February 17, 2020 - No. 011 In This Issue Trump Administration Considering Halting Sales of Aircraft Parts to China General Dynamics Announces Gulfstream G700 First Flight Scientists say this small change could cut airlines' climate impact in half Leidos and Rusada Team Up to Deliver Aviation MRO and Flight Operations Software Purdue Global Partners with Florida Flight School RENEWED ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS IN $US1 BILLION DELTA COMMITMENT. FAA ALLOWS US CIVILIAN FLIGHTS TO RESUME OVER PERSIAN GULF Pratt & Whitney To 3D Print Aero-engine MRO Component With ST Engineering Bangladesh gets its first university on aviation Spirit Airlines relocating 345 jobs to Williamson County. SpaceX delays launch of 60 Starlink satellites due to rocket valve checks Trump Administration Considering Halting Sales of Aircraft Parts to China The Trump administration is considering halting to China the sale of an aircraft engine produced in part by General Electric, two people familiar with the discussions said, part of a broader effort to limit the flow of technology there that could one day give Beijing an economic and security edge. Top Trump administration officials will discuss whether to prevent the sale at a cabinet meeting on Feb. 28, these people said. That meeting will encompass other restrictions on China, including whether to proceed with a rule change that would further curtail the ability of Huawei, the Chinese telecom giant, to have access to American technology. The aircraft license review was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. The Trump administration has been increasingly wary of China's economic and military ambitions, including a strategy to fuse its defense and commercial economies known as civil-military fusion. Chinese industrial plans like Made In China 2025 have promoted dual-use technologies like aviation, automation and information technology to benefit both the Chinese economy and its military abilities. China's effort to develop airplanes on par with international competitors like Boeing, Airbus and Bombardier have long fallen short. Instead, CFM, the jet-engine joint venture of General Electric and Safran of France, has been providing engines to China for years as part of that country's effort to build up its jetliner industry. The United States licenses for the joint venture to ship engines to China date to 2014. The most recent license was issued in March 2019. The licenses are for engines used in test-flight programs by the Chinese aircraft maker Comac. Each license is for a few engines, a model called the LEAP 1C. The Commerce Department had been reviewing the joint venture's license, but the decision on whether to continue allowing the technology to be sold to China has now been kicked up to cabinet members. The plane that would use the CFM engines is scheduled to go into passenger service in 2021. China, aviation experts say, has been able to make most of the individual components for advanced jet aircraft. But the bigger challenge is integrating complicated technologies into complex mechanical and digital systems for engines and avionics. That integration, they say, is more difficult to build or reverse engineer, and copy. But officials in the Trump administration and elsewhere fear that China might eventually develop the ability to reverse engineer G.E.'s technology. Concerns have risen among officials in the National Security Council, the Defense Department and the State Department about whether the United States should be supporting China's efforts to develop indigenous aircraft. Stopping such licenses, however, would be a big financial hit to companies like G.E. Officials also plan to discuss at the Feb. 28 policy meeting whether to expand the scope of their restrictions on Huawei. The administration placed the company on a blacklist last May that prevented products made in America from being shipped to the country. But many of Huawei's suppliers are global companies, and companies like Micron and Qualcomm instead switched to selling the Chinese company products from their overseas operations. The rule change would clamp down on shipments of products made overseas with American components, so that only foreign-made products with less than 10 percent of American parts could be shipped to the company, down from 25 percent of specific types of restricted content before. Some officials in the Defense Department had pushed back against those changes, arguing that they could undermine American technological development by cutting down on a vast source of revenue that the tech industry depends on to fund its research and development. The American military buys much of the technology that goes into military devices from the private sector. But recently, other Pentagon officials including Mark T. Esper, the defense secretary, and John C. Rood, the under secretary of defense for policy, spoke up to overrule those objections, with the support of some officials in the Commerce Department. On Friday, Senator Rick Scott, Republican of Florida, introduced legislation that would accomplish the same change. "We know Huawei is supported and controlled by the communist regime in Beijing, which continues to violate human rights and steal our data, technology and intellectual property," he said. "Companies in the United States should not be allowed to sell to Huawei, and my legislation will further restrict their ability." https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/15/business/economy/trump-administration-aircraft-china.html Back to Top General Dynamics Announces Gulfstream G700 First Flight RESTON, Va., Feb. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) announced today that the Gulfstream G700 has completed its first flight, demonstrating the program's maturity and officially launching its official flight-test program. The all-new G700 is the industry's most spacious and has the longest range at the fastest speeds. It departed Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport at 1:19 p.m. EST and landed two hours and 32 minutes later. The aircraft made the flight on a blend of sustainable aviation fuel. "The G700's first flight is a momentous occasion and the next step forward in Gulfstream's vision for the future, a vision that has been guided by the strategic leadership of our parent company, General Dynamics, and the innovation of the Gulfstream team," said Gulfstream president Mark Burns. "As the market leader, Gulfstream is moving the entire business-jet industry forward with advanced safety features, tomorrow's technology and a cabin purposefully designed to exceed our customers' expectations for comfort." The G700 was introduced as the new industry flagship in October 2019. The program includes five already manufactured flight-test aircraft and a structural test article that has completed load testing. The G700 features the longest, widest and tallest cabin in the industry with 20 Gulfstream panoramic oval windows and up to five living areas. The aircraft introduces many all-new interior differentiators, including an ultra-galley with more than 10 feet of counter space and a crew compartment or passenger lounge; the industry's only ultra-high-definition circadian lighting system; speakerless surround sound; and a master suite with shower. The G700 is powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines and refined with Gulfstream-designed aerodynamics and an all-new winglet. The aircraft can fly at its high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90 for 6,400 nautical miles/11,853 kilometers or at its long-range cruise of Mach 0.85 for 7,500 nm/13,890 km. The G700 also includes the Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck with the industry's only electronically linked active control sidesticks, the most extensive use of touchscreen technology in business aviation and Gulfstream's award-winning Predictive Landing Performance System. "The G700 brings the best in the business together - the innovation of the G500 and G600 Symmetry Flight Deck and the legendary performance of the G650ER - and we are excited to deliver this exceptional aircraft to our customers," said Burns. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/general-dynamics-announces-gulfstream-g700-220100218.html Back to Top Scientists say this small change could cut airlines' climate impact in half Greener fuels, electric engines and more efficient aircraft are all being touted as ways to reduce the environmental harm of flying, but a new study suggests one simple move could help existing flights drastically cut their impact. By changing the flying altitude by just a couple of thousand feet on fewer than 2% of all scheduled flights, a study by a team of scientists at Imperial College London concludes that aviation's damage to the climate could be reduced by as much as 59%. It's all about eradicating airplane contrails - those white streaks you see criss-crossing the skies after an airplane has passed overhead. Contrails, says NASA, are "a type of ice cloud formed by aircraft as water vapor condenses around small dust particles, which provide the vapor with sufficient energy to freeze." These cloud-like formations can have a cooling effect, acting to reflect sunlight that would otherwise heat the Earth. Contrails can also block outgoing heat from escaping the Earth - essentially acting like a blanket, trapping heat. In November 2019, a study by a group of Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists concluded contrails account for 14% of climate and air quality damages per unit of aviation fuel burn. The big difference between carbon dioxide emissions produced by an aircraft and contrails, however, is that contrails don't last very long: a maximum of about 18 hours. "So if we were to stop producing contrails, the effect of contrails would go away the next day," says Marc Stettler, who worked on the new study. "It's a way that the aviation industry can really quickly address its impact on climate change." Flying an airplane higher or lower could help get rid of contrails because they only form in thinner areas of atmosphere with high humidity - so it's theoretically possible to avoid them and reap the eco-benefits. "What we show is that you can make these minor modifications to the altitude of a flight and avoid that flight from forming a contrail," Stettler tells CNN Travel. Tackling the issue Stettler and his colleagues experimented with computer simulations to come to their conclusion: Using data available on aircraft flying in Japanese airspace, the scientists tested what would happen if aircraft flew higher or lower than their current flight paths. Diverging from the flight path does lead to an increase in fuel consumption, but the researchers say it's less than a 0.1% rise - and the subsequent depletion in contrails offsets the extra carbon dioxide released. Andrew Heymsfield, senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, tells CNN Travel that the findings make sense but questions how they could be employed