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21 May 2013
Dreamliner Resumes Flights In the U.S.
Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner returned to service in the U.S. on Monday with a United Airlines flight from Houston to Chicago. A Boeing spokesperson said that the company has modified 45 out of 50 Dreamliners that were in service at the time of the grounding. The return to domestic service provides a welcome boost for Boeing following a fair amount of bad publicity resulting from the grounding. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (USA Today)
21 May 2013
X-47B UAV Makes Its First Touch and Go Landing
Less than a week after completing its first catapult launch from a carrier deck, the X-47B UAV achieved another milestone Friday when it executed its first touch and go landings aboard the USS George H.W. Bush, bringing the technology demonstrator ever closer to being fully carrier-capable. The tests demonstrated the ability for the UAV and the carrier to communicate with each other over the super-fast datalink that they share. This is especially important if conditions become unsafe for a landing and it needs to be waved off. (Image Credit: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Walter, USN)
More Info > (Popular Science)
20 May 2013
NTSB Investigating Emergency Plane Landing In New Jersey
A U.S. Airways plane made an emergency belly landing at Newark National Airport on Saturday morning, after part of the landing gear would not go down. The National Transportation Safety Board has the black boxes from the plane and is investigating. U.S. Airways believes this was a mechanical issue isolated to this particular plane and wasn’t part of a wider problem. Thirty-four people were on board the plane when it landed, but no one was hurt. The NTSB is working with the airline to assess the damage to the aircraft but does not yet have details on what may have led the landing gear to malfunction. (Image Credit: YouTube)
More Info > (ABC World News)
17 May 2013
Spacewalk Appears to Have Fixed Ammonia Leak
A spur-of-the-moment spacewalk conducted last weekend appears to have fixed a big ammonia leak at the International Space Station, NASA reported Thursday. The leak sprang a week ago, necessitating the hastiest repair job ever attempted by space station residents. Spacewalking astronauts replaced a suspect ammonia pump on Saturday, just two days after the trouble was discovered. Engineers don't know whether the pump replacement also took care of a smaller leak in the system that has been an issue for years. It will take at least a couple months of monitoring to know the full status. Ammonia is used as a coolant in the space station's radiator system. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Associated Press)
17 May 2013
Astronauts Take Dream Chaser for Simulated Spin
Astronauts recently took the Dream Chaser winged spacecraft for a simulated spin, rocketing down from 10,000 feet to land on a runway in the Mojave desert in southern California. While the astronauts experienced the turbulence of the craft, they were actually inside the motion-based Research Flight Deck simulator at NASA Langley Research Center, helping fine-tune a next-generation vehicle for manned space exploration. The Dream Chaser, developed by Sierra Nevada Corporation, is a 30-foot-long spacecraft that resembles a mini space shuttle, intended to help replace the space shuttle program, which retired in 2011. Expected to be operational by 2017, Dream Chaser will carry passengers into low-Earth orbit, or ferry them to and from the International Space Station. It will launch aboard a medium-lift rocket, and once in orbit can fly at 17,500 mph and circle the globe in an hour and a half. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Ino > (Newport News Daily Press)
15 May 2013
X-47B UAV Launches from Aircraft Carrier for First Time
The U.S. Navy made aviation history on Tuesday by launching an unmanned jet off an aircraft carrier for the first time. The X-47B stealth drone was catapulted at 11:18 a.m. EDT from the deck of the USS George H.W. Bush in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia Beach, VA. The X-47B flew a series of pre-programmed maneuvers around the ship before heading off for Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland where it was scheduled to land. The successful launch of the X-47B is “an inflection point in history on how we will integrate manned and unmanned aircraft on carrier flight decks in the future,” Rear Adm. Mat Winter wrote on the Navy’s official blog. With a range of 2,000 nautical miles, an unmanned jet like the X-47B could give the Navy both a long-range strike and reconnaissance capability. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy)
More Info > (Associated Press)
More Info > (AIAA Statement)
Watch Video > (YouTube)
15 May 2013
Boeing Delivers First Dreamliner Since Grounding
Boeing restarted deliveries of 787 Dreamliners on Tuesday after a four-month pause while it dealt with the troublesome batteries that had kept the planes grounded. Japan's All Nippon Airways received the first plane which follows the resumption of some flights that began last month. (Image Credit: ANA)
More Info > (Associated Press)
14 May 2013
X-47B to Attempt Carrier Launch Today
The U.S. Navy is preparing to launch an unmanned aircraft from the deck of an aircraft carrier for the first time today. The X-47B will launch from the USS George H.W. Bush, currently in the Atlantic Ocean. Once launched, it will make a series of approaches toward the aircraft carrier before landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy)
More Info > (Associated Press)
14 May 2013
Expedition 35 Crew Lands Safely
Expedition 35 Commander Chris Hadfield and Flight Engineers Tom Marshburn and Roman Romanenko landed in southern Kazakhstan at 10:31 p.m. EDT Monday. Recovery teams were on hand to help the crew exit their Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft and adjust to gravity after 146 days in space. The trio launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in December and spent 144 days living and working aboard the International Space Station. Romanenko was at the controls of the spacecraft as it undocked at 7:08 p.m. Monday. The undocking marked the end of Expedition 35 and the start of Expedition 36 under the command of Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov, who is scheduled to remain on the station with Flight Engineers Chris Cassidy and Alexander Misurkin until September. (Image Credit: NASA TV – Expedition 35 undocks from the station aboard the Soyuz TMA-07M spacecraft)
More Info > (NBC News)
Watch Video > (YouTube)
13 May 2013
NASA to Commemorate 40th Anniversary of Skylab
The first human inhabitants took up residence aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2000. Since then, the ISS has been home to many resident crews. None of this would have been possible without America's first space station: Skylab. From its launch on 14 May 1973, until the return of its third and final crew on 8 Feb. 1974, the Skylab program proved that humans can live and work in outer space for extended periods of time. NASA will commemorate the 40th anniversary of Skylab today with a televised roundtable discussion featuring Skylab astronauts, a current astronaut, and agency managers. The discussion, open to the public, will begin at 2:30 p.m. EDT in the James Webb Auditorium of NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. The event will air live on NASA Television. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (NASA)
More Info > (NASA TV)
13 May 2013
Astronauts Conduct Hastily Planned Spacewalk
ISS astronauts Christopher Cassidy and Thomas Marshburn conducted a hastily planned spacewalk Saturday that involved replacing a pump in hopes of plugging a serious ammonia leak. Afterwards, Mission Control said it appeared as though the leak may have been plugged, although additional monitoring over the coming weeks will be needed. Another spacewalk will be needed to replenish the coolant that was lost from the leak. NASA never before staged such a fast, impromptu spacewalk for a station crew, and now is preparing for the departure of some of the crew today. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (The New York Times)
10 May 2013
FAA to Issue Airworthiness Directive On Boeing 777 Wiring
The FAA says unsafe wiring conditions on some Boeing 777 jetliners need to be fixed to prevent the possibility of an in-flight entertainment system fire which could lead to a crash. A proposed airworthiness directive is expected to be released today. If the fix is not carried out, the FAA said operators might not be able to control smoke or flames in the airplane flight deck or passenger cabin. The FAA also said the order was prompted by reports of smoke or flames related to wiring for in-flight entertainment systems, cabin lighting and passenger seats in the passenger cabins, but did not say what those cases were other than involving MD-11, DC-9, and L-1011 planes. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (USA Today)
10 May 2013
ISS Experiences Radiator Leak
NASA has reported a radiator leak in the International Space Station’s power system. ISS Commander Chris Hadfield reportedly said the issue is “serious, but not life-threatening.” A NASA spokesperson said engineers are working on rerouting electronics just in case the loop shuts down. So far there are no plans to evacuate the crew. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Associated Press)
9 May 2013
FAA Reverses Decision to Close 72 Air Traffic Control Facilities at Night
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that seventy-two airport towers and other air traffic control facilities that were slated to close at night due to budget cuts will now remain open. FAA officials provided no reason for the decision to keep the 72 towers open at night, most of which have few takeoffs and landings during the relevant night time hours. Nonetheless, ending midnight shifts at airport towers had threatened to slow down late-night flights, when most cargo tends to get shipped. Meanwhile, the FAA has not yet made a decision on whether it will close 149 small airport towers operated under contract for the agency.
