TECHNOLOGY FOCUS
Aerospace
A roundup of recent advances in engineering technology. In this issue, a look at some of the latest innovations and advances in air and space technology.
SUPERSONIC TEST FLIGHT
On Oct. 28, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and NASA’s X-59, a supersonic aircraft, completed its first successful flight. The aircraft took off from Skunk Works’ facility at U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif., before landing near NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif.
“We are thrilled to achieve the first flight of the X-59,” said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, in a press statement. “This aircraft is a testament to the innovation and expertise of our joint team, and we are proud to be at the forefront of quiet supersonic technology development.”
The X-59 is designed to fly at supersonic speeds while reducing the sonic boom to a gentle thump. In doing so, the X-59 aims to overcome one of the primary barriers to supersonic commercial flight, which is currently restricted over land due to noise concerns.
Photo: Lockheed Martin Skunk Works
HYBRID ELECTRIC TURBOGENERATOR
Under a new strategic partnership, research teams at GE Aerospace and BETA Technologies are developing a hybrid electric turbogenerator for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) applications, including long-range Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, future BETA aircraft, and other potential applications.
“Partnering with BETA will expand and accelerate hybrid electric technology development, meeting our customers’ needs for differentiated capabilities that provide more range, payload, and optimized engine and aircraft performance,” said GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., in a press statement.
This hybrid solution will tap into existing infrastructure and capabilities, such as GE Aerospace’s CT7 and T700 engines, and is expected to bring significant enhancements in range, payload, and speed performance compared to other aircraft in the same segment.
Photo: GE Aerospace
ORION SPACECRAFT’S STACKING MILESTONE
NASA’s Orion spacecraft was officially joined and connected with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the upcoming Artemis II mission.
The Orion spacecraft, called Integrity by its astronaut crew, was transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center where it was lifted atop the SLS rocket in High Bay 3 on Oct. 19.
“Integration of SLS and Orion represents a major milestone in our progress on Artemis,” said Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy in a press statement. “Soon, we will be launching four astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over half a century on Artemis II.”
Following the mating, teams will make electrical and data connections between Orion and SLS, along with umbilical connections from the mobile launch platform to the spacecraft. EGS will conduct integrated tests of Orion and SLS before they are rolled out to Launch Pad 39B for a wet dress rehearsal next year.
The first crewed flight of the Artemis program is set to launch no earlier than February 2026, with potential launch windows extending through April 2026. The mission will be 10 days and is a key event to establishing a long-term presence on the Moon for exploration and science.
Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor to NASA for Orion and built the crew module, crew module adaptor, and launch abort system.
Photo: Lockheed Martin/NASA
SMALL-THRUST-CLASS AIRCRAFT ENGINE
In September, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies released a new small-thrust-class engine, the HON1600, for the collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) market.
The HON1600 propulsion system is designed to go “from model to metal” quickly, as a significant percentage of the engine’s materials can be 3D-printed or produced using high-volume manufacturing techniques such as metal injection molding.
According to the company, the engine’s low-cost, flexible, and scalable architecture supports both turbojet or turbofan variants from 800-to-1600 pound-force thrust and scalable for additional thrust as required. The core engine has been demonstrated at rated thrust as well.
Photo: Honeywell
CO3D CONSTELLATION LAUNCH
During the summer, four Airbus-built CO3D (Constellation Optique 3D) satellites were placed into orbit with the help of an Arianespace Vega-C rocket from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The satellites, developed in partnership with the French Space Agency (CNES), are working on creating a highly detailed 3D map of the Earth’s surface.
According to Airbus, the dual-use CO3D satellites will deliver a global high-resolution Digital Surface Model (DSM), providing 50 cm stereo imagery to CNES, and 2D imagery to government and commercial clients.
“The successful launch of the CO3D constellation is a testament to European ingenuity and a major step forward in our first class Earth observation capabilities,” said Alain Fauré, head of Space Systems at Airbus, in a press statement.
Each satellite weighs 285 kg and all four are now in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 502 kilometers. They will complete six months of in-orbit testing before beginning an 18-month campaign to deliver a 3D map of France and the ‘crisis arc’ to CNES. The data will feed a cloud-based ground segment operated by Airbus to produce the final 3D map, supporting critical military and civil applications ranging from geology and hydrology to urban planning and civil security.
The CO3D satellites feature a new observation mode called Step and Stare. Each satellite uses its matrix detector to shoot images (Stare) and pave the area of interest with images of about 7 kilometers by 5 kilometers. The spacecrafts’ agility then allows them to quickly reposition between successive pictures (Step) to provide swath images ranging from 7 kilometers to 28 kilometers.
Photo: Airbus
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