L-3 Communications announced that its Command & Control Systems and Software (C2S2) division has been awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract by the U.S. Navy for systems engineering and technical support services. This is a one-year award with four option years. If all options are exercised, the total contract value will be $187.4 million.

Under this contract, L-3 will provide a broad array of services, including systems engineering and integration, avionics, software and air vehicle technology insertion, environmental engineering, program performance and engineering assessment, analysis, and planning.

“This contract award represents a significant opportunity to support the Navy’s programs over their entire life cycle – from systems design to reclamation and disposal,” said C2S2 president John Medea. “The renewal of this contract affirms our 26-year relationship with our NAVAIR customer and allows our seasoned professionals to continue to provide exceptional support to the warfighter.”

L-3 C2S2, headquartered in Eatontown, N.J., has more than 3,400 employees worldwide and assists its customers in moving technology from concept to deployment by providing systems and software engineering and integration, software development, sustainment and modernization, training, field support services, and logistics capabilities. With established credentials in C⁴ISR and aviation technologies, C2S2 supports multiple services within the Department of Defense and other federal agencies. To learn more about L-3 C2S2, you can visit the company’s Web site at www.L-3Com.com/C2S2.

Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications employs over 66,000 people worldwide and is a prime contractor in aircraft modernization and maintenance, C³ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) systems and government services. L-3 is also a leading provider of high technology products, subsystems and systems. The company reported 2009 sales of $15.6 billion.

Optomec announced today that the company has received a Phase II SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) contract from the US Navy to continue the development of a new repair capability for restoring aircraft engine integrally bladed rotors (IBRs, also known as blisks). The Phase II contract brings the total amount of funding to $900,000. Optomec’s Phase I and Phase II proposals for funding were supported by Pratt & Whitney, the leading supplier of gas turbine engines to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Modern jet engines use IBRs, which are one-piece components integrating the blades and disc. These components wear over time, as the tips of the airfoils rub into the shrouds. They can also be damaged by foreign objects entering the engine and impacting the airfoils. To repair these components, material added to restore the damaged IBR airfoils must meet the same stringent property requirements as new components. During six years of development work, the LENS system has proven its ability over competing processes in IBR repair because it has been shown to be uniquely capable of producing material with the desired shape, structure and properties for this demanding application. In addition, the LENS process has demonstrated economic viability to repair IBRs that would otherwise cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to replace.

In the current project, the nickel-based superalloy that is used to manufacture the IBR is considered very difficult to weld, and typically suffers from extensive cracking when welded. However, these problems have been eliminated by using the LENS process. Dr. Richard Grylls, LENS Product Manager for Optomec states, “We are implementing an upgraded control system that enables the production of improved microstructures that will enable the LENS process to make repairs with outstanding properties for many high-strength superalloys, and also expand the capability of LENS to repair Titanium IBRs. This new capability will find application beyond IBR repair, including other airfoil repairs in aerospace and industrial gas turbine applications.” The additional funding will be used to conduct extensive mechanical property testing, and to continue to advance the technology readiness level of this repair. For more information on LENS, click here.

Three BAE Systems space computers have taken flight on a NASA satellite to study the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space. NASA selected the company’s RAD750^® and RAD6000^® computers to handle large amounts of data processing for its Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, in the harsh, high-radiation solar environment.

Two RAD6000 radiation-hardened computers aboard NASA’s Atmospheric Imaging Assembly and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager payloads will process large volumes of scientific data and manage the satellite’s directional orientation. A RAD750 computer will run the software that keeps the spacecraft in orbit.

“This is a unique mission that requires a high tolerance to the extreme conditions encountered near the sun. Our space computers were chosen because they have the flight heritage that shows they thrive in such conditions,” said Vic Scuderi, manager of satellite electronics for BAE Systems. “The images provided by the SDO will have 10 times better resolution than high-definition television.”

The first mission to be launched for NASA’s “Living With a Star” program, the SDO will address aspects of the sun and solar system that directly affect life on Earth. The SDO will study the origins of solar activity and how space weather derives from it. Measurements of the interior of the sun, the sun’s magnetic field, the hot plasma of the solar corona, and the irradiance that creates the ionospheres of the planets will help scientists predict solar variations. Space weather can threaten astronauts, aircraft, satellite communications, navigation systems, and electrical power on Earth.

BAE Systems has been building radiation-hardened computers since the early 1990s and is a leading provider of computers capable of withstanding the radiation, temperature, vibration, and other extremes encountered in space flight. The latest version, the RAD750, was developed through a partnership among BAE Systems, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The RAD6000 is the predecessor to the RAD750.

SpaceX announced that all flight hardware for the debut launch of the Falcon 9 vehicle has arrived at the SpaceX launch site, Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40), in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Final delivery included the Falcon 9 second stage, which recently completed testing at SpaceX’s test facility in McGregor, Texas. SpaceX has now initiated full vehicle integration of the 47 meter (154 feet) tall, 3.6 meter (12 feet) diameter rocket, which will include a Dragon spacecraft qualification unit.