More Info > (USA Today)
8 May 2013
NTSB Seeks Additional Boeing 787 Battery Tests
The NTSB is looking to obtain additional CT scans of 787 lithium-ion batteries, and wants to have the project completed by 16 May. A "sources sought notice" from the NTSB stated that since the FAA recently approved a plan intended to result in the Boeing 787 being approved for a return to service, the information from these tests (and the CT scans required to support these tests) is needed as soon as possible. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (Puget Sound Business Journal)
7 May 2013
K-MAX Unmanned Helicopter Performing Well in the Field
K-MAX unmanned helicopters are proving to be quite successful in the field in Afghanistan. Through more use of the K-MAX, Marine Corps commanders have been able to cut back on the number of supply convoys on the province's bomb-laden roads; reduce the workload and the risk for helicopter and Osprey crews, and save money. The K-MAX also has provided real-world evidence that remotely piloted drone aircraft are useful for much more than just surveillance and missile strikes. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy)
More Info > (The Washington Times)
7 May 2013
Navy Successfully Simulates UAV Landing On Aircraft Carriers
In a milestone for robotic aviation, the Navy's most valued drone, the X-47B, has successfully simulated landing on an aircraft carrier deck for the first time. This could mean that UAVs could be used from operating aircraft carriers. The test could have large implications since it tested one of the hardest maneuvers in aviation that no other nation has come close to repeating. The bigger test is expected later this month when the X-47B will travel to the USS George H.W. Bush to attempt to take off and land at sea for the first time. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy)
More Info > (Wired)
7 May 2013
Atlas Rocket to Launch GPS Satellite for First Time in Years
An Atlas rocket and a Global Positioning System satellite were paired for the first time in 28 years Monday, as the booster and payload were united for their 15 May launch from Cape Canaveral. During the 28 year gap, GPS satellites relied on the Delta family of rockets for launches. This time, an Atlas 5 will launch the GPS 2F-4 satellite. (Image Credit: ULA)
More Info > (Spaceflight Now)
6 May 2013
Solar Impulse Begins Journey Across America
On Friday, Solar Impulse, a solar-powered airplane, took off on the first leg of its journey across America. Solar Impulse is the most advanced sun-powered plane ever, capable of flying day and night without any fuel. But the plane flies only about 40 miles an hour, and it cannot fly through the clouds. The first leg of the journey, from northern California to Phoenix finished early Saturday morning, arriving in Phoenix 18 hours and 18 minutes after taking off in San Francisco. The plane's 12,000 solar cells on its wings worked to recharge the batteries that allow it to fly at night. (Image Credit: Jean Revillard, Solar Impulse)
More Info > (The Los Angeles Times)
Video > (Reuters)
3 May 2013
X-51A Waverider Successfully Achieves Flight Above Mach 5
The US. Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Boeing X-51A Waverider demonstrator, on 1 May, successfully achieved sustained, scramjet-powered, air-breathing hypersonic flight above Mach 5 in its final test flight. The X-51A is thought to have experienced positive acceleration to speeds in excess of Mach 5 and run for the full duration of the planned powered phase of the test. The success of this test follows less successful prior tests and could be pivotal in helping drive further research and development to meet the Air Force's long-term goal of hypersonic capability. AIAA congratulates the entire X-51 team on their successful flight. (Image Credit: U.S. Air Force)
More Info > (Aviation Week)
More Info > (AIAA Statement)
3 May 2013
Navy Announces First Aircraft Squadron to Include Both Manned, Unmanned Vehicles
The U.S. Navy on Thursday established its first aircraft squadron made up of both traditional helicopters and remotely piloted drones. The squadron’s first deployment is expected next year, and is designated Helicopter Maritime Strike 35, “the Magicians.” Its pilots will fly the drones from a control room inside the ship. The Magicians squadron will be made up of eight MH-60R Seahawks and 10 MQ-8B Fire Scouts. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy)
More Info > (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
2 May 2013
Boeing Board Approves Marketing of 777X
Boeing's board of directors has given the company the go ahead to market the Boeing 777X, an updated, larger version of its 777 passenger jet. A formal launch announcement of the program is anticipated once Boeing gains enough orders, which the board would again have to approve. Boeing is expected to offer a couple of versions of the 777X that include composite wings and a GE engine. The first model would probably seat about 400 people, while the second would hold about 350 passengers and could potentially be ready in 2021. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (New York Times)
1 May 2013
Cargo-Carrying Boeing 747-400 Crashes in Afghanistan
A cargo-carrying Boeing 747-400 operated by National Air Cargo crashed just after takeoff Monday from Bagram Air Base around 11:20 a.m. local time. All seven people aboard were killed. NATO says no cause has been determined. According to a coalition spokesperson, the NTSB will work with the Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority to investigate the crash. Some are speculating a shift in the cargo is to blame. A mechanical problem with the flight controls, in particular the elevator trim known as a 'runaway trim' is another less likely scenario. The crash was filmed and placed on YouTube and LiveLeak. (Image Credit: YouTube)
More Info > (Associated Press)
1 May 2013
Solar Impulse to Make Several Stops on Cross-Country Flight
A solar-powered plane making its first cross-country journey plans to make stops in several American cities along the way. Solar Impulse will take off from San Francisco, sometime in May, and fly to JFK in New York, making four stops along the way – Phoenix, Dallas, St. Louis, and Washington, DC. The exact date of takeoff will depend on the weather as Solar Impulse is so light it can’t fly through bad weather. Each flight leg will take 20-25 hours. The plane is expected to stay at each stop for about 10 days. (Image Credit: Solar Impulse)
More Info > (The Washington Post)
29 April 2013
Manned Mission to Mars Appears More Plausible
Manned missions to Mars seem more likely following the landing of the Curiosity mission, an increasing number of private Mars missions, and new information on space radiation risks, according to a recent Washington Post report. Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator, and others met Monday at George Washington University to discuss manned missions, where Bolden maintained that a human mission to Mars is a NASA priority and that the organization’s entire exploration program is configured to support this goal. Michael Gazarik, associate administrator of the Space Technology Mission Directorate, said a manned lander is now plausible following Curiosity. According to the article, funding is the biggest obstacle for such a mission. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (The Washington Post)
29 April 2013
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Makes First Rocket-Powered Flight
Virgin Galactic’s passenger spacecraft, SpaceShipTwo, completed its first rocket-powered flight Monday morning above the Mojave Desert in California. Approximately 45 minutes into the flight, SpaceShipTwo was released from its carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo, triggering ignition of the rocket motor, carrying SpaceShipTwo to a max altitude of 56,000 feet. During the 16-second engine burn, the spaceship broke the sound barrier, according to a statement released by Virgin Galactic. The rocket-powered portion of the flight lasted a little more than 10 minutes, and the entire flight took about an hour. Virgin Galactic said it will continue testing this year and plans to reach full space flight by the end of 2013. AIAA congratulates Virgin Galactic, an AIAA corporate partner, on achieving this milestone. (Image Credit: Virgin Galactic)
More Info > (SPACE.com)
More Info > (AIAA Statement)
Virgin Galactic's Test Flight Photos > (SPACE.com)
29 April 2013
House Passes Bill Aimed at Ending FAA Furloughs
The House of Representatives voted 361-41 Friday to give the Transportation Department flexibility to move funding to the Federal Aviation Administration in order to end air traffic controller furloughs and reduce flight delays. The Senate passed the legislation late Thursday, and President Obama has indicated he will sign it.
