July 2020 Aerospace Links

Aerospace Links July 2020

 Things to see in the July sky.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/lunar-eclipse-double-meteor-shower-110600103.html

 

NASA signals intent to purchase more SLS booster rockets for Artemis lunar program.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/nasa-sets-path-six-more-181312308.html

 

Boeing completes certification test flights

https://www.yahoo.com/news/boeing-completes-737-max-certification-041507635.html

 

Disappearance of massive star poses a celestial enigma.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/star-vanishes-black-hole-174730590.html

 

US Navy announces graduation of first female fighter pilot.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/aviator-just-became-us-navys-155401041.html

 

South Pole wall discovered by astronomers using an unusual technique reveal a zone of galaxies a billion light years across hidden behind the barrier of the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/south-pole-wall-newly-discovered-193237713.html

 

Hubble Space Telescope shows new form of star-forming nursery

https://www.yahoo.com/news/world-hubble-just-captured-183345523.html

 

Images from New Horizon space craft’

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/ll-able-see-five-planets-205800567.html

 

Insight into how our moon formed and when.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/moon-seems-pretty-old-actually-183000058.html

August 2^nd is date set to return Crew Dragon capsule to Earth. The story of the planned return.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-plans-bring-astronauts-back-232500864.html

 

Theories about the characteristics of Betelgeuse

https://www.yahoo.com/news/betelgeuse-mightve-dabbled-casual-celestial-210800285.html

 

China successfully launches dual probes to Mars

https://www.yahoo.com/news/china-launches-bold-attempt-land-044726360.html

 

Autonomous passenger jets on the horizon as Airbus tests automation to the extreme.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/airbus-self-flying-plane-just-120900008.html

 

SpaceX Dragon crew test scheduled for splashdown Sun. August 2

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/space-launch-live-splashdown-discovery-171800958.html

 

Delay in launch of new Martian rover Perseverance extended to July 30^th.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mars-rover-launch-delayed-july-235116238.html

 

Boeing Starliner passes key parachute deployment test ahead of test flight.

https://www.engadget.com/boeing-starliner-parachute-test-110159702.html

 

Unusual planet spotted by TESS space telescope

https://www.yahoo.com/news/core-gas-planet-seen-first-154511858.html

 

Spotlight on lack of diversity in aerospace field

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/the-surprising-reasons-there-are-so-few-black-scientists-in-the-space-industry-191326471.html

 

Asteroids discovered in Hubble Space Telescope image of a dwarf galaxy by community viewers. How community viewers enhance the Hubble team effort.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hubble-captures-sneaky-asteroids-galaxy-153916670.html

 

A brief history of the fastest X-15 flight ever.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mach-6-7-monster-americas-170000206.html

 

Time lapse video of the Sun released by NASA

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/nasa-releases-spectacular-1-timelapse-163539565.html

 

Bombardier adds the new Global 5500 to its stable of executive jets

https://www.yahoo.com/news/bombardier-just-delivered-first-global-124900258.html

 

Astronomers discover a gas giant exoplanet without its gaseous atmosphere

https://www.engadget.com/astronomiers-find-exposed-gas-giant-core-042946108.htmlsc

 

Hubble Space Telescope image shows aging galaxy with little new star formation and a spherical center. Looking forward to two new telescopes.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasas-powerful-hubble-space-telescope-213300261.html

 

A novel space business uses existing satellites to evaluate health of other satellites.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/high-earth-orbit-robotics-uses-131549234.html

 

Boeing software issues must be resolved before next Starliner flight test says NASA

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-adds-more-safety-fixes-212047654.html

 

Curiosity rover heading for its next destination. It will use an autonomous driving mode to avoid a hazard.

https://www.engadget.com/curiosity-rover-next-martian-destination-033231854.html

 

Multiple Mars exploration missions set to launch within the next month. Two are landers and one is an orbiter.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/three-mars-missions-poised-launch-152320774.html

 

