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April 06, 2021

Airborne-Unmanned 04.06.21: Starship SN11, Lilium Ramps Up, Pipistrel UCAV

Also: Rhode Island--DroneUp, Vertical Flight Society, Rocket Lab, Sun ‘n Fun Digital Daily

On Tuesday, March 30, SpaceX launched its fourth high-altitude flight test of Starship from Starbase in Texas. Similar to previous high-altitude flight tests, Starship Serial Number 11 (SN11) was powered through ascent by three Raptor engines, each shutting down in sequence prior to the vehicle reaching apogee – approximately 10 km in altitude. SN11 performed a propellant transition to the internal header tanks, which hold landing propellant, before reorienting itself for reentry and a controlled aerodynamic descent. Shortly after the landing burn started, SN11 experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly. Now we know why... Lilium GmbH has entered into

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NASA’s Mars Helicopter Survives First Cold Martian Night, Solo

"First Time That Ingenuity Has Been On Its Own"

Ingenuity has emerged from its first night on the Martian surface... Evening temperatures at Jezero Crater can plunge as low as minus 130 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 90 degrees Celsius), which can freeze and crack unprotected electrical components and damage the onboard batteries required for flight. Surviving that first night after being deployed from where it was attached to the belly of NASA’s Perseverance rover on April 3 is a major milestone for the 4-pound rotorcraft. In the days to come, Ingenuity will be the first aircraft to attempt powered, controlled flight on another planet.