The past two weeks since our last Newsbite has brought many new and exciting announcements from our NAA member organizations and the greater aerospace community.

After more than two months aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley returned to Earth on August 2, splashing down at 2:48 p.m. EDT in the SpaceX Dragon Capsule off the coast of Pensacola, Florida. The conclusion of this history-making flight, termed the Demo-2 mission, marked the first time that NASA astronauts have piloted a spacecraft built by a commercial company. Once SpaceX and NASA have reviewed all of the data for certification, NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Mike Hopkins, Shannon Walker, and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi will fly on Dragon's first six-month mission (Crew-1) set to launch in September 2020.

On July 30, NAA corporate members Boom Supersonic and Rolls-Royce announced an agreement to explore the pairing of a Rolls-Royce propulsion system with Boom's flagship supersonic passenger aircraft, Overture. The teams will investigate whether an existing engine architecture can be adapted for supersonic flight, while Boom's internal team continues to develop the airframe configuration. Both companies also recognize that supersonic air travel has to be compatible with a net-zero carbon future. "We've had a series of of valuable collaborations and co-locations with Rolls-Royce over the past years to lay the groundwork for this next phase of development," said Blake Scholl, Boom Founder and CEO. "We look forward to building on the progress and rapport that we've already built with our collaboration as we work to refine Overture's design and bring sustainable supersonic transport to passenger travel."

The aerospace industry, know for its innovative spirit and ongoing resilience, is working through the twists and turns of current events. On August 20th, join the President of the Atlanta Aero Club, Steve Champness for a virtual luncheon to discuss the state of the aerospace industry, including key changes and inspired success stories from local aviation leaders. Special guests include Johnny Foster, President & CEO, Ogarajets, and Dent Thompson, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Office, Phoenix Air Group.

Earlier this week, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), published an interview with NAA President & CEO, Greg Principato, regarding the impact of COVID-19 on NAA and how the organization is preparing to face the challenges that lie ahead. NAA is the United States representative to FAI, which serves as the world governing body of air sports. Founded in 1905 and based in Lausanne, Switzerland, FAI is comprised of over 100 member countries and serves to further aeronautical and astronautical activities worldwide.

As we enter into August, please be reminded that the nomination deadline for the following NAA awards is quickly approaching:

Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy: Nominations due August 15

Distinguished Statesman and Stateswoman of Aviation Awards: Nominations due August 31

Brewer Trophy: Nominations due August 31

Public Benefit Flying Awards: Nominations due August 31

For questions regarding NAA awards, please contact Stephanie Griffith, Director of Awards, Events, and Membership at [email protected]. We look forward to receiving your nominations for our leaders in aerospace!