Alain Lessick’s Post

South Africa’s newly inaugurated sounding rocket facility, operated by the Aerospace Systems Research Institute, has successfully launched the Phoenix-1D and Phoenix-1E sounding rockets on 2 December and 4 December 2024, respectively. https://lnkd.in/d58SwVS9

In their Year-in-Review articles, AIAA's Space and Missiles committees detail the continued growth of commercial space, progress in lunar exploration and more. https://lnkd.in/ga3UCHym

The Aerospace Alliance stands as a driving force in the aviation and aerospace sectors, fostering a dynamic ecosystem of leading companies, cutting-edge research institutions and highly skilled professionals. With major aerospace hubs and key military installations, the region remains pivotal in driving technological advancements, innovation and economic growth in the industry. 🚀 Dive into our industry profiles to discover the profound impact the aerospace and aviation sectors are making in our region. ✈️ #aerospace #aerospaceindustry #aviation #aviationindustry #nasa #economicdevelopment #economicgrowth #space #spaceindustry #spaceinnovation

Skyroot successfully fires Kalam-250 engine that will power Vikram-I to space. Skyroot Aerospace has achieved a major milestone by successfully test-firing the Kalam-250 engine, the second stage of its Vikram-I space launch vehicle, at ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The test, conducted on March 27, 2024, saw the engine generate a peak sea-level thrust of 186 kilonewtons, with expectations to reach 235kN in space. Constructed from high-strength carbon composite materials, the Kalam-250 engine features advanced EPDM thermal protection and precision control systems, signaling a significant advancement in India's private space industry. For Aerospace & Defence Updates Follow: https://lnkd.in/d-FkwVj9

Check out the 2024 Hypersonic News, part of AIAA's Aerospace America Year in Review! This article, co-written by Liz Stein and me, highlights key developments in hypersonics.

A suspected hypersonic missile launched by North Korea exploded in mid-air on Wednesday, according to South Korea’s military. This development comes as North Korea protests the regional deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier for a trilateral military exercise with South Korea and Japan. The missile was launched from the North’s capital region around 5:30 a.m. and was aimed towards the North’s eastern waters before it failed, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff stated. The Joint Chiefs of Staff later reported that the missile blew up while flying off the North’s eastern coastal city of Wonsan. Missile fragments were scattered in the water, up to 250 kilometres (155 miles) from the launch site. No damages were immediately reported. The Joint Chiefs of Staff suspected the weapon was a solid-fuelled hypersonic missile, and the test was aimed at improving its capacity. The launch generated more smoke than usual, possibly due to an engine fault, they said. The details of the background briefing given to South Korean journalists were shared with foreign media. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command condemned the launch and reaffirmed the U.S. commitments to the defence of South Korea and Japan as “ironclad.” In a trilateral phone call, senior diplomats from South Korea, the U.S., and Japan condemned the North’s missile launch as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and a threat to international peace. They agreed to maintain close trilateral coordination, according to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry. #hyperfast #HYPERIANAerospace #airsupremacy https://hyperianaero.com/ #NGAD #hypersonic #airforce #usarmy #spaceforce #HYPERJet #HYPERMissile #HYPERBomber #HYPERLiner #hydrogen #aerospace #spaceflight #airsuperiority #NASA #BLACKSTAR

Explore Our New Aerospace Knowledge Center 💡 GRAS Sound & Vibration has launched a dedicated Aerospace Knowledge Center on our website! This new hub offers in-depth resources on testing solutions tailored for the aerospace and defense industries, covering applications from in-flight aeroacoustics to wind tunnel testing. Visit to explore case studies, whitepapers, and expert articles that can help you stay at the forefront of aerospace innovation. Visit the Knowledge Center here: https://lnkd.in/dg6XPv_H #knowledge #experts #insights #aerospace

Explore Our New Aerospace Knowledge Center 💡 GRAS Sound & Vibration has launched a dedicated Aerospace Knowledge Center on our website! This new hub offers in-depth resources on testing solutions tailored for the aerospace and defense industries, covering applications from in-flight aeroacoustics to wind tunnel testing. Visit to explore case studies, whitepapers, and expert articles that can help you stay at the forefront of aerospace innovation. Visit the Knowledge Center here: https://lnkd.in/dg6XPv_H #knowledge #experts #insights #aerospace

I enjoyed seeing the interview of Radian Aerospace co-founder Livingston Holder. He discusses why their sled-launched spaceplane is technically and financially feasible. However, the horizontal launch method they propose has the disadvantage of needing heavy wings to support the fully-fueled weight of the spaceplane. In contrast a vertical launch method would use wings that only had to support the dry mass of the craft on return, resulting in much lighter wing weight. I advise Radian to do the trades to find which is the optimal method. Additionally, I advise they base the core of their vehicle on existing upper stages to save on development costs and technical risk. I discuss using the Falcon 9 upper stage and Centaur upper stage for the purpose here: Radian Aerospace Spaceplane. https://lnkd.in/gRnBEgej