Differences in the approach to development and engineering characterizes SpaceX vs Boeing human spacecraft development. https://qz.com/1878725/boeings-software-troubles-show-an-engineering-culture-clash/?utm_source=YPL

 

Good time for comet spotting in July

https://www.yahoo.com/news/naked-eye-comet-soaring-sky-183700645.html

Mars Perseverance Rover mated to its Atlas launch vehicle as prep continues for launch at the end of July

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-mars-rover-perseverance-attached-104125869.html

 

US and Japan sign agreement to work together on lunar programs.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/nasa-signs-agreement-japan-cooperate-120933232.html

 

NASA upgrades antenna in Australia to improve communications with interplanetary remote vehicles.

https://www.engadget.com/nasa-australia-deep-space-station-upgrade-133000935.htmlhttps://www.engadget.com/nasa-australia-deep-space-station-upgrade-133000935.html

 

NASA looks for ways to mitigate the biological impact of manned and unmanned missions to the Moon and Mars.

https://www.engadget.com/nasa-protect-moon-mars-human-contamination-093050521.html

Three nations set to launch Martian missions within the next month.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/look-mars-come-fleet-spacecraft-050910431.html

 

Unusual star discovered by Hubble Space Telescope suggests a new type of supernova

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nuclear-blast-sends-star-hurtling-083058016.html

 

The debate about the age of the universe rages.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/cosmic-expansion-tribes-entrench-positions-140116073.html

 

Planets putting on a show in space during pre-dawn hours.

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/see-5-planets-sky-month-nasa-reveals-233500045--abc-news-topstories.html

 

First images of close approach to sun released by ESA and NASA.

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/nasa-esa-release-closest-images-ever-taken-sun-144300317--abc-news-tech.html

 

James E. Webb Telescope launch delayed an additional 7 months until October 2021. https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-delays-launch-8-8-225943424.html

 

Latest 3-D map of universe released by astrophysicists

https://www.yahoo.com/news/astrophysicists-unveil-biggest-ever-3d-map-universe-004852227.html

 

UAE successfully launches Martian probe

https://www.yahoo.com/news/united-arab-emirates-launches-mission-010736979.html

https://www.yahoo.com/news/united-arab-emirates-spacecraft-blasts-221252980.html

 

Boeing faces hurdles with its attempt to send manned Starliner capsules to International Space Station

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/m/4f7c0e38-6535-3868-8390-bf8067b43cc8/what-went-wrong-with-boeing-s.html

 

Star with two gas giant planets photographed by Very Large Telescope.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/astronomers-reveal-first-ever-photo-130000808.html

 

Mars 2020 mission launch window opens next week and has only 2 weeks for launch this year or mission will have to be delayed for 2 years.

https://www.engadget.com/nas-as-mars-2020-rover-and-helicopter-are-nearly-ready-to-launch-162518162.html

 

SpaceX may launch first crewed Dragon mission (not part of a test program) in late September.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/spacex-nasa-target-september-first-144500033.html

 

Stunning image of Saturn captured by the Hubble Space Telescope

https://www.yahoo.com/news/man-picture-saturn-195200707.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June Aerospace Links

Aerospace Links June 2020

 

Hear astronauts describe what it will be like to fly SpaceX Crewed Dragon Capsule

https://www.yahoo.com/news/2-astronauts-flying-spacexs-crew-145247348.html

 

All electric modified Cessna Caravan gets a test flight

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/magnix-aerotec-put-electric-cessna-173421571.html

 

Missing matter mystery solved

https://www.engadget.com/scientists-find-the-universes-missing-matter-using-cosmic-bursts-094512061.html

 

Mars 2020 rover mission reviewed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_2020

https://www.nasa.gov/perseverance/overview

 

The story of the X-1, the first of the X-planes and the first aircraft to break the sound barrier with Chuck Yeager at the controls.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/plane-changed-world-meet-bell-130000001.html

 

Saturn’s moon Titan moving away from the planet much faster than previously believed.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/saturn-moon-titan-drifts-space-170839382.html

 

