March 11, 2019 - No. 020 In This Issue Port of Seattle pushing to use more biofuels on flights Indian education institutes take a leap by using AR/VR technology to teach aviation Airline Leaders Reflect on Cultivating a Future Workforce of Women in Aviation EASA, ANAC Approve AerTrak ADS-B on Boeing 757-200 Aircraft Seeing Machines to trial eye tracking technology in helicopter simulator Supersonic shockwaves photo captured by Nasa for first time Filling the Friendly Skies With Hot Air. Thales and Vodafone join National Beyond visual line of sight Experimentation Corridor partnership Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 renews scrutiny on Boeing 737 MAX; U.S. authorities to assist in investigation After a Successful Test Flight to the International Space Station, SpaceX Looks Ahead to Launching Astronauts Port of Seattle pushing to use more biofuels on flights There's an effort in Washington state to clean up commercial aviation, starting with fuel. The Port of Seattle held an aviation summit to talk about ways to move the industry from fossil fuels to biofuels. SEATTLE - Airlines, airports, and companies like Boeing are looking for ways to make flights less harmful to the environment by accelerating a shift toward biofuels. This week, the Port of Seattle assembled the first-ever Washington Sustainable Aviation Fuels Summit to talk about ways to move the industry from fossil fuels to fuels made from wood, used cooking oil, crops, or even garbage. "In the near term, the best chance to make an impact is going to be with biofuels," said Sheila Remes, vice president of strategy for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Boeing has proven biofuel technology works. The company will soon offer airlines the option of having new planes delivered with a tank-full of a biofuel blend. Alaska Airlines will be the first customer to take them up on the offer in June. But there are significant hurdles to clear before biofuels become mainstream and cost-effective. Right now, there is no reliable supply or the infrastructure to distribute large quantities to Sea-Tac Airport. "We have a goal of getting 10 percent of these sustainable aviation fuels to Sea-Tac in 10 years. That's an enormous amount of fuel, that's 80 million gallons. We're not going to achieve that overnight, but we're going to send a clear market signal that if folks want to get involved, this is the time to do it," said Port of Seattle Commissioner Fred Felleman. So, what does all this mean for travelers? Here's Alaska Airlines' take. "At the end of the day, they want a great ticket price, they want a great experience, but I think all of us... want to know that we're doing the best thing for the world around us," said Diana Birkett Rakow, vice president of external relations for Alaska Airlines. Washington state has biofuel producers, but they export their supplies to other states like California and Oregon, where there are more financial incentives to use biofuel. A bill before the state Legislature would encourage more in-state consumption. https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/aerospace/port-of-seattle-pushing-to-use-more- biofuels-on-flights/281-853768d3-bfae-4933-a776-a3d6ac421360 Back to Top Indian education institutes take a leap by using AR/VR technology to teach aviation To ensure students are engaged, motivated and challenged, Mumbai-based Thakur Institute of Aviation Technology (TIAT) has taken a leap in redefining education practices by introducing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) for the aviation space. The module, named future of education version 3.0, uses technology such as a head-mounted display, controllers, sensors, and 3D visualization equipment such as Virtual CAVE among others, to enable digital content in futuristic classrooms. Further, to enhance experimental learning techniques, students are given a live demonstration of how to get into a cockpit and operate an aircraft with a detailed study on how the engine, cabin, tail section, and landing gear work. Rajesh Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Thakur Institute of Aviation Technology (TIAT), India said, "Students generally face a problem of having enough theoretical knowledge, but to gain practical knowledge, they would have to leave the classrooms and travel to far off places. The advantage of this technology is they can get practical knowledge without having to travel long distances often on virtual reality." Singh believes that the ecosystem of education needs to be upgraded for experimental learning techniques which can save a lot of time, money and energy. Students do not have to travel to far off places to see the functions of an aircraft, with learning to quicker and more effective as compared to current practices. Singh said that education institutes overseas have adopted such technologies which have boosted learning. India being a vast human resource supply to the world, is beginning to adopt it now, with huge potential to grow in the near future. TIAT was established in March 2006, primarily to cater to need