August 19, 2021 - No. 64 In This Issue : Launch and Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) Announce Strategic Partnership : Israel Aerospace Industries Wants To Convert Boeing 767s In Ethiopia : Duncan Aviation’s Satellite Facilities Add Tool Calibration Capabilities : Aero-Dienst Awarded Mx Contract on Research Aircraft : A Deicing Evolution : Bombardier Launches Mx App for Smart Link Plus Users : New $200 million funding round will power up Utah’s Breeze Airways : DRDO develops advanced chaff technology for IAF's fighter aircraft : Alaska’s ecoDemonstrator To Test Next Generation Air Traffic Control : Teenage pilot Zara Rutherford begins solo round-world record bid : Intuitive Machines picks SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to launch its moon lander for NASA Launch and Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM) Announce Strategic Partnership Launch Technical Workforce Solutions LLC has formed a strategic partnership with Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM). The partnership establishes the guidelines for the two to collaborate on several initiatives, with the goal of better preparing graduates for careers within the aviation industry. Through a nationwide network of campuses, Aviation Institute of Maintenance, in a news release said it has become known for providing high-quality, hands-on training to students through its aviation maintenance programs for over four decades. AIM operates 14 campuses around the United States, where over 4,000 students are studying to become certified aircraft technicians — over 20 percent of all aircraft maintenance students in America. “Launch has been part of our success story for years, as they are one of the top employers who hire our graduates and put them to work at airlines, manufacturers and MROs,” said Joel English, AIM executive vice president. “By strategically coordinating our efforts, we will be able to create new programs to serve the aerospace industry, send graduates to work and keep airlines flying.” With the high demand for skilled technicians found in many industries, AIM has added programs in manufacturing, welding, energy and other industries to its program offerings. The partnership furthers Launch’s efforts toward finding innovative solutions for alleviating the severe aircraft technician shortage the industry is facing. Together, Launch and AIM will develop programs to provide on the job training options for new graduates, supplemental courses for those wishing to further their skills and specific curricula for military service members who are transitioning into civilian employment. Launch President of Services & Chief Strategic Officer Michael Lorenzini commented, “Our partnership with AIM is really an exciting initiative for Launch, our clients and employees. This alliance allows for new and innovative approaches to solve many of the challenges facing our industry. Our collective commitment in investing and developing the future is representative of our transformational and entrepreneurial drive as an industry leader.” https://www.aviationpros.com/education-training/press-release/21234861/launch-technical-workforce-solutions-launch-and-aviation-institute-of-maintenance-aim-announce-strategic-partnership Israel Aerospace Industries Wants To Convert Boeing 767s In Ethiopia Israel Aerospace Industries will establish a new conversation site at Addis Ababa. The company will work with Ethiopian Airlines to convert three Boeing 767-300 passenger aircraft into freighters at the new site. The new site will be a part of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) maintenance center based in Addis Ababa and is the company’s third conversation site. Currently, the group carries out conversions at locations in Mexico and the Ben Gurion International Airport. IAI has signed a deal with Ethiopian Airlines to convert three Boeing 767-300s from passenger to freighter to meet increased cargo demands. The new conversion center will be the largest of its kind in Africa. In a statement, Yossi Melamed, IAI’s Executive VP, and Aviation Group General Manager, said, “IAI has an excellent reputation as a conversion center of passenger-to-freighters aircraft, and we are constantly receiving requests to open such conversion centers in more and more locations around the world. I am excited by the opening of the current center in Ethiopia, and thank my colleagues in Ethiopian Airlines for the trust they have put in IAI’s Aviation Group, as the world’s leader in conversions.” More than a conversion site The new conversion site will be a part of Ethiopian’s largest Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) site. It will help with the conversion of aircraft but, it will also provide enhanced MRO services, staff training, and certification and licensing. By partnering with IAI, Ethiopian will also open the site to other airlines in Africa and beyond. It will offer conversion, maintenance, and training services. The new site will use cutting-edge technology to provide services and boost logistics. The first task will be the conversion of the three Boeing 767s however, the airline hopes the site will be used for various tasks in the future. A statement from the airline confirmed that, “The cargo conversion center in ADD HUB airport will expand its services to all airlines in