Page 10 - Aerotech News and Review, January 8, 2021.

2020 in review at Mojave Air and Space Port

by Cathy Hansen jave Transportation Museum Foundation, was canceled in March That’s why, today, we are proud to share that Virgin Galactic is
special to Aerotech News and all of the following — months in 2020, except November. meeting this responsibility head-on through a Space Act Agree-
The November Plane Crazy Saturday collected toys for the ment with NASA.” As of July 2020, Whitesides now serves a
California Highway Patrol CHiPs for Kids program, so that kids chief space officer at VG.
$8.6-million FAA Grant – Taxiway Charlie in the communities of Mojave and Rosamond wouldn’t miss out “I am incredibly proud of our employees at Virgin Galactic
At the end of 2019, Congressman Kevin McCarthy announced on Christmas. and The Spaceship Company (TSC) for the enormous push in the
that the Department of Transportation approved an $8.6 million John Himes, Airport Operations Manager, reported that firms development and testing of the PPB Hood — a device designed
grant for the Mojave Air and Space Port through the Airport on the field continued operations and the airport administration, to support those admitted with COVID-19 with portable oxygen-
Improvement Program for 2020. Last year, McCarthy sent a letter control tower, security, maintenance, fueling staff and Fire, rich pressure chambers, reducing the subsequent need for ventila-
to the Federal Aviation Administration in support of Mojave’s Crash & Rescue performed daily tasks, while observing all CO- tor intubation. The team overcame shipping delays and product
grant application. VID-19 regulations. challenges to execute a carefully choreographed fabrication pro-
“From Stratolaunch to Virgin Orbit, Mojave Air and Space Himes said, “We pumped 1,000,000 gallons of fuel to our cess, complete with exhaust fitting, liner leak check and repair,
Port is leading the way in civilian aeronautics and commercial local and regional aviation partners for two consecutive years.” door installation, strap fastening, inspection, cleaning, labeling,
spaceflight,” said McCarthy. “But in order to continue to take and packaging. The result of this is an innovative patient care
the next steps towards even greater innovation in the industry, tool that can help make a difference for those in need. Thanks
it is vital that Mojave Air and Space Port’s infrastructure is re- to the dedication, resilience, and creativity of this group, we are
vitalized. This AIP grant will help make much needed repairs on track to produce 400 PPB Hoods at a specially constructed
to existing infrastructure issues — like pavement cracks — to assembly line at our Final Assembly, Integration and Test Hangar
enhance airport safety. I thank Secretary Chao, the Department of (FAITH) in Mojave,” Whitesides said.
Transportation, and the Federal Aviation Administration for rec-
ognizing the importance of this project. This grant will undoubt- U.S. Forestry and Cal Fire at MASP
edly help ensure the longevity of this facility for years to come.” Beginning in August, Mojave Air and Space Port served as a
This project will include subgrade rework, as well as the repair critical component in California’s 2020 wildfire mitigation plan.
of medium severity cracks and the concrete/asphalt transition From Mojave, U.S. Forestry Service and Cal Fire aircraft battled
between the taxiway and apron. It will address taxiway edge 11 major Federal and State fires, conducted 90 operations, dis-
lighting and T-hangar issues, which will ensure that the airport pensed 139,000 gallons of fuel; uploaded a record 1 million-plus
can continue safe operations at night. Overall this project will gallons of fire retardant.
provide better pavement conditions, which will provide safety According to USFS and Cal Fire, the fire season in California
for aircraft, pilots and passengers. seems to be year round, so it is imperative to have facilities able
Courtesy photograph to accommodate all of the types of aircraft that have contracts
with USFS. Aircraft flying from MASP included: 10 Tanker
Virgin Orbit conducts Captive-Carry Test Carrier DC-10; Coulson C-130Q and 737-300; Aero Flite RJ-
Virgin Orbit completed a cryogenic captive carry test of the 85 (Bae-146); Ericson MD-87; Cal Fire S2F Tracker and P2V
LauncherOne rocket April 12, demonstrating the performance of Neptune.
the launch vehicle, its Boeing 747-400 carrier jet, telemetry and
tracking systems, and ground teams. News from National Test Pilot School
Virgin Orbit’s Boeing 747 ‘Cosmic Girl’ carrier aircraft took On Sept. 25, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots an-
off from Mojave Air and Space Port with a four person crew. nounced Dr. Allen L. Peterson as the recipient of the 2020 Doo-
Pilot Kelly Latimer commanded the former jumbo jetliner car- little Award.
rying the nearly 30-ton Launcher One rocket. The James H. Doolittle award was established in 1966 to honor
During the April 12 captive carry flight, Virgin Orbit’s Boeing outstanding accomplishment in technical management or engi-
747 carrier jet took off from Mojave Air and Space Port in Cali- neering achievement in aerospace technology by a member of
fornia’s high desert and flew off the coast. With a four-person the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
Courtesy photograph crew of pilots and launch support engineers, the jumbo jet flew An excerpt from the award of Peterson’s accomplishments as
a race track pattern over the Pacific Ocean before lining up for a the president and CEO of the National Test Pilot School for the
Terra-Gen Operating Co., Bragg Crane Co. unload simulated launch run west of San Nicolas Island, which is owned past decade reads: Dr. Peterson has envisioned and successfully
wind generator components at MASP by the U.S. Navy. directed initiatives leading NTPS to become the first test pilot
Early in 2020, trainloads of wind turbine components were On May 25, ‘Cosmic Girl’ took off from runway 30 with a school in the world to attain full EASA certification, WSCUC
arriving at Mojave Air and Space Port for Terra-Gen Operating mission to launch the two-stage rocket. An hour after takeoff the collegiate accreditation, and ISO 9001-2015 certification, thereby
Company, located on Oak Creek Road in Mojave. Terra-Gen has rocket dropped smoothly from the 747; however, the mission was positioning NTPS for a successful long term future.
leased two large parcels of land from Mojave Air and Space Port terminated after the rocket engine ignited due to an anomaly, and
to store the blades, towers and generators for new wind projects the 747 returned to Mojave Air and Space Port.
in the Mojave-Tehachapi area. A Dec. 19 mission was announced, but then canceled due to
Mojave Air and Space Port tenant, Bragg Crane, does a mas- COVID-19 concerns. No word on further missions planned for
terful job of unloading the components from the flat rail cars the near future.
that are parked on the MASP railroad spur. The blades, sections Virgin Orbit and other space companies in the U.S. were per-
of towers and generators are then loaded onto semi-trucks and mitted to continue operations during the pandemic because the
transported to the Terra-Gen site in Tehachapi for construction. government considered them to be critical infrastructure.

