Four U.S. Air Force Century-series fighters in flight in 1957. These supersonic fighters were tested by the NACA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California (USA). The aircraft visible are:
McDonnell F-101A-5-MC Voodoo (s/n 53-2430, top),
Lockheed XF-104A Starfighter (53-7786, left). This aircraft crashed on 11 July 1957 due to an uncontrollable tail flutter. The pilot, Bill Park, ejected safely,
Convair F-102A-20-CO Delta Dagger (53-1805, right),North American F-100A-20-NA Super Sabre (53-1663, bottom).
For those of us who love aviation history, there is a special reminiscence associated with the Century Series fighter aircraft, similar to how others reflect on the automobiles of the same era. These supersonic fighters were also tested by the NACA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
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NASA’s all-electric X-57 Maxwell prepares for ground vibration testing, or GVT, at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California. Done in parallel with cruise motor controller testing, the GVT tested the vehicle at various vibration levels, helping engineers to examine and validate the integrity of the vehicle for flight conditions. A goal of X-57 is to help the Federal Aviation Administration set certification standards for emerging electric aircraft markets.
Credits: NASA Photo / Lauren Hughes
NASA is set to start high-voltage functional ground testing of the agencys first all-electric X-plane, the X-57 Maxwell, which will perform flights to help develop certification standards for emerging electric aircraft. NASA is also supporting these new electric aircraft by developing quiet, efficient, reliable technology these vehicles will need in routine use.
Spaceflight Insider
Matt Haskell
February 13th, 2021
An illustration of the Gateway’s Power and Propulsion Element and Habitation and Logistics Outpost in orbit around the Moon. Image: NASA
In a contract award as part of NASA’s Artemis program, NASA announced on Tuesday, February 9, that they have awarded the launch contract for initial elements of the Gateway Lunar Outpost to SpaceX and their Falcon Heavy rocket. With a total cost of $331.8 million for the launch and other mission related costs, the Hawthorne, California, based company will utilize its Falcon Heavy rocket to place both the Power & Propulsion Element (PPE), as well as the Habitation & Logistics Outpost (HALO) into lunar orbit. The launch will take place no earlier than May 2024, and will launch from Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39A.
Spaceflight Insider
Matt Haskell
February 13th, 2021
United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket pathfinder test article was driven onto Cape Canaveral Space Force Station this morning, following its recent arrival by sea, aboard RS RocketShip. Image: Matt Haskell, Spaceflight Insider
Progress continues to advance for United Launch Alliance’s newest rocket, as the pathfinder for the Vulcan rocket arrived by the company’s cargo ship and was unloaded at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Saturday, February 15.
A nearly flight capable booster, the Pathfinder Tanking Test (PTT) booster will be utilized for checkouts of the new rocket’s Ground Support Equipment, as well as launch and integration hardware. While visiting the pad, the PTT will also undergo a full cryogenic tanking test to verify the booster’s flight pressure integrity. While the booster is currently fitted with static fired test engines that are no longer flight capable, according to ULA CEO Tory Bruno, the PT
Tricky Terrain: Helping to Assure a Safe Rover Landing
Entry, Descent, and Landing System: Mars 2020’s Perseverance rover is equipped with a lander vision system based on terrain-relative navigation, an advanced method of autonomously comparing real-time images to preloaded maps that determine the rover’s position relative to hazards in the landing area. Divert guidance algorithms and software can then direct the rover around those obstacles if needed. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech. Full image and caption ›
How two new technologies will help Perseverance, NASA’s most sophisticated rover yet, touch down onto the surface of Mars this month.
After a nearly seven-month journey to Mars, NASA’s Perseverance rover is slated to land at the Red Planet’s Jezero Crater Feb. 18, 2021, a rugged expanse chosen for its scientific research and sample collection possibilities.