Presentation: December 2021 (!)

This month's AE presenter: Kailash
Date of presentation: 13-Dec-2021
Subject: The X-57 Maxwell
Description: For this month's presentation, Kailash talked about the X-57 Maxwell, an experimental electric-powered aircraft currently under development at NASA.  This is not just a standard airplane fitted with electric motors; it is essentially a testbed for a variety of new technologies being developed specifically for electric aircraft, including a total of 14 motors (12 specifically for takeoff and the two other, larger motors for cruise flight) mounted on the wing's leading edge rather than suspended underneath it, and fitted with propellers that can be folded during flight to reduce drag.

Here's a link to Kailash's YouTube video presentation regarding the X-57 Maxwell:

https://youtu.be/6q8lSd5o8eE

Due to scheduling issues, we rarely have time for an aerospace presentation in December, so this was a rare experience!

Presentation: August 2021

This month's AE presenter: Kailash
Date of presentation: 16-Aug-2021
Subject: NASA's Quiet Supersonic Mission (X-59)
Description: In this month's presentation, Kailash talked about NASA's work on developing a quieter supersonic airplane.  For background, in the past, one of the primary objections to previous supersonic commercial airlines (Concorde, etc.) was the noise they produced both during takeoff and when transiting at supersonic speeds.  The goal of the X-59 project is to develop an airplane that lessens or eliminates these sounds.  

To accomplish this, several technologies are either being developed or are under investigation.  The main idea is to deal with reducing the sonic "boom" normally produced by a transiting supersonic jet, to a much gentler "thump" by modifying the way shockwaves form and merge.  This may reduce the noise from the 105 or so decibel boom produced by, say, the Concorde, down to about 75 db, which has been likened to a car door slamming 20 feet away.

Flight testing is expected to begin in 2022, and community overflight testing in 2024.  If it goes well, data could be released to regulators as early as 2027.

Presentation: October 2020

This month's AE presenter: Kailash
Date of presentation: 26-Oct-2020
Subject: Telescope Basics
Description: Kailash gave a discussion about telescopes - how they work, how they differ from one another, and ended with a brief discussion of which type he recommends for novice astronomers.

Presentation: February 2020

This month's AE presenter: Kailash
Date of presentation: 24 Feb 2020
Subject: Starliner - A NASA / Boeing Joint Mission
Description: For February, Kailash presented an overview of the NASA/Boeing mission Starliner - an alternative to SpaceX's "Crew Dragon" project that will hopefully bring American astronauts to the International Space Station in the not-too-distant future, and perhaps even farther after that.  The presentation touched on such subjects as: cost/benefit vs. alternatives such as Crew Dragon and/or Soyuz; reusability of at least some of the components (the crew module, for one); details of the spacecraft and launch vehicle; supply chain and operations; crew and cargo accommodations; and a bit about the various forms of testing the craft has undergone so far.

Presentation: October 2019

This month's AE presenter: Kailash Kalidoss
Date of presentation: 28 Oct 1029
Subject: SOFIA - Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy
Description: The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is an 80/20 joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to construct and maintain an airborne observatory. NASA was awarded the contract for the development of the aircraft, operation of the observatory and management of the American part of the project.

CAP members from Group 2 were invited to get up close with SOFIA, an airborne observatory that visited NASA’s Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California on 19-October-2019. Some lucky CAP members got a unique opportunity to interact with the Mission Operator and learn some unique insights about the SOFIA project.

SOFIA is based on a Boeing 747SP, a special wide-body aircraft that has been modified to include a large door in the aft fuselage that can be opened in flight to allow a 2.5 m (8.2 ft) diameter reflecting telescope access to the sky.

The primary science objectives of SOFIA are to study the composition of planetary atmospheres and surfaces; to investigate the structure, evolution and composition of comets; to determine the physics and chemistry of the interstellar medium; and to explore the formation of stars and other stellar and celestial objects.

For more information watch the YouTube video on SOFIA and view the presentation to CAP, Squadron 80 on 28-Oct-2019.

Presentation: July 2019

This month's AE presenter: Kailash Kalidoss
Date of presentation: 15-July-2019
Subject: The return of Supersonic Flight
Description: Kailash's presentation gave a brief overview of supersonic travel - what it means to consumers, the technicalities surrounding it, a history of the prestigious Concorde, its glory and shortfall. Most importantly, it captures a vision for the future, in the form of a company named BOOM which is developing next-generation efficient commercial supersonic aircraft.

Any flight performed at a speed greater than Mach 1.3 is deemed supersonic.

The Concorde was the most prestigious (and in fact the only commercial) supersonic aircraft to date. It was jointly developed by Britain and France and was in operation between 1976 and 2003. Due to operational, environmental, regulatory and design challenges, the Concorde could never scale in a big way. There were very few operational routes and its cost was exorbitant.

Following the fatal crash of a Concorde in France in 2000, and post 9/11 financial meltdown, the company, its funding, and unsustainable operations made the airplane defunct. It was pulled out of service in 2003.

There has been no replacement for this commercial supersonic aircraft to date. However, an American company named BOOM is trying to address this void in the aviation market. BOOM is capable of Mach 2.2 and is only slightly smaller than Concorde. Its design is futuristic and lighter through the usage of reinforced carbon fiber for most of its parts.

The company claims that it would operate at a per-passenger cost comparable to a subsonic business class ticket. Also, due to the better performance and a range of 4500 nm without a refuel, it opens many more routes across the globe. The traditional London to New York route that takes 7-8 hours in a subsonic aircraft can theoretically be achieved in 3 hrs. 15 min by BOOM. This 55-75 seat aircraft is looking to change aviation in the future.

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-HbJn3LAHc