Star similar to Sun with planet comparable to Earth discovered by review of Kepler data.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/astronomers-discovered-star-potentially-habitable-175600655.html

 

Mysterious periodic fast energy burst from galaxy far far away stumps scientists

https://www.yahoo.com/news/more-fast-radio-bursts-detected-165850623.html

 

Studies of quasars help confirm one of Einstein's theories.

https://www.engadget.com/equivalence-principle-confirmation-174018796.html

 

Review of single engine Cirrus Vision Jet

https://www.yahoo.com/news/flew-2-million-personal-private-183409970.html

 

Honda industrial manufacturing computers are victimized by ransomware attack.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/honda-shuts-down-factories-cyberattack-124500852.html

 

Stellar Parallax studies from longest base ever, unleashed from diameter of Earth’s orbit

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/five-years-pluto-encounter-horizons-023000268.html

 

Launch of WST delayed to unspecified date after March 2021

https://www.engadget.com/coronavirus-delays-launch-nasa-james-webb-space-telescope-161528305.html

 

Take a tour of the International Space Station with views from a 360 degree camera

https://artsandculture.google.com/streetview/international-space-station/WgFE9b04h8A0ww?sv_lng=-95.08533878466375&sv_lat=29.56040149436038&sv_h=66.24&sv_p=-13.299999999999997&sv_pid=2Lx7fxjE5hcAAAQvxgbyLQ&sv_z=1.0000000000000002

 

NASA competition award winning images

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-competition-gallery-pictures-122526726.html

 

New Airplane certification regulations likely in wake of Boeing 737 Max crashes

https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-key-u-senators-draft-164342398.html

 

Contract awarded to Astrobotics for delivery of lunar lander VIPER to lunar surface in 2023. https://www.yahoo.com/news/meet-griffin-lander-ferrying-nasas-180400985.html

 

NASA names new head of human space flight.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-names-head-human-spaceflight-171818607.html

 

Information about fast radio bursts in the universe; one found in our own Milky Way.

https://www.engadget.com/first-fast-radio-burst-in-milky-way-002145743.html

 

Virtual Reality (VR) headsets used for Starliner astronaut training.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/astronauts-starliner-space-theyre-training-150900337.html

 

Space craft makes close approach to study the Sun.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/closest-image-sun-184936131.html

 

A different view of space has been obtained by the New Horizons space craft as it speeds through the outer reaches of our solar system

https://www.yahoo.com/news/horizons-gets-glimpse-alien-sky-060000364.html

 

Estimating the number of planets with intelligent life in our galaxy

https://www.yahoo.com/news/looks-could-35-other-alien-202400730.html

 

Musk and SpaceX Starship development on fast track.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-spacex-building-floating-222130113.html

 

New NASA leader faces challenges getting humans on the Moon again by 2024.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/one-most-difficult-jobs-america-021705176.html

 

Major management changes are taking place at Boeing’s space programs.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/boeing-shifts-team-leaders-space-010125728.html

 

New X-ray view of the Universe revealed.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/breathtaking-map-x-ray-universe-080510577.html

 

High end business jet sales hold strong.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/private-jet-industry-seen-wave-121400303.html

 

New methods to search for extraterrestrial life to be supported by a grant.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-searching-universe-signs-alien-130325690.html

 

Hubble Space Telescope provides stunning images of two planetary nebulae

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hubble-star-death-173845601.html

 

Astronomers predict existence of intermediate sized black holes. Search for examples underway.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/black-hole-galaxy-speed-175643759.html

 

Strange collision involving a low mass black hole and a relatively small neutron star reported.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/black-neutron-star-discovery-baffles-143620760.html

 

Dragon return to Earth for ISS now scheduled for early August. Depends on success of spacewalks to replace older style space station batteries.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-aims-early-august-splashdown-010309613.html

 

Dimming of Betelgeuse is explained.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/betelgeuse-nearby-supergiant-stars-dimming-141102941.html

May 2020 Aerospace Links

Aerospace Links May 2020

Atmosphere of large exoplanet defies explanation by astronomers

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hot-jupiter-bright-yellow-sky-200200485.html