of students desirous of pursuing aviation industry. https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/technology/indian-education-institutes-take-a-leap-by-using- arvr-technology-to-teach-aviation-3627771.html Back to Top Airline Leaders Reflect on Cultivating a Future Workforce of Women in Aviation Although women have been a part of the aviation industry since its inception, there have been many hurdles when it comes to both representation and advancement. In fact, the aviation industry, similar to many STEM industries, is seeking to balance its workforce by encouraging more women to embrace careers in aviation. During the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's 2019 Aviation Summit, held in Washington D.C. this week, the topic of diversifying the workforce was a hot issue for many speakers, and coincided with International Women's Day. Women aviation leaders took the stage from American Airlines, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines and the National Air and Space Museum for a lively discussion moderated by Elena Avila, EVP of Airlines for Amadeus. Together, the female leadership for these aviation organizations collectively bring over 100 years of experience and much advice for a younger generation. With an aging workforce that needs to find talent to address a shortage of pilots, mechanics, and air traffic controllers, the panelists discussed why recruitment of a younger generation of women in aviation is so important. "Diversity is a huge focus for us because diverse companies are better performing companies," Catherine Dyner, senior vice president and CIO of Air Canada told the audience. Seeking that diversity requires tapping into the interest of girls and making sure that along the way, they don't receive subtle messages that turns them away from IT-related careers. "Tech is cool and [it's] an exciting time to be in this industry," Dyner states. Another panelist, Kathleen Wayton, senior vice president and CIO, Technology at Southwest Airlines says its important that young girls see the possibility of what they can be early on. "You have to see it to be it." From images in main stream media to dolls, there should be reflection of women in aviation and technology related roles. That's why it is so important that the National Air and Space Museum is telling stories about the history of aviation that highlight women. "We have to change the representation of women and ensure that we are telling all the stories," said Ellen Stofan, director of the museum. "Everyone who comes into the museum can say that is a career that I can go into and it's an opportunity for me." Maya Leibman, executive vice president and CIO of American Airlines agrees that accessibility at an early age is critical to encourages a more diverse workforce. "It's really about being focused on what you are recruiting for and intentional on how you go about it." American Airlines has partnered with an underserved high school in the Dallas Independent School District (ISD) and a local community college to allow student access to educational curriculum, kickstarting the process of achieving an associate's degree in a technical field when they compete high school. However, they found that they had to reach out to students even earlier. "We are going back and working with girls 9-12 years old and teaching them about technology and coding. We need to get to these girls before they start getting subtle or not so subtle messages about what fields they should go into and build their confidence and abilities. It's a springboard for future careers," Leibman told the audience. "We also can't forget about the future of aviation and technology. When will we see supersonic flight? How will AI impact aviation? We need to inspire kids and get them excited about this field," Stofan concluded. For women in aviation already who are seeking more leadership positions, Elena Avila, the panel's moderator shared her advice, "Just say yes." Avila says that she encourages women to be brave and stretch themselves for new opportunities, even if they are not in the plan. "Be brave and be flexible." https://connectedaviationtoday.com/airline-leaders-reflect-cultivating-future-workforce-women-in- aviation/#.XIYm5ZjYrnE Back to Top EASA, ANAC Approve AerTrak ADS-B on Boeing 757-200 Aircraft AerSale, a global supplier of mid-life aircraft, revealed that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC) have approved the company's AerTrak Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out system on Boeing 757-200 series aircraft. Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved AerTrak for Boeing 737 NG series aircraft and Boeing 757-200 series aircraft to comply with the FAA's Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Operations rule. According to the release, ADS-B provides enhanced navigational accuracy using precise tracking via global positioning satellite (GPS) signals. Reducing risk and improving safety, the technology increases navigational coverage, especially in remote areas beyond radar range. Additionally, ADS- B enables more direct flight plans, thereby saving time and costs, while reducing emissions. This technology enhances situational awareness for Air Traffic Control of aircraft with ADS-B Out capabilities and is mandated by the FAA effective January 2020, followed by EASA in June 2020. "This validation reaffirms our commitment to our European and Latin American customers," said Iso Nezaj, Chief Technical Officer at AerSale. "With the benefit of no certification fees, operators now have a fully-compliant ADS-B Out system available to them. AerTrak is currently being expanded to more aircraft types, which will make this solution an obvious choice to even more operators worldwide." https://www.satellitetoday.com/imagery-and-sensing/2019/03/08/easa-anac-approve-aertrak-ads- b-on-boeing-757-200-aircraft/ Back to Top Seeing Machines to trial eye tracking technology in helicopter simulator The company said its Crew Training System would be incorporated into the AW-139 Full Flight Simulator at the ACE training centre in Sydney, run by Toll Helicopters Seeing Machines Limited (LON:SEE) shares were higher on Friday as the group said it is preparing to trial its eye-tracking technology in a helicopter flight simulator in partnership with Toll Helicopters, an arm of Australian logistics group Toll. The company, which develops eye tracking and operator monitoring technology, said the trial would be based on its Crew Training System (CTS) and incorporated into Toll's AW-139 Full Flight Simulator at the ACE training centre in Sydney. The CTS enables flight instructors to observe the movement of the pilot's eyes in real-time during a simulation and track what they are looking at. The data is then used to provide insight into situational awareness and overall performance. Seeing Machines said the trail would build on smaller ones conducted with Toll over the last two years, which it said had produced "tangible benefits" for pilots, aircrewmen, and instructors. Patrick Nolan, general manager of aviation at Seeing Machines, said the company had "every confidence" the technology would be "instrumental in maintaining Toll's high standards of safety and be key to enhancing pilot training efficiencies". Toll isn't the only firm that Seeing Machines has partnered with in recent months, having also worked with fixed-wing pilot trainer L3 Commercial Aviation to integrate its eye-tracking systems into their simulators. https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/216071/seeing-machines-to-trial-eye- tracking-technology-in-helicopter-simulator-216071.html Back to Top Supersonic shockwaves photo captured by Nasa for first time Nasa has taken a series of history-making photographs. The pictures show shockwaves from two supersonic aircraft interacting mid-flight. Supersonic aircraft means they were travelling faster than the speed of sound. When aircraft do this, special shockwaves are produced which interact in the air making a noise called a supersonic boom, which can be heard from the ground. Capturing these shockwaves interacting mid-air in a photograph is important as it will give researchers information about how these shockwaves work, which could have a big impact on designing supersonic aircraft in the future. Nasa is particularly excited about these pictures as the agency is in fact currently designing a new aircraft called the X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology X-plane (or X-59 QueSST), which will not produce a supersonic boom like other aircraft. Instead, when it breaks the speed of sound, you will only be able to hear a quiet rumble. So these pictures - and the equipment with which they were taken - will help Nasa to develop the right technology for this plane and understand the noises that it makes as it breaks the sound barrier. Currently, there are restrictions on where supersonic aircraft are allowed to fly, so designing a plane that doesn't make the boom noise could be a significant development in aviation history. Nasa scientist JT Heineck, who has been trying to capture this moment on camera for many years, says: "I am ecstatic about how these images turned out." https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47508369 Back to Top Filling the Friendly Skies With Hot Air When a massive helium-filled airship designed by Flying Whales, a French manufacturer, takes to the air for the first time in 2021, it won't be against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. Instead, it'll probably fly over Jingmen, a dusty farm and industrial town in central China where Flying Whales and state-owned China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co., Ltd. (CAIGA) recently announced they're planning to build an airship assembly line. Production should start in 2022 and could result in dozens of the giant ships -- each twice as long as a Boeing Co. 747 -- floating around the world. Eight decades after the Hindenburg disaster turned regulators, manufacturers and the public against lighter-than-air travel, the age of the airship (mind you, not blimps, which are non-rigid balloons that