Aerospace & Defense Roundup: May 14
May 15, 2020
USAF
F-16

Satellite Operator Intelsat Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Artist's concept of Intelsat 17 Credit: SSL
The satellite operator Intelsat announced May 13 that it has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy as part of a financial restructuring to free up liquidity and continue operations while it awaits repayment from the government from an auction of C-band spectrum.

Astronauts Quarantine Ahead Of SpaceX Flight Test
Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley. Credit: NASA
NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley have begun a two-week quarantine ahead of a flight test of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS.)

Sikorsky Snags Indian Helo Deal
Lockheed Martin
MH-60R

Tony Osborne/AW&ST
Rafale

GOP Lawmakers Seek To Ground DJI Drones
A DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise quadcopter fitted with a loudspeaker. Credit: DJI
House Republicans have stepped up a campaign spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to ground the drones that Chinese manufacturer DJI has loaned or donated to local police departments to support their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

UK’s Future Flight Challenge Launches Competition For Demo
The Silene concept from the UK’s AMRD is an eVTOL design aimed at both urban and intercity transport. Credit: AMRD
The UK has launched the second phase of a £300 million ($366 million) challenge to develop a novel aviation system enabling safe operation of new types of aircraft including delivery drones, urban air taxis and electric regional aircraft.

Plasma Technology Envisioned For Turkish-Design EVTOL
Credit: Electrofluidsystems
A team of Turkish engineers is proposing a family of hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for package delivery, as well as for personal and regional air mobility.

SLS Green Run Retargeted For Late Fall
SLS core stage work. Credit: NASA/Stennis Space Center
NASA is slowing reopening some of its facilities, including parts of the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, where work to prepare the first Space Launch System (SLS) for a static test fire has been on hiatus for two months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lockheed demonstrates podded autonomous ISR system, astronauts quarantine ahead of SpaceX flight test, Sikorsky snags Indian helo deal, UK's future flight challenge launches competition for demo and more. A roundup of aerospace, space and defense news powered by Aerospace Daily and Defense Report.
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