In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Oct. 03 2022

As calls grow within the advanced air mobility (AAM) community for demonstrations that will show the public and policymakers the potential benefits of this new form of transportation, startup Electra.aero is making plans to fly its technology demonstrator between Washington and Richmond, the Virginia state capital.

Firefly Aerospace has recovered from the unsuccessful 2021 debut launch of its Alpha small-satellite booster with a follow-on flight test that successfully reached orbit.

The first of two Blue Origin-manufactured engines for United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) new Vulcan rocket completed full-duration static firing in Texas, clearing the way for shipment to ULA’s factory in Decatur, Alabama.

Astra Space, the rocket upstart which recently shelved its troubled small launch vehicle to focus on developing a larger launcher, announced a new CFO Sept. 30.

Spaceport Cornwall has opened an integration facility in readiness for the UK’s first horizontal orbital launch by Virgin Orbit.

U.S. space infrastructure specialist Redwire said it will buy Qinetiq Group’s Space NV business, a provider of integration, equipment and other backbone space systems in Europe, for about €32 million ($31.4 million).

Paris-based maintenance, repair and overhaul provider Sabena Technics has bought helicopter operator Heli-Union.

Wedgetail

CH-47 Chinook

If the U.S. Air Force’s current plan succeeds, a single or a family of fully autonomous, collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) could enter service by the end of the decade, but what ... are they?

The Russian government plans to allocate additional funds to Roscosmos Space Corp. to facilitate the deployment of the new Sfera multisatellite orbital constellation of more than 300 satellites by 2030. 

The U.S. Space Force has awarded small satellite manufacturer Millennium Space Systems and launch service provider Firefly Aerospace contracts for its Victus Nox mission, an attempt to demonstrate the ability to launch a small satellite into low Earth orbit less than 24 hr. after requested.

The U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA), the defense space acquisition organization launched more than three years ago to shake up how the Pentagon acquires capabilities in orbit, is now officially part of the U.S. Space Force.

Five startups emerged as winners from the pitch-style final of an urban air mobility (UAM) innovation challenge sponsored by the Vertical Lift Consortium, a collaboration that supports the Defense Department.