More Info > (New York Times)
26 April 2013
FAA Lifts Dreamliner Grounding
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a formal directive lifting the ban on Boeing 787 Dreamliners. According to the directive posted online Thursday, airlines can begin flying the aircraft as soon its problematic lithium-ion batteries are replaced with a revamped battery system. The FAA will closely monitor the modification and inspect the work. The announcement ends the three-month grounding of the Dreamliner that began in mid-January following a battery fire on a 787 parked at Boston's Logan International Airport, and a smoking battery that led to an emergency landing by another 787 in Japan. There are 50 787s in service currently. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (USA Today)
26 April 2013
ESA Calls for Space Junk Removal
Scientists at an international conference on space debris in Darmstadt, Germany, said that nets, harpoons and suicide robots could become weapons of choice to hunt down space junk threatening crucial communications satellites currently in orbit round Earth. The European Space Agency says the growing amount of space junk requires that new technologies be developed soon in order to clean it up. An ESA space debris expert said that 5-10 large objects need to be collected each year to prevent “Kessler Syndrome,” in which major collisions trigger a cascade of each crash increasing the amount of dangerous debris. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Associated Press)
24 April 2013
Long Range Strike-Bomber Will Be Manned On Entry Into Service
The U.S. Air Force has confirmed for the first time that the Long Range Strike-Bomber (LRS-B) will be manned upon entry-into-service, one of a few new details revealed about the classified program. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, who revealed the information, said an unmanned option likely will be protected since it should be offered at some point. While no decision on a contract is expected as of yet, Donley indicated there have been no major changes in design or requirements since the program was launched. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (Flight Global)
24 April 2013
New Technologies Will Lead to More Fuel-Efficient Planes
While the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is currently the most fuel-efficient commercial plane, researchers are already looking towards new technologies that will go beyond it. These include the geared turbofan engine, set to debut in June on the Bombardier CSeries plane, new composite ceramics, a "double bubble" fuselage being designed by NASA and MIT that will be wind tunnel tested at the Langley Research Center later this year, the "flying wing" concept NASA has been developing with Boeing through the X-48 program that just concluded this month, and Reaction's Sabre engine with its high-speed heat exchanger. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (National Geographic)
23 April 2013
Flights Delayed Due to Sequester-Related Furloughs
Airline delays are occurring throughout the U.S. because of the sequester, which has resulted in 10% fewer air traffic controllers who are still having to monitor the same number of planes up in the air at the same time. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has called the situation "a calamity." Ten percent of the nation's controllers are scheduled to be off daily until October, and industry and government officials have predicted that the impact will become more severe as the nation enters peak travel season. The delays have revived the debate in Washington over whether the controller furloughs announced last week were necessary or a White House strategy to dramatize the effects of sequestration.
More Info > (The Washington Post)
23 April 2013
Boeing Begins Modifying Batteries Following FAA Approval
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Friday approved Boeing’s plans to make modifications to the 787 Dreamliner’s lithium-ion batteries to reduce the risk of overheating. The planes have been grounded for three months, since one of the batteries caught fire and another emitted smoke on separate planes in January. Boeing said it would deploy around 300 technicians to nine countries in the coming months to retrofit the 787s. It is not yet clear exactly when the first flights would resume but analysts believe it will not be long before the first passenger flights resume. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (New York Times)
21 April 2013
Antares Launches from Wallops
Orbital Sciences Corporation successfully launched its Antares rocket at 5 p.m. EDT, Sunday, 21 April, from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. All systems are being reported as normal. The goal of this launch is not to connect with the space station, but to make sure the rocket works and that a simulated version of a cargo ship that will dock with space station on future launches separates into orbit. AIAA congratulates Orbital Sciences, an AIAA corporate partner, on the successful launch. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (SPACE)
More Info > (AIAA Statement)
19 April 2013
Antares Launch No Earlier Than Saturday
Orbital Sciences Corporation now plans to test launch its Antares rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia no earlier than 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday, 20 April. Friday’s rescheduled launch attempt was called off following review of the weather forecast. Saturday’s forecast calls for an 85 percent chance of favorable conditions. If needed, a back-up launch opportunity is available on Sunday. (Image Credit: Orbital Sciences)
More Info > (Florida Today)
19 April 2013
ISS Spacewalk Set for Today
Expedition 35 Flight Engineers Pavel Vinogradov and Roman Romanenko will conduct a six-hour spacewalk today. Their objectives are to deploy and retrieve several science experiments and install a new navigational aid. The spacewalk is set to begin at 10:06 a.m. EDT. This is the first of as many as six Russian spacewalks planned for this year. Two U.S. spacewalks are scheduled in July. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (NASA)
19 April 2013
Airport Furloughs to Begin Sunday, May Cause Delays
Air traffic controller furloughs are scheduled to begin on Sunday and could result in flight delays lasting several hours in Atlanta, as well as significant delays in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York-area airports. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said they have no choice but to cut controller staffing by 10 percent, which will reduce the number of aircraft airports can handle. In the most extreme case, the furloughs could delay flights up to 210 minutes at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, depending upon the time of day and other factors. The FAA is saying that the average delay will be far less, about 11 minutes. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Airlines for America, an industry trade group, said the furloughs are unnecessary and they are considering legal action.
More Info > (Associated Press)
18 April 2013
Antares Launch Rescheduled for 19 April
Orbital Sciences Corporation has set Friday, 19 April, as the new launch date for its Antares rocket. Orbital scrubbed Wednesday's planned launch because of a premature separation of an umbilical connection on the second stage. Pending final resolution of the issue and acceptable weather conditions, the next launch attempt from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va., is tentatively set for no earlier than Friday, 19 April. The targeted launch time is 5:00 p.m. EDT. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (NASA)
17 April 2013
Antares Launch Postponed
Orbital Sciences Corp. postponed the first launch of its Antares rocket Wednesday when an umbilical line dropped off prematurely from the launch vehicle's second stage. The launch abort occurred at 4:48 p.m. EDT, minutes before the Antares was due to lift off from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, VA. Back-up launch opportunities are available 18-21 April. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (NBC News)
17 April 2013
Antares to Launch Today
Orbital Sciences Corporation is set to launch its first Antares rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at the agency's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Wednesday, 17 April. Orbital managers held a Launch Readiness Review Monday afternoon and gave a “go” to proceed toward launch. Liftoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. with a launch window that runs until 8 p.m. There is a 45 percent chance of favorable weather at the time of launch. Low clouds are a concern. If needed, back-up launch opportunities are available 18-21 April. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Associated Press)
17 April 2013
SpaceShipTwo Conducts First Cold Flow Flight Test
Virgin Galactic's suborbital SpaceShipTwo successfully conducted its first 'cold flow' flight test above the Mojave Desert last Friday, 12 April. During the test, oxidizer was run through the rocket's propulsion system and out the back nozzle of the ship, though the vehicle's rocket engine was not turned on. The next significant milestone for the commercial spaceflight company appears to be conducting a full flight test, igniting the rocket in the air. The company has not released an expected date for a powered test flight. (Image Credit: Virgin Galactic)
More Info > (SPACE)
16 April 2013
Despite FAA Order, Boeing 737s Not in Danger
The FAA airworthiness directive ordering the inspection of over 1,000 Boeing 737 aircraft, because a pin that attached the aircraft's horizontal stabilizers is in danger of failing prematurely, is mostly for late model Boeing 737s. The FAA says there is no immediate threat and if that were the case they say the planes would all be grounded. The inspection was prompted by reports of an incorrect procedure used to apply the wear and corrosion protective surface coating to attach pins of the horizontal stabilizer rear spar. The FAA says the directive affects 1,050 planes flown by U.S. carriers and that airlines have until late May before the inspections begin, and have various compliance times based on the age of the aircraft and other factors. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (NBC Nightly News – Video)
More Info > (CNN)
15 April 2013
Orbital Prepares for Antares Test Launch from Wallops Island
Orbital Sciences is busily preparing for a test this month of its Antares rocket launcher, a critical step as the company prepares to complete its first resupply mission to the International Space Station. The launch will take place at the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority facility on Wallops Island, less than a month after SpaceX completed its second cargo flight to the space station. Both Orbital and SpaceX have deals with NASA to resupply the space station, as the agency looks to private space firms to supplement its capabilities. The goal of the launch isn't to connect with the space station, but to make sure the rocket works and that a simulated version of a cargo ship that will dock with space station on future launches separates into orbit. (Image Credit: Orbital Sciences)
More Info > (The Washington Post)
15 April 2013
X-48C Aircraft Makes Last of 30 Test Flights