Africa and the wider region. We are very happy that we are able to collaborate with IAI to enable us to expand our cargo and logistics services, which is already the largest and leading cargo network in Africa. The capacity building will also help us expand our MRO services with cutting edge technology and knowledge transfer.” Ethiopian airlines 2025 plan The conversion of the three passenger aircraft is a part of the airline’s Diversified Aviation Business Model of Vision 2025. The airline wants to increase its cargo capacity and capitalize on the rise in demand for freight. Cargo operations have also been a central part of the Ethiopian Airlines business model. It’s been the largest cargo fleet in Africa. The airline opened the brand-new Cargo Terminal II at Addis Ababa Airport back in 2017 to help boost ground operations. The new partnership with IAI proves that the airline is still committed to its freight operations. https://simpleflying.com/ethiopia-boeing-767-freighter-conversion/ Duncan Aviation’s Satellite Facilities Add Tool Calibration Capabilities Duncan Aviation announces that three of its satellite facilities are now offering tool calibration services for torque wrenches, multimeters, crimpers and other tools used in aviation maintenance. The equipment that provides the capabilities will rotate between satellite shops several times a year, and as more technicians throughout the Duncan Aviation Satellite network are trained, more satellite facilities will offer the tool-calibration service. In July, avionics techs from Duncan Aviation Satellite facilities in St. Louis, Missouri, Scottsdale, Arizona, and Oxford, Connecticut, were trained and began offering tool calibration services for our customers. “In response to customer’s requests, we’ve been expanding services at many of our satellite shops beyond avionics line and install,” says Manager of Satellite Operations Matt Nelson. “For instance, 19 of our satellite facilities now include main ship and emergency power battery capabilities, and we’re now adding tool calibration services to most of the satellites.” The Duncan Aviation Satellites (DuncanAviation.aero/locations/#satellites) are located at some of the busiest business aviation airports around the country. The facilities almost always have ramp access and are a short distance from customer hangars. “The service is available to anyone in the area who needs an annual calibration on any of the tooling we maintain,” said Nelson. “We tried to focus on the tools most commonly found in the maintenance technician’s toolbox.” https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/maintenance-providers/mro/press-release/21234931/duncan-aviation-duncan-aviations-satellite-facilities-add-tool-calibration-capabilities Aero-Dienst Awarded Mx Contract on Research Aircraft Nuremberg-based MRO provider Aero-Dienst has been awarded a four-year contract from the German aerospace research center DLR to provide maintenance support on its highly modified Falcon 2000X EASy research aircraft. The scope of the contract ranges from 12-, 24-, and 36-month inspections to special inspections of engines or structural parts that are required because of the aircraft’s various research projects. Aero-Dienst has about 30 experienced Falcon technicians to draw from to address maintenance needs regarding airframes, avionics, engines, and other equipment. They will carry out their work at DLR’s in-flight systems and technology airborne research (ISTAR) base at Braunschweig. That will enable DLR’s specialists to make efficient use of the aircraft’s downtime to perform instrument installations and modifications for new research projects. “This research aircraft plays an essential role in the development of new environmentally friendly and efficient aircraft, engines, and assistance systems because the technology needed for climate-neutral aviation will be pushed ahead with the aid of ISTAR,” said Martin Gestwa, head of DLR's research flight department and technical operations. “In view of extensive modifications to DLR research aircraft, maintenance and repair procedures differ significantly from those used for unmodified aircraft. So, we are very grateful to have found an extremely competent partner for our ISTAR research aircraft in Aero-Dienst.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-08-18/aero-dienst-awarded-mx-contract-research-aircraft A Deicing Evolution Mallaghan’s TA8200 Deicer is the product of more than a decade of innovation. In 2010, Mallaghan began building the TA8200 Deicer on the back of a partnership with a deicing company in Europe. The customer asked Mallaghan to take elements of premium quality deicers on the market at the time and bring it to the mid-market price point, according to Joe Griffith, commercial manager for Mallaghan. Now, the TA8200 offers a range of features to customize the rig to each operation’s unique needs. “It’s a very simple deicer to operate and maintain,” Griffith says. “We tried to really boil it down to the basic elements and take known, reliable technologies and innovate them. We tried to keep key maintenance areas accessible. For example, our pump locker is spacious and allows easy access for maintenance of the pump systems. Our heater is a very innovative design – it’s a proprietary and exclusive design for Mallaghan. It’s an all stainless