Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Oct. 7

Aerojet Rocketdyne announced on Oct. 6 that a new large solid rocket motor manufacturing facility is officially operational to support propulsion demand for future intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), hypersonic missiles and missile defense systems. Credit: Aerojet Rocketdyne

Undeterred by the budgetary effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia will increase defense spending by a nominal 9.1% in the fiscal year that began in July 2020, with further strong rises planned for the following three years. Credit: Sgt. David Gibbs/Commonwealth of Australia

Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson is stepping aside as commander of the planned June 2021 CST-100 Starliner crewed flight demonstration mission to the International Space Station (ISS), citing family obligations. Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz

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Australia will consider the Block 2 upgrade of the Boeing EA-18G Growler as part of a regular program of keeping aircraft common with those of the U.S. Navy, the defense department in Canberra said. Although a project to replace the Growler in Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) service will begin this decade, a spokesperson for the department suggests introduction of a new type will not quickly follow. The Growler is used for electronic attack. Credit: Sgt. Guy Young/Commonwealth of Australia

Leonardo’s BriteCloud active decoy technology has been adapted to fit onboard small unmanned aircraft to support the UK Royal Air Force’s drone swarm trials. Credit: Airbus

Momentus will become the next publicly traded new-space venture in early 2021, and the first self-described space infrastructure provider, upon closure of a deal announced Oct. 7 for blank-check company Stable Road Acquisition to buy the satellite orbit-mover startup. Credit: Momentus

Airbus is preparing for the launch of the first of four Pleiades Neo satellites, designed for improved resolution and more frequent revisits in Earth observation, and simultaneously working on a lower-cost generation. Due to delays in Arianespace’s Vega C launcher program, the first Pleiades Neo spacecraft is now due to be placed into orbit in early 2021 instead of mid-2020. Credit: Tiraden

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Astronics Corp. has announced FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) approval of its Max-Viz 1400 enhanced vision system installation on the McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 aerial firefighting tanker. Credit: Astronics Corp.

U.S. Transportation Command could stage a joint proof of principle test with SpaceX with the Starship Earth-to-Earth transportation system for a military resupply mission, Gen. Stephen Lyons said on Oct. 7. Credit: SpaceX

Boom Supersonic is readying the XB-1 demonstrator for ground tests at its Centennial Airport, Colorado, headquarters following a virtual rollout event on Oct 7. The 71-ft.-long, delta wing XB-1 trijet is designed to pave the way for Boom’s follow-on Mach 2.2 Overture airliner. Credit: Boom Supersonic

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