The experimental X-48C ‘blended wing body’ aircraft recently made the last of 30 test flights concluding an eight-month program backed by Boeing and NASA. The two organizations hope to build a bigger, faster (transonic - in the vicinity of the speed of sound) blended wing body aircraft at some point, and that within 15 to 20 years, the concept could be developed into military aircraft for cargo-carrying and aerial refueling missions. All 30 test flights were conducted at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. The X-48C flew for approximately 30 minutes on most flights, attaining an altitude of about 9,800 feet. Very quiet and efficient, the hybrid wing body has shown promise for meeting all of NASA's environmental goals for future aircraft designs. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (CNET News)
15 April 2013
FAA Orders Inspection of Boeing 737s
The Federal Aviation Administration plans to inspect more than a thousand Boeing 737s to check for corrosion on certain pins that could compromise safety, according to a notice on the Federal Register. In the document, dated 15 April, the agency said it had been informed of an “incorrect procedure used to apply the wear and corrosion protective surface coating to attach pins of the horizontal stabilizer rear spar.” The FAA is expected to formally make an announcement Monday about the inspection. No accidents have been reported because of possible malfunctions. The inspection could affect more than 3,000 Boeing 737s. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (Agence France-Presse)
12 April 2013
Hawaii's First Satellite Launch Could Come This Year
The University of Hawaii plans to put a satellite into orbit from the Navy's missile testing facility on Kauai later this year in what will be the first launch of a satellite from the islands. The university will launch the student-designed HiiakaSat, which is expected to remain in orbit for a year or two. The project is expected to demonstrate how using a new launch vehicle can reduce mission cost. A University of Hawaii spokesperson said another satellite launch planned for next year or the year after will be used to study coral reefs from space. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy)
More Info > (Associated Press)
11 April 2013
Boeing Continuing Testing On CST-100 Capsule
Boeing is making progress on the CST-100 capsule that could one day deliver astronauts to the ISS. The next step in the program, set for July, is a final demonstration of the orbital maneuvering and control engine developed by Rocketdyne, ahead of a critical design review in the fall. Ground tests have also been completed to ensure good communications in all phases of flight. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (Flight Global)
10 April 2013
Orion Capsule to Start Load Tests This Month
The Lockheed Martin Orion capsule is scheduled for intensive load tests beginning 22 April, one of the last major test series in preparation for its 2014 first flight. Following the tests, which will measure how the capsule responds to the stresses of lift-off, as well as separation from the second stage of its launch vehicle, the capsule will undergo high-speed water testing to confirm its proposed recovery method in anticipation of its first flight in September 2014. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Flight Global)
9 April 2013
Boeing Unveils Updated F/A-XX Fighter Concept
Boeing is unveiling an updated version of its F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter concept this week at the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space Exposition in Washington, DC. The plane could be submitted as a possible replacement for the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler fleets following a request for information from the U.S. Navy. The concept jet, which can fly manned or unmanned, features diverterless supersonic inlets reminiscent of those found on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (Flight Global)
9 April 2013
3D-Textured Solar Cell to be Tested at the ISS
An experimental 3D-textured solar cell is being prepared to be bolted to the outside of the International Space Station (ISS), where it will experience 16 'sunrises' each day as part of a harsh performance test. W. Jud Ready of Georgia Tech is producing the solar cell that CASIS, manager of the ISS' national laboratory, will send to the station next year. This will be one of the first experiments to take place outside the space station. By being in space, researchers can test multiple configurations much quicker than what they could do on Earth. The researchers will then be able to determine the best size and spacing of the cells. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Tech News Daily)
9 April 2013
Lockheed Unveils Its UCLASS Proposal
Lockheed Martin unveiled its submission for the U.S. Navy's prospective unmanned carrier launched airborne surveillance and strike (UCLASS) aircraft at the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space Exposition in Washington, DC. The proposal bears a strong resemblance to the company's RQ-170 Sentinel unmanned aircraft, which is being flown by the U.S. Air Force. Lockheed also claims that its UCLASS design will reduce manpower requirements because a single operator would be able to operate multiple aircraft. (Image Credit: Lockheed Martin)
More Info > (Flight Global)
8 April 2013
NASA Could Capture an Asteroid for Exploration
President Obama will reportedly announce his support this week for what some call the asteroid rodeo: A $100 million plan to use a lasso to capture an asteroid in space. NASA would try to capture an asteroid 25 feet wide. Scientists hope to drag it in orbit around the moon to study its composition. Sen. Bill Nelson announced in a press conference how the President plans to give NASA $100 million to start planning a mission that could have astronauts exploring an asteroid by 2021. The mission would bring together ongoing NASA projects, including asteroid detection, robotic spacecraft development, the construction of a new rocket - the Space Launch System - and the building of a deep-space human exploration capsule called Orion. NASA would have until this summer to decide if the mission is possible. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (The Washington Post)
8 April 2013
Antares Rocket Rolled Out to Launch Pad
Orbital Sciences rolled out the first fully integrated Antares rocket to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad early Saturday. The rocket is now one step closer to its first flight possibly next week as part of a NASA contract to deliver essential cargo to the International Space Station. The launch window for the test flight is between 17 and 19 April according to NASA. In February, Orbital Sciences conducted a 29-second "hot fire" test of the rocket engine to demonstrate the readiness of the rocket's first stage and launch pad fueling systems. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Associated Press)
8 April 2013
LaHood Says Boeing Has Good Plan for 787 Battery Fix
On Friday, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Boeing has a good plan to fix a battery problem that has grounded its fleet of 787 Dreamliners. While speaking at the U.S. Export-Import Bank's annual conference on Friday, LaHood said Boeing is performing tests now, and that the Department of Transportation agrees that the right tests are being performed. A decision about whether the 787 flights can resume could be made following the completion of the tests. LaHood declined to say when he will decide whether to end the grounding. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (Reuters)
5 April 2013
Flight Restrictions Lifted for F-22s
Most of the Air Force's F-22 fleet has returned to unrestricted flight operations after being limited for nearly a year to flying within 30 minutes of a safe landing area, and at lower altitudes, because of safety concerns. The restrictions have been lifted on those planes that have been retrofitted with automatic backup oxygen systems. The new oxygen systems will be installed on all of the stealth fighters by July 2014. (Image Credit: U.S. Air Force)
More Info > (Air Force Times)
5 April 2013
Source: Boeing May Carry Out 787 Certification Flight Today
Bloomberg News reports that Boeing Co. has sent several teams of engineers to Japan, home to the biggest operators of the grounded 787 Dreamliner, to prepare for battery upgrades as the aircraft manufacturer escalates efforts to return the jets to service. Equipping each 787 with new lithium-ion batteries will take four to five days once the U.S. FAA approves the proposed fix, according to a Boeing spokesperson. Bloomberg reports that Boeing may fly a 787 carrying FAA officials as soon as today as the agency determines whether the battery system is safe for commercial flights again after two electrical failures in January. (Image Credit: ANA)
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4 April 2013
First AMS Results Hint At Dark Matter Discovery
Two years after installing the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) at the ISS, scientists released the first results showing cosmic footprints of what could be dark matter, although the data is not yet conclusive and could be explained by other phenomena like pulsars. Principal investigator Sam Ting of MIT, speaking at CERN, announced the discovery of high energy positrons that could be from the annihilation of dark matter. Ting said he expects a more definitive answer in a matter of months. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (The Washington Post)
3 April 2013
NASA to Unveil First Results of AMS
NASA will reveal the first discoveries from a $2 billion antimatter-hunting experiment on the International Space Station on Wednesday. The announcement will be broadcast live via NASA TV. NASA and the Department of Energy will announce the results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), which NASA calls "a state-of-the-art cosmic ray particle physics detector located on the exterior of the International Space Station." While scientists are using the detector to search for antimatter and the source of dark matter, NASA officials have so far provided little detail on the exact discoveries that will be unveiled on Wednesday. (Image Credit: NASA)
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2 April 2013
Boeing Flies Dreamliner Again to Test Upgrades
Boeing flew its Dreamliner again on Monday on a flight designed to test system upgrades. The test flight did not include checking the operation of the plane's batteries. The plane made a two-hour flight from the Seattle area to Moses Lake, WA, then returned to Boeing Field. The interim testing is believed to be focused on verifying the functionality of specific systems that could play a significant role in the upcoming battery demonstration flight, as well as other electrical systems unrelated to the battery modification. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Associated Press)
1 April 2013
LaHood, Huerta: Tower Closures Will Not Sacrifice Safety
The Philadelphia Inquirer published a letter from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta in which they describe the efforts to maintain safety while complying with the requirements of the sequester budget cuts. They note that the FAA must close 149 contractor-run air traffic control towers around the country, and state that "the FAA is working to reduce the impact on the majority of everyday travelers." They conclude with, "While we make difficult budget decisions, safety is not up for negotiation." (Image Credit: The News Tribune, Tony Overman)
