INDUSTRY NEWS Raytheon Delivers WAAS GEO 6 Satellite Payload to FAA — Raytheon has handed over the Wide Area Augmentation System Geosynchronous Earth Orbiting 6 (WAAS GEO 6) satellite navigation payload. The new navigation payload has been delivered to the FAA, and is already operational. It replaces an older WAAS geostationary satellite, and will be used to increase the accuracy and reliability of GPS satellite signals, as well as offer coverage expansion. The Raytheon-developed WAAS is a navigation system operated by the FAA for civil aviation purposes. The navigation system meets all relevant air navigation performance and safety requirements. It includes space and ground equipment that helps detect any errors in the received GPS signals. The WAAS Master Stations generate a WAAS User Message that contains information to remove errors in the GPS satellite signals. The WAAS GEO 6 payload will join the FAA’s two other existing WAAS satellite payloads operating in orbit. Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner Spacecraft Clears Pad Abort Test — Boeing has successfully conducted a pad abort test of its Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 Starliner spacecraft, marking a critical milestone in the program. The test was conducted from Launch Complex 32 at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. It is part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program and designed to simulate a launch pad emergency. During the two-minute test, an uncrewed Starliner spacecraft lifted off from the test stand using its own power. Prior to lifting off, Starliner’s four launch abort engines (LAEs) and multiple orbital maneuvering and attitude control (OMAC) thrusters fired up and generated 190,000 pounds of thrust to push the spacecraft up and away from the test stand. After take-off, it flew a mile above land in under 20 seconds and then deployed forward heat shield and parachutes. The spacecraft’s crew module separated around 34 seconds into the test and used parachutes with landing airbags to touch down. The landing took place 95 seconds after the abort engines fired. The company claimed that Starliner successfully demonstrated the maneuver and performance of a range of integrated systems required to propel the capsule away from its Atlas V launch vehicle at any point before lift-off. Starliner’s crew module will be recovered and returned to Launch Complex 32 for evaluation and analysis. Back to 2019-11-13 issue of C.E. Weekly Back to Members Base Camp Back to CJHunter Home Page