Aerospace America

OPINION: "NASA’s evolution from lunar return to sustained lunar evolution and human Mars missions makes the relationship between orbit and surface newly consequential," argue professionals at the Sasakawa International Center for Space Architecture.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/opinion-the-ar…

FAA’s eIPP program is moving as fast or faster than expected, with upcoming flights planned in Florida, New Mexico and the New York-New Jersey area, according to the program director.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/with-eipp-prog…

As head of NASA's new Research and Technology Mission Directorate, Jimmy Kenyon oversees everything from X-planes to nuclear reactors to much of the tech required for the Moon Base. He discussed these and other topics for the October-December Q&A.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/departments/na…

The Florida Department of Transportation intends to “streamline” its approval process for new airports to accelerate the arrival of electric air taxi service, a state official said Tuesday.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/florida-dot-se…

ON THE COVER: With the first production contracts awarded, the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program is moving forward. We spoke to service officials and industry executives about the ongoing testing and potential challenges ahead.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/features/takin…

California satellite operator Viasat is readying for the launch of a communications satellite that aims to demonstrate commercial spacecraft can take over the duties of NASA’s aging Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) network.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/viasat-prepare…

The October–December issue is live. Explore these and other stories:
- The U.S. Air Force's CCA program moves forward
- NASA's embrace of nuclear power and propulsion
- Commercial aviation's deliberations over AI applications
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/magazine/

Voyager Technologies’ first Griffin lunar lander is on track to launch no earlier than November, but a handful of the agency’s robotic landings have slipped to 2027, NASA’s Moon Base program manager said today at the Glenn Space Technology Symposium.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/nasa-expects-o…

Warsaw-based Orbital Matter is proceeding with its on-orbit demonstration of 3D printing large structures to support solar arrays and other components.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/startup-tests-…

Rhode Island startup Regent Craft is targeting 2027 to begin manufacturing its all-electric seagliders, the first commercial aircraft to leverage the “wing-in-ground-effect” aerodynamic phenomenon.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/regent-craft-p…

ICYMI: DLR researchers believe their morphing design could one day replace other aircraft control surfaces.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/departments/sh…

As NASA maps out missions to test nuclear power and propulsion, a panelist at the U.S. Space Nuclear Industry Symposium on Thursday said cost will be a key hurdle.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/panelists-poin…

A NASA laser light tool designed to guide lunar landers during descent toward the moon “exceeded preflight expectations” during its first in-space demonstration in 2024, according to a paper published last month in AIAA’s Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/after-successf…

NASA’s next flagship observatory, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, is on track for launch Aug. 30 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, agency officials said Wednesday.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/roman-telescop…

Boeing has wrapped up flight testing of the smallest and largest variants of its 737 MAX family and expects to receive FAA type certification for both designs “very soon,” according to its chief executive officer.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/boeing-complet…

While much attention has been paid to the Rumsfeld Matrix's third category — “unknown unknowns” — an equally intriguing concept is a fourth category that might be called the “unknown knowns.” Amanda Simpson explains in her July-September column.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/departments/ex…

NASA is embracing a new development strategy for its next flagship telescope, in hopes of avoiding the schedule delays and cost overruns that plagued past missions.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/features/nasas…

The global aviation industry is readying to converge on Farnborough, England, for its biannual air show. Here's what to watch.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/farnborough-in…

The first U.S. spacecraft capable of robotically servicing satellites in geosynchronous orbit is slated to launch July 21 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, Northrop Grumman announced this week.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/joint-darpa-no…

Technicians at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland are installing electronics inside NASA’s Dragonfly rotorcraft in preparation for its 2028 launch toward Titan, the agency shared today.
aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/apl-installing…