More Info > (Philadelphia Inquirer)
1 April 2013
ATK Building Mid-Span Supports for SLS Solid Motor
ATK will use two 'mid-span' supports on their upcoming static test of their five segment Solid Rocket Booster (SRB), which is necessary because ATK is increasing the length of the Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM) used by the shuttle for the Space Launch System (SLS). It is expected that the five segment solid motor will be used on all SLS flights until at least the middle of the 2020s. SLS managers are expected to have the option of launching up to 10 missions using the current five segment booster design. (Image Credit: ATK)
More Info > (NASA Spaceflight)
29 March 2013
Expedition 35 Docks with Space Station
Expedition 35 successfully docked to the International Space Station Thursday at 10:28 p.m. EDT carrying one American astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts. The Soyuz TMA-08M launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at approximately 4:30 p.m. EDT. This was the first launch in which a manned flight made an express route towards the International Space Station, decreasing flight time from around two days to just six hours. In total, it took around eight hours to get from the launch point to inside the space station. The crew joined ISS Commander Chris Hadfield and Tom Marshburn of NASA, and Roman Romanenko of Roscosmos, who have been in the ISS since 21 December 2012. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Associated Press)
27 March 2013
Dragon Splashes Down in Pacific Ocean
The SpaceX Dragon capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean Tuesday at 12:34 p.m. EDT, completing a successful, 23-day round trip to the International Space Station. The Dragon capsule is loaded with 2,668 pounds of equipment and science samples. SpaceX Dragon capsules currently are the only spacecraft capable of returning large amounts of cargo to Earth now that the U.S. shuttle fleet is retired. Launched 1 March from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the Dragon overcame thruster trouble and arrived at the station two days later. More than a ton of supplies were delivered to the station. AIAA congratulates SpaceX on a successful mission. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Fox News)
27 March 2013
XCOR Tests Piston Pump-Powered Rocket
XCOR Aerospace announced Tuesday a first in aviation and space history, the firing of a full piston pump-powered rocket engine, a major milestone in the company's quest to build a reusable suborbital vehicle. The engine burn lasted 67 seconds, about half the planned full burn time of 150 seconds. Through use of their rocket propellant piston pumps, XCOR delivers both kerosene and liquid oxygen to their rocket engines, eliminating the need for heavy, high-pressure fuel and oxidizer tanks. This will enable the XCOR propulsion system to fly multiple times per day and last for tens of thousands of flights. (Image Credit: XCOR)
More Info > (Flight Global)
26 March 2013
Dragon Capsule Departs ISS
The SpaceX Dragon capsule was released from the International Space Station’s robotic arm by Expedition 35 crew members Tuesday at 6:56 a.m. EDT. The spacecraft now will begin a series of departure burns and begin its return trip to Earth. Dragon will return with about 2,668 pounds of science samples from human research, biology and biotechnology studies, physical science investigations and education activities for NASA. The Dragon spacecraft launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket on the SpaceX-2 commercial resupply mission 1 March from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The spacecraft is currently scheduled to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 12:35 p.m., off the west coast of Baja California, Mexico. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (NASA)
26 March 2013
Boeing 787 Flies with Redesigned Battery
A Boeing 787 with a redesigned battery system made a two hour test flight Monday. Boeing said subsequently that all went according to plan. The test flight was an important step towards Boeing's goal of resuming commercial Dreamliner flights. The data will be analyzed while Boeing prepares another test flight to demonstrate to the FAA how the plane performs. While Boeing maintains that the Dreamliner could be flying again by May or earlier, some officials are skeptical it will be cleared even by May. While there is no consensus on when approval will come, there is at least some consensus that at some point approval will be given. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (USA Today)
25 March 2013
FAA to Shut Down Air Traffic Control Towers in 38 States
The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that it would shut down air traffic control towers in 38 states, affecting operations at 149 small and medium-sized airports nationwide. Even without a staffed tower, the airports are able to operate with pilots communicating their positions by radio or by using other FAA facilities for guidance. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta emphasized that his agency would work closely to ensure safe landing and takeoffs at the affected airports. The closures, which begin 7 April, are part of the more than $600 million in cuts the agency must make. (Image Credit: The News Tribune, Tony Overman)
More Info > (USA Today)
25 March 2013
U.S., India to Expand Cooperation in Space
The U.S. and India have agreed to expand their cooperation in civil space activities ranging from weather and monsoon forecasting to cooperative space exploration work, including future missions to the moon and Mars. The agreement between the two space agencies, Indian Space Research Organization and National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) was announced Friday after a meeting of the U.S.-India Civil Space Joint Working Group (CSJWG). The two sides exchanged information on a range of space and other policy issues and noted ongoing efforts to open up new opportunities for collaboration. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (AFP)
21 March 2013
Study Claims Voyager 1 Has Entered a New Region of Space
Voyager 1, launched in 1977 to explore the outer planets, has passed into a new region on its way out of the solar system, scientists said on Wednesday. The spacecraft, now more than 11 billion miles away, detected two distinct and related changes in its environment 25 August 2012, astronomers report in the Geophysical Research Letters journal. The probe detected dramatic changes in the levels of two types of radiation, one that stays inside the solar system, the other which comes from interstellar space. Scientists behind the Voyager mission are not yet ready to say Voyager is in interstellar space, however. The probe, which blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, 5 September 1977, may be in a new and previously unknown boundary region between the heliosphere and interstellar space. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (USA Today)
More Info > (NASA JPL Update)
21 March 2013
Boeing Said to be Planning 787 Battery Test Flights for End of Week
Boeing is reportedly planning to conduct a pair of test flights of its updated 787 battery system as soon as the end of this week. The 787 flights, the first since February, would mark another step toward Boeing's recently announced goal of returning the grounded fleet to service in a matter of weeks rather than months. Last week, the company said that it expected to complete testing in one to two weeks. The test flights would depart from and return to Paine Field in Washington state.
More Info > (Reuters)
20 March 2013
Second SBIRS Satellite Successfully Launched
The U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin successfully launched the second Space Based Infrared System GEO-2 spacecraft aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket Tuesday afternoon. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida shortly after 3 p.m. SBIRS is the United States' new consolidated system for infrared space surveillance. It is the second of the six planned GEO satellites that the Air Force plans to put into orbit. System surveillance includes: missile warning, missile defense, battle space awareness, and technical intelligence. (Image Credit: ULA)
More Info > (Florida Today)
20 March 2013
NASA Resolves Latest Curiosity Issue
Engineers resolved the latest problem Tuesday with the Curiosity rover on Mars and it is expected to resume science operations this week after a three-week delay. Operators should now be able to finish the original troubleshooting work, and on Thursday, with both computers functional, start sending commands to the rover to operate its instruments. However, it'll only have a short time to work before an anticipated planetary alignment limits radio communication between Earth and Mars during most of next month. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (New York Times)
19 March 2013
Weather Expected to be Acceptable for Atlas V Launch
The U.S. Air Force is preparing for the planned launch Tuesday of a new-generation missile-warning satellite. Mounted atop a 189-foot-tall Atlas V rocket, the Space-Based Infrared System satellite is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5:21 p.m. EDT Tuesday. Air Force meteorologists say there is a 70 percent chance the weather will be acceptable for flight. The main concern is the possibility of electrically charged cumulus clouds in the area during the launch window. Meanwhile, managers conducted a launch readiness review last Friday and cleared the United Launch Alliance rocket and its payload for flight. (Image Credit: ULA)
More Info > (Florida Today)
19 March 2013
Curiosity Rover Back In Safe Mode Because of New Issue
The Curiosity rover is sidelined again and has returned to safe mode after experiencing a software file error over the weekend. This latest complication is expected to delay scientific activities until possibly the end of the week. Once Curiosity returns to normal, it'll only have a few days to work before a planetary alignment limits radio communication between Earth and Mars during most of next month. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Associated Press)
18 March 2013
Orbital Sciences Targeting Mid-April for First Antares Rocket Launch
Orbital Sciences has set a 'No Earlier Than' target for the first flight of its Antares Launch Vehicle which is the company's final step in advance of beginning International Space Station resupply missions under NASA's COTS and CRS Programs. Antares is currently planned to blast off from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on 16 April 2013. However, this target is still NET (No Earlier Than) because a number of reviews have to be completed ahead of launch. The range is booked from 16-18 April. The A-One Test flight mission will be the maiden voyage of Orbital's Antares launch vehicle which will carry a Cygnus mass simulator to orbit to rehearse the Flight Profile required for an ISS flight. Following a successful A-One Flight, Antares would fly again in the summer of 2013 carrying an operational Cygnus spacecraft for Orbital's COTS Demo Flight to the ISS. (Image Credit: Orbital Sciences Corp.)