Courtesy photograph

Stratolaunch is partnering with Calspan
In November, Stratolaunch was out of its hangar and doing
engine runs and taxi tests. They have announced that they are
partnering with the aerospace research and development com-
pany Calspan, to build and test models of its hypersonic launch
vehicle Talon-A, a reusable prototype rocket plane.
The Stratolaunch carrier aircraft, which has been nicknamed
Roc as a tribute to the giant bird of Arabian and Persian mythol-
Courtesy photograph ogy, is powered by six jet engines and has a wingspan of 385
feet — which is close to twice the wingspan of a Boeing 747.
California Highway Patrol photograph Virgin Galactic/The Spaceship Company signed Talon-A is a flexible, high-speed testbed built for hypersonic
Space Act Agreement with NASA in the fight against research, experiments, and enabling operational missions. The
COVID-19 vehicle will be 8.5 meters long with a wingspan of 3.4 meters
Plane Crazy Saturdays canceled when governor shut In May 2020, former Virgin Galactic CEO, George White- and a total mass of approximately 2.7 tons at launch. It will be
down state sides said, “During the current global crisis, we believe that the dropped aloft by its mothership, the giant carrier aircraft.
During the uncertainty of the pandemic, the monthly historic space industry has a responsibility to share expertise, knowledge, According to Calspan’s website — “Stratolaunch LLC, a lead-
aircraft display day, Plane Crazy Saturday, presented by the Mo- resources, and ingenuity to aid in the fight against COVID-19. See MOJAVE, Page 12
Aerotech News and Review
10 www.aerotechnews.com ........ facebook.com/aerotechnewsandreview January 8, 2021