steel four burner system with both a primary and secondary burner ignition. So, should there be an issue with the primary ignition circuit for the heater, you can rely on the secondary ignition circuit. This results in an extremely reliable heater operation.” The base model, TA8200, has a 47-foot working height standard that can service most small regional jets all the way up to larger wide-body mainline aircraft. The boom rotates 270 degrees with 29 feet of side reach. The deicer can hold 1,850 gallons of Type I deicing fluid and 320 gallons of Type IV anti-ice fluid and comes with an open basket and basket communication intercom system. In addition to these standard features, companies can choose many optional features to add to the rig. “Really the full gambit is single-operator technology, closed basket, forced air, extended boom, proportional mixing system to where the truck can mix glycol to exact percentages, on board options such as higher output heaters, larger tank configurations, different basket sizes. All are options customers can go through,” Griffith says. According to Griffith, Mallaghan’s customers have positively received the TA8200 deicer but the company still works with them to make improvements on the rig. “One of the big examples of the positive feedback was exceptional reliability,” Griffith says. “The rig started and ran reliably every time. It was easy to operate – one to two buttons get the thing up and running to start the day. One button ends the function at the end of the day. The rig is almost fully automated in that aspect. “We do continuous improvement studies every year. Based on feedback and performance data, we may go to a new valve to improve reliability or to improve efficiency. It’s a continuously evolving product. We are constantly engaging with our customer base to gain feedback and measure the success of their operation over winter and from that we would take those into consideration and implement some improvements or some changes that would better suit the deicing operations around the world.” Griffith says the company developed single-engine technology to meet customer requests for certain configurations and changed the design of the basket to meet customer needs. “We’re trying to be very cognizant of any changes we make that we move the needle in the direction of reliability. We would never be the cheapest, but we would be some of the higher-quality rigs out there,” he notes. The company is currently looking to launch its first single-engine rig soon. Mallaghan officials are also exploring green technology and carbon production technologies to improve the environmental impact of a deicing application. The TA8200 deicer is in use around the world, according to Griffith. “Its highest population is obviously in Europe – our headquarters are in Ireland,” he says. “We launched into North America last year, so in North America it’s being operated in airports like Newark and Louisville and then throughout Europe. China is also a major customer for us.” Typically, these customers are major airlines and deicing service providers, according to Griffith. Airport authorities may buy deicing equipment and hire operators to use the technology as well. “Given our rig is focused more on the larger size, FBOs that do larger commercial jets are also customers of Mallaghan, but typically if they’re doing small Cessnas our rig would be overkill,” he adds. Griffith says the company asks customers key questions to determine what optional features are right for them. “A lot of it is in their infrastructure. Does the station have its own blending system or are they bringing in pre-mixed glycol tanks? That will dictate whether they get onboard blending. We understand what type of snow they have. Forced air works really well in areas that have lighter snow. If you have a heavy, wet snow, forced air is still a great option but far more advantageous in cities that have lighter, fluffier snow.” He says Mallaghan officials also try to understand what kind of aircraft customers will be working with to determine if the operation needs an extended boom. Other than that, it is often a matter of preference for the other optional features. “Do they want single-engine or dual-engine? Do they want their operators out in the elements or do they want a closed basket? Where do they operate their trucks? Do they have a labor shortage? If they do are they trying to run a lean operation with the single-operator technology?” he notes. “We really take the time to understand the customer and their exact needs to ensure our equipment not only meets, but exceeds their expectations in terms of performance and reliability.” Griffith mentions the deicer does not require much maintenance. Every year, operators should inspect the heater elements and check the pumps and diaphragms to make sure they are in good working condition. “We try to minimize the maintenance costs,” he says. “And then our service engineers based out of Atlanta go out and help support users with seasonal maintenance work on their deicers if they don’t have bandwidth available.” Griffith also says the company has a 24-hour support line customers can call should they have any issues. https://www.aviationpros.com/gse/deicing-anti-icing-equipment-services/article/21225494/a-deicing-evolution Bombardier Launches Mx App for Smart Link