More Info > (NASASpaceflight.com)
18 March 2013
Expedition 34 Crew Lands Safely
Expedition 34 Commander Kevin Ford and Flight Engineers Evgeny Tarelkin and Oleg Novitskiy landed their Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft in Kazakhstan Friday at approximately 11:08 p.m. EST. Despite fog, low visibility, and freezing temperatures Russian recovery teams were on hand to help the crew exit the Soyuz vehicle and adjust to gravity after 144 days in space. The trio launched aboard the Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in October and spent 142 days living and working aboard the International Space Station. (Image Credit: NASA TV)
More Info > (Associated Press)
15 March 2013
Boeing Details Fixes for 787 Dreamliner Battery System
Boeing executives outlined plans Friday to get passengers back aboard 787 Dreamliners within weeks, after testing a new design of the innovative plane's lithium-ion battery. Changes include installation of a new enclosure for the battery, a focus of regulatory investigations after catching fire on one aircraft and smoking on another, and adjustments to the charger. The improvements will allow the resumption of service once the Federal Aviation Administration and other regulators sign off. Air India may fly its five 787s as soon as April. Boeing would also be able to restart deliveries of the aircraft, for which it has a backlog of more than 800 jets. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (USA Today)
14 March 2013
Hadfield Takes Command of ISS
Commander Kevin Ford handed command of the International Space Station over to Flight Engineer Chris Hadfield during a change of command ceremony on Wednesday. Hadfield, a veteran of the Canadian Space Agency, is the first Canadian commander of the station. It is a milestone for the Canadian Space Agency as the space station has been staffed around the clock since November 2000, and for the most part, either U.S. astronauts or Russian cosmonauts have been in command. Frank De Winne, a European Space Agency astronaut, skippered the station in 2009. Expedition 35 will officially begin the undocking of the Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft Thursday. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Florida Today)
13 March 2013
Curiosity Rover Finds Conditions Once Suited for Ancient Life on Mars
An analysis of a rock sample collected by NASA's Curiosity rover shows ancient Mars could have supported living microbes. Scientists identified sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon – some of the key chemical ingredients for life – in the material Curiosity drilled out of a rock near an ancient stream bed in Gale Crater on the Red Planet. The analysis also suggests that Mars may have once had relatively fresh water in an area known as Yellowknife Bay. According to NASA, the clay found there was not harshly oxidizing, acidic or extremely salty. The agency hasn't said how long ago these chemicals may have existed, but suggested that they are very ancient. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (USA Today)
13 March 2013
FAA Approves Boeing Plan to Fix 787 Dreamliners
The Federal Aviation Administration approved Boeing's certification plan for the 787 Dreamliner's lithium-ion battery system Tuesday, giving the company the go-ahead to begin testing in the air. Boeing's plans call for redesigning the batteries to minimize the risk of a short-circuit, which caused a fire in a Dreamliner parked in Boston 7 Jan. The FAA approved limited test flights for two aircraft, which will have redesigned batteries and enclosures. Testing will cover each plane's two batteries and other systems. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (The Washington Post)
13 March 2013
California State Senate Declares March as California Aerospace Month
On Monday, during AIAA’s 2nd Annual California Aerospace Week taking place this week in Sacramento, California, State Senator Steve Knight honored AIAA on the floor of the California State Senate for organizing California Aerospace Month, while presenting the Institute with a resolution honoring its commitment to promoting aerospace. A Resolution declaring March California Aerospace Month passed 32-0, Monday, in the California State Senate. For more information on AIAA's 2nd Annual California Aerospace Week, visit www.aiaa.org/CAAerospaceWeek2013/. (Pictured: Duane Hyland and Ross G Bell accept the resolution on behalf of AIAA's members and staff.)
12 March 2013
U.S., Japan Hold Talks on Space Collaboration
Japan and the United States held talks Monday on wide-ranging cooperation in space, including satellite monitoring of ships. Officials discussed ways to further collaborate in positioning, navigation, and timing services from the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS) and its Japanese counterpart, the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS). The talks are apparently aimed at countering China's growing assertiveness at sea and the expansion of its space exploration program. Other topics of interest include Earth observations, space debris information exchange, technology development, and asteroid detection and mitigation. Another meeting is scheduled for next year. (Image Credit: ULA)
More Info > (AFP)
11 March 2013
NASA Launching Exploration Design Challenge
NASA and Lockheed Martin Corporation will unveil the Exploration Design Challenge, Monday, 11 March, with the aim of involving students in the flight testing of the next-generation Orion spacecraft. Former shuttle astronaut Leland Melvin, who flew aboard STS-122 and STS-129 and presently serves as NASA’s Associate Administrator for Education, will announce the details of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) challenge at 11:30 a.m. EDT in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (AmericaSpace)
11 March 2013
European Navies Could Become Part of Missile Shield
Raytheon said it successfully tested an upgrade to its SM-3 ballistic missile interceptor to help clear a path for European navies to protect the region against long-range weapons from countries such as Iran. The test took place last week and demonstrated that a radar used by Dutch, German and Danish navies could provide target information to the interceptor. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he could see European navies upgrading their ships with missile defense radars and interceptors so they can deploy alongside U.S. vessels.(Image Credit: USN)
More Info > (Bloomberg)
11 March 2013
FAA Allows UAV Training Flights Over Pennsylvania Military Installation
The Federal Aviation Administration has authorized at least four drones to fly in restricted airspace over Fort Indiantown Gap, a large military installation in central Pennsylvania about 25 miles from Harrisburg. The drones - known as 'The Shadow' - are used solely for training purposes, and will not carry weapons or leave the fort's airspace. The FAA is currently compiling regulations which would allow drones in domestic airspace. (Image Credit: USAF)
More Info > (Pocono (PA) Record)
8 March 2013
CSPAN Airing Columbia +10 Lessons Learned and Unlearned
Columbia +10 Lessons Learned and Unlearned will look back at the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, examining the findings of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, and providing firsthand accounts from the individuals who led the investigation, addressing what they learned about the organizational needs of the human space exploration program, and about the review and oversight of long-term advanced technology programs. The program, which is going on today at George Washington University, is being aired live on CSPAN 2 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visit CSPAN to access the progam.
8 March 2013
SBIRS GEO 2 Satellite Mated to Atlas 5 Rocket
An Air Force surveillance satellite and its United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 booster were joined together as the pair targets a 19 March liftoff from Cape Canaveral. The rocket will launch the SBIRS GEO 2 satellite which will modernize the U.S.' early-warning missile detection system. It is advancing the heritage capabilities of the aging Defense Support Program satellites from the Cold War focus on intercontinental ballistic missiles to today's short-range missile threats by incorporating new technologies to make quicker detections of fainter objects. (Image Credit: ULA)
More Info > (Spaceflight Now)
6 March 2013
AIAA Executive Director Provides Viewpoint in Aviation Week & Space Technology
AIAA Executive Director Sandra H. Magnus provides an important “Viewpoint” in the March 4/11 2013 edition of Aviation Week & Space Technology, in an article titled, “How to Stifle Innovation,” in which she warns of the dangers of limiting government employees' attendance at scientific and technical conferences. As Magnus states, “Conferences serve as a nexus for communications across academia, industry and government. Today, that synergy is under threat.”
Full Story > (Aviation Week & Space Technology, 4/11 2013 – Article located on page 82)
5 March 2013
Boeing to Move Fast On Battery Fix With FAA Approval
Boeing said Monday that it is prepared to move quickly to get its 787s back in the air if it gets federal approval for a fix for the batteries that have grounded the planes. The FAA wouldn’t say whether it will recommend Boeing's plans this week. Boeing was confident about the battery fix it recently proposed after it conducted 200,000 hours of analysis and testing. Boeing’s plans to produce 10 Dreamliners a month by the end of the year are still proceeding as scheduled, but that could change depending on how the FAA rules. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (Associated Press)
5 March 2013
DARPA Looking to Launch UAVs from Small Surface Warships
DARPA is working on how to launch UAVs from small surface warships under its Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node (Tern) program. The goal is to boost a drone to flight velocity without the benefit of a five-acre aircraft carrier deck, and without resorting to a helicopter design. Enabling small ships to launch and retrieve long-endurance UAVs on demand would greatly expand situational awareness and the ability to quickly engage in hotspots over land or water. The project would fill a gap in the Navy's UAV manifest, and if successful, DARPA is poised to significantly expand the Navy's flying robotic arsenal, potentially transforming almost every warship into a mobile drone base. (Image Credit: USN)
More Info > (Wired)
5 March 2013
JSfirm Releases Its 2013 Aviation Hiring Predicitons
JSfirm.com, an online aviation only job board, released its 4th Annual Hiring Trend Survey. Jeff Richards, JSfirm.com manager said, "This survey gives our industry a sneak peak of what's going to happen in 2013. It's a great guide and has proven to be accurate in past years."
