Aerospace & Defense Roundup: May. 19

Bidding For A Blue Origin Suborbital Ride Nears $3 Million

Bidders vying for a seat on Blue Origin’s first crewed suborbital spaceflight pushed the price to $2.6 million on May 19, the first day of a public online auction, with proceeds to benefit the company’s charitable foundation. Credit: Blue Origin

Germany Planning Space Command

Germany is prioritizing the establishment of a space command in an acknowledgement of the domain’s growing importance for joint operations. To be run by the air force, the new space command will be established in this year’s third quarter from a facility in Kalkar that already commands German air operations. Credit: NASA

Roscosmos Approves Crews For ISS Flights Through 2023

Russia’s Roscosmos has approved crews for flights to the International Space Station (ISS) through 2023. Russia plans to send three professional missions to the ISS in 2022-23 with all-Russian crews, in addition to two civilian missions—one with a film crew and another two with Japanese tourists. Credit: NASA

European Union Aviation Safety AgencyUAM

UK Royal Navy Envisions Manned/Unmanned Air Wings For Carriers

The UK Royal Navy wants to use unmanned technologies to build manned/unmanned air wings for both of its Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, its most senior officer says. First Sea Lord Adm. Tony Radakin told the First Sea Lord’s Sea Power Conference on May 19 that he was challenging the Navy to “create an air wing for each carrier” and “accelerate the transition to a hybrid manned/unmanned airwing.” Credit: UK Defense Ministry

NASA IG Raises Cyber Security Concerns

NASA is “highly vulnerable” to cyber intrusions, according to an assessment from NASA’s inspector general (IG) that calls for reforms. More than most federal agencies and due to its high-profile activities and public outreach, NASA offers an increasingly worrisome target for cyber criminals. Compounding this is the agency’s vast online presence, which numbers more than 42,000 publicly accessible websites. Credit: NASA

SOCOM Dusts Off Floatplane Concept For Sea-Based MC-130J

A decades-old concept for a floatplane version of the Lockheed Martin C-130J has reemerged as a possibles option for U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). An “amphibious MC-130J” appeared on a slide of research and development (R&D) initiatives now underway within SOCOM’s program executive office for Fixed Wing aircraft (PEO-FW). Credit: SOCOM

Wisk Seeks Injunction Against Archer In Air-Taxi Secrets Fight

Wisk Aero is seeking a court injunction to prevent Archer Aviation from using trade secrets the Kitty Hawk/Boeing joint company alleges were stolen by former employees hired away by the rival urban air-taxi developer. Archer described the lawsuit as “baseless.” Credit: Wisk