Pax Alums Selected for SpaceX Mission
Two US Naval Test Pilot School at NAS Pax River alums — Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada — have been selected to command and pilot NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 mission headed to the International Space Station next year. The pair expected to fly on early missions of Boeing’s crew capsule, but instead will ride to orbit with SpaceX.
For the CH-53K, a Real-World, Heavy-Lift Mission
A Marine Corps CH-53K King Stallion completed its first official fleet mission. The heavy-lift helicopter recovered another helicopter from a mountain ridge. “Heavy lift is a unique and invaluable mission for the Marine Corps. Horsepower is our weapon system and the CH-53K is armed to the teeth,” said the VMX-1 officer in charge.
Undersea Warfare Priority for Navy
The US Navy is renewing its focus on undersea threats and has labeled anti-submarine warfare a priority for all sailors.
F-35 Office Eyes More Pilot Simulator Training
US Navy CAPT Robert Betts of the F-35 training management office said the program is looking at reducing live training hours for the fighter jets’ pilots and moving to simulators as a way to cut sustainment costs.
STEM Education Deficit Threatens US
The Pentagon’s highly respected annual report on the US defense and manufacturing industrial base targets a STEM education deficit threatening to weaken the nation’s competitive advantage in everything cutting edge.
1st Step Taken in Renaming Bases, Ships With Confederate Names
The first members of the commission to rename at least 10 Army bases and possibly two Navy ships that honor the Confederacy have been appointed by acting DefSec Christopher Miller.
More Restrictions Ordered in Effort to Slow Spread of COVID-19
Maryland announces more restrictions in effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 and establishes a $175 million business relief program.
US Wants to Resume North Korean Talks
Trump’s White House asks Chairman Kim to come back to the table for more North Korean talks about denuclearization.
More Deployments as Tensions Remain High in Middle East
Thousands more troops are preparing to be deployed to the Middle East amid heightened tensions with Iran, since the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in a recent airstrike near Baghdad.
With NAVAIR Help, CH-53K Engine Problems Fixed
With the help of engineers from the Naval Air Systems Command, Sikorsky has solved its CH-53K King Stallion heavy-lift helicopter’s gas re-ingestion problem.