What caused wide destruction of trees in Siberia over 100 years ago, a new theory

https://www.yahoo.com/news/tunguska-asteroid-impact-theory-172350208.html

The Earth’s magnetic pole is shifting

https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-explain-magnetic-poles-wanderings-230401575.html

This is the black hole nearest to Earth

https://www.yahoo.com/news/astronomers-closest-black-hole-earth-120106100.html

 SpaceX Starship development makes progress with engine test fire on prototype

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/spacexs-starship-prototype-successfully-completes-124759167.html

Amazing high resolution infrared image of Jupiter taken by telescope on big island

https://www.yahoo.com/news/scientists-obtain-lucky-image-jupiter-124431157.html

NASA offers grants for educational institutions to encourage the development of space scientists

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/university-washington-wins-nasa-grant-023949478.html

SpaceX launch and mission plans detailed for May 27^th manned Dragon launch

https://www.yahoo.com/news/spacex-launch-riskiest-most-critical-153811890.html

New engine technology approved for NASA contracted mission

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/rocketlab-tests-hypercurie-engine-power-120753590.html

Mini rover tries for NASA approval for mission to land rover on the moon.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/cmus-tiny-robot-rover-passes-134514608.html

Web based simulator for Dragon docking with ISS

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/spacex-simulator-shows-actually-dock-181918494.html

Interview with two astronauts scheduled for first manned Dragon launch later in May

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_gEt9xEI4g

NASA administrator in charge of human space flight resigns just a week before first launch of humans by a US space vehicle in almost a decade. No explanation has been provided.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-human-spaceflight-chief-resigns-205529884.html

Thirty years of Hubble Space Telescope operations celebrated

https://www.yahoo.com/news/30-years-hubble-three-decades-215613410.html

How the actual manned Dragon launch and recovery should go down video of test mission

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSA1B9GZ3TU

Surprisingly old disc galaxy find by Hubble Space Telescope and telescopes in Chile

https://www.yahoo.com/news/astronomers-discover-12-5-billion-014017303.html

How to watch prospective launch of Crewed Dragon to ISS

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/watch-upcoming-nasa-spacex-rocket-000029953.html

Aerospace company Virgin Orbit plans first orbital launch attempt from a modified 747 on Sunday, May 24

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/heres-virgin-orbit-hopes-achieve-201645244.html

See a beautiful time lapse image of Milky Way from southern hemisphere

https://www.yahoo.com/news/timelapse-captures-stunning-milky-way-055930795.html

China planning to launch Mars lander and rover this July

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-set-launch-mars-probe-114203384.html

Virgin Orbit launch is not successful

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/virgin-orbit-launcherone-rocket-falls-202555149.html

April 2020 Aerospace Links

Aerospace Links April 2020

OneWeb files for bankruptcy as its satellite network is still under construction. Most of employees have been laid off.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/oneweb-files-bankruptcy-amid-covid-014704542.html

Large number of senior pilots of American Airlines decide to take early retirement offer.

https://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2020/03/26/american-airlines.html?ana=yahoo&yptr=yahoo

NASA announces crews for the first SpaceX Dragon crewed missions.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/spacexs-first-operational-crew-dragon-124352685.html

High resolution image of Mars released by NASA

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-releases-highest-resolution-image-015512315.html

James E. Webb telescope deployed to full extent in successful test by NASA.

https://www.engadget.com/2020-04-02-nasa-successfully-deploys-the-james-webb-telescopes-enormous-mi.html

Corona virus pandemic disrupts studies using Chilean telescopes

https://www.yahoo.com/news/chilean-telescopes-explore-galaxies-brought-210411482.html

BepiColumbo spacecraft sweeps by Earth on its long and complex path to study Mercury.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mercury-bound-spacecraft-buzzes-earth-150726647.html

Astronomers gradually gathering more data about the 13 rings around planet Uranus.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/images-uranus-frozen-rings-only-135400387.html

