Audrey Thysell

“That’s going to enable all of our people to harmonize on the data and pivot with greater agility.” From the Warp Speed Engine Room, discover how L3Harris Technologies leverages their Program Digital Cockpit to drive adaptability and competitiveness.

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🚀 Get to Know Talon-A At Stratolaunch, we’re advancing hypersonic testing with Talon-A, our reusable, autonomous, rocket-powered aircraft designed for hypersonic flight. 🔹 Length: 28 ft 🔹 Wingspan: 14 ft 🔹 Speed: Mach 5+ 🔹 Payload Capacity: up to 220 lbs 🔹 Reusability: Horizontal runway landing Talon-A offers customizable mission profiles, giving customers affordable and routine access to hypersonic flight environments. Its flexible design supports a variety of payloads, from thermal protection systems to advanced avionics and seeker sensors, making it a powerful platform for validating emerging technologies. Whether it’s testing new materials, collecting data in high-enthalpy conditions, or integrating unique payloads, Talon-A expands the possibilities of hypersonic flight. 👉 Learn more about Talon-A and our mission: https://lnkd.in/gmAeZJH5 💪 Work with us: https://lnkd.in/dCcAjUgK #Hypersonics #FlightTest #Stratolaunch #TalonA

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"In May, Northrop Grumman completed two test flights of its AHT IMU aboard Stratolaunch’s reusable hypersonic aircraft, Talon-A. 'Testing the Northrop Grumman Advanced Hypersonic Technology Inertial Measurement Unit (AHT IMU) in real-world conditions at unprecedented speeds, proves we’ve developed a navigation system that makes platforms incredibly agile and nearly impossible to defend against,' stated Sam Dimashkie, director of future navigation technology at Northrop Grumman’s Research and Development organization. 'Our technology is a major leap forward in strategic capabilities, outshining anything currently available to US forces.' Following two earlier flights on a reusable hypersonic vehicle, the recent test was the third use of the same unit within six months, confirming the system’s reusability." #LetsRoc #NationalSecurity #Hypersonics https://lnkd.in/gtAe_rh8

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Excited to partner with Vaya Space in a $4M, two-year strategic agreement to advance their breakthrough hybrid rocket technology using Velo3D’s Rapid Production Solution (RPS). By combining safer, non-toxic fuels with cutting-edge additive manufacturing, we’re helping bring sustainable, flight-ready propulsion to the next frontier. Read more:https://lnkd.in/eYdPfCPJ #AdditiveManufacturing #HybridRocket #Velo3D #VayaSpace #SpaceInnovation #MadeInUSA

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Discover how top aerospace teams compress model build time from 6–8 weeks to just days. This white paper breaks down how implicit modeling enables faster iteration and 10x more design exploration. Get your copy when you click through. https://lnkd.in/e2ypBNaH

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Based on the response to the dance, I wanted to share a little behind-the-scenes moment from just a couple hours before showtime. This was the first full run with both robots performing together. Until then, I had only tested sections of the routine with Rivet. Astro had never attempted any choreography before. Same moves, same commands… but very different results. Rivet handled it without issue. Astro collapsed. Turns out he was still compensating for a payload that had been removed earlier. Once we updated the config, he was dancing like a pro. If there’s one thing programming a robot to dance teaches you, it’s how complex its normal motion really is. From CG shifts to footstep sequencing, body rotation, and timing—choreography mode strips away the some of the safety layers and gives you a whole new respect for how these robots move… and even more for what living things can do. #Robotics #EngineeringFails #BostonDynamics #MotionControl #RobotChoreography

