The NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton. (WYDaily/ File photo)
HAMPTON ROADS On Wednesday, June 2, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S.A. (NASA) Administrator Sen. Bill Nelson gave his first State of NASA address at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington D.C.
In the address, Nelson spoke of several major projects that the agency is spearheading, including the robotic and human return to the Moon through the Artemis Program, future Earth-focused missions to monitor and address climate change, and two new discovery missions to Venus.
The aims to land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon. Beginning this year, NASA will send a suite of science instruments and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface through commercial Moon deliveries ahead of human return.
- May 24, 2021, 1:24 PM
As supersonic aircraft designer Aerion ceased operations over a lack of available funding, GE Aviation has confirmed that it has discontinued development work on the twin-shaft, medium-bypass Affinity engine that was to have powered the Mach 1.4 Aerion AS2 business jet. GE Aviation also noted that it is redeploying its Affinity team to other programs.
The engine-maker announced plans in October 2018 to move forward with the Affinity for the AS2, saying it would be designed using a “proven engine core adapted from GE’s commercial airline portfolio” with the latest technology full authority digital engine control, an advanced twin-fan, durable combustor, and advanced acoustic technology that would meet or exceed regulatory requirements.
Detonation engine could propel aircraft to Mach 17: 10 top stories of the week 14 May 2021
Professional Engineering
A conceptual hypersonic aircraft powered by an oblique detonation wave engine (Background image credit: NASA. Aircraft and composite image credit: Daniel Rosato, UCF)
Detonation engine could propel aircraft to Mach 17
Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a new type of detonation engine, which they say could propel aircraft to 17-times the speed of sound. The oblique wave detonation engine, also known as the standing wave engine, produces a continuous detonation that is fixed in space.
Huge underground source of energy going untapped