Page 9 - Aerotech News and Review, April 16, 2021

Edwards Air Force Base
TPS graduates first Space Test Fundamentals class

by 1st Lt. Christine Saunders “For more than 75 years, Test Pilot
Edwards AFB, Calif. School has trained and educated the Air
Force’s test leaders– bold pilots, weap-
The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School ons systems officers, engineers, and as-
graduated the first-ever Space Test tronauts,” said Raymond. “Today, we
Fundamentals class April 6, 2021, at expand upon that legacy.”
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Continuing the legacy of bold and
Fifteen enlisted, officer, civilian Air- innovative leaders is paramount, as this
men and Guardians represent the first new generation will be both ambassa-
class dedicated to testing within the dors and pioneers of streamlined, inte-
newly contested domain of Space. grated test — combining the classically
Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, the stove-piped experimentation, develop-
U.S. Space Force chief of space opera- mental test, operational test, and tactics
tions, was on-hand to give the gradua- development to deliver space warfight-
tion address. ing capabilities to the field.
“You were handpicked from a pool The initial cadre of graduates come
of over 160 applicants, not only to at- from various space warfighting disci-
tend this inaugural Space Test course, plines to include operators, engineers,
but also to help us build this course program managers — civilian and mili-
and define its future as the initial Space tary Airmen and Guardians, ranging in
Test cadre,” said Raymond. “You were rank from specialist 4 through lieuten-
the “Beta testers” of the course itself, ant colonel.
simultaneously studying hard and de- “I’m very proud of these young Air-
veloping the future of our space test men and Guardians, carrying the pio-
education and training program.” neering spirit of the Test community
The course enables the U.S. Space into Space,” said Maj. Gen. Christo-
Force to enhance its test and evalua- pher Azzano, Air Force Test Center
tion mission and multiply its ability to commander. “This graduation is the
deliver combat-ready space forces. culmination of years of collaboration
Air Force photograph by Joshua Miller
Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, United States Space Force Chief of Space Operations, and Chief Master Sgt. of the
Space Force Roger A. Towberman, pose for a photo with Space Test Fundamentals Class 21-1 students at Edwards
Air Force Base, Calif., April 6, 2021.
between the Air Force Test Center and satellite intercept test program by retir- Sgt. Charles Langdon
the Space community.” ees Maj. Gen. Doug Pearson and Col. 1st Lt. Francis Ambion
The three-month program lever- Jack Anthony. 1st Lt. Jared Bogdan
ages world-class USAF TPS expertise “To the Air Force Test Center and
and is designed to provide hands-on the Test Pilot School, thank you! In a 1st Lt. Emily Remeta
training in flight-test fundamentals, little over a year, your leadership and Capt. AJ Roskowinski
systems test, space science applica- collaboration turned the idea of a space 1st Lt. Lucas Schaper
tion, advanced space system test and test course into reality,” concluded Capt. Austin Cooner
evaluation, and broad exposure to the Raymond. “I look forward to building a Capt. Jason Gabriel
foremost centers of space operations rich tradition of collaboration between
and testing. the Air and Space Test communities.” Maj. Jon Anderson
Throughout the course, a variety of The initial Space Test Fundamentals Maj. Eric Bassett
case studies, guest lectures, and site course took 18 months to develop, and Maj. Michelle Willett
visits were utilized to learn from those will evolve with student feedback.
Air Force photograph by Giancarlo Casem currently operating in the space envi- Congratulations to the graduates: Lt. Col. Morgan Sparks
Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, United States Space Force Chief of Space ronment and those who have paved the Ms. Evelyn Kent
Operations, views a past Air Force Test Pilot School class photo at Edwards The next class is scheduled to begin
Air Force Base, Calif., April 6, 2021. way, to include the experiences of three Mr. Bruce Bishop
astronauts, and the retelling of the F-15 Spec. 4 Haley Roll May 24.

X-57 high voltage

testing begins

High voltage ground testing has begun on NASA’s first all-electric
X-plane, the X-57 Maxwell. The X-57, which is in its first configura-
tion called Mod 2, is drawing power from a large, off-aircraft high-
voltage power supply for these tests at NASA’s Armstrong Flight
Research Center in Edwards, Calif. The project team is applying high
voltage to the aircraft in order to check out the aircraft systems and
gain familiarity with operating the aircraft in the current configuration.
Completion of this phase brings the project one step closer to flight.

Right: NASA’s all-electric X-57 Maxwell aircraft under goes high-
voltage ground testing at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research
Center in California. A goal of the X-57 project is to help the Federal
Aviation Administration set certification standards for emerging
electric aircraft markets.
NASA photograph by Lauren Hughes

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