Aerospace & Defense Roundup: May 14

USAFF-16

Satellite Operator Intelsat Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Artist's concept of Intelsat 17 Credit: SSLThe 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: NASANASA 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

Credit: MH-60R: Lockheed MartinThe U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $904 million contract modification May 14 for 21 MH-60R Seahawks for India and three for the service.

Tony Osborne/AW&STRafale

GOP Lawmakers Seek To Ground DJI Drones

A DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise quadcopter fitted with a loudspeaker. Credit: DJIHouse 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: AMRDThe 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: ElectrofluidsystemsA 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 CenterNASA 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.