in everyday aviation scenarios. "The question is, how would they find out what those altitudes are (that) would be less amenable to the development of contrail?" says Heymsfield. The airplane would have to use instruments that remotely sense humidity, he suggests. "Those would have to be developed and deployed on an aircraft so that a 3D depiction of those altitudes could be developed from aircraft which collect those data and then transmit it down to the ground," says Heymsfield. "Otherwise, I don't know how aircraft air controllers would know where to allow the aircraft to fly." As Heymsfield points out, aircraft cannot fly anywhere, they have to stick to a specific path. While the change, if adopted, would lead to some reduction in emissions, it's unlikely to assuage climate campaigners who want the aviation sector to drastically reduce its carbon footprint. Air travel currently contributes to between 2% and 3% of all global carbon dioxide emissions and this would remain an issue even if airplanes were flying at different altitudes. Stettler says his team is in discussion with aviation authorities about how its research might work practically. "We are in the process of having discussions with air traffic management service providers, who are responsible for planning with airlines flight trajectories," says Stettler. "It's very, very early days, but we're wanting to understand how that process works and how such a strategy can be implemented. We think it's something that the aviation industry needs to take seriously." https://www.wyff4.com/article/scientists-say-this-small-change-could-cut-airlines-climate-impact-in-half/30934060 Back to Top Leidos and Rusada Team Up to Deliver Aviation MRO and Flight Operations Software Leidos, a FORTUNE 500 science and technology leader, announced a partnership agreement with Rusada to become a systems integrator for ENVISION, Rusada's Aviation Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) and Flight Operations software. ENVISION is used by aircraft operators, MRO providers and manufacturers to efficiently manage their maintenance and airworthiness activities. The web-based software utilizes the most up-to-date technologies to empower aviation decision-makers, providing them with helpful and informative data that adds value to their organization. Under the agreement, Rusada will continue to be the software product developer. Leidos' Airborne Solutions Operation (ASO) will serve as the systems integrator providing services to install, configure, operate and apply the software for customer's aviation business. "As a premier provider of airborne solutions, Leidos is committed to keeping its customers abreast of best-of-breed technology enhancements," said Kevin Lansdowne, senior vice president of Leidos Airborne Solutions. "This agreement will leverage both companies' expertise to deliver next generation software for airlines and aircraft operators across the globe." "This partnership is the natural conclusion of the great work we have already done together," said Julian Stourton CEO of Rusada. "Both companies strive to deliver the highest quality services in our respective fields and together we present an unparalleled offering to aviation companies across the globe." https://www.aithority.com/technology/leidos-and-rusada-team-up-to-deliver-aviation-mro-and-flight-operations-software/ Back to Top Purdue Global Partners with Florida Flight School INDIANAPOLIS - Purdue University Global in Indianapolis and Florida-based Sterling Flight Training are partnering on a new program. Eligible students will complete their Bachelor of Science degree courses online through Purdue Global while completing professional flight training onsite at Sterling. The partnership aims to help meet the projected global demand for aviation professionals over the next 20 years, according to officials. The partnership is part of a collaboration between Purdue Global and Purdue University's School of Aviation and Transportation Technology announced in June 2019 to make flight school more affordable and flexible for students. Students who reach CFI status have the opportunity to teach their peers in the program and earn compensation for their work in addition to flight hours, which could help with education costs and living expenses. "At Sterling we are leveraging our decades of experience in airline operations to create future aviators that are job-ready," Sterling CEO and former Republic Airways Chief Operating Officer Wayne Heller said. "We are excited to partner our experience with Purdue's distinguished professional pilot program to develop the next generation of pilots." Purdue Global aims to open applications for the program later this year, with details about the launch to follow by the end of March. https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/story/41704541/purdue-global-partners-with-florida-flight-school Back to Top RENEWED ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS IN $US1 BILLION DELTA COMMITMENT Every emission on the ground or in the air will come under the microscope as part of a $US1 billion commitment by Delta Air Lines to become the world's first carbon-neutral airline. Starting March 1, 2020, Delta will begin a 10-year journey to mitigate all emissions in its global business. The announcement came as Barron's named Delta the most sustainable airline in an analysis of the biggest 1000 US companies by market value. The ranking recognized achievements such as the airline's decision to cap emissions at 2012 