Aerospace

It is “highly unlikely” that NASA will return to the Moon’s surface with human explorers in 2024 due to technical, budget and workplace constraints linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency’s inspector general says.

A Russian research agency is preparing to begin the first flight tests of a superconducting electric motor powering an aircraft.

Swiss startup H55, a spinoff from the Solar Impulse round-the-world aircraft project, has joined MagniX and Harbour Air to certify an electric-powered version of the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver.

Abdel Wahab Tuffaha, secretary general of Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) has visited the headquarters of EgyptAir.

Another startup has emerged to join the growing number of companies targeting the unmanned air logistics market.

EHang’s longer-range eVTOL; Aska flying car; Pipistrel cargo UAV for China; Xwing autonomy demo; and ANA flies Wingcopter.

DUBAI FUTURE FOUNDATION signed MOU with Emirates to develop innovative solutions and enhance the future-readiness of the UAE’s aviation sector.

Europe has launched a research program to develop a deeper understanding of the environmental impact of future supersonic aircraft and provide input into international efforts to develop certification standards for noise and emissions.

AÉRO MONTRÉAL created the Alliance for the Aerospace Recovery (AAR) to accelerate sustainable innovation, support company cash flow and promote market

ELEMENT MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY has received UKAS accreditation for creep and stress rupture testing at its Magna Way Laboratory in Sheffield.

Volocopter is to set up a test route for its VoloDrone unmanned cargo aircraft in its home city of Bruchsal, Germany, in a joint project with logistics company DB Schenker.

Skydweller Aero has flight tested the control system to be used in conversion of the Solar Impulse 2 solar-powered round-the-world aircraft into a long-endurance unmanned aircraft.

CAPE CANAVERAL—Amazon has contracted with United Launch Alliance to deliver nine batches of its Kuiper broadband satellites into low Earth orbit aboard Atlas V rockets, the companies said on April 19.

Startup nonprofit Carbon Mapper, Inc. is leading a coalition of commercial, state and federal government agencies and academic partners in an effort to identify and expand a global awareness of major point source emissions of carbon dioxide and methane in order to lessen their contribution to climate change.

The nation needs to declassify technology, rely on private industry and compete for routine space missions.

Long-sought changes have the potential to turn Spirit’s 20th-century-style factories into marvels of digitally driven lean manufacturing.

China’s EHang has unveiled plans for a longer-range electric air taxi, the inter-city VT30, as well as a the two-seat intracity EH216 piloted version.

BOOM SUPERSONIC received $45m investment from PRIME MOVERS LAB to support development of Overture.

CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS, CA has acquired POINTWISE, TX (computational fluid dynamics).

With some 100 companies vying to enter the advanced air mobility industry, the competition was bound to get bloody sooner or later.

The clock is ticking for a high-risk, high-reward technology demonstration.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

UK startup Aeristech, a developer of high-speed electric motors, has closed a £5.15 million ($7.1 million) funding round.

Designing an eVTOL vehicle is challenging, and designing one that can be driven on the road as well as flown is more challenging.

ANA’s parent company has completed initial medical drone delivery trials as it works toward establishing a delivery network in Japan.