Space News reports, “The Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit published a call for industry proposals on advanced spacecraft propulsion technology, specifically focusing on electrospray thrusters. Electrospray thrusters, which generate thrust by accelerating charged particles, promise high fuel efficiency and precise control.”
Full Story (Space News)
Tag: Propulsion
NASA Extends Work on Hydrogen Fueled and Cooled Airliner Concept
Aviation Week reported that NASA “signed a Space Act Agreement with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to extend work on a zero-emission aircraft propulsion concept that uses liquid hydrogen as both an energy carrier and a cryogen to enable superconductivity to increase efficiency and reduce weight.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Lockheed Martin Contracted by NASA to Design, Test New Nuclear-Powered Propulsion System
The New York Times reports NASA and DARPA have announced that Lockheed Martin has been selected “to design, build and test a propulsion system that could one day speed astronauts on a trip to Mars.” The nearly $500 million program “is named DRACO, short for the Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations.” The DRACO development “is to culminate with a flight test of the nuclear-thermal engine.” Kirk Shireman, a vice president at Lockheed Martin, “said the launch was currently scheduled for late 2025 or early 2026.”
Full Story (The New York Times)
Rolls-Royce Tests Hydrogen Propulsion System with EasyJet
Aviation International News reports that Rolls-Royce and EasyJet “have completed ground tests with an early concept demonstrator for a hydrogen propulsion system that they hope will eventually be capable of powering narrowbody airliners.” The partners announced “on November 28 that they recently ran a modified Rolls-Royce AE 2100, a turboprop airliner engine on green hydrogen made from wind and tidal power inspired by the United Nations-backed Race to Zero campaign to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.” Eventually, the engine maker “intends to scale up the technology to work with large turbofans needed for aircraft such as the Airbus A320 family operated by Easyjet across Europe
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Experience Two AIAA Forums in One Place
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Registration now open for 2021 AIAA AVIATION Forum and 2021 AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum
April 26, 2021 – Reston, Va. –The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced that registration is open for two upcoming virtual forums: 2021 AIAA AVIATION Forum, 2–6 August, and 2021 AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum, 9–11 August. When attendees register for one forum, they will receive access to both.
For media interested in covering these events, please use these links to request credentials for 2021 AIAA AVIATION Forum and 2021 AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum.
“We are excited to offer the aerospace and defense industry two distinctive events during consecutive weeks to meet the unique technical content needs of each forum community. Attendees will gain the added feature of access to both forums, with the same high quality virtual experience,” said Dan Dumbacher, AIAA Executive Director.
For the health and safety of AIAA members, forum attendees, and the AIAA staff, AIAA will be delivering high quality virtual-only experiences for these events.
Attendees can register for the forums now. Anyone who registers by 26 May will gain special access to the AIAA Pre-Forum Book Sale.
Learn more about each upcoming forum below. Speakers and sessions will be announced in the coming weeks, as details are confirmed.
2021 AIAA AVIATION Forum– Aerospace Leadership in a Transitioning World
Hear from high-profile industry leaders and experts on topics more relevant now than ever. Commercial air travel dropped to an unprecedented level in 2020, but innovation in mobility did not. Whether through digital transformation, decarbonization, or autonomous operations, the bold nature of aviation is not slowing. Discover how the aerospace community can maneuver and lead during uncertainty.
The agenda is being designed to actively build a better aviation future. Confirmed speakers include representatives of AeroDynamic Advisory, Dassault Systemes, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Spirit AeroSystems, Siemens, The Boeing Company, and University of Michigan. Speakers and sessions are being finalized for the program focused on daily themes, with several new topics this year:
| Monday, 2 August | Aviation Recovery, Transition, and New Horizons | |
| Tuesday, 3 August | Technologies to Reshape Aerospace | |
| Wednesday, 4 August | Digital Thread Lifecycle* | |
| Thursday, 5 August | Military Aviation: Delivering Performance at the Speed of Relevance* | |
| Friday, 6 August | Pervasive Information Systems* |
*New this year
2021 AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum – Expanding Aerospace Horizons Through Sustainable Propulsion and Energy Innovation
Leaders from industry, government, and academia will discuss advances in spacecraft electric propulsion, gas turbine engines, hybrid rockets, electric aircraft technologies, high-speed air-breathing propulsion, advanced energy technologies, and more. Attend the only conference that covers both aeronautics and space propulsion and energy technologies in a single event.
The agenda is being designed to explore how new paradigms in the propulsion field and operational efficiency are upon us. Confirmed speakers include:
- Bran Ferren, Futurist; Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, Applied Minds; former President, Research and Development, Walt Disney Imagineering
Additional speakers and sessions are being finalized for a program organized across these daily themes:
| Monday, 9 August | Air-Breathing Engines | |
| Tuesday, 10 August | Space Systems | |
| Wednesday, 11 August | Future of Energy |
Featuring AIAA/IEEE Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium (EATS)
In addition, separate registration is open for the 2021 AIAA/IEEE Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium (EATS), 11–13 August. This unique symposium will bring together aerospace engineers and electrical engineers to look at progress over the past year and continue the discussion about the aerospace industry goals for future aircraft. To accommodate rapid growth in emerging markets and ensure sustainability of air travel, sessions will explore the challenges related to nontraditional aircraft propulsion: electric, turboelectric, or hybrid/electric powertrains. Discounted rates apply for symposium registration with the purchase of full conference or student registration for the 2021 AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum or 2021 AIAA AVIATION Forum. Separate registration and fees apply.
AIAA 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, or LinkedIn.
AIAA Panel Shows Optimism for Space-Nuclear Power
Aviation Week reports that a panel “of experts assembled by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has expressed optimism that NASA, two cabinet departments and the commercial sector are prepared to address the challenges of embracing space-nuclear power and propulsion.”
Full Story (Aviation Week – Subscription publication)
DARPA to Test Nuclear-Powered Spacecraft
Space News reported that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plans to “send to orbit a spacecraft powered by a nuclear propulsion system.” The technology “could give the U.S. military an advantage over enemies by making satellites more maneuverable and less vulnerable to attack.” DARPA’s Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) spacecraft is scheduled to launch in 2025.
Full Story (Space News)
Pulsar Fusion Unveils ‘Sunbird’ Nuclear Rocket Concept Designed to Reach Mars in Half the Time
SPACE reports, “Pulsar Fusion just released a video showcasing its planned Sunbird nuclear fusion rocket, which is designed to reach speeds of about 329,000 mph (500,000 kph). That would make it the fastest self-propelled object ever created by humankind. (NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has reached greater velocities during close solar flybys, thanks to the sun’s powerful gravitational pull.)”
Full Story (SPACE)
Video
Pulsar Fusion Sunbird – Migratory Transfer Vehicle
(Pulsar Fusion; YouTube)
Virgin Galactic on Track for Production of New Spaceplanes
Space News reports, “Virgin Galactic says production of its new suborbital spaceplanes remains on track to allow commercial flights to begin in the middle of next year as it contemplates restarting ticket sales. The company spent much of a May 15 earnings call talking about the technical progress it has made in the assembly of its first Delta-class vehicles, or SpaceShips, in areas such as structures, propulsion and avionics.”
Full Story (Space News)