levels, despite 20 percent growth, and a reduction in emissions since 2005 of 9 percent. The renewed Delta environmental push will include efforts across the company to reduce the use of jet fuel, increase efficiency, advance clean air technologies and reduce waste. Delta says areas of focus will include an ambitious fleet renewal program, improved flight operations, weight reduction and the increased development and use of sustainable aviation fuels. The company will invest in "innovative projects and technology" to remove carbon from the atmosphere. These will include carbon removal opportunities through forestry, wetland restoration, grassland conservation, marine and soil capture as well as other negative emissions technologies. It will also build partnerships with its employees, suppliers, partners and industry colleagues to address the issue. Delta CEO Ed Bastian conceded in the company's announcement that there was no single solution for environmental sustainability. "We are digging deep into the issues, examining every corner of our business, engaging experts, building coalitions, fostering partnerships and driving innovation," he said. "We are on a journey, and though we don't have all the answers today, we know that our scale, along with investments of time, talent and resources will bring meaningful impact to the planet and ensure the sustainability of our business for decades to come." One problem for all airlines is the industry's dependence on jet fuel. While there are projects looking at electric aircraft for short-range flights, long-haul services will continue to use jet fuel for the foreseeable future Bastian acknowledged this on CNBC's "Squawk Box" when he said the airline would continue to use jet fuel "as far as the eye can see". "We'll be investing in technologies to reduce the impact of jet fuel but I don't ever see a future where we're eliminating jet fuel from our footprint,'' he said. Part of the Delta push will be an investment in sustainable aviation fuels. The technology has been available for years but there have been problems ramping up to meaningful production levels. To help it achieve a target of carbon-neutral growth from 2020, the international aviation industry is introducing a global carbon offset scheme, known as CORSIA The International Air Transport Association estimates CORSIA will generate $US40 billion in climate change funding and offset around 2.5 billion tonnes of CO2 between 2021 and 2035. Yet it is still seen as an interim measure. The Delta CEO said carbon offsets were "doing a bit to save the planet" but the airline needed to be investing in the technologies of tomorrow. This included reafforestation and putting serious capital behind sustainable aviation fuels. "Carbon offsets are not the solution, there are not enough to go around'' he said. "We need to be investing in projects that make a difference. "Carbon offsets have a lot of efficacy issues and quite honestly, in some places they do more harm they actually do good. Or (they) pay people not to do harm. "That's not really helping our planet." Bastian predicted more companies would investing in a cleaner future and he hoped that Delta's competitors would join it in the battle. https://www.airlineratings.com/news/renewed-environmental-focus-us1-billion-delta-commitment/ Back to Top FAA ALLOWS US CIVILIAN FLIGHTS TO RESUME OVER PERSIAN GULF DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said Saturday that American civilian flights can resume operations over much of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman region, loosening restrictions announced five weeks ago amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The FAA said it made the decision because Iran has de-escalated its military posture, reducing the danger to U.S. civil aviation operations. The FAA had barred American pilots and carriers from flying in areas of Iraqi, Iranian and some Persian Gulf airspace since early January. The move was precautionary in nature to prevent civilian aircraft from being confused for ones engaged in armed conflict. The FAA announcement said "there is sufficiently reduced risk of Iranian military miscalculation or misidentification that could affect U.S. civil aviation operations in the overwater airspace above the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman." Those areas cover much of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. However, the agency said it still advises operators to exercise caution and avoid operating on air routes nearest to the Tehran Flight Information Region, an area understood to cover the airspace over Iran. The FAA said "the situation in the region remains fluid and could quickly escalate if circumstances change." At the height of recent U.S.