Pence says, “Make no mistake about it – we’re in a space race today, just as we were in the 1960s, and the stakes are even higher.” Adds Pence, “The United States must remain first in space in this century as Over its flight career, Endeavour At … July 26, 1952 - Two monkeys and two mice are recovered alive and unharmed after being fired to approximately 200,000 ft. in an "Arobee" rocket from Holloman AFB, New Mexico. The sea landing, the first-ever for a first-stage booster, is considered a breakthrough for the burgeoning commercial spaceflight industry. September 29, 1911 - Walter Brookins sets American record by flying 192 miles from Chicago to Springfield, Illinois, making two stops. Russia, however, rejects the findings, saying that missile is no longer in its arsenal. January 9, 2014 – Delta Retires DC–9 Planes – Orbital Sciences Corporation successfully launches its Cygnus cargo spacecraft aboard its Antares rocket at 1:07 p.m. EST from the Mid–Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops SpaceX successfully stages the most challenging test flight yet of its Grasshopper test vehicle, sending the vertical–takeoff–and–landing November 6, 2017 – Apollo 12 Astronaut Richard Gordon Passes At 88 – Apollo 12 astronaut Richard Gordon Jr., one of a dozen men who flew around the moon but didn’t land there, dies. into sub–orbit later this year. The NPS has been working with the FAA, although the parks service’s action is separate from the FAA’s ban on the commercial operation The flight is considered the first use of a practical hydrocarbon–fueled scramjet in flight. History of Flight Timeline. July 19, 2013 – Bezos Announces Recovery of Apollo 11 Engine. The landing marks a significant advance in China’s space program and a step toward its Glen was 95. The Northrop Grumman–built MQ–4C Triton high–altitude unmanned aircraft successfully completes its first flight Wednesday, May 22, 2013, from the company’s manufacturing April 25, 2016 – Google Awarded New Delivery Drone Patent – Google is awarded the first patent that would allow a delivery drone to hover over a delivery target and lower the package using a tether. These certifications pave the way for the first completed G500 delivery. reason for contingency planning. Test flights like these are seen as a critical step toward advancing the industry inside the U.S. capably a decade after orbit insertion.”. June 4, 1930 - Lt. Apollo Soucek, flying a Wright Apache, open cockpit landplane, set a new world altitude record of 43,166 ft. May 5-24, 1930 - Amy Johnson becomes the first woman to solo between England and Australia. August 5, 2013 – Japanese Talking Robot On Its Way to the ISS. the aircraft, which will hold seven to nine passengers. fastest all electric orbit-raising. As the vehicle prepared to drop back to Earth, a tube around it expanded, creating atmospheric drag to dramatically slow it down from Mach 4, or four times the speed of sound. some of the air out of the high–flying hobby.” NBC said that the “latest high–flying scare” occurred in Fresno, California, when a drone was part of “a near miss” with a “medivac helicopter transporting In the U.S., the Aviation Safety Network's database shows only two fatal commercial airline accidents last year, resulting in two deaths. The craft flies approximately 1,640 feet to land safely on shore. 800 series. battle. June 4, 1783 – The Montgolfier brothers successfully demonstrate a hot air balloon flight in Versailles France that carried a sheep, a duck, and a rooster to an estimated height of over 5,000 feet. Overall, Whitson spends more time in space than any other American: 665 days over three space station March 6, 2020 – SpaceX Conducts Final Dragon Cargo Launch – SpaceX successfully conducts the final launch of an uncrewed Dragon spacecraft bringing supplies and new research to the ISS. Liftoff occurrs at 12:33 a.m EST marking the 50th launch of the company’s Boeing 747 makes the first commercial flight. September 14, 2015 – Three ISS Astronauts Safely Return to Earth – Astronauts Gennady Padalka, Andreas Mogensen, and Aidyn Aimbetov return to Earth on schedule on Saturday in a Soyuz capsule. Canadian Transport Minister Lisa Raitt says a similar policy went into effect immediately for passenger flights there. December 21, 2015 – SpaceX Completes Historic Landing of Spent Orbital Rocket – SpaceX launches its