Page 4 - Aerotech News and Review, January 7, 2022

2021, from 3
flying over and it was a perfect surprise to the beginning of our questions about quality of life issues unique to the base. Following U.S. Department of Defense, two optical satellites for SatRevolu-
Mojave Memorial Day Ceremony. the theater, she received a brief on the Enlisted Test Fundamentals tion, and the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s first military satellite.
June 3 — Students from the United States Air Force Test Pi- Course at the Test Pilot School. The new course will allow enlisted July 6 — The Air Force released a new B-21 Raider artist render-
lot School Space Test Fundamentals Course Class 21-2 gathered Airmen to attend the school and focus on coursework that will pro- ing graphic with an accompanying fact sheet. As with past render-
at Mountain Valley Airport’s glider school in Tehachapi, Calif. to vide them with specific test skillsets. Bass utilized many forums to ings, this rendering is an artist’s interpretation of the B-21 design.
strengthen their understanding of time-compressed data collection engage with Team Edwards members. The largest forum took place The new rendering highlights the future stealth bomber with Ed-
practices in unfamiliar environments. To begin the three-month STF at Hangar 1600, where she began by thanking the Airmen for their wards as the backdrop. The 420th Flight Test Squadron based at
program, students from multiple branches and professions complete hard work and sacrifice for the past year. Edwards AFB will plan, test, analyze and report on all flight and
Introduction Test Fundamentals, which covers a completely domain June 30 — Virgin Orbit confirmed it successfully deployed into ground testing of the B-21 Raider. The B-21 program continues to
and system agnostic approach to testing. The course enables the orbit all seven customer satellites onboard its LauncherOne rocket execute the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase and
United States Space Force to enhance its Test and Evaluation mis- during today’s Tubular Bells: Part One mission. Virgin Orbit’s 747 is focused on scaling the manufacturing infrastructure and capac-
sion and multiply its ability to deliver combat-ready space forces. carrier aircraft Cosmic Girl took off from Mojave Air and Space ity across the industrial supply base to prepare for low rate initial
June 14 — The NF-16D Variable In-flight Simulator Aircraft Port at approximately 6:50 a.m., PDT, and flew out to a launch site production. A critical design review conducted in 2018 concluded
(VISTA) has been redesignated as the X-62A, effective June 14. over the Pacific Ocean, about 50 miles south of the Channel Islands. the aircraft has a mature and stable design.
The VISTA, which is operated by the Air Force Test Pilot School After a smooth release from the aircraft, the LauncherOne rocket Designed to perform long range conventional and nuclear mis-
with the support of Calspan and Lockheed Martin, first flew in 1992 ignited and propelled itself towards space, ultimately deploying its sions and to operate in tomorrow’s high end threat environment, the
and has been a staple of the TPS curriculum. It has provided TPS payload into a precise target orbit approximately 500km above the B-21 will be a visible and flexible component of the nuclear triad.
students the ability to experience various flying conditions including Earth’s surface. LauncherOne carried a total of 7 satellites to Low July 11 — Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity successfully reached
simulation of other aircrafts’ characteristics. Earth Orbit for this rideshare mission: four R&D CubeSats for the space, completing the company’s fourth rocket-powered spaceflight.
“For more than two decades VISTA has been a vital asset for the This was the 22nd test flight of VSS Unity and the first test flight
USAF TPS and the embodiment of our goal to be part of the cutting with a full crew in the cabin, including the company’s founder, Sir
edge of flight test and aerospace technology,” said William Gray, Richard Branson. The crew fulfilled a number of test objectives
VISTA and TPS chief test pilot. “It has given almost a thousand stu- related to the cabin and customer experience, including evaluating
dents and staff members the opportunity to practice testing aircraft the commercial customer cabin, the views of Earth from space, the
with dangerously poor flying qualities, and to execute risk-reduction conditions for conducting research and the effectiveness of the five-
flight test programs for advanced technologies.” day pre-flight training program at Spaceport America.
The VISTA is currently in the midst of an upgrade program which Michael Colglazier, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic,
will fully replace the VISTA Simulation System. The upgrade pro- said: “Today is a landmark achievement for the Company and a
gram will also add a new system called the System for Autonomous historic moment for the new commercial space industry. With each
Control of Simulation to support autonomy testing for the Air Force successful mission we are paving the way for the next generation
Research Laboratory’s Skyborg program. of astronauts. I want to thank our talented team, including our pilots
June 28 — Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass and crew, whose dedication and commitment made today possible.
arrived at Edwards for a two-day base tour and met with the Airmen, They are helping open the door for greater access to space – so it
families and civilians who make up Team Edwards. “I came here can be for the many and not just for the few.”
to understand this mission set that you guys are doing here in test, VSS Unity achieved a speed of Mach 3 after being released from
but I also came here because I want to hear what’s on your mind, Air Force photograph by Christian Turner the mothership, VMS Eve. The vehicle reached space, at an alti-
that’s what’s most important to me,” Bass said. The Variable In-flight Simulator Aircraft (VISTA) flies in the skies tude of 53.5 miles, before gliding smoothly to a runway landing at
Her first stop during her visit was to the base theater where she over Edwards Air Force Base, California, shortly after receiving its
new paint scheme in early 2019. The aircraft was resdesignated
addressed base leadership, squadron commanders and their su- from NF-16D to the X-62A, June 14, 2021. Spaceport America.
perintendents, first sergeants and key spouses. There, she fielded See 2021, Page 5

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