More Info > (JSfirm)
4 March 2013
Dragon Spacecraft Docks at ISS
The International Space Station welcomed its second commercial cargo delivery flight Sunday with the arrival of the SpaceX Dragon carrying around 1,200 pounds of science cargo, station hardware and supplies for the Expedition 34 crew. Controlling the Canadarm2 from a robotics workstation inside the ISS, Commander Kevin Ford, with assistance from Flight Engineer Tom Marshburn, grappled the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft at 5:31 a.m. EST as it flew within about 32 feet of the complex. The hatch to Dragon was opened at 1:14 p.m. The crew will begin to unload Dragon’s cargo on Monday morning. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Associated Press)
4 March 2013
Antares Rocket Almost Ready for First Launch
Following a successful test firing of its main engine 25 Feb., the Antares rocket developed by Orbital Sciences Corp. is in final preparations at its Virginia launch site, and is scheduled to roll out to the launch pad in mid-March in preparation for an early April launch. That is when the rocket is expected to make the first of two demonstration flights. When the April launch takes place, NASA will participate in tracking and telemetry, range safety and surveillance, control center operations, optical support, security, and a host of other facility activities. Representatives from Orbital, NASA and the state of Virginia will meet nine days before the launch for a range readiness review, and again for a launch readiness review two days prior to launch. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Space News - Subscription required to access full article)
1 March 2013
SpaceX Falcon 9 Lifts Off
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft successfully lifted off Friday at 10:10 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, beginning its mission to resupply the International Space Station. The mission marks the third trip by a Dragon capsule to the orbiting outpost, following a demonstration flight in May 2012 and the first resupply mission in October 2012. The Dragon capsule is due to deliver 1,200 lbs of scientific experiments and supplies to the space station after docking on Saturday at 6:30 a.m. ET. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (SPACE)
28 February 2013
Space Tourist Dennis Tito Plans First Human Mars Mission for 2018
In 2001, millionaire Dennis Tito became the first paying space tourist when he purchased a flight to the International Space Station from the Russian space agency. Now, his sights are set higher. He and a group of fellow space entrepreneurs announced Wednesday that they will attempt the first-ever flight to Mars, sending a man and a woman to slingshot around the red planet and return safely in 501 days. They hope to pull it off by 2018, decades earlier than NASA or anyone else has considered. Tito will provide the initial funding for the project, called Inspiration Mars, which involves huge risk, such as higher radiation exposure, and a faster re-entry speed when the spacecraft returns to Earth. (Image Credit: Inspiration Mars Foundation)
More Info > (USA Today)
28 February 2013
Recommendation on 787s Expected Next Week
Experts at the Federal Aviation Administration are expected to reveal next week whether they recommend accepting Boeing's plan to fix its fleet of 787 Dreamliners so the planes can resume flying. Officials in the FAA office near Seattle that certifies new planes as safe for flight are reviewing Boeing’s proposal to reconfigure the 787's lithium ion batteries to prevent them from catching fire, or to protect the plane in case of fire. Once Federal Aviation Administrator Michael Huerta receives their evaluation, it'll be up to him to decide whether to accept the plan. The planes have been grounded since 16 Jan. after a battery caught fire in a 787 parked at Boston's Logan International Airport and a smoking battery in another 787 forced an emergency landing in Japan. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (Associated Press)
27 February 2013
F-35 Fan Blade Crack Will Not Require Redesign to Fix
After examining a crack discovered in a F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engine fan blade, Pratt & Whitney has determined that the cause will not require a redesign. The company is 99 percent sure the fan blade problem that grounded the Pentagon's 51 new F-35 fighter jets was not caused by high-cycle fatigue, which could force a costly redesign. The cracked fan blade was likely the result of something like high heat exposure, or a manufacturing problem. (Image Credit: USN)
More Info > (Reuters)
26 February 2013
SpaceX Set for Friday Launch
SpaceX is targeting Friday, 1 March, as the launch date for the next NASA cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. Should a delay occur, SpaceX would launch its Falcon 9 rocket the following day. SpaceX conducted an engine test-firing Monday in preparation of the launch, calling the test a success. The engines' performance will be closely monitored on this flight as a result of one shutting down prematurely during the previous Falcon 9 launch in October. If all systems are “go” the Falcon 9 is set to lift off at 10:10 a.m. Friday carrying a Dragon capsule packed with more than 1,200 pounds of cargo. (Image Credit: SpaceX)
More Info > (Florida Today)
25 February 2013
FAA Says Dreamliner Won't Fly Until It Is Certain Batteries Are Safe
After meeting with Boeing executives, top federal aviation officials said Friday that they would not approve any fix to the battery problems on the 787 jetliner until they were certain that the batteries would not fail again. At the meeting, Boeing executives outlined the company's proposals on how to keep the 787's new lithium-ion batteries from overheating and how to vent any hazardous gases out of the plane. Boeing's plan calls for revamping the aircraft's two lithium ion batteries to ensure that any short-circuiting that could lead to a fire won't spread from one battery cell to the others. The company proposes placing more robust ceramic insulation around each of the battery's eight cells, and placing the battery in a bigger and more robust box. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (New York Times)
25 February 2013
F-35 Fighters Grounded Due to Turbine Blade Crack
The Defense Department grounded all of its new F-35 fighter jets last week after an inspection discovered a crack in a turbine blade in the engine of one of the planes. The Pentagon grounded all three versions of the jets — for the Air Force, the Navy and the Marines — on Thursday while it investigated the problem. Lockheed Martin, which makes the aircraft, said 64 of the jets would be affected. The crack in the turbine blade was discovered on a test plane at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Tuesday during a routine inspection. The blade is being sent to a plant in Connecticut, where the engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney, will inspect it and look for the problem’s cause. (Image Credit: USN)
More Info > (New York Times)
25 February 2013
Orbital Sciences Successfully Tests Antares Rocket
Orbital Sciences has successfully tested an engine of its Antares rocket at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore. NASA says the test, conducted Friday, 22 Feb., demonstrated the readiness of the rocket's first stage and launch pad fueling systems to support upcoming test flights. The company is getting ready for flight demonstrations of its Antares medium-class launch vehicle and Cygnus cargo logistics spacecraft as part of a NASA contract to deliver essential cargo to the International Space Station. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (Associated Press)
22 February 2013
Officials Still Considering Whether to Land X-37B Space Plane at KSC
The X-37B launched into orbit atop an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station 11 Dec. The mini-shuttle's mission is known as Orbital Test Vehicle-3 (OTV-3), since it is the third classified mission under the Air Force's X-37B program. The amount of time OTV-3 will remain in Earth orbit is unknown, but the current flight has reached one known major milestone — that of reusability. This same vehicle was flown on the maiden voyage in the X-37B program in 2010. That OTV-1 mission eventually touched down at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The OTV-2 mission also made a Vandenberg touchdown on 16 June of last year after remaining in orbit for 469 days. There's a possibility that OTV-3 may not land in Vandenberg, as there are ongoing discussions about bringing the space plane down at the shuttle landing strip at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, as a possible cost-cutting measure. (Image Credit: USAF)
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Update: 22 February 2013
Dreamliner Could Fly as Early as Mid-March
More Info > (New York Times)
21 February 2013
Boeing to Propose 787 Battery Fix to the FAA
Boeing has reportedly developed a plan that it intends to propose to federal regulators to temporarily fix problems with the 787 Dreamliner's batteries that have kept the planes on the ground for more than a month. It is anticipated that Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Ray Conner will present the plan to Michael Huerta, head of the Federal Aviation Administration, in a meeting on Friday. Boeing has narrowed down the ways the lithium-ion batteries on the jetliners could fail, and believes that adding insulation between the cells of the batteries, and making other changes, would ensure their safe use. Michael Huerta is not expected to approve the changes immediately, but the meeting with Boeing is likely to start a discussion on the standards Boeing needs to meet as it tests the fixes and seeks to get the planes flying again. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (New York Times)
20 February 2013
Communications Restored at ISS
U.S. astronauts restored full communications and command capability aboard the International Space Station Tuesday after a computer software upload triggered a three-hour loss of contact with Mission Control in Houston. The trouble arose when Mission Control was switching to a back-up U.S. computer so that new software could be loaded into the prime U.S. computer. NASA officials said a ground system was not configured properly for the switch. Consequently, the station’s S-band communications antenna could not be pointed properly at a NASA tracking and data relay satellite that enables crews to stay in contact with Mission Control. The glitch occurred at about 9:45 a.m. EST and communications and command control capability were restored at 12:34 p.m. EST. (Image Credit: NASA)