lose shape when they deflate) is back. These slow-moving giants won't challenge modern aircraft for passengers. But, thanks to advancements in technologies including hybrid- electric power, they're poised to offer a cheap, potentially low-carbon means of delivering cargo to and from regions of the world that lack basic infrastructure, including airstrips. China, with its ambitions to bring those areas into its economic orbit, will be a major customer for these new airships and a key player in shaping their future. The collaboration with Flying Whales dates back to 2012 and a French forestry problem. The country has lots of trees to log, but many are inaccessible without building expensive new roads and airstrips to convey wood to sawmills. France's National Forests Office, in search of alternatives, wondered: Could an airship that doesn't need to land expand the country's timber harvesting area? Flying Whales answered by designing the LCA60T, a rigid-frame, helium-floated airship designed to carry 60 tons of cargo. Though it has yet to build one, the company has secured close to $250 million in funding, including from CAIGA, which owns nearly a quarter of the firm. The Chinese government has made no secret of its desire to be an aerospace power and CAIGA has been aggressive in purchasing or partnering on promising new ideas and technologies. And investing in airships isn't just about acquiring advanced technology. In theory, at least, the craft will address several practical issues that China now faces. First, the new generation of airships won't be confined to conveying logs. In 2016, Lockheed Martin Corp. won a nearly $500 million order for as many as a dozen of its hybrid-electric LMH-1 airships (operational in 2020 or 2021) from a buyer who plans to lease their 20-tons of freight capacity to Arctic oil and gas companies. Leasing an airship is cheaper than building new roads across permafrost melting due to climate change, and roughly seven timescheaper per ton than using heavy-lift helicopters. As China and the rest of the world extend their search for raw materials into ever-more remote regions, airships are likely to become crucial links in logistics chains. Second, airships can provide China with a cheap and nimble means of extending economic assistance, as well as investment through its signature Belt and Road Initiative, to regions that lack infrastructure for planes or even trucks. In the developing regions of Africa and Asia that are China's primary targets, less than half of the population has access to good roads (lack of transportation access correlates with poverty). Flying Whales claims that the LCA60T will carry parts and machinery, including -- potentially -- wind-turbine blades (heavy-lift airships will have immense cargo holds). Generators, batteries, solar panels and even prefab buildings (China is a global leader in the prefab industry) could also catch rides. The delivery of post-disaster humanitarian assistance to remote areas -- an area in which China has become a major player -- would also benefit from airship transport. Finally, a commitment to airships could help China meet its pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As far back as 2010, the International Air Transportation Association called for the global air freight industry to shift from heavy freighters to lightweight airships to reach emission targets. According to the group, airships produce 80-90 percent fewer emissions and, because they fly at low altitudes, don't produce heat trapping-contrails. China's air freight market is one of the world's biggest and fastest-growing; even a small shift toward airships would make difference in slowing the sector's emissions growth. Airships aren't perfect, of course. They're slower than airplanes and helicopters (though faster than cargo ships) and their immense size leaves them much more exposed to winds and adverse weather than traditional planes. Helium, the preferred gas for the new generation of airships, is much safer than the hydrogen that burned up the Hindenburg but also substantially more expensive. And, finally, there is the problem of newness: The sorts of companies and organizations targeted to use airships have yet to sign up in large numbers. Until more become first-movers, the technology will remain niche. The good news for airships is that China is fully invested, even as other potential customers wait for someone else to jump first. Though Chinese state-owned companies don't like to lose money, they will if their overseers see a political or long-term case for doing so. Looking forward, that case is buoyant. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-03-10/china-s-hoping-airships-will- revolutionize-air-transport Back to Top Thales and Vodafone join National Beyond visual line of sight Experimentation Corridor partnership Thales and Vodafone have joined the National Beyond visual line of sight Experimentation Corridor (NBEC) partnership alongside founding partners Cranfield University and Blue Bear Research Systems. The addition of these two global industry leaders is a significant boost in the capabilities of NBEC, as the corridor continues to be developed. The project is closely aligned to the Aerospace Sector Deal, a government initiative to drive industry collaboration to support the future of mobility in the British economy. It will examine the real-world impact of digital transformation to jointly develop and exploit innovations within and between digitised airline operations, aircraft, airspace management and airports that are already in play. Cranfield and Bluebear run first test flight for the NBEC project Building on the existing partnership between Thales and the Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC), based at Cranfield University, Thales is wholly commited to unlocking the potential of digital aviation in the UK and globally. The NBEC partnership brings to life Thales' efforts to safely and securely integrate unmanned systems into UK airspace by integrating the airspace situation into the software solution devised for NBEC. The NBEC flight corridor will be used to demonstrate how 4G and 5G mobile technology can be used to identify and track the location of a drone in real time, vital to ensure that autonomous 'beyond line of sight' flights are safe. This will complement existing satellite-based [location systems, which provide accurate location estimates but can be open to jamming and compromise. Mobile connectivity on a drone will provide a secondary feed of location-based information, enabling a more robust and trusted picture of the drone's location. Such capabilities will be key to the air traffic management systems required to allow the routine and safe flying of commercial drones in the future. Blue Bear and Cranfield recently completed the first test flights to establish the principles for the National Beyond visual line of sight Experimentation Corridor (NBEC) at Cranfield Airport. The ultimate aim is to see the corridor eventually stretch across Bedfordshire from Blue Bear's headquarters in Oakley to Cranfield University's airport. Steve Murray, VP Strategy & Marketing, Thales UK, said: "Our solutions will help to build the foundations for an entirely new air transport system, based on clean, electric and hybrid air vehicles. For example, this will enable the routine, safe and secure use of drones for infrastructure surveillance and inspection, logistics delivery services and a future in which urban air mobility is a reality. Digital Trust is at the core of all we do and our role in the project will contribute significantly in the areas of cyber security and the concept of centralised management for drone operations and UAV traffic management to ensure the safety and security of the airspace." Anne Sheehan, Director, Vodafone Business UK, said: "Drones offer exciting opportunities for the future and will ultimately bring benefits to society and the economy. However, we need to make sure they are used safely and responsibly. We are delighted to bring our mobile connectivity expertise to the NBEC consortium so that drone technology can be further tested and developed." Professor Iain Gray, Director of Aerospace at Cranfield University, said: "With the addition of two global industry leaders, Thales and Vodafone, this is a significant boost to our capabilities as we develop NBEC. Upon its completion, NBEC will be a national asset that will help unlock the potential of a modernised UK airspace." Ian Williams-Wynn, MD of Blue Bear, said: "The creation of NBEC allows new technologies to be integrated and tested together to accelerate leading edge research and create a blueprint for UK drone activities. Expanding the consortium with these key industry leading technology providers will increase NBEC capability, and accelerate the expansion of NBEC to become the place to test drones in the UK". https://www.suasnews.com/2019/03/thales-and-vodafone-join-national-beyond-visual-line-of- sight-experimentation-corridor-partnership/ Back to Top Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 renews scrutiny on Boeing 737 MAX; U.S. authorities to assist in investigation U.S. air safety officials are assisting in the investigation into the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines plane bound for Nairobi that went down Sunday, killing all 157 people on board, including eight Americans. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will take part in the probe, officials said, and U.S. airlines are keeping an eye on the investigation to determine how it could affect their fleets, several of which contain the same 737 MAX 8 model aircraft that crashed in Ethiopia. It was the second fatal crash recently involving a Boeing 737 Max 8 model. In October, a Lion Air plane crashed into the waters off the coast of Java, killing all 189 passengers and crew on board. Though Sunday's flight did not originate in the United States, U.S. authorities were assisting in an advisory capacity because Boeing is based in Chicago. Although it was too soon to determine the exact cause of the Ethiopian Air crash, the plane, which was brand new, showed a similar