Page 6 - Aerotech News and Review, January 7, 2022

2021, from 5
Aug. 20 — The Air Force Test Pilot School graduated the latest goner was a life member. On Sept. 12, 1966, while flying the world of STEM.
class of Space Test Fundamentals professionals during a ceremony his 25th combat mission over North Vietnam, Waggoner’s Oct. 26 — The Skyborg team conducted a multi-hour
at the Edwards’ base theater. STF Class 21-2 finished a three-month aircraft was hit by hostile fire forcing him to eject over en- flight test on October 26 of the Skyborg autonomy core
long course and dubbed themselves the first “production” class in emy territory. Due to a lack of communications over their system aboard two General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger tacti-
reference to an aircraft’s development and procurement cycle with target and no friendly eyewitnesses to his aircraft having cal unmanned vehicles during the Orange Flag 21-3 Large
STF Class 21-1 as the “prototype.” been shot down, Waggoner was listed as missing in action Force Test Event at Edwards. Skyborg is focused on dem-
“We are excited to continue to develop and evolve the course to for two years before his fate as a POW was confirmed. Wag- onstrating an open, modular, government-owned ACS that
meet the United States Space Force’s needs to produce adaptive, can autonomously aviate, navigate, and communicate, and
critical-thinking test professionals to conduct full-spectrum test and eventually integrate other advanced capabilities. This ex-
evaluation of space weapons systems,” said Col. Sebrina Pabon, perimentation event built upon the basic flight autonomy
Test Pilot School commandant. The three-month program leverages behaviors demonstrated at OF 21-2. The flight demonstrated
world-class USAF TPS expertise and is designed to provide hands-
on training in flight-test fundamentals, systems test, space science matured capabilities of the ACS that enabled two MQ-20s
application, advanced space system test and evaluation, and broad to fly autonomously while communicating with each other
exposure to the foremost centers of space operations and testing. to ensure coordinated flight. Additionally, the aircraft re-
Aug. 24 — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III issued a sponded to navigational commands, stayed within specified
memorandum directing mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for geo-fences, and maintained flight envelopes. Both aircraft
service members. On Aug. 23, the FDA gave full approval to the were monitored from a ground command and control station.
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for individuals 16 years of age and older. Nov. 11 – People from all over the area honored veterans
Before Aug. 23, the vaccine was available for use through an FDA during Veterans Day ceremonies in Mojave, Lancaster and
emergency use authorization. Palmdale.
Aug. 30 — The last U.S. service member departed Afghanistan. Nov. 8 — After 199 days in space, the longest-duration
Maj. Gen. Chris Donahue, commander of the U.S. Army 82nd Air- mission for a U.S. spacecraft, Dragon and the Crew-2 as-
borne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, boarded a C-17 cargo plane Photograph by Adrienne King tronauts, Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, Akihiko
at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. An American flag is suspended from the extended ladders of Hoshide, and Thomas Pesquet, returned to Earth, splashing
Donahue’s departure closes the U.S. mission to evacuate American Station 24 ladder trucks near the Fallen Heroes’ Memorial at the down off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., at 10:33 p.m., EST, on
citizens, Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants, and vulnerable Antelope Valley Mall to mark the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 November 8. Dragon and the Crew-2 astronauts were quickly
Afghans. terrorist attacks. recovered by the SpaceX recovery team. SpaceX transported
Sept. 2 — The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Dragon back to Cape Canaveral, Florida for inspections and
(FAA) barred Virgin Galactic from flying its SpaceShipT- refurbishment ahead of future human spaceflight missions.
wo until the agency approves its final mishap investigation goner was captured by the North Vietnamese and taken to This mission marked multiple firsts for SpaceX and NASA’s
report from its July flight or determines the issues do not the Hỏa Lò prison in Hanoi, North Vietnam which was given Commercial Crew Program, including being the first to fly
affect public safety. the nickname of “Hanoi Hilton” by the POW’s held there two international partners, the first crew mission to use a
The FAA confirmed on Wednesday it was investigating a during the Vietnam War.
deviation in the descent of the flight of the Virgin Galactic Oct. 2 — The Vanilla unmanned aircraft system completed flight-proven Dragon and Falcon 9, and the first U.S. space-
rocket plane that carried British billionaire Richard Branson a record-setting flight of 8 days, 50 minutes, and 47 seconds, craft to spend 199 consecutive days in orbit.
and 12,200 miles of continuous flight, at Edwards AFB. Dec. 11 — Blue Origin successfully completed the third
The aircraft broke the world record for unrefueled, internal human spaceflight — the first with six astronauts on board.
combustion endurance of an unmanned aircraft. Vanilla Un- The astronaut manifest included, Laura Shepard Churchley
manned is a prototype aircraft designed to meet a cost-effec- (daughter of Alan Shepard), Michael Strahan, Evan Dick,
tive, airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance Dylan Taylor, Cameron Bess, and Lane Bess.
demand. The aircraft was created by Platform Aerospace, a Dec. 16 — Northrop Grumman recently completed a
small business based out of Hollywood, Maryland. Platform significant milestone in the production of Australia’s first
Aerospace partnered with the 412th Test Wing’s Emerging MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft when
Technologies Combined Test Force (ET-CTF) to launch the the aircraft fuselage was mounted onto Triton’s unique one-
aircraft from the Rogers Dry Lakebed, Sept. 24. piece wing. Once completed and delivered, Triton’s powerful
payload and endurance will provide the Royal Australian Air
Force with the ability to detect and analyze threats that were
previously undetectable. Northrop Grumman is building the
Triton at its facility in Palmdale, Calif.