“We expect to launch in one to three months after completing full vehicle integration,” said Brian Mosdell, Director of Florida Launch Operations for SpaceX. “Our primary objective is a successful first launch and we are taking whatever time necessary to work through the data to our satisfaction before moving forward.”

Following full vehicle integration, SpaceX will conduct a static firing to demonstrate flight readiness and confirm operation of ground control systems in preparation for actual launch.

Though designed from the beginning to transport crew, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft will initially be used to transport cargo. Falcon 9 and Dragon were selected by NASA to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) once Shuttle retires. The $1.6B contract represents 12 flights for a minimum of 20 tons to and from the ISS with the first demonstration flights beginning in 2010.

GE Aviation successfully completed a second flight test of its Electro-Optical Grid Reference System (EOGRS) in support of future automated aerial refueling applications in late December 2009. This activity further expands the EOGRS operational envelope and demonstrated performance enhancements beyond those which were successfully achieved during the first flight test conducted in late July 2009.

“These flight tests confirm the viability of our technology for aerial refueling drogue stabilization and tanker-relative navigation, including in a GPS-denied scenario,” said Stuart Mullan, president, Military Business for GE Aviation Systems. “This is the second successful airborne test of proprietary GE laser-grid technology and the wealth of data that was gathered confirms robustness and field of view improvements over the first flight.”

This second flight test enabled GE to confirm refinements made to the grid navigation system transmitter and detectors. An Omega Aerial Refueling Services Inc K-707 tanker was again used for the flight test. It was modified by adding GE’s EOGRS transmitter and a form, fit, and function replacement US/NATO MA-3 refueling drogue with EOGRS detectors.

This flight test provides high fidelity refueling drogue motion and position data, allowing GE to validate EOGRS navigation accuracy, integrity, continuity and availability.

Advances in automated aerial refueling technology, such as GE’s EOGRS, will increase the safety of manned refueling as well as facilitate unmanned refueling operations. This technology is a key enabler of persistent, world-wide aerial refueling operations. In addition, EOGRS solves the complex portion of the automated refueling equation by providing a system capable of performing terminal guidance between the tanker and receiver aircraft. The GE EOGRS tanker-relative navigation system is on a path toward certification as a sole and/or supplemental means of navigation.

SpaceX recently conducted a three-day long demonstration of cargo loading and unloading procedures for its Dragon spacecraft, which NASA has contracted to provide delivery services to the International Space Station (ISS) starting in 2010.

SpaceX hosted a group of NASA personnel at its corporate headquarters in Hawthorne, CA, including astronauts Marsha Ivins and Megan McArthur, and other key personnel from NASA‘s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The tests covered a range of procedures using actual NASA cargo modules, in a variety of standard sizes, including powered cargo modules that provide temperature control for sensitive items such as medical and biological samples during their journey to the ISS, and return to Earth. Dragon is currently one of the only spacecraft in the world capable of transmitting status on environment-sensitive cargo back to Earth during transit to the ISS.

SpaceX performed the tests in an actual flight Dragon spacecraft outfitted with cargo racks, stowage lockers, as well as interior lighting, telemetry and environmental systems, as will be employed while Dragon is berthed at the ISS.

“SpaceX was honored to host the NASA crew, and pleased by their positive feedback and remarks,” said John Couluris, SpaceX Director of Mission Operations. “We look forward to the day when the first of many Dragons arrive at the ISS delivering actual cargo in support of continued ISS operations.”

Under NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, SpaceX will perform three flights of the Dragon spacecraft to demonstrate delivery of cargo to the ISS as well as returning cargo to Earth. Following those flights, SpaceX will begin the NASA Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract, conducting a minimum of 12 cargo flights between 2010 and 2015 with a guaranteed minimum of 20,000 kg to be carried to the ISS.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is a medium-to-heavy lift, two-stage launch vehicle capable of lifting approximately 11 tons to low Earth orbit (LEO) and in excess of 4.5 tons to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Designed to the highest levels of reliability and performance, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft were selected by NASA to resupply the ISS when the Space Shuttle retires.

Aerospace firms have a unique opportunity to help in the Haiti relief efforts, and it’s great to see a number of these businesses rushing to help. One company that is going above and beyond the call of duty is Spacenet. Spacenet has collaborated with its partners to leverage its coverage and capabilities in Haiti to assist with the relief efforts following the devastating earthquake. The company has ramped up its operations and support organizations to expedite delivery of fixed and transportable satellite equipment and services, and is working with partners to donate satellite equipment and space segment to various relief organizations. These services include high speed commercial grade broadband data and digital voice capability. Spacenet has developed a Rapid Response Team to support recovery efforts in the area and is offering special service terms to those units deployed in Haiti.

“Spacenet is committed to helping with relief efforts in Haiti during this difficult time,” said Spacenet President and COO Glenn Katz. “We are working with a number of our partners in the area so we can collectively leverage our resources to provide assistance and expedite emergency communications solutions where and when they are most needed. At the same time, we are implementing permanent communications to replace or supplement components damaged by the earthquake.”