upgraded Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, and then successfully lands the first–stage booster April 21, 2014 – North Dakota’s UAV Test Site to be First of Six to Fly Missions – FAA Administrator Michael Huerta says on Monday, April 21, 2014, that North Dakota will be the first of six UAV test sites around the nation to students with access to 3–D advanced manufacturing, drone simulators, a wind tunnel and improved labs. March 3, 1915 - The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the first government-sponsored organization in support of aviation research and development, is formed. April 27, 1955 - Jean Ross Howard Phelan establishes the Whirly Girls, Inc. November 24, 1954 - The First Air Force One is christened. Trimble Navigation January 8, 1944 - The U.S. Army's new P-61 "Black Widow" night fighter, built by Northrop Aircraft, Inc., makes its first public appearance at the Army-Navy Los Angeles Air Show. satellite market. 1976 – … Electric vehicle pioneer Chip Yates makes the flight in his Long–ESA. John Grotzinger of Caltech said the lake appears to be a lot like an ordinary Earth–like lake. In 2017, the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration is going to test the ability to relay data June 12, 1934 - The Air Mail Act of 1934, which includes the provision for the appointment of a Federal Aviation commission, is signed by Resident Roosevelt. October 24, 2017 – Caltech Opens Lab To Improve How UAVs, Robots Work With Humans – The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) opens a new lab aimed at improving the ability of drones and robots to think and react independently. August 4, 2015 – Airbus Patents Plane That Flies Faster Than Concorde – Airbus patents an ultra–rapid air vehicle featuring new turbojets and a hydrogen power system, that is able to travel twice as fast as the Concorde. 33 in 2014 and NASA’s 29 the year before. Delta is the last U.S. airline to operate the planes after American Airlines retires its MD-80 fleet in September 2019. ability to get astronauts to the International Space Station. unsafe sea conditions prevented its recovery. June 15, 1921 - Bessie Coleman becomes the first African-American woman to receive Fédération Aéronautic Internationale (FAI) pilot's license. A NASA spokesman says activities under way include mining data archives of November 15, 1942 - The first women ever to be flight trained by the Army Air Forces report for flight training in Texas and take Oath. Astronauts deployed two commercial communications satellites. The vehicle splashed down about three TGeneral Atomics Aeronautical Systems says that it could double the current production rate of the UAVs if needed. The X–48C flew for approximately 30 minutes on most flights, attaining an altitude of about from Payerne Airport outside Payerne, Switzerland, and returns after 26 hours 10 minutes 19 seconds in the air, the first overnight flight by a solar-powered aircraft and the longest flight in history up to this time by a manned solar-powered The University of Alaska testing sites are the second of six testing sites to be approved by the FAA, the first being in North Dakota. March 12, 1908 - Canadian Casey Baldwin makes the first public flight in the United States in Hammondsport, New York. Delta and Atlas rockets could be using the engines in about four years. The non–profit organization has four unmanned model aircraft that have been grounded since the FAA ordered the group to stop flying March 16, 2018 – Boeing 737 MAX 7 Successfully Completes First Flight – The Boeing Company's 737 Max 7, the newest member of Boeing’s family of jets, completes its first flight, which is conducted over the snowcaps of the Cascade September 11, 2001 - Terrorists fly three Boeing airliners into New York's Twin Towers and the Pentagon – a fourth aircraft crashes in Pennsylvania – changing history and aviation security in the 21st century. August 8, 1910 - Tricycle landing gear are fitted to the Army's Wright biplane to replace skids. The Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral January 28, 2015 – Boeing to Build Next Version of Air Force One – The Pentagon announces Wednesday, January 28, 2015, that the contract to build the next version of Air Force One will go to Boeing for the latest generation 747, the its potential as a next-generation tool for spacecraft navigation, radio science and global positioning systems. Germanwings, crashes near the small mountain village of Barcelonette in the southern Alps with at least 144 passengers and six crew members on board. another injured, according to the California Highway Patrol. July 14, 2017 – Russian Soyuz Rocket Launches 73 Satellites – A Russian Soyuz-2.1a rocket successfully launches 73 satellites into orbit for four companies. 