flight path to the one in the Indonesia crash. An NTSB spokesman said the investigative agency is sending a team of four to assist Ethiopian authorities. An accident investigator and others providing technical expertise will serve as the response team. The crews have expertise in systems, structures, power plants and operations, according to the safety body. NTSB says it is an "accredited representative" to the investigation, which is being handled by Ethiopian authorities. The group that will be sent to Ethiopia is smaller than a "go team" that would be sent to a crash on U.S. soil, which could consist of a dozen to 25 people, but Ethiopian authorities are conducting a sweeping investigation of the crash. The pilot, who was identified by relatives as senior Captain Yared Getachew, 28, of Addis Ababa, had family who reside in Northern Virginia and Texas. The airline confirmed Getachew was the pilot. "We are deeply saddened by the news of the passing of our dear Yared," the family said in a statement. "With his impeccable record as a pilot, he was one of the youngest in Ethiopian Airlines history to captain a Boeing 737. As a confident captain, his seniority at Ethiopian Airlines comes with an accomplished record of 8,000 hours flight time, and has made us incredibly proud of his achievements." The crash brought new scrutiny to Boeing's 737 MAX family of aircraft, the latest generation of what the company describes as the "most popular jet aircraft of all time." Boeing boasts the new model has an improved cabin and more advanced flying technology - including, for example, a sensor system meant to take over and correct the plane's angle if it is pointed too far upward. But experts have warned that faulty sensors can put the aircraft at risk by sending it plummeting while in a climb. Boeing issued an emergency notice after the Lion Air crash that said a malfunctioning sensor could "cause the flight crew to have difficulty controlling the airplane," leading to "possible impact with terrain." The MAX 8, the variant that seats up to 210, has been involved in the two most catastrophic airline crashes in recent history. Southwest Airlines, which has 34 of the 737 MAX 8 planes in service, said it has been in touch with Boeing and plans to follow the investigation closely. It had not made any changes to its operations or inspection protocol Sunday, the airline said. "We remain confident in the safety and airworthiness of our fleet of more than 750 Boeing aircraft," Southwest said. American Airlines said it was closely monitoring the investigation but remained confident in the safety of its aircraft. It was too early to know what could come of the Ethiopian Airlines investigation, including what safety directives might be issued for the aircraft involved in the crash, officials said. Experts urged caution, because while the crashes - shortly after takeoff, at relatively low altitudes with erratic flight patterns - draw similarities, the data is insufficient to conclude the same systems were at fault. It was unclear, for example, whether the maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS) that was the subject of scrutiny in the Lion Air crash was a potential factor in Sunday's Ethiopian Airlines crash. "Because of the apparent similarities between and this and the Lion Air crash, the questions naturally arise: Is this a similar crash? And is MCAS the culprit?" said aviation consultant Scott Hamilton, managing director of Leeham Company, which provides aviation expertise and marketing analysis. "It may well turn out that there is a connection, but we don't know that today." Hamilton said the cockpit voice recorders and flight-data recorders would provide critical information on what transpired in the six minutes between the flight's takeoff and the crash. Not enough was known Sunday to draw parallels between the two crashes. "It's highly unusual for a new model airplane to have one accident let alone two in such a short period of time," he said. "And of course investigators are going to look at the flight-tracker radar pattern, the circumstances, and one of the first things they're going to zero in on when they get the [flight-data recorders] and the [cockpit voice recorders]...they're going to look at MCAS performance. That's going be a natural thing for them to do." The results of the probes could have major consequences because the 737 MAX is being rolled out widely across the aviation industry. Boeing says it was the fastest-selling airplane in its history and nearly 5,000 orders have been placed. Several hundred are in service, including with U.S. carriers Southwest and American Airlines. Southwest's fleet is made up entirely of 737s, and the airline had received 31 out of an order of 280 MAX 8 aircraft by January, according to Boeing. American had received 22 out of an order of 100. A faulty sensor was cited in the Lion Air crash, though authorities have not yet completed their investigation. Officials said the "angle of attack" sensor was the component involved in that incident, causing the plane to dip whenever pilots attempted