Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Sep. 10

The test work, which will be conducted in ONERA’s S2MA pressurized transonic and supersonic facility in Modane-Avrieux in southwest France, will evaluate high speed performance, loads, stability and control. The tests aim to validate the computational aerodynamic design techniques used by Aerion’s Palo Alto, California-based engineering group to optimize the AS2 for low-drag transonic flight as well as supersonic cruise. Credit: Aerion

Charles Bolden, a retired U.S. Marine Corps major general, former NASA administrator and four-time shuttle astronaut, has been selected to receive the National Aeronautic Association’s (NAA) 2020 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy. Credit: NASA

The U.S. Air Force has awarded a $34.9 million contract to a New Mexico company to develop and potentially demonstrate new sensors for satellite experiments in low Earth orbit aimed at finding and possibly tracking missiles and tactical threats. Credit: DARPA

Moon

RQ-7B

After repeated attempts to sell a solid-propellant, heavy-lift space launcher to the U.S. national security community, Northrop Grumman is discontinuing work on its Omega rocket, the company said Sept. 10. Credit: Northrop Grumman

A U.S. government plant completed assembly of the non-nuclear explosive prototype for the B61-12 Life Extension Program (LEP) to demonstrate the facility’s readiness to enter production, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) said on Sept. 10. Credit: U.S. Air Force

While the cause of the Aug. 10 cable break that damaged the National Science Foundation’s Arecibo Observatory (AO) in Puerto Rico has not been determined, efforts are underway to establish the scope of repairs, the cost and the schedule. Credit: The Planetary Society