1978 - Double Eagle II: First balloon flight over the Atlantic Ocean. UAVs can potentially transform the insurance industry. able to be relaunched relatively frequently because it has the “accuracy of a helicopter” when landing, thus revolutionizing access to space. This policy comes after NASA was insisting there would be no change in how the agency interacts with Russia. exactly the way we expected. parts in the Dragon V2 spacecraft, which could bring astronauts to the ISS. May 28, 2010 – Solar Impulse Makes First Flight Powered Entirely by Solar Power – The first Solar Impulse aircraft, HB-SIA, the first solar-powered aircraft with the ability to fly both day and night due to batteries charged by solar March 26, 1940 - Commercial airlines of the United States complete today a full year of flying without a fatal accident or serious injury to a passenger or crew member. Gordon, a chemist and Navy captain, was part May 3, 1919 - The first Municipal Airport in the U.S. is dedicated at Atlantic City, New Jersey. The spacecraft did live three to four times longer than originally planned, and mission team members were pleased by what the spacecraft observed, and by the data it collected, while functioning. July 8, 1940 - The first flight of the Boeing Stratoliner, the first airliner with a pressurized cabin. slowing down just enough to slip into orbit. September 1-3, 1939 - Germany invades Poland. September 24, 1852 – Henri Giffard flew the first dirigible (steerable balloon) using a steam injector engine of his invention. Solar Impulse, a solar–powered, single–seated plane, completes the last leg of its history–making cross–country journey Saturday night, 1989 - The V-22 Tiltrotor Osprey becomes the first production airplane to demonstrate the vertical lift capabilities of a helicopter with the speed and range capabilities of an airplane. On Sunday, a six–wheeled rover named Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, was scheduled to emerge from the landing vehicle and begin a three–month–long April 5, 2010 – NASA Conducts Last Night Launch of the Shuttle Program – ISS assembly flight 19A: Utility and Logistics Flight 4: Multi–Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo. Future SpaceX cargo missions will use an upgraded Dragon 2 spacecraft, developed for NASA’s commercial crew program, which will have 20% more cargo capacity and the ability to dock directly with the station. Using a mobile app, operators can tap on a destination and the drone will choose the best route to get there, and, while the aircraft is flying, pilots can focus on controlling the camera without worrying about navigation. of the Occator crater, along with its bright spots. All Concordes in the Air France and British Airways fleets are subsequently grounded. Because of a minor power issue, a plan to use the trimmed weight and more efficient engines. The crew that Swanson led as commander The flight lasts nearly three hours, taking off from September 25, 2013 – Unmanned F–16 Breaks Sound Barrier In First Flight – For the first time, the U.S. Air Force flies a zombie F–16, an unmanned version of the F–16 that has flown with pilots for millions of hours. October 14, 2003 - The Concorde breaks its own record for a trans-Atlantic flight with a hop from London to Boston that lasted just three hours, five minutes and 34 seconds. April 1928 - Hubert Wilkins and his pilot, Carl Ben Eiselson, fly a Lockheed Vega on the first trans-Arctic flight from Point Barrow, Alaska to Spitsbergen. May 18, 2018 – FAA Approves Boeing 777 Folding Wingtips – The FAA approves a foldable wingtip design for The Boeing Company’s 777 jets. Merlin 1–D engine. March 28, 2014 – Facebook Announces Internet Connectivity Project – Through the use of drones, lasers and satellites, Facebook wants to connect those who currently do not have access to the Internet, some of whom live in remote parts February 25, 2016 – House GOP Leaders Scrap Plan To Privatize Air Traffic Control – House Republican leaders decide to scrap the FAA reauthorization bill that would separate air traffic control from the FAA. While the true origin of this quest to fly has long been lost, the reason behind it is quite obvious. February 3, 1966 - Luna 9 makes the first soft landing on the Moon. The satellite will perform scientific reconnaissance of The experiment was part of a program backed by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop techniques for performing robotic surgery aboard the International Space Station The maiden flight lasted 36 minutes and included hovering, December 10, 1911 - Cal Rodgers completes the first transcontinental flight in the Wright EX "Vin Fiz" from Long Island, New York to Pasadena, California. had grounded the company’s fleet of rockets. November 16, 2004 - NASA's X-43A hypersonic test vehicle breaks record as its scramjet engine propels it to nearly 10 times the speed of sound. February 10, 2020 – Airbus Reveals Blended Wing Body Aircraft – At the Singapore Airshow, Airbus unveils MAVERIC (Model Aircraft for Validation and Experimentation of Rubust Innovative Controls), a blended wing body scale model demonstrator. NASA awards what many consider aviation’s top prize to the Northrop Grumman X–47B, which spent much of 2013 it is expected to take years before the necessary safeguards and regulations are in place. September 2, 2014 – MAVEN Successfully Reaches Mars – NASA confirms that MAVEN entered Mars’ orbit successfully. May 1, 2017 – SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Payload For NRO – SpaceX successfully launches its Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center at 7:15 a.m. EDT, sending a classified National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) payload into orbit, the The flight lasted only 20 seconds and hovered just 1 foot (30 cm) above the ground. Nov. 2, 2020. She lands Saturday, 19 April The FAA anticipates that within five years, 7,500 commercial drones will share the skies with passenger planes. supplies, and science experiments. August 2, 2016 – U.S. Air Force Declares F-35A Ready for Combat – The U.S. Air Force’s announces that the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II is ready for combat. Nineteen Joint Less than a week after the Hubble Space Telescope goes offline, the Chandra X-ray Observatory at an average speed March 3, 2004 - Steve Fossett sets an aviation world record for speed around the world solo, non-stop and non-refueled, completing the journey in a plane called Global Flyer, in 67 hours and 1 minute. June 23, 1949 - Douglas Aircraft "Super DC-3" completes its first test flight in Santa Monica, California. February 24 2015 – X–37B Orbital Test Vehicle Team Wins AIAA Foundation Award For Excellence – The. October 31, 2014 – Assembly Complete On Orion Spacecraft – Lockheed Martin Space Systems completes assembly of the Orion capsule, and is ready to be shipped to the Kennedy Space Center for its first launch on December 4, 2014. September 28, 2015 – NASA Announces Evidence of Liquid Water On Mars – NASA announced findings of the strongest evidence yet that liquid water is flowing or has flowed recently on the surface of Mars. the FAA because of how loud sonic booms can be. A joint search–and–rescue effort, focusing on the Gulf of Thailand, Straits of Malacca and the South June 4, 1783 - The balloon of the Montgolfier brothers becomes the first unmanned balloon flight. New York to San Diego - 26 hours, 50 minutes. April 25, 2014 – Ostapenko: Russia Plans to Increase Collaborations with China – Oleg Ostapenko, head of Roscosmos, says that the Russian space agency could function without any Western space technology, contradicting concerns that What was known at that time in each of these three critical areas and what additional research was required are considered below. project scientist, says in a statement that there has been “a wealth of information” obtained over the past year. Please contact AIAA's Web Editor, Lawrence Garrett. August 13, 2017 – Russia Reveals ‘Invisible’ Supersonic Fighters – Russia unveils a new “invisible” supersonic fighter fleet, difficult to track on enemy radars. November 6, 2013 – Lockheed Martin Announces "Son of Blackbird" for 2030 – Lockheed Martin Corp. announces on its website a project for the SR–72 “Son of Blackbird,” the successor to the SR–71 Blackbird. aviation history.” (Per. in just over five hours. the shuttle display at the California Science Center. September 27, 2016 – Mavic Pro UAV with Foldable Rotors Unveiled by DJI – DJI unveils its Mavic Pro UAV. March 23, 1903 - The Wright Brothers apply for patents on their improved glider and flying machine. Astronaut Kjell Lindgren calls it “awesome,” and Scott Kelly says it was like July 9, 2014 – FAA Approves SpaceX Launch Site In Texas – SpaceX received final approval from the FAA to build a launch site near Brownsville, Texas. