Week in review (8/7 to 8/13)

This past Tuesday we published our latest edition of the Gulf Coast Reporters’ League Aerospace Newsletter, and we hope you had a chance to take a look. The eight-page publication had four stories about aerospace activities in our region.

In our story “Farnborough: Cementing the bonds,” we talked to some of the folks who attended the July air show near London. There was one announcement of interest to the Gulf Coast region during the air show, but what doesn't get publicity are the relationships developed and nurtured at the air show. Those are investments of time and effort that might not have any payoff for many years to come. Story

In our article "DI: Putting innovation on the fast track," we tell you about the think tank in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., that's getting noticed. The Doolittle Institute opened its doors in 2014, but it’s on a growth curve. Last month the state said DI would get $100,000 from the Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Program. But that's just part of the story. DI has a growing operation in Tampa, and it has collaboration agreements with universities and research organizations, including the well-known Institute for Human and Machine Cognition in Pensacola, Fla. Story

If you're interested in robotic aircraft, take a look at "Drones grow SSC science repertoire." The story is out of Stennis Space Center, Miss., best known as the location where huge rocket engines are tested. This tells you about the newest addition to its science portfolio. The recent decision by the FAA to expand SSC’s restricted airspace is expected to be a boon for the growth of UAV activities at the NASA center. Story

In another SSC-related story, "SSC key in quest for next gen engines," we tell you about how the NASA facility has become a battleground in the contest to replace Russian-built engines used for government launches. SpaceX and Aerojet Rocketdyne, two of the four companies competing to develop engines to replace the RD-180, both have chosen to use SSC to develop the crucial engines. Story

To want to download the entire 8-page PDF, click here. But be patient. Depending on the speed of your computer, it might take a while to download. But we think it's worth it.

In other news during the week, we posted an item about a booster test for NASA's Space Launch System in June that also demonstrated a new video recorder that captured unprecedented imagery of the rocket firing.

Developed by engineers at NASA’s SSC, the camera can record multiple slow motion exposures at once. Conventional cameras can only record in one exposure, a problem when trying to document very bright events like a rocket test. The new method is called the High Dynamic Range Stereo X, or HiDyRS-X. (Post)

There were also at least two contracts awarded that are of interest to the Gulf Coast region. Both were for the F-35. As you know, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 integrated training center and two F-35 reprogramming labs. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity for both contracts.

United Technologies Corp., Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Conn., was awarded $151.7 million modification to a previously awarded contract. This modification procures initial spare modules, engine system trainers, support equipment and depot activation services and supplies in support of the F-35 for Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, international partners and foreign military sales customers. Work will be performed in Connecticut and Indiana and is expected to be complete in September 2019. (Post)

Also, Lockheed Martin Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $20.8 million modification to a previously awarded contract for the procurement, delivery, installation, configuration, and standup of the Naval Air Station Lemoore Training Infrastructure System and Pilot Fitting Facility in support of the F-35. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla.; Greenville, S.C.; and Fort Worth and is expected to be completed in March 2019. (Post)