Flight

• The first use of the SLS rocket is expected to be the Artemis 1 mission that will send an uncrewed spacecraft around the moon.
• The SLS rocket is the massive booster that is expected to push the Artemis missions into orbit and towards the moon at some point in the future.
• The 1.8 kg drone-like rotorcraft is the first flying machine ever sent to another planet and could serve as a pathfinder to discover inaccessible areas or as a scout for future rovers.
• Providing access to T-Mobile's 5G network, the 5G Connected Future incubator program will allow startups and entrepreneurs to build and test solutions like autonomous vehicles (AVs), drones and robotics.
• The Department of Defense could become a leading buyer of clean fuels, including sustainable aviation fuels.
• A new U.S. administration and increased public support to help aviation survive the COVID-19 crisis and tackle climate change could spur a deal.
• Once deployed, the Ingenuity team will have a technology demonstration window of approximately 30 sols to complete the first flight test of Ingenuity - the first time powered, controlled flight will be attempted on another planet.
• The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, which rode along with the Mars Perseverance Rover, will be the first aircraft to attempt controlled flight on another planet and is a marvel of engineering.
• Brisbane to Coffs Harbour - flights will operate four days per week with the turboprop Q400 aircraft.
• While Ingenuity might be the first aircraft to fly on the Red Planet, Perseverance is the ninth American spacecraft to set down on it.
• Aircraft on Iwo Jima could intercept bombers headed for the Japanese mainland and warn the home islands of incoming attacks.
• DynCorp will leverage its DynMRO as the maintenance management information system for the Afghan fleet of UH - 60 aircraft.
• Rocket Lab's in-house designed and built Photon Pathstone spacecraft which will operate on orbit as a risk reduction demonstration to build spacecraft heritage ahead of Rocket Lab's mission to the Moon for NASA later in 2021.
• Perseverance is carrying a technology experiment - the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter - that will attempt the first powered, controlled flight on another planet.
• The North Carolina drone trials will be used by the FAA to create final guidelines for safely integrating drones into the national airspace.
• SAS currently operates 44 A320neo aircraft and 1 A321neo LR powered by the fuel-efficient LEAP engine and plans to introduce two additional A321neo LR.
• The new system to monitor and localise enemy communications will support tactical manoeuvres and will equip the electronic support vehicles of the French Army's 54th Signals Regiment, the French Navy's frontline warships and the Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft.
• By using commercially available drones, the Islamic State has been able to conduct reconnaissance and intelligence operations swiftly, while reducing threats to its fighters.
• Essar Oil (UK) Limited (Essar) is joining forces with Fulcrum BioEnergy and Essar's subsidiary company Stanlow Terminals to create a new facility which will convert non-recyclable household waste into sustainable aviation fuel for use by airlines operating at UK airports.
• In-service Learjet aircraft will continue to be supported into the future, under the RACER remanufacturing program launched by Bombardier to provide upgraded avionics, connectivity and engine enhancements for Learjet 40 and 45 aircraft that are still in operation.
• American Tower, a global leader in wireless communications infrastructure, will utilize the autonomous drone and AI technology to inspect its more than 41,000 wireless communications tower facilities in the United States, with potential to expand to its more than 183,000 sites worldwide.
• Rocket Internet Growth Opportunities, a blank-check SPAC company whose management team includes members of Rocket Internet's leadership, plans to go public on the New York Stock Exchange in a $250 million deal.

Last updated: 22 February 2021