Fallen Sailors Honored at USS Cole Memorial
The US Navy honored the memory of 17 sailors killed in the 2000 jihadi attack on the destroyer USS Cole. Monday marked 20 years since the attack in a Yemeni port.
At Pax, a Scaled-Back 245th Celebration
Today marks the US Navy’s 245th birthday. NAS Pax River’s celebration will take place this morning starting at 11:30 am on base with retired CAPT Glen Ives, a former commanding officer at Pax, as the speaker. The pandemic is forcing a scaled-back celebration this year.
Pentagon Task Force to Study UFO Reports
A new Pentagon task force will investigate reports of unidentified flying objects from service members.
Marines Halt All AAV Training in Wake of Fatal Accident
The Marine Corps will suspend all waterborne amphibious assault vehicle training until the cause of Thursday’s AAV accident is known. On July 30, 15 Marines and one sailor were participating in a training exercise off the coast of Southern California when the vehicle they were riding in, began to take on water and sank. One confirmed dead, eight others missing.
First Rotary Test on Mars Is Prepped
The 4-pound helicopter, Ingenuity, travels to Mars clutching the belly of the rover Perseverance. The atmosphere of Mars was just the start of the challenges that faced Ingenuity on its way to performing the first rotary wing test flight on Mars.
DoD Uses COVID Funds for Small-Drone Contracts
DoD’s innovation arm has issued $13.4 million in small-drone support contracts using COVID-19 funds, awarding contracts to five companies to help with “situational awareness, improve human-machine teaming, and provide engineering support.”
Sahara Dust Plume Due in MD on Sunday
The Sahara dust plume is was 5,000 miles long by the end of June. The swirling dust headed toward the United States off the Sahara Desert is expected to move into the southern Mid-Atlantic and sections of the Carolinas toward the end of the weekend. NASA imaging shows another dust plume now off the coast of Africa and following the same path.
Chincoteague Pony Swim Canceled by Coronavirus
Along with so much else, the coronavirus had forced the cancelling of the 95th Chincoteague Pony Swim, for the first time since World War II.
TechPort Launches ‘Hot Box’ in COVID-19 Fight
TechPort UAS Business Incubator seeks FDA approval for the Heat Sanitization Box — the “Hot Box” — that disinfects thousands of face masks within an hour. The Hot Box is the second COVID-19 tool created by SoMDLovesYou with support from TechPort.
Military Readiness Concerns Grow
As the rate of infection in the military outstrips that of the general population, deployments are being impacted, and military leaders fear a readiness crisis. The warship Coronado could be the herald.