Plus Users Bombardier today released the myMaintenance app that permits subscribers of its Smart Link Plus program to track, troubleshoot, and manage aircraft service needs via personal electronic devices. Currently available for the Global 7500 and Challenger 300/350, installed Smart Link Plus hardware records aircraft data that allows flight and maintenance crews to proactively troubleshoot aircraft in-flight fault notifications. Similar approvals for the Challenger 604/605/650 and other Globals are pending. The new myMaintenance App expands Smart Link Plus customers’ ability to troubleshoot any issues via their personal electronic devices in flight (airborne connectivity required) or on the ground, according to Bombardier. Global 7500s are being delivered from the factory with the Smart Link Plus health monitoring units, while retrofit installs recently started for Challenger 300/350s. Bombardier is providing the Smart Link Plus hardware, which was developed with GE Aviation, at no charge to Challenger 300/350 operators. “Bombardier business jet operators expect the most expedient resolutions to their operating issues, and the new myMaintenance App, available exclusively to Smart Link Plus subscribers, is there to provide that peace of mind,” said Jean-Christophe Gallagher, Bombardier’s executive v-p of services/support and corporate strategy. “The new application is part of our commitment to digital innovations that will benefit our customers as they experience the time and money savings that big data can provide.” https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2021-08-19/bombardier-launches-mx-app-smart-link-plus-users New $200 million funding round will power up Utah’s Breeze Airways Less than three months after launching its inaugural flights, Utah’s Breeze Airways on Wednesday announced closing on $200 million in fresh funding that will help fuel continued expansion for the new domestic carrier. Salt Lake City-based Breeze reports the Series B round was led by funds and accounts managed by BlackRock and Knighthead Capital Management LLC, with additional investments by the airline’s existing investors, including Utah firms Peterson Partners and Sandlot Partners. The new round brings Breeze’s total funding to $300 million, a benchmark the company says is a record for a fledgling U.S. carrier. Breeze Airways is the latest airline startup from serial-entrepreneur David Neeleman, his fifth after previously launching onetime Utah-based provider Morris Air, JetBlue, Canada’s WestJet and Brazil’s Azul Airlines. Neeleman said the new funding will help expand Breeze’s mission of connecting smaller U.S. airports together with new, nonstop service. “Welcoming funds and accounts managed by BlackRock and Knighthead and additional funding from our existing investors further validates our business strategy to offer new nonstop flights at reduced fares between smaller cities where the Guest’s only choice today is a lengthy connecting flight through a large hub airport,” Neeleman said in a statement. “We look forward to working with our new investors, humbled to be considered the best-funded startup in U.S. aviation history, and are excited about the growth that it will fuel.” Just ahead of the start of Breeze service in May, Neeleman told the Deseret News his new airline will be focused on providing service that connects U.S. cities in secondary market airports, pushing back against a long-running industry bent toward concentrating operations and flights at select hub facilities. And Breeze is embracing a slew of tech tools and flexibility options that, along with lower prices and a customer-centric business approach, Neeleman believes will make his newest airline venture stand out among competitors. “Together, we created Breeze as a new airline merging technology with kindness,” Neeleman said. “Breeze provides nonstop service between underserved routes across the U.S. at affordable fares. “A staggering 95% of Breeze routes currently have no airline serving them nonstop. With seamless booking, no change or cancellation fees, up to 24-months of reusable flight credit and customized flight features delivered via a sleek and simple app, Breeze makes it easy to buy and easy to fly.” Breeze is currently providing service to 16 cities and flying 39 routes with 13 single-class, Brazilian-made Embraer aircraft. The company says it will start taking delivery of 60 new Airbus A220 aircraft in October, which will be delivered at a rate of about one per month for the next five years. The new planes, Breeze says, will be flown on routes longer than two hours’ flight time. Investor Adam Zirkin, partner at Knighthead Capital, said Breeze is poised for success in providing new and more efficient service options for customers in underserved markets. “Breeze’s use of right-sized and efficient aircraft to offer new nonstop service between smaller U.S. cities constitutes a true competitive advantage, and delivers a better experience for travelers whose only current options are connecting flights,” Zirkin said in a statement. “Moreover, the airline’s unique use of technology allows for better service at lower cost, eliminating the missed connections, delays, and long customer service hold times that are such an unfortunate part of air travel as we know it. “We’re excited to partner with David and the rest