to adjust the plane's pitch. The sensor repeatedly read that the plane was too high, even when it wasn't, and sent it plummeting during repeated attempts to correct its course. The aircraft eventually crashed into the Java Sea. Preliminary data showed the Ethiopian Airlines flight following a similar flight path. Ethiopian Airlines said its investigators, the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority and the Ethiopian Transport Authority will conduct the investigation "in collaboration with all stakeholders including the aircraft manufacturer Boeing" to determine the cause of the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a brief statement saying it was planning to assist in the investigation of the crash, which killed eight Americans and 18 Canadians. "The FAA is closely monitoring developments in the Ethiopian Flight 302 crash early this morning," the agency said in a statement. "We are in contact with the State Department and plan to join the NTSB in its assistance with Ethiopian civil aviation authorities to investigate the crash." Boeing declined Sunday to say whether the crash would prompt immediate action concerning the safety of the 737 MAX aircraft, as some pushed for answers on whether a second catastrophic crash will lead the manufacturer to ground its new planes or issue a new safety directive. More than a week after the Lion Air crash, Boeing issued a bulletin detailing the process for pilots to override the safety system cited in the crash. The manufacturer said in a statement that it is "deeply saddened" by the deaths of the 157 on board Sunday. "We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew on board and stand ready to support the Ethiopian Airlines team," Boeing said. The company said it is sending a technical team to the crash site to assist U.S. and Ethiopian authorities in their investigation. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/us-authorities-to-assist-in- investigation-of-ethiopian-airlines-crash-that-killed-157/2019/03/10/29b693ec-4349-11e9-8aab- 95b8d80a1e4f_story.html?utm_term=.5cfb44ff0424 Back to Top After a Successful Test Flight to the International Space Station, SpaceX Looks Ahead to Launching Astronauts Over the course of the last week, SpaceX took a giant leap toward launching humans from Cape Canaveral for the first time since the end of the space shuttle program in 2011. On Saturday, March 2, at 2:49 a.m. EST, one of the company's Falcon 9 rockets lit up the pre-dawn sky, lofting a Crew Dragon spacecraft designed to carry humans-but carrying only a stuffed globe and a manikin named Ripley outfitted with a space suit and suite of sensors-to the International Space Station (ISS). SpaceX then landed the Falcon 9 first stage on one of the company's two drone ships, Of Course I Still Love You, waiting out in the Atlantic. After a five-day stay at the space station, the Crew Dragon spacecraft undocked and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean at 8:45 a.m. EST on Friday, March 8. The craft reentered Earth's atmosphere and then deployed a set of parachutes to slow down and safely land in the ocean where a recovery vessel was waiting to meet it. The star of the mission, officially known as Demo Mission-1 (DM-1), was an upgraded version of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. Crew Dragon will serve as an astronaut taxi, ferrying people to and from the orbital space station. SpaceX has always intended for its Dragon capsules to transport humans, but every Dragon launched to the ISS so far-16 in all-has carried only cargo. "Human spaceflight is the core mission of SpaceX, so we are really excited to do this," Hans Koenigsmann, SpaceX's vice president for build and flight reliability, said on Friday in a pre-launch briefing. "There is nothing more important for us than this endeavor. We really appreciate the opportunity from NASA to really do this and have a chance to fly up to the station." The upgraded spacecraft has some shiny new features, including crew life-support systems, seats, control panels and a propulsion system that can be used to keep the crew safe during a launch emergency. But before astronauts can climb aboard, SpaceX has to prove Dragon is ready. After reaching space, the Crew Dragon spacecraft spent 24 hours chasing the space station. It circled the Earth a total of 18 times, firing its engines to ensure it would be on track for a rendezvous with the orbital outpost. As the capsule neared the station, it completed a series of maneuvers to demonstrate that it could safely approach and retreat from the station-a move the capsule is programmed to carry out to prevent a collision in case of emergencies. (Russia's space program, wary of the mission risks, ordered the sole cosmonaut on board the ISS, Oleg Kononenko, to remain in the station's Russian segment during the spacecraft's approach.) This week's flight wasn't the first time that a SpaceX spacecraft has visited the ISS, but it is the first time that one of its capsules docked itself with the orbital outpost. To date, all Dragon cargo craft have