-Iran tensions, Iranian forces accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet over Tehran, killing all 176 people on board. The Jan. 8 shootdown followed Iranian ballistic missile strikes on two Iraqi bases that house U.S. troops. The Iranian attack was in retaliation for a U.S. airstrike in Iraq that killed a senior Iranian commander. The downing of the Ukrainian jet was a grim echo of when U.S. navy forces accidentally shot down an Iranian passenger jet over the Persian Gulf in 1988. Dubai International Airport has been the world's busiest for international travel for the past six years. https://www.dailyinterlake.com/article/20200215/AP/302159986 Back to Top Pratt & Whitney To 3D Print Aero-engine MRO Component With ST Engineering The company Pratt & Whitney, which designs, manufactures, services aircraft engines and auxiliary power units, is teaming up with ST Engineering to develop a 3D printed aero-engine component into its MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) operations. The 3D printed aero-engine is projected to be part of the repair process by mid-2020. Both companies are trying to introduce 3D printing technology to obtain a faster and more flexible repair solution. Pratt & Whitney's repair specialist Component Aerospace Singapore (CAS) is also contributing to this project. Considering the expertise of the three companies: the engine part repair for combustion chambers that CAS provides; the design and engineering that Pratt & Whitney contributes; and the experience in applying 3D printing to land transport systems of ST Engineering, the MRO component project looks promising. The 3D printed part has been already manufactured and it will be used on a Pratt & Whitney engine, on the engine's fuel system component. Together, the three companies worked side by side to complete and review the technical dataset as to, not only meet Pratt & Whitney's quality requirements, but also the use of the part in compliance with the aviation regulations. The 3D printed part is said to "offer an added advantage of reducing dependency on current material supply from conventional fabrication processes." Pratt & Whitney believe that this proves that additive manufacturing could impact the MRO sector at large. Chin-Huat Sia, Principal Engineer of CAS, said: "3D printing will be a game-changer for the MRO industry worldwide, especially in servicing even more commercial engines. This technology enables greater flexibility in our inventory management. Following this trailblazing initiative, both Pratt & Whitney and ST Engineering will examine how additive manufacturing can be applied for other aviation components and other engine types, and further developed to enable hybrid repairs and realize the full potential of 3D printing for commercial aftermarket operations." Brendon McWilliam, Executive Director of Aftermarket Operations in Asia Pacific, added: "Thanks to the out-of-the-box thinking by our employees at Component Aerospace Singapore, we are now another step closer to scaling the technology to meet our growing aftermarket operations, and industrializing 3D printing for the industry. This ground-breaking innovation is part of the wider technology roadmap by Pratt & Whitney to introduce advanced technologies that integrate artificial intelligence, robotics and automation across our operations as part of our digital transformation." Tan Chor Kiat, ST Engineering's Senior VP of Kinetics Design & Manufacturing commented that: "To 3D print an aero-engine component for a working air turbine engine is a first for us. This also demonstrates our advanced capability to offer a full turnkey manufacturing solution which not only includes production-level 3D printing, but also post processes such as heat treatment and machining." This is not the first component in the aviation industry to be 3D printed. Since 2018, GE Aviation, has been using 3D printing technology for quite a while to make components for their jet engines,and has been testing and developing their GE Catalyst, over one third of this advanced turboprop engine was 3D printed by using a variety of metals. https://3dprint.com/263483/pratt-whitney-to-3d-print-aero-engine-mro-component-with-st-engineering/ Back to Top Bangladesh gets its first university on aviation MENAFN - Bangladesh Monitor) Dhaka : The operation of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University (BSMRAAU) has started. Minister of Education, Dipu Moni, inaugurated the academic activities at its temporary campus in Dhaka on February 3. The purpose of the BSMRAAU is to promote aeronautical and aerospace studies in the country. The university was established last year. Minister of Education, Dipu Moni expressed the hope that the newly established university will produce highly skilled human resources. She urged a focus on producing experts in the specialised field as there is no alternative to research to lead the nation to success in this sector. At the inaugural ceremony, Air Vice-Marshal AHM Fazlul Haque, Vice Chancellor (VC), BSMRAAU said aviation and aerospace technology will be a major economic booster and a high end income generating sector contributing to developing the country to achieve Vision 2041. "Bangladesh needs skilled professionals in this sector to take advantage of the national demographic dividend as well. The growth of the nation's population and global air passengers is expected to double by 2030 and the Asia Pacific region is predicted to become the largest air transport market of the world within the next 10 years. Such a global trend will definitely create ample opportunities in the aviation sector of Bangladesh," the VC said. The temporary campus of the university is located at Tejgaon. However, the VC said they are confident about building an international standard permanent campus in Lalmonirhat very soon. According to the VC of the university, over 120 candidates competed for every single seat in the first session of the university. The university has already signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SwissDrones for assembling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and the establishment of a research facility on campus. The university is also going to sign an MoU with Airbus for establishing technical research