of the Breeze team, as they build and provide this new and improved travel experience.” Neeleman’s latest startup has also earned support from state leaders, with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development announcing a post-performance tax rebate package for the company in late 2019. The package could earn Breeze as much as $1.1 million in tax rebates on plans to make over $3 million in capital investments and hire about 370 new Utah employees. At this point, Neeleman said he does not anticipate Breeze will be providing service in or out of Salt Lake City International Airport, but other Utah airports may be in the running for new routes. https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/8/18/22630788/breeze-airways-gets-200-million-funding-round-utah-airline DRDO develops advanced chaff technology for IAF's fighter aircraft The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an advanced chaff technology to safeguard Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets against hostile radar threats. The technology has been developed by DRDO's defence laboratory in Rajasthan's Jodhpur in collaboration with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune. Chaff is a critical defence technology used to protect fighter aircraft from hostile radar threats. A very small quantity of chaff material deployed in the air acts as a decoy to deflect enemy missiles and ensures the safety of the fighter aircraft. The advanced chaff material and chaff cartridge 118/I will help meet the qualitative requirements of the IAF. The IAF has started the process of induction of this technology after completion of successful user trials. The technology has been given to the industry for production in large quantities to meet the annual rolling requirement of the IAF. Lauding DRDO, IAF and the aviation industry for indigenous development of this critical technology, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said it was another step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat. Secretary Department of Defence R&D and DRDO chairman Dr G Satheesh Reddy congratulated the teams on the successful development of this advanced technology that will further strengthen the IAF. Industry experts said survivability of fighter aircraft was of prime concern due to advancements in modern radar threats. To ensure survivability of aircraft, a Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS) is used that provides passive jamming against infrared and radar threats. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/drdo-develops-advanced-chaff-technology-for-iaf-fighter-aircraft-1842793-2021-08-19 Alaska’s ecoDemonstrator To Test Next Generation Air Traffic Control Alaska Airlines’ Boeing 737 MAX 9, which is being used as this year’s Boeing ecoDemonstrator, will be flight testing Inmarsat’s Iris technology for the first time. Iris enables real-time collaboration between pilots, air traffic control, and airline operations centers using secure, resilient data connections. It is seen as the backbone of the next generation of air traffic control, with the potential to significantly increase efficiencies and lower the industry’s carbon footprint. ecoDemonstraor to flight test Inmarsat’s Iris Alaska Airlines’ ecoDemonstrator 737 MAX 9 is pioneering some interesting technology that could have a significant impact on aviation’s environmental impact. The Boeing has been installed with Inmarsat technology to commence the first flight trails of the Iris air traffic modernization solution. In partnership with the European Space Agency, Iris is a key component of the modernization of air traffic management. It uses highly secure, ultra-resilient connectivity to communicate with aircraft in real-time, reliving the oversubscribed VHF radio links to planes and bringing initiatives like the Single European Sky closer to reality. John Broughton, Inmarsat’s Senior Vice President of Aircraft Operations and Safety Services, said, “Inmarsat’s Iris programme is a great example of the vast benefits a digitised aviation industry will offer. By modernising air traffic management, there is significant potential to drive environmental efficiencies and cut aviation’s carbon emissions. We’re proud to be involved in this future-facing research and look forward to working closely with other members of the Boeing ecoDemonstrator programme to enable a more sustainable future of flying.” Iris can pinpoint operational aircraft in four dimensions – latitude, longitude, altitude, and time. This will enable flights to be tracked with absolute precision, and then managed from the ground to allow shorter flight routes, optimum cruise altitudes and paths of continuous climb and descent. As well as this, communications between pilot and controllers moves from voice to text, driving down the likelihood of errors and increasing flight safety. The solution is seen as the answer to next generation flight management, and a much-needed makeover for air traffic control. Significant carbon savings The ecoDemonstrator aircraft will test out and assess the Iris solution for air traffic control and operational communications on a number of flights across the United States. Powered by ELERA, the system will be put through its paces, allowing developers to assess it in action for the first time. The impact of such