The 418th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, Calif., recently completed a series of flight tests to see how well a C-17 transport would operate with a different combination of traditional and alternative fuels. Specifically, the aircraft flew late last month with a blend of 50 percent traditional JP-8 jet fuel, 25 percent hydrotreated renewable jet fuel, and 25 percent synthetic paraffinic kerosene, according to an Edwards release. The Air Force has committed to certifying its entire fleet of aircraft to run on a 50-50 blend of JP-8 and SPK by next year. SPK is derived from natural gas under the Fischer-Tropsch distillation process. There is also the potential to derive SPK from coal. More recently, USAF has been testing with the HRJ fuel, which comes from biomass, such as the oil of the camelina seed. (See also Staying on the Alternative Track from the Daily Report archives.)
The Air Force Research Laboratory plans to launch its latest technology challenge next month—a project meant to speed up development of systems that can operate beyond geosynchronous orbit. SpaceWERX is leading the effort, dubbed Cislunar Prime. The space innovation hub is looking for commercial capabilities that could put the Space Force…