instead berthed with the ISS-slowly approaching the space station and waiting for a crew member to grab the ship with a robotic arm. In this case, Crew Dragon's onboard computers undertook a much riskier maneuver to guide the spacecraft in to dock-a feat that was accomplished just before 6 a.m. EST on Sunday, March 3. This docking maneuver-a critical part of the test flight-is something the capsule will have to do routinely in the future. "We need to make sure that [Dragon] can safely go rendezvous and dock with the space station, and undock safely, and not pose a hazard to the International Space Station," Kathy Lueders, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said during the pre-launch briefing. But perhaps the most daring part of the mission was the Dragon's final task: reentering Earth's atmosphere. During Saturday's post-launch briefing, reporters asked Musk what he was most worried about. "Hypersonic reentry is probably my biggest concern," he said. Despite being similar to the smooth, cone-shaped Dragon cargo spacecraft, the Crew Dragon version is asymmetrical, which could make it trickier to navigate through the atmosphere while temperatures flair to thousands of degrees Farhenheit. The odd shape of the Crew Dragon is due to an onboard emergency escape system-a critical feature to ensure the safety of future astronauts during launch. "That [shape] could potentially cause a roll instability on reentry," Musk said. "I think it's unlikely; we've run simulations a thousand times. But this is a possibility." Despite Musk's concerns, Crew Dragon aced its fiery descent through the atmosphere and looked in excellent condition as crews prepared to haul it out of the water today. In the past few years, SpaceX has emerged as a preeminent builder of rockets and orbital spacecraft. The California-based aerospace company has not only mastered the difficult task of putting payloads in space-last year SpaceX launched a record 21 times-but the company has made the seemingly impossible task of landing rocket boosters look routine, with 35 successful landings overall. However, SpaceX still has a lot of work to do to achieve its ultimate goal of launching astronauts. The Crew Dragon capsule is the next big step in SpaceX's evolution, but it also represents something bigger: NASA's partnership with the commercial space industry. Following the shuttle program's end, NASA put its faith in the commercial sector, entrusting two companies, SpaceX and Boeing, to build its future space taxis. Under a contract worth $6.8 billion, these two private ventures have spent the last five years developing spacecraft capable of carrying crew. Their vehicles-SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Boeing's CST-100 Starliner-will be NASA's primary means of transporting astronauts for the foreseeable future, ending almost a decade of reliance on Russia's space program to launch American astronauts. NASA currently pays Roscosmos about $80 million per seat to launch astronauts on Soyuz spacecraft. But after this week's SpaceX flight, if post-mission review determines the flight had no issues, we could see astronauts climb aboard the Crew Dragon by the end of the year. "There's a lot that we have to do before we can certify both these vehicles to fly humans to space, but I think it's a definite possibility, and I'm confident we'll get one of them up there with crew before the end of the year," Bob Cabana, director of NASA Kennedy Space Center said at the pre- launch news briefing. Following Saturday's launch, Jim Bridenstine, the NASA administrator, said that he was "100 percent confident" crew would launch this year. But before that can happen, SpaceX will conduct a different kind of test flight. This time, the same Crew Dragon capsule will initiate an emergency abort shortly after launch, allowing the Dragon to test its onboard escape system. During the test, eight SuperDraco engines attached to the spacecraft's hull will ignite and carry the vehicle away from the rocket. (A similar system on the Russian Soyuz rocket saved two astronauts during a launch failure last October). If everything checks out, the next Crew Dragon spacecraft will carry two NASA astronauts-Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken. Human spaceflight has typically been the domain of nations, but that is starting to change. With the success of this initial test flight, SpaceX has shown that it's possible for companies and other small enterprises to launch people to space. A new era of human spaceflight is on the horizon, one where astronauts fly in a variety of spacecraft, and private ventures are able to launch people beyond the atmosphere. While this week's flight was a demonstration test, it looks likely that SpaceX will soon be launching people to the ISS and, perhaps eventually, achieve its ultimate goal of sending humans beyond Earth orbit to the moon and on to Mars. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/following-successful-test-flight-international- space-station-spacex-looks-ahead-launching-astronauts-180971652/ Curt Lewis