Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Jan. 26

Axiom Unveils Crew For First Private U.S. Mission To ISS

Joining former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria and Israeli entrepreneur Eytan Stibbe on the first privately financed U.S. mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will be real estate and technology investor Larry Connor of Ohio and Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist Mark Pathy, Axiom Space said on Jan. 26. The four men, flying aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, plan to spend about eight days aboard the ISS. Credit: Axiom Space

Boeing Delivers First Texas-Modified F/A-18E/F To U.S. Navy

Boeing has delivered the first F/A-18E/F to the U.S. Navy that was updated at a Service Life Modification (SLM) center in San Antonio, Texas. Three F/A-18E/Fs already have been delivered from an SLM line in St. Louis, Missouri, according to a Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) news release. Credit: Boeing

Airbus Helicopters CEO Seeks Euro Cooperation On Military Rotorcraft

Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even has called on Europe’s rotorcraft industry to cooperate on a future military rotorcraft program, as NATO countries begin considering their medium-lift needs for the 2030s and beyond. Credit: Airbus Helicopters

Lockheed Set To Generate Cash For Years, Managers Say

Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon’s leading contractor by sales, will prove its “culture of cash” for shareholders in the coming years after returning almost $4 billion in dividends and share buybacks in 2020 despite the COVID-19 crisis, tempered F-35 deliveries and slowing space work near term. Credit: U.S. Air Force

Assembly Begins On First Bye EFlyer 2 Electric Trainer

Assembly has begun on the first production prototype of Bye Aerospace’s two-seat, all-electric eFlyer 2. It is the first of three conforming aircraft that will be used for flight testing to obtain FAA Part 23 certification for the flight training market. Credit: Bye Aerospace

U.S. Needs National Strategy To Lead AAM Market: Report

While it has a large potential domestic market for advanced air mobility, the U.S. needs a clear national strategy if it is to lead this new market globally, a report by consultants Deloitte and the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) says. Credit: Bell

Osiris-Rex To Take Second Close Look At Bennu

NASA plans to delay departure of the Osiris-Rex spacecraft from the asteroid Bennu from March 3 to May 10, with a May 24 backup, which will provide an early April opportunity for a final flyby. Osiris-Rex gathered a hefty sample of surface material from the 1,640-ft. ancient planetary body on Oct. 20, 2020. Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

U.S. Army Seeks Unmanned Launchers, Submunitions For PRSM

The U.S. Army is seeking proposals from industry to deliver prototypes of unmanned and mobile launchers, maneuvering submunitions and small and low-cost sensors for the next generation of ground-launched, long-range ballistic missiles. Credit: U.S. Army

Russia Reschedules Nauka’s Launch To ISS For Summer

Russia has pushed back the expansion of its segment of the International Space Station (ISS). The launch of the new Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM) is now planned for this summer, ISS Russian segment flight director Vladimir Solovyov said in an interview with Russian television. Credit: Roscosmos

U.S. Space Command Headquarters

U.S. Space Command U.S. Space Command logo.