Dec. 17 — Northrop Grumman recognized 24 small busi-
nesses with with World Class Team awards for their out-
standing performance in support of the company’s cost, per-
formance and supplier diversity objectives. “We are pleased
Army photograph to recognize some of our small business suppliers who per-
After 19 years of war, Maj. Gen. Chris Donahue, commander of the formed superbly and demonstrated resiliency in spite of the
U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, boarded
a C-17 cargo plane Aug. 30 at the Hamid Karzai International challenges we faced,” said Patricia McMahon, vice presi-
Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, and became the last U.S. service dent, corporate supply chain, Northrop Grumman. “These
member to leave. Donahue’s departure closes the U.S. mission Air Force photograph by Bryce Bennett dedicated companies helped to strengthen our supply chain
to evacuate American citizens, Afghan Special Immigrant Visa The Vanilla unmanned aircraft system completed a record-setting and contributed to our collective success.” One of the 24,
applicants, and vulnerable Afghans. flight of 8 days, 50 minutes, and 47 seconds, and 12,200 miles of Aero Bending Company, is based in Palmdale, Calif.
continuous flight, at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Oct 2. The Dec. 18 — The holidays are a time of remembrance, and
aircraft broke the world record for unrefueled, internal combustion on a frosty Saturday morning, more than 150 volunteers paid
to the edge of space on July 11. endurance of an unmanned aircraft and was launched from tribute to the area’s veterans interred at Lancaster Cemetery.
The FAA, responsible for protecting the public during Rogers Dry Lakebed on Sept. 24. Fresh wreaths with red velvet ribbons were placed on the
commercial space transportation launch and reentry, said graves for the 12th year, as part of Wreaths Across America.
“SpaceShipTwo deviated from its Air Traffic Control clear- Wreaths Across America is a national organization dedicated
ance as it returned to Spaceport America” in New Mexico. Oct. 13 — Blue Origin successfully completed its second to “Remember, Honor and Teach,” by laying holiday wreaths
“Virgin Galactic may not return the SpaceShipTwo vehicle human spaceflight on board New Shepard on Oct. 13, 2021. on veterans’ graves the third Saturday each December, at
to flight until the FAA approves the final mishap investiga- The flight included four astronauts, Dr. Chris Boshuizen, Arlington National Cemetery and “at more than 2,500 ad-
tion report or determines the issues related to the mishap do Glen de Vries, Audrey Powers, and William Shatner, as ditional locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad,”
not affect public safety,” the agency said. well as thousands of postcards from Blue Origin’s founda- according to their website.
FAA cleared Virgin Galactic to return to flight on Sept. 29. tion, Club for the Future. After the flag salute, and a moment of silence, Dayle De-
Sept. 11 — American’s across the world marked the 20th Oct. 18-22 — Students in the Antelope Valley studied with
anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Locally, a multi-agency cer- STEM professional when the 412th Test Wing hosted a series Bry, Antelope Valley Cemetery district manager told the 100
emony was held at the Antelope Valley Mall in Palmdale. of virtual presentations designed to showcase the world of or so volunteers: “We are all proud to be Americans who live
Sept. 12 — T-38 Talons from the 416th Flight Test Squad- possibilities available to the youth through their study of in a free society made up of many people, from many walks
ron performed a flyover in Bishop, Calif. The flyover was to science, technology, engineering, and math. The 2021 Vir- of life. The freedoms we enjoy today have not come without
honor retired Air Force Col. Robert F. Waggoner at a memo- tual STEM event allowed students to connect directly online a price. Lying here before us and in cemeteries throughout
rial service. Waggoner passed away June 21. More than 100 with engineers and others with STEM backgrounds, who the nation are men and women who gave their lives so that
family and friends gathered at the Tri-County Fairgrounds have parlayed their schooling and knowledge into success- we can live in freedom without fear.”
in Bishop to honor the memory of the a former Hanoi Hilton ful careers on the cutting edge of aerospace tests. Helida
prisoner of war. The memorial service was organized by Vanhoy, 412th Test Wing STEM coordinator, enlisted the Editor’s note: For more 2021 Year in Review, including
local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8988, of which Wag- help of volunteers to talk about their unique experiences in photographs, visit www.aerotechnews.com.
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