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19 February 2013
Boeing to Propose Short-Term Battery Fix to Get Dreamliners Flying
Boeing is expected to propose to regulators as early as this week a short-term fix to strengthen the 787’s defenses in case of battery fires like those that have kept the jet grounded for the past month. The company hopes that it's proposed fix will help to get the planes flying passengers again. That fix would involve a heavy-duty titanium or steel containment box around the battery cells, and high-pressure evacuation tubes that, in the event of a battery fire, would vent any gases directly to the outside of the jet. The short-term fix will take at least three months to design, test, certify and retrofit. (Image Credit: Boeing)
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19 February 2013
Efforts Underway to Better Identify Space Threats
In the wake of the meteorite explosion over Russia on Friday, work on a meteor tracking system is under way. Dr. John Tonry, a professor at the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy, is developing what he calls an Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System. Tonry’s ATLAS project has recently received funding from NASA and will be developed to precisely detect when and where a meteorite would hit. The massive space rock that streaked across the Russian sky was estimated to be about 10 tons and 49 feet wide and entered the Earth's atmosphere at a hypersonic speed of at least 33,000 mph before breaking into pieces about 18-32 miles above the ground, the Russian Academy of Sciences said in a statement on Friday. (Image Credit: NASA)
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15 February 2013
Next SpaceX Dragon Capsule to Launch 1 March
SpaceX remains on schedule to launch its next International Space Station resupply mission in two weeks. A Falcon 9 rocket and an unmanned Dragon capsule are scheduled to lift off at 10:10 a.m. EST, 1 March, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The confirmation followed a meeting by NASA and its international partners to verify that the station and its six-person crew were ready for the Dragon’s arrival, and that SpaceX also was ready for the mission. All parties are ‘go.’ The flight will be SpaceX’s second of 12 under a NASA resupply contract, following a successful first flight last October. It would be the third flight to the station by a Dragon, including a demonstration flight last May. The Dragon will be loaded with about 1,200 pounds of food, supplies and science experiments. (Image Credit: SpaceX)
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15 February 2013
Asteroid Flyby Takes Place Today
A rock the size of an apartment building, designated 2012 DA14, will buzz the Earth on Friday at a distance of about 17,200 miles, although it poses no danger. Though it will pass just inside the orbit of communications satellites, the chance that it will cause any disruptions is remote. Scientists point out that we have never detected an asteroid this large passing so close to our planet. The precise size and shape of the rock are unclear. In telescopes, DA14 is just a bright dot. That is expected to change Friday as astronomers observe it coming and going. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (The Washington Post)
14 February 2013
FAA Official Says No Armed UAVs Will Fly in U.S. Airspace
A top official with the Federal Aviation Administration reassured the public on Wednesday that, despite the concerns of some, no armed drones will be permitted to fly in U.S. airspace. Jim Williams, head of the FAA's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office said there are currently rules in the books that deal with releasing anything from an aircraft, and that those rules would prohibit weapons from being installed on a civil aircraft. The FAA doesn’t have any plans to change those rules for unmanned aircraft. The FAA's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office was formed last year to shepherd drones into already-crowded American skies and integrate drone use with the manned-aircraft system. (Image Credit: USN)
More Info > (The Washington Times)
14 February 2013
Boeing Warns of Rare Engine Instability in 737 Next Generation Planes
Boeing alerted airlines Tuesday that 737 Next Generation aircraft flying on the West Coast have experienced intermittent and relatively rare instances of engine instability while climbing after takeoff. Boeing thinks the reason is fuel contamination. This instability disappeared after a few seconds to a couple of minutes, but two incidents last year suggest the potential for a more serious problem. Boeing said it is working closely on the problem with the fuel supply chain and has notified the Federal Aviation Administration. (Image Credit: Boeing)
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13 February 2013
Pentagon to Continue to Use Lithium-Ion Batteries in the F-35
Following the issues Boeing is experiencing with lithium-ion batteries on the Dreamliner, the Pentagon says it will still use them on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. A Pentagon spokesperson said the batteries have been heavily tested and currently there are no discussions about swapping them out for other types of batteries like Airbus is considering for the A350. He did say there have been minor problems with the batteries but those involved software and not the batteries themselves. (Image Credit: USMC)
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12 February 2013
LDCM Satellite Successfully Launched
The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) spacecraft is safely in orbit and sending telemetry back to Earth following liftoff on Monday aboard an Atlas V rocket. Liftoff occurred at 1:02 p.m. EST from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base. After about three months of testing, the U.S. Geological Survey will take control, and the mission, renamed Landsat 8, will extend more than 40 years of global land observations critical to energy and water management, forest monitoring, human and environmental health, urban planning, disaster recovery and agriculture. (Image Credit: NASA)
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11 February 2013
Curiosity Collecting First Samples for Analysis
The Mars Rover Curiosity has achieved a long-awaited milestone by drilling a hole into the rocky surface of Mars, something that had never been done before, and is now collecting samples for analysis. NASA calls the drilling the most challenging engineering task the rover has faced since landing last summer. This first drill was so complex that several steps had to be completed before it could be undertaken. It is expected to take several days before Curiosity transfers the powder to its instruments to analyze the chemical and mineral makeup. (Image Credit: NASA)
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11 February 2013
Boeing Conducts Dreamliner Test Flight
Boeing has taken its first test flight of its 787 Dreamliner since problems with lithium-ion batteries aboard two planes grounded the worldwide fleet nearly a month ago. Boeing said the plane flew for two hours and 19 minutes on Saturday, while a crew of 13 people monitored the main and auxiliary batteries on the plane. The crew reported the flight as uneventful. The FAA and other regulators worldwide grounded the fleet of 50 planes on 16 Jan. after battery problems aboard two planes. Since then, the FAA allowed Boeing a one-time "ferry flight," which happened Thursday, to move a 787 from a painting facility in Texas to Washington. Later Thursday, the FAA authorized Boeing to conduct test flights. More test flights are planned this week. (Image Credit: NASA)
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8 February 2013
Landsat Go for 11 Feb. Launch
Managers have given the "go" to proceed toward an 11 Feb. launch of NASA's Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) spacecraft atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The mission will extend more than 40 years of global land observations that are critical in many areas, such as energy and water management, forest monitoring, human and environmental health, urban planning, disaster recovery and agriculture. LDCM will be launched into orbit aboard a two-stage United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The five-year mission will begin with a launch from Space Launch Complex 3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Once in orbit, after three months of extensive testing, the LDCM satellite will be renamed Landsat 8 and operational control will then be transferred to the USGS. (Image Credit: NASA)
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7 February 2013
FAA Approves Boeing 787 Ferry Flight
Boeing's grounded 787 Dreamliner will fly today for the first time in three weeks after U.S. officials approved a one-time permit to ferry a plane from Texas to Washington state. The FAA said in a statement that the only people aboard will be those needed for operation, and that the plane must fly directly to Boeing's plant in Everett, just north of Seattle, from Fort Worth. The FAA also said the crew will have to perform a number of inspections to verify that the batteries and cables show no signs of damage and will also be required to check for specific status messages that could indicate problems, both before and during the flight, and will have to land immediately if one occurs. (Image Credit: Boeing)
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7 February 2013
Embry-Riddle Offering the First Degree in Commercial Space Operations
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Wednesday announced plans to launch an undergraduate degree in Commercial Space Operations this fall at its Daytona Beach campus, the first of its kind in the United States. Officials said the timing was right for a specialized program with companies like SpaceX launching cargo to the ISS, and Virgin Galactic and XCOR preparing for suborbital tourist flights. The university's board of trustees still needs to approve the program, but Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana and Space Florida President Frank DiBello are among those who have submitted letters of support. As for the coursework, it was recommended the degree focus on policy and other issues still under consideration between the various agencies and spaceports. (Image Credit: SpaceX)
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5 February 2013
Boeing Asks FAA to Begin Dreamliner Test Flights
Boeing has asked the FAA to allow it