Aerospace & Defense Roundup: May 20
May 21, 2020
Most Drone Flyers Disregard FAA’s System, Study Says
DJI AeroScope system. Credit: Elite Consulting
A new study suggests that most operators disregarded the FAA’s system for authorizing drone flights in controlled airspace when flying near a large central Florida airport.

Astronauts Arrive At KSC For Demo-2 Launch
Robert Behnken, left, and Douglas Hurley at Kennedy Space Center. Credit: NASA
NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley landed at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida on May 20 for final preparations ahead of launch next week to test SpaceX’s Crew Dragon system.

DARPA’s Hypersonic Programs Fall Months Behind Schedule
Raytheon
Artist's concept of HAWC scramjet

Boeing Won’t Protest NASA Human Landing System Awards
NASA passed on Boeing’s Human Landing System offer. Credit: Boeing
Boeing, which was shut out of nearly $1 billion of NASA funding to develop human-class lunar landers, said it does not plan to protest the awards, which went to teams led by Blue Origin, Dynetics and SpaceX.

UK Defense Ministry
E7

Japanese Cargo Mission Launches To ISS
ISS Credit: NASA
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) ninth resupply mission was on course to reach the three-person International Space Station (ISS) early May 25 following a May 20 liftoff from the Tanegashima Space Center.

NASA Renames WFIRST For ‘Mother Of Hubble’
Nancy Roman Credit: NASA
NASA has renamed its struggling Wide Field Infrared Space Telescope (WFIRST) in honor of the late Nancy Grace Roman, a longtime pioneering woman astronomer sometimes referred to as the “Mother of Hubble.” Roman was also the agency’s first chief astronomer.

U.S. Navy
T-45

BAE Rebuilding Australia’s Jindalee Radars In Upgrade
The receiving array of the Jindalee radar at Alice Springs, Australia. Credit: BAE Systems
A BAE Systems program to upgrade Australia’s three over-the-horizon radars amounts to rebuilding the sensor system, addressing parts obsolescence while providing a jump in performance.
DARPA's hypersonic programs fall months behind schedule, BAE rebuilding Jindalee radars in the upgrade, Boeing won't protest NASA Human Landing System awards and more. A roundup of aerospace, space and defense news powered by Aviation Week Intelligence Network.
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