new annual record for global launch activity.”
Full Story (Ars Technica)
Boeing’s Strong Delivery Pace Continues Through October
Reuters reports, “Boeing said on Tuesday that it delivered 53 jets in October, bringing its total for the year to 493, and received 15 new orders last month. The U.S. planemaker delivered 39 of its best-selling 737 MAX jets, including nine to Southwest Airlines and five to Irish budget airline Ryanair. It delivered one 737 NG to be converted into a P-8 maritime patrol plane for the U.S. Navy. Boeing also delivered 13 widebody jets: seven 787 Dreamliners, two 777 freighters and four 767s.”
Full Story (Reuters)
Becoming a Technical Fellow Takes More Than Expertise
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Early- and mid-career engineers looking for a career boost might want to look beyond everyday problem-solving and consider becoming a technical fellow. Four Senior Technical Fellows at Lockheed Martin — experts in artificial intelligence, sensor fusion, propulsion, and directed energy — who collectively support a technical community of nearly 17,000 professionals, discussed what it takes to become a Technical Fellow during a Hub session at AIAA AVIATION Forum and ASCEND in July.