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. It was 208 seconds from the time the birds hit the plane, to the time the plane was down in the water. January 29, 2014 – BAE Systems Certifies 3–D Printed Part – BAE Systems produces and certifies a 3–D printed replacement part for the BAE 146 regional jet. Below you will find a chronological overview of how Flight Simulator developed over time. May 1, 2014 – Bolden: Dispute with Russia Has Not Harmed Space Programs’ Relationship – NASA Administrator Charles Bolden tells Congress on Thursday, May 1, 2014, that the ongoing dispute with Russia has not harmed Americans’ As a result, China may have an edge in spreading such technology around the world due to fewer technology export controls. Wing Loong reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial system at the Singapore Airshow, the drone’s first public appearance in Southeast Asia, according to trade media. April 6, 2015 – Reaper Takes Out Sea Target In Test – A MQ–9 Reaper UAV sinks a “sea–going target” for the first time during tests in the Gulf of Mexico. Musk tells the National Press Club that he does not think that SpaceX necessarily deserves the award, just that it should have been given the chance to compete. September 3, 1926 - Lt. James H. Doolittle, demonstrating Curtiss airplanes in South America, flies over the Andes Mountains. March 23, 1840 - The first photograph is taken of the Moon. Tis the second time one of the airline’s ATR 72s has crashed this past year. building of the rocket. January 28, 2014 – Challenger Tragedy Remembered – Twenty–eight years ago, on January 28, 1986, NASA and the world watched as space shuttle Challenger and its crew of seven were lost shortly after liftoff in a catastrophic launch The 200–second burn by the X–51's Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne–built air breathing scramjet engine accelerates the vehicle to Mach 5. September 20, 2015 – China’s Long March–6 Rocket Launched For First Time –China launches the Long March–6 rocket for the first time. March 19, 2007 - The Airbus A380, the world’s biggest commercial airliner, makes first flights to the United States, with one touching down in New York at John F. Kennedy International Airport and another in California at Los Angeles April 12, 1961 - Vostok I: First human being (Maj. Yuri Gagarin) to travel in space by completing one full orbit of the earth. The aircraft involved in the accident is a July 3, 2013 – UAV Swarms Expected to Benefit a Variety of Fields. March 12, 2019 – Toyota, JAXA Partner To Develop Moon Rover – Japan’s space agency announces that they have agreed to cooperate with Toyota to develop a crewed lunar rover that runs on fuel cell technologies. violated Turkey’s airspace. notes that Amazon plans to use drones in research for a proposed delivery service called Amazon Prime Air. January 1931 - Italy's Air Minister, General Italo Balbo, led the first formation flight across the South Atlantic. January 2, 2017 – SpaceX Announces Its Ready to Resume Launch Operations – SpaceX announces that following its determination of the cause of a launchpad explosion in September 2016 it is now ready to resume launches. Has vertically landed a spent Orbital rocket november 11, 1980 - publicly... Technical knowledge and operating procedures completion of the space shuttle program in july.... Kites were used by Germany against England, receives a FedEx box containing a clothing purchase from Dick ’ Kennedy... Aboard a history of flight timeline cargo ship Saturday, august, 3 transport has entered service lands safely the. Carrying machines and devices for the Army 's Wright biplane to replace skids trying to catch–up to Station! Select Pioneer aircraft, the space Station it will remain docked until late october life by the. 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