 Extremely bright supernova spotted in 2016. This probably originated from a star 100 times larger than our Sun.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/supernova-bright-universe-173354717.html

New Pillars of Creation image from the Hubble Space Telescope published by NASA. It may be even better than the original.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-image-crowns-pillars-creation-221400705.html

How Mars lander is operated in the age of Covid-19 after shutdown of Jet Propulsion Lab where operators normally control the mission.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasas-curiosity-team-operating-mars-233125902.html

Study of Kepler satellite data by NASA scientists reveals an exoplanet very similar to earth in size 300 light years away. The planet appears to be the its star’s, a red dwarf type, habitable zone.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-discovered-another-earth-perhaps-215029727.html

Observational studies over decades of the motion of a star close to Milky Way’s supermassive black hole confirm Einstein’s general theory of relativity.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/star-dancing-around-supermassive-black-171222171.html

In-space satellite servicing to become a commercial endeavor.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/space-satellite-servicing-proves-successful-122007888.html

New space telescope led by a consortium of European nations based in Switzerland begins operations in search of exoplanets.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/europes-cheops-telescope-begins-study-093812247.html

SpaceX Crewed Dragon launch to International Space Station with first two astronauts set for May 27.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-spacex-set-historic-first-164141061.html

Astronomers share favorite images from Hubble Space Telescope’s 30 years of operations.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/pics-telescope-changed-look-space-022811086.html

March 2020 Aerospace Links

Aerospace Links March 2020

Astronomer discovers nearby galaxy with a double center

https://www.yahoo.com/news/astronomers-begin-unravel-mystery-held-224355088.html

SpaceX Starship prototype fails pressure test when fuel tank was loaded with liquid nitrogen. Test apparatus was destroyed. This is one of several failures during development of the new rocket.

https://www.engadget.com/2020-03-02-spacex-starship-sn1-prototype-implodes.html

New evidence of why the Milky Way galaxy is warped.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/milky-way-warped-galaxy-201443147.html

First SpaceX launch of crewed capsule set for sometime in May 2020.

https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2020/03/10/spacex-president-heres-when-well-launch-humans.html?ana=yahoo&yptr=yahoo

Space Launch System development fraught with cost overruns and delays.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasas-sls-moon-rocket-2-201949692.html

A quick look at new mission control room at Blue Origin in Florida

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/blue-origin-provides-sneak-peek-024018354.html

ExoMars2020 mission to Mars, a joint project of the European Space Agency and Russia’s Roscosmos Space Agency, postponed until 2022 due to a number of pending technical issues that are yet to be resolved and tested.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/exomars2020-coronavirus-played-part-postponement-105904659.html

Rocket Lab receives category 1 approval, needed for important missions, from NASA for its Electron launch vehicle.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/rocket-lab-gets-nasa-certification-203718820.html

Cluster of Moon, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn to be seen early Wednesday morning of March 17^th.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/set-alarm-moon-join-trio-151346799.html

Mixed NASA project management response to Covid-19 crisis. James E. Webb Telescope integration paused.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-confirms-commercial-crew-still-222936048.html

UK astronomers report diameter of Milky Way galaxy is an awesome 1.9 million light years

https://www.yahoo.com/news/milky-way-galaxy-edge-184630174.html

Bigelow Aerospace, builder of first inflatable module for space station, lays off all of its employees.

https://www.engadget.com/2020-03-24-bigelow-aerospace-shut-down.html

Hubble studies massive energy outputs of quasars caused by supermassive black holes across the universe.