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At what point during civil certification projects is a flying prototype needed? Are flying aircraft actually "needed" in order to establish requirements for certification? Several firms' press releases claim exactly that as they tout their prototype's being approved to fly (i.e., experimental airworthiness certificate). Some clarity here appears necessary. One of my favorite of the 7 Habits is "begin with the end in mind". So I've prepared this graphic to show -- in reverse order (top-down) -- some of the major steps leading to fielding a new aircraft that's used in airline-style operations. Notice that an experimental CofA (permission to fly prototype) is at the far lower left in this diagram (i.e., very, very early in the process). While it is possible that data from a prototype could be used in establishing means of compliance, that does not come from a few success-oriented demonstrations. Instead, they come from organized test programs (with FAA participation) which comprehensively cover off-nominal concerns in addition to nominal performance. A good example of reports from this type of research can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gXBh5xkk Even if a flying prototype is involved with a research project, the result would need to inform means of compliance issue paper(s). Issue papers can take years to conclude. Adding the flying research time only adds to the elapsed time prior to having an accepted certification plan. Afterward, another couple years may be required to conduct the certification project. Conclusion? Having a flying prototype doesn't facilitate the certain end of a certification project until the applicant and the FAA have agreed on what needs to be accomplished WITH that prototype. For that, an accepted certification plan is necessary. Monitoring news for cert plan acceptance by the FAA is far more relevant to tracking schedule progress than is a prototype's first flight. As a flight tester, this pains me to admit. But it's true.

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A lot of people assume leadership is about being in control—making big decisions, having all the answers, and telling people what to do. It’s easy to see why, especially in corporate environments where authority is often mistaken for leadership. But real leadership isn’t about power—it’s about responsibility. The best leaders I’ve worked with—and the kind I strive to be—understand that leadership is about supporting and empowering people, not just managing them. I once worked with a leader who, during a high-pressure deadline, didn’t just delegate and walk away. Instead, they stayed late with the team, checked in, removed roadblocks, and made sure everyone had what they needed to succeed. That kind of leadership built trust and real commitment—not just putting in extra hours out of pressure or expectation. Leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room or calling all the shots. It’s about creating an environment where others can do their best work. ✅ Leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about impact. ✅ It’s not about control—it’s about trust. ✅ It’s not about looking important—it’s about helping others succeed. The best teams thrive under leaders who put their people first. When leadership is about responsibility, trust grows, teams excel, and real success follows. What’s one moment that made you realize leadership is about responsibility, not authority? #Leadership #ServantLeadership #LeadershipMindset #PeopleFirst #WorkplaceCulture #TrustAndLeadership

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Below is Part 7 of my white paper series on EVTOL technology development titled "DESIGN TO FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION, BUT A REQUIREMENT". For all aerospace products low weight is critical, but nowhere is weight more critical than on VTOL aircraft. In an ideal world, all VTOL aircraft parts would have infinite life. In the real world however, limited part lives and margins of safety must be balanced against weight and cost, otherwise VTOL aircraft would be too heavy and too costly to be practical. Therefore, with VTOL aircraft, designing parts to failure at a predictable life is not an option, but a requirement. In this paper I provide a general overview “Life Limited” parts on commercial VTOL aircraft and how they impact operating cost and dispatch reliability. I leave it to the reader to draw any comparisons to potential EVTOL aircraft. In place of links to earlier papers, Parts 1 to 6 are included for easy reference at the back of Part 7. Also, thanks to all you have read my papers and recommended changes   As always, the opinions in my papers are solely my own, and I am open to making any corrections to historical facts (and grammatical ) errors.  Enjoy!

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Is Dreamchaser dead? A free flyer mission in late 2026 with no mandated ISS resupply missions. If this slips, will Dreamchaser even fly a resupply mission while the ISS is still crewed? Meanwhile, companies like Intuitive Machines are working on Zephyr for small return capabilities, and others will work on larger solutions. I've been a long time supporter of Dreamchaser, but this is not good news. https://lnkd.in/enui46sY

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The small sat supply chain just got a little stronger: Umbra, which operates a constellation of SAR spacecraft, said today it will begin selling a line of fundamental spacecraft components to other operators seeking flight-proven parts. https://lnkd.in/dEq_CNH9

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Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works unveiled Vectis, a stealth-first CCA concept - but it’s still years from flight. Others are already airborne, raising the question: will late stealth beat proven capability? ✈️ #obss #cca #rpa #uav #uas #isr #istar #intelligence #reconnaissance #surveillance #unmanned #greyeagle #seaguardian #protector #avenger #mq9 #mq9b #mq20 #mojave #generalatomics #AI #machinelearning #loyalwingman #longshot #skyborg #vanguard #lcaaps #acet #acp #yfq42 #xq67 #yfq44 #sparrowhawk #eaglet #mq25 #cbp #hiring #mq28 #ghostbat #vectis #skunkworks https://lnkd.in/gGnzNajF

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