July 25, 2022

Man Drives Stolen Truck to Patrick Space Force Base on Mission to Warn of Aliens, Dragons (Source: Talk of Titusville)
An Ocala man was arrested Friday afternoon for allegedly driving a stolen truck to the Patrick Space Force Base in Brevard County on a mission from the president, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. Corey Johnson, 29, allegedly stole a 2013 Ford F150 from Riviera Beach, Florida, three days prior, and on Tuesday he drove it to the base in Brevard County. Johnson told deputies the President of the United States told him in his head that he needed to take the vehicle and drive to the base to tell the government that there were U.S. aliens fighting Chinese dragons, according to the affidavit. (7/24)

Keeping Roman Telescope On Track is "Number One Challenge" for NASA Astrophysics (Source: Space News)
The incoming director of NASA's astrophysics division says keeping the Roman Space Telescope on track is his highest priority. NASA announced earlier this month it selected Mark Clampin, currently director of the science and exploration directorate at the Goddard Space Flight Center, as director of the agency's astrophysics division, effective Aug. 15.

At an advisory committee meeting last week, Clampin said keeping Roman on schedule and within its budget is his "number one challenge" given both the the importance of the mission itself and to demonstrate NASA's ability to manage flagship missions. He added that he hopes the public interest in the first science images from the James Webb Space Telescope will help build public and political support for future astrophysics missions despite near-term budget pressures. (7/25)

Avanti Seeking Expansion Across Africa (Source: Space News)
After breaking free from most of its debt restraints, British satellite operator Avanti Communications is ready to expand across Africa. Investors agreed in April to swap debt for equity in a deal that slashed by two-thirds Avanti's $810 million debt burden, incurred from building several GEO satellites the company then struggled to find customers for. Avanti's CEO said in an interview he expects Avanti will return to growth this year as it focuses on cellular backhaul and government services, as well as selling capacity to other satellite operators. (7/25)

US Places 2nd in International Rocketry Challenge (Source: GeekWire)
The US, represented by a team from Newport High School in Bellevue, Wash., took second place at the International Rocketry Challenge, with Team Japan winning the event. "They garnered hands-on engineering experience and overcame countless technical challenges -- just as the engineers throughout our industry do every day," said Aerospace Industries Association President and CEO Eric Fanning of the US team. (7/22)

SDA Pushes Industry to Embrace ‘True Standards‘ for Satellites (Source: Air Force Magazine)
As the Space Development Agency looks to capitalize on innovation from the fast-expanding commercial space market, its leaders have said they want to constantly have open competitions for the tranches of new satellites projected for every two years. Already, the agency has selected five contractors—Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, York Space Systems, L3Harris, and SpaceX—across Tranches 0 and 1 for the Tracking and Transport layers, splitting the contracts each time in a bid to avoid so-called “vendor lock.”

But the SDA’s approach isn’t just increasing competition. It’s also helping to shape common standards across satellites that are much needed and could have far-reaching effects, a top commercial space executive said. Indeed, the interoperability that SDA’s approach requires will represent a significant opportunity for the industry, Johnathon Caldwell, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s military space division, said. SDA has already awarded contracts for more than 180 satellites as part of the initial two layers, and Lockheed Martin is responsible for a little more than 50 of them. (7/22)

NASA Entered iInto a Multi-Faceted Contract with Vaya Space (Source: SatNews)
Vaya Space, Inc. has entered into a multi-faceted contract with NASA to demonstrate the company’s technologies and engine performance at the Stennis Space and Kennedy Space Centers. Vaya Space conducted their inaugural launch earlier this year and has been rapidly expanding operations and technology suite since that event. The company received notification of its first patent award earlier this year and has multiple additional patents in progress on its technologies that the company believes will transform the Commercial Space sector in cost, reliability and safety.

Vaya has already conducted more than 100 engine-test fires that total more than 10 minutes in cumulative duration. The company will now be conducting a number of demonstrations and additional tests with NASA at their Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Vaya Space also established agreement with Kennedy Space Center approving the transfer of technology from NASA under an existing, expanded umbrella agreement. This agreement facilitates Vaya’s further vertical demonstrations and expected commercial launch operations from Kennedy Space Center, a multi-user spaceport. (7/20)

Supply Chain Snags Threaten to Slow Aerospace Industry Take-Off (Source: Reuters)
The global aerospace industry is in the midst of a post-pandemic rebound, but supply chain problems have left suppliers and manufacturers scrambling to source everything from raw materials to small electronic components to keep production moving. From multinationals to family-run stockists, few have been spared the impact of shortages or delays. As a result, this week's Farnborough Airshow has been more about the factory floor than the usual shop window for new orders.

"We are keeping our head above water, keeping the flow happening, but the gymnastics required to make that happen are as difficult now as they have ever been," Stephen Timm, president of industry giant Collins Aerospace, told Reuters. At the other end of the spectrum, where suppliers lack the clout of a Collins or Honeywell, things are even more uncertain. In conversations at this week's show, suppliers say material and parts delays have meant pushing manufacturers to order earlier, while manufacturers like Boeing have found themselves wading into the supply chain to keep parts flowing. (7/21)