a development cannot be understated. In Europe, where fragmented airspace frequently leads to circuitous routings and inefficient flight paths, having a better system in place has been calculated to be capable of saving between 5% and 10% of the aviation industry’s Co2 emissions. Rae Lutters, ecoDemonstrator Programme Manager at Boeing, said, “We’re excited to be partnering with Inmarsat in our ecoDemonstrator programme this year. We selected the Iris solution for testing, as it is closely aligned to our own commitment to reduce the environmental impact of modern aircraft. We are looking forward to evaluating Iris in a live flying environment and exploring the real-life impact such innovative technology could have when implemented on a global scale.” Inmarsat plans to roll out Iris in 2023 in Europe, expanding its reach globally over the next decade. https://simpleflying.com/alaska-ecodemonstrator-iris/ Teenage pilot Zara Rutherford begins solo round-world record bid A teenage pilot has set off on an attempt to become the youngest woman to fly solo around the world. Zara Rutherford, 19, took off on her three-month adventure from Kortrijk in Belgium just before 10:00 BST - half an hour late due to the weather. She made her first stop at Popham Airfield in Hampshire at 11:30. The former pupil of St Swithun's School, Winchester, aims to fly over 52 countries and cross the equator twice during her trip. The current female record holder is American Shaesta Waiz, who was 30 at the time of her challenge in 2017. The youngest male record holder was 18. Miss Rutherford's preparation has included dunker training - practising how to get out of an aircraft under water - as well as maintenance of her plane. The circumnavigation includes 70 planned stops with 19 rest days and is due to conclude back in Kortijk on 4 November. Miss Rutherford, who lives in Belgium, said the "greatest challenge" would be remote places like northern Russia or Greenland. "There aren't many people who live there so if anything were to go wrong I would be in a bit of an awkward situation," she said. Miss Rutherford spent five years at St Swithun's School, which is one of the sponsors of the challenge. Headmistress Jane Gandee said her former pupil was a "self-deprecating young woman who models determination, initiative and a healthy disregard for stereotypes". "She has become aware of how girls and women are under-represented in some areas of life, particularly aviation, science and technology and she wanted to do something to counter this," Ms Gandee added. The teenager, who comes from a family of pilots, began training when she was 14 and gained her pilot's licence in 2020. She is flying a Shark UL - an ultralight sport aircraft which holds a number of speed records. She will fly to Wick, via Aberdeen, before heading across the Atlantic Ocean to Iceland, Greenland, then Canada. Her itinerary will take her down the east coast of the US to South America before heading up the west coast back to Alaska, crossing to Russia, East and Central Asia, before returning to Europe via the Middle East. The route has been chosen to fulfil Guinness World Records' requirements to be an "around-the-world flight". https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-58256386 Intuitive Machines picks SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to launch its moon lander for NASA A Houston-based company that NASA selected to ferry upcoming lunar experiments to the moon has hired SpaceX to launch its lunar landing mission. Intuitive Machines is a private company currently developing a lunar lander capable of bringing scientific payloads to the moon. It was founded in 2013 to, as their company website states, create "new lunar economies to quench humanity's thirst for knowledge through innovative solutions to the hardest problems." Their first step towards this goal will be the IM-1 mission, which is currently scheduled to reach the moon at the beginning of 2022, according to their website. NASA selected Intuitive Machines, along with Astrobotic and Orbit Beyond, back in May 2019 to deliver science experiments and technology demonstrations to the moon to service the space agency's Artemis Program. NASA picked these three private companies as part of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. On Aug. 10, Intuitive Machines announced that it would partner with SpaceX for its third flight, called IM-3. Sometime in early 2024, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch IM-3 into space. From there, Intuitive Machine's Nova-C lunar lander would carry and land about 287 pounds (130 kilograms) of payloads onto the lunar surface. NASA plans on sending numerous payloads to the moon over the next several years to get a good idea of the lunar environment. This is in anticipation of the stage of the Artemis program when humans would return to the moon and create an outpost, where local lunar resources and knowledge would help support those missions. In October 2020, NASA announced that it had picked Intuitive Machines to land a water-measuring payload to the moon's south pole. Under the deal, the space agency will pay the company $47 million to deliver NASA's Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment (PRIME-1) in 2022. https://www.space.com/spacex-rocket-launching-intuitive-machines-moon-lander Curt Lewis