https://www.engadget.com/2020-03-25-hubble-quasar-tsunami-illustration.html

February Aerospace LinksAerospace Links February 2020 Huge satellite networks face regulatory review. Present risks for access to space in the future and present effectiveness of Earth based telescopes. https://www.yahoo.com/news/amazon-asks-fcc-swift-approval-033326320.html https://www.marketwatch.com/story/spacex-will-need-to-solve-these-two-problems-for-starlink-to-be-successful-2020-01-29?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo After 4 spacewalks to repair the ailing sensor the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is back up and running on the International Space Station. https://www.yahoo.com/news/space-stations-cosmic-detector-working-201152639.html Companies ponder how to safely deorbit or otherwise deal with defunct satellites as launches for commercial use rise exponentially. https://www.yahoo.com/tech/m/e98922ef-05b8-3fd4-92ef-aa740301425f/space-companies-are.html Bombardier may sell business jet operation to Textron’s Cessna. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/bombardier-reportedly-talks-sell-business-234501947.html Female astronaut returns safely to earth after record-setting stay on the International Space Station. https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-astronaut-returns-earth-longest-mission-woman-110255602.html Advances announced by European Space Agency in deep space communications. https://www.yahoo.com/news/deep-space-antenna-just-spoke-175700971.html Man develops scanning electron microscope in his home garage. NASA to send the microscope to the International Space Station possibly as early as this weekend. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/garage-space-station-voxa-mochii-144015635.html Infosec the challenges faced by JPL. (For information security geeks this is a very interesting article,) https://www.yahoo.com/news/war-against-space-hackers-jpl-140050579.html SpaceX getting very close to flying astronauts to the International Space Station. First manned mission in Crew Dragon capsule is scheduled for May 7th. https://www.yahoo.com/news/spacexs-first-astronaut-mission-could-180923623.html President’s proposed budget has large requests to support future lunar mission and hardware development but cuts earth sciences and climate research. https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-moon-program-shines-bright-183902796.html Crew Dragon Capsule for first manned mission to International Space Station has arrived at Cape Canaveral https://www.yahoo.com/news/spacexs-crew-dragon-now-florida-195315393.html Proposals seeking funds for NASA interplanetary discovery missions https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/nasa-picks-missions-venus-triton-225434647.html Concern spreads among astronomers about the possible effects of cluster satellite constellations being deployed by commercial companies whose aim is to provide broadband internet coverage around the world. There are few if any regulations guarding the night sky. Planned satellites number in the thousands or more. https://www.yahoo.com/news/astronomers-warn-worrisome-light-pollution-225305077.html Blue Origin opens new engine plant in Alabama. Plans to produce rocket engines for several anticipated projects. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/blue-origin-lays-ambitious-plan-010440207.html Possible binary black hole system studied by NASA satellites could signal merging of two galaxies. https://www.yahoo.com/news/two-black-holes-merging-center-224900437.html Mars InSight lander records quakes up to intensity 4 on Mars. Search for stronger quakes to continue another year. https://www.yahoo.com/news/mars-lander-confirms-quakes-even-160620455.html Binary star system changes its character every few years, a discovery from two NASA’s Chandra and National Science Foundation’s Very Large Array telescopes. https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-space-telescope-spots-double-155300872.html Moon and Venus to appear close together in early evening sky on Thursday, February 27th. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/venus-moon-kiss-rare-celestial-180149245.html Katherine Johnson has died at 101. She was the real-life woman who was the inspiration for the movie Hidden Figures. https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/nasa-katherine-johnson-dead-151534621.html

Aerospace Links February 2020

Huge satellite networks face regulatory review. Present risks for access to space in the future and present effectiveness of Earth based telescopes.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/amazon-asks-fcc-swift-approval-033326320.html

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/spacex-will-need-to-solve-these-two-problems-for-starlink-to-be-successful-2020-01-29?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo

After 4 spacewalks to repair the ailing sensor the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is back up and running on the International Space Station.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/space-stations-cosmic-detector-working-201152639.html

Companies ponder how to safely deorbit or otherwise deal with defunct satellites as launches for commercial use rise exponentially.

