Suborbital spaceplane project reveals two fundamental truths.

Composites improve aircraft performance but production must quicken.

Automated non-destructive inspection of composite parts for delamination and other defects is a critical step that is becoming more challenging as structures become larger and more complex. Ultrasound inspection conventionally requires parts to be immersed in a water tank or sprayed with water jets to guide the pulses. Now non-contract laser ultrasound is allowing remote, robotic inspection of complete airframe sections. Airbus, with EADS Innovation Works and France's Ecole des Mines, is evaluating a laser ultrasound system using a composite forward-fuselage demonstrator.

Space Shuttle Enterprise flies past the Manhattan skyline while making its final voyage April 27, from Washington to New York, where it will be placed on permanent exhibit July 19 as one of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum's major attractions. En route to John F. Kennedy International Airport, tens of thousands of spectators on the New York and New Jersey sides of the Hudson River were treated to dramatic views of the prototype test vehicle and the NASA Boeing 747 that transported the orbiter.

Blue Origin is one commercial crew option, but can NASA afford any?

Across composite and metallic aircraft structures, technology is being developed and deployed to minimize component lead times, reduce manufacturing costs and increase production rates. Automated processes that can take component geometry data directly from three-dimensional design databases are high on the most-desired list for aerospace manufacturers.

Cutting and drilling of cured composite components during manufacture or repair are a growing challenge as structures become bigger, more complex and costly.

Overseas space companies are seeking U.S. partnersOverseas space companies are seeking U.S. partners