Spacenet has created a special toll-free hotline and website for representatives of organizations taking part in the disaster recovery effort to inquire about Spacenet assistance. For more information call 800-296-5818 or visit www.spacenet.com/relief-efforts.

Raydiance announced it has partnered with the Small Spacecraft Division in the Engineering Directorate at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, to develop advanced microfluidics devices for space-based biological experiments.

Under the terms of a cooperative agreement funded by the Advanced Capabilities Division in NASA’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate to support a Seed Fund project within NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program, NASA Ames’ experts in fluidic design will employ Raydiance’s Smart Light ultrafast laser platform to fabricate next-generation microfluidics devices and components. These will be deployed on free-flying nanosatellites, the International Space Station, and future lunar and planetary research laboratories. Results from this work will advance capabilities for molecular and cellular diagnostics, enable rapid drug discovery and screening, and expand the understanding of the effects of the space environment on biological systems.

“This partnership brings together the powerful and versatile Smart Light ultrafast technology with the world-class microfluidics expertise of the NASA Ames’ small spacecraft group,” said Barry Schuler, Chairman and CEO of Raydiance. “The capability to athermally ablate very precise features in transparent polymers and glasses, in addition to ceramics, will enable NASA Ames to rapidly fabricate complex and integrated components on a single microfluidics card. This collaborative work will have large implications for both the research and commercial worlds.”

The work at NASA Ames is led by Dr. Antonio J. Ricco, chief technologist at the Small Satellite Division and John Hines, chief technologist in the Engineering Directorate. Tim Booth, Vice President of Project Management, is coordinating the Raydiance efforts for the project.

“We’re very excited about the additional capabilities the Raydiance system gives us to fabricate complex, multilevel microfluidic devices,” Dr. Ricco said. “We anticipate these devices will be more reliable, let us add new functionality, and be more biocompatible than some other approaches we’ve examined. We should be able to quickly execute design changes as needed to accommodate a wide range of biological and chemical space studies with this new platform.”

In the aerospace industry there a number of consumer trends that are causing a paradigm shift away from the status quo. One of the key factors for change is the growing accessibility of flight data.

Whether business and leisure travel numbers are up in the coming year or not, flight data provider FlightView anticipates that the market for real-time flight status and airport information will grow in 2010, as mobile travel services gain traction and become more sophisticated. As a leading innovator in the emerging space for travel information, FlightView cites two trends driving this opportunity: First, travelers will continue to demand better, more useful information to make more informed decisions about their plans. Second, they’ll use a mobile device to retrieve, view and act on that information.

A recent report from PhoCusWright found that 62 percent of leisure and 71 percent of business travelers use a mobile device with internet access while they are traveling. In 2009, hundreds of mobile travel applications and web sites were launched, including FlightView’s own award-winning applications for the three largest smartphone vendors and highest-ranked flight tracking mobile web site. These numbers are likely to increase as smartphone vendors, travel management companies, airlines, airports and others seek to improve service and gain competitive advantage.

“The one thing that all travelers share is an overwhelming need for information that makes their travel experience better,” said Mike Benjamin, president of Boston-based FlightView. “Nothing does that like knowing where their flights are and how that information affects their plans –it’s an incredible value-add that a wide variety of players in the travel market can use to their advantage.”

Based on its success in building partnerships that capitalize on the potential for real-time flight information on mobile devices, FlightView expects growth in several key areas:

• Travel management companies and online travel agencies such as Travizon will move quickly to provide a more holistic range of services. Enhancing mobile offerings by integrating real-time flight tracking tools is an easy and fast way to give travelers what they want – after they’ve booked their trip: the ability to take matters into their own hands and make the changes they need and get to where they’re going.
• More airports will follow the lead of FlightView customers BWI and The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey with Web site upgrades. Birmingham and Little Rock airports bring information to customers’ mobile devices, tapping the industry’s most trusted resource for real-time flight tracking as the technology provider.
• Advertisers will move aggressively to seize the opportunities with the captive – and lucrative – travel demographic that relies heavily on mobile travel services. Targeted ads tied to flight information, ranging from local restaurants and attractions to recommended destinations for the next trip, will help travelers make the most of their trips – or delays.

In more government contact news this past week, URS announced that the Company is one of seven firms that has been awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract by the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center to provide worldwide environmental remediation services. The contract, which has a two-year base period, followed by three one-year options, has a maximum aggregate value to all seven awardees of approximately $945 million over the full five-year term.

Under the terms of the contract, URS can compete for, or be assigned, task orders to provide a variety of services for projects at Department of Defense installations worldwide. Potential services include the elimination of conventional munitions and chemical warfare material; environmental compliance and remediation services; and other munitions-related services.

Commenting on the contract award, Gary V. Jandegian, President of Infrastructure & Environment for URS, said: “We are pleased by this award, which demonstrates URS’ expertise in providing a variety of munitions-related services. We look forward to expanding our work with the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center and helping them meet their important objectives.”