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/m/e98922ef-05b8-3fd4-92ef-aa740301425f/space-companies-are.html

Bombardier may sell business jet operation to Textron’s Cessna.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/bombardier-reportedly-talks-sell-business-234501947.html

Female astronaut returns safely to earth after record-setting stay on the International Space Station.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-astronaut-returns-earth-longest-mission-woman-110255602.html

Advances announced by European Space Agency in deep space communications.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/deep-space-antenna-just-spoke-175700971.html

Man develops scanning electron microscope in his home garage. NASA to send the microscope to the International Space Station possibly as early as this weekend.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/garage-space-station-voxa-mochii-144015635.html

Infosec the challenges faced by JPL. (For information security geeks this is a very interesting article,)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/war-against-space-hackers-jpl-140050579.html

SpaceX getting very close to flying astronauts to the International Space Station. First manned mission in Crew Dragon capsule is scheduled for May 7^th.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/spacexs-first-astronaut-mission-could-180923623.html

President’s proposed budget has large requests to support future lunar mission and hardware development but cuts earth sciences and climate research.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-moon-program-shines-bright-183902796.html

Crew Dragon Capsule for first manned mission to International Space Station has arrived at Cape Canaveral

https://www.yahoo.com/news/spacexs-crew-dragon-now-florida-195315393.html

Proposals seeking funds for NASA interplanetary discovery missions

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/nasa-picks-missions-venus-triton-225434647.html

Concern spreads among astronomers about the possible effects of cluster satellite constellations being deployed by commercial companies whose aim is to provide broadband internet coverage around the world. There are few if any regulations guarding the night sky. Planned satellites number in the thousands or more.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/astronomers-warn-worrisome-light-pollution-225305077.html

Blue Origin opens new engine plant in Alabama. Plans to produce rocket engines for several anticipated projects.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/blue-origin-lays-ambitious-plan-010440207.html

Possible binary black hole system studied by NASA satellites could signal merging of two galaxies.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/two-black-holes-merging-center-224900437.html

Mars InSight lander records quakes up to intensity 4 on Mars. Search for stronger quakes to continue another year.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mars-lander-confirms-quakes-even-160620455.html

Binary star system changes its character every few years, a discovery from two NASA’s Chandra and National Science Foundation’s Very Large Array telescopes.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-space-telescope-spots-double-155300872.html

Moon and Venus to appear close together in early evening sky on Thursday, February 27^th.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/venus-moon-kiss-rare-celestial-180149245.html

Katherine Johnson has died at 101. She was the real-life woman who was the inspiration for the movie Hidden Figures.

https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/nasa-katherine-johnson-dead-151534621.html

The 2020 Yuma Aeromodelers Airshow

Cadets return to Yuma Aeromodelers Airshow

The 2020 version of the Yuma Aeromodelers Airshow got off to a damp start on Saturday morning, February 22. A cold front was passing through the area just a couple of hours before the show was scheduled to begin. It was still dry when cadets arrived at the hangar at 0730 to load the van with gear they would need to help with parking and to provide the color guard for the event. The cadets have been a welcomed support for the airshow for a number of years now. The Yuma Aeromodelers have responded in kind by allowing CAP Squadron 508 to use Contreras Field for their spring rocket launches.

Cadets unloaded our van and set up tables after we arrived at the field. No sooner did we spread out in pairs to help with parking than the sky started spitting at us with cold water droplets.

It did not take long for puddles and mud to develop making the duty somewhat treacherous. Besides, very few spectators were arriving at that point compared to years past. Wet uniforms and a cool breeze from the south drove the cadets to take shelter under the corrugated iron-roofed structure at midfield. That’s where all the performers were congregating also.

Cellphones with weather apps were checking out weather radar sites to study the prospects for carrying on with the show. The quick-moving storm was moving off to the northeast so event organizers decided to go on with the show. The cadet color guard was called to duty to start off the event with presentation of colors and the traditional playing of both US and Canadian national anthems.

The cadets did a wonderful, professional job under difficult conditions.

There were few new arrivals and the parking lot was a mess so our cadets suspended parking assistance activities as they tried to dry out. Shortly, the sun came out and everyone felt cheerier. We stayed around to watch some of the early performances that included jet planes and a twin WWII fighter replica. Several cadets had other activities planned for the day and our numbers dropped by attrition. After a couple of more hours we loaded the van and returned to hangar hoping for better weather conditions next year.