laboratories and an international standard flight training academy. Furthermore, the university is pursuing cooperation with world renowned aviation and aerospace institutions like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Cranfield University, and Singapore Aviation Academy, the VC said. The university has been set up with the aim of promoting aeronautical and aerospace studies in the country, and to ensure the training of pilots, aviation scientists, engineers, and other skilled workforce in the field of aviation. https://menafn.com/1099712475/Bangladesh-gets-its-first-university-on-aviation Back to Top Spirit Airlines relocating 345 jobs to Williamson County NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -- Commercial air transport Spirit Airlines announced today with Governor Bill Lee that they plan to relocate their operations control center to Williamson County, bring 345 jobs to the area, at an investment of $11M. The Operations Control Center (OCC) is currently based in Miramar, Florida, where the company is headquartered. 240 positions will relocate to Williamson County, where an additional 100 jobs will be created. A spokesperson with Spirit tells News4 that they're inviting current OCC staff to transfer with them to Williamson County, and they hope all of them can. Any empty seats of the 240 transferred positions will be filled locally, along with the additional 100 positions, planned to be added over the next five years. The OCC is Spirit's mission-critical center for operating their fleet around the clock, managing all aspects of flight service: including crew scheduling, flight dispatch, air traffic control coordination, aircraft routing, and more. The 49,000 facility will be built out to accommodate significant technology reliability, infrastructure, and staff space. The transition will be executed over the next year, and will be complete by 2021. Spirit recently launched Nashville service in October with an initial six domestic destinations, and will add three more domestic, as well as an international destination, in the coming months. Governor Lee welcomes Spirit Airlines to Tennessee, and wants to "...thank its team for being one of the latest companies to call our state home." "Nashville clearly came out on top in a nationwide search due to geographic location, business climate, and growth in the aviation sector," President and CEO of Spirit Airlines Ted Christie said. "We look forward to building on our plans for future network expansion and protecting our growing 24/7 operation by starting this new chapter in Nashville." "Spirit Airlines is part of the BNA family, and we are thrilled that the company has chosen to extend its presence into Middle Tennessee," said Doug Kreulen, President & CEO of Nashville International Airport. The location will be announced at a later date. https://www.wsmv.com/news/spirit-airlines-relocating-jobs-to-williamson-county/article_2cfc3490-4ea5-11ea-8abb-63b20a12b708.html Back to Top SpaceX delays launch of 60 Starlink satellites due to rocket valve checks CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - SpaceX has postponed the launch of its next batch of Starlink satellites due to an issue with a valve component on the rocket's second stage. The next attempt will be on Monday (Feb. 17), the company said. The California-based spaceflight company was scheduled to launch 60 of its internet-beaming satellites on previously flown Falcon 9 rocket at 10:25 a.m. EST (1525 GMT) Sunday from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. However, an issue with the rocket caused the company to delay the launch for 24 hours. "Standing down from tomorrow's Starlink launch; team is taking a closer look at a second stage valve component. Now targeting Monday, February 17," SpaceX representatives wrote on Twitter. When the Starlink mission does launch, you will be able to watch it here and on the Space.com homepage, courtesy of SpaceX, beginning about 15 minutes before liftoff, courtesy of a SpaceX webcast. You can also watch that webcast directly from SpaceX here. Poor weather conditions at the recovery zone previously pushed the launch into the weekend. SpaceX completed its prelaunch testing for this mission on Friday (Feb. 14), and the company originally hoped to get the rocket off the ground on Saturday, but a quick look at the weather report indicated Sunday was a better date. The two-stage Falcon 9 rocket launching this Starlink mission has flown three times before. It previously lofted two commercial Dragon resupply missions (CRS-17 in May 2019 and CRS-18 that July) as well as a hefty telecommunications satellite in December. Following the successful launch, the rocket's first stage is expected to touch down on a SpaceX's drone ship landing platform "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Atlantic Ocean, marking the company's 50th booster recovery. SpaceX is also attempting to recover the payload fairings and have deployed both of its nose cone-catching ships to the recovery zone. Each fairing comes with a $3 million price tag, and the company says that if GO Ms. Tree and GO Ms. Chief can snag falling fairings, the company can refurbish them with minimal effort and fly them again. This will ultimately drive down launch costs, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said. To date, GO Ms. Tree has three successful catches and GO Ms. Chief is still waiting for its first. https://www.space.com/spacex-delays-starlink-internet-satellite-launch-february-2020.html Curt Lewis