Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Sep. 09

The organizer of Airshow China issued then retracted a cancellation announcement for the biennial exhibition set to be held at Zhuhai in November. Credit: Zhuhai Airshow Co. Ltd.

The French government has reiterated its desire to see a hydrogen-fueled Airbus flying in service by 2035, firmly reacting to those claiming the move is too risky. Minister of Finance Bruno Le Maire put pressure on the industry while presenting a massive investment plan for the use of hydrogen in the country on Sept. 8. Credit: Joe Pries

Ellen Lord

F-16

Airbus has completed three test flights using two of its own Airbus A350s with the autopilot engaged in its Fello’fly wake vortex-riding project. Credit: Airbus

Iridium satellite.

NASA is turning to its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) providers to bid on the delivery of 10 science investigations and technology demonstrations to a nonpolar region of the Moon in 2022. The move is part of the Artemis initiative to return human explorers to the lunar surface in 2024 and establish a sustained presence. Credit: Masten Space Systems

HMS Queen Elizabeth

Walmart announced the start of a pilot program to deliver grocery items by drone in Fayetteville, North Carolina on Sept. 9. The U.S. retail giant will test store deliveries to customers using an automated, multi-rotor drone supplied by Flytrex, of Tel Aviv. In April, Flytrex announced that it was participating in a drone delivery effort involving Walmart in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Credit: Flytrex

Catherine Koerner has assumed management responsibility for development and operations of NASA’s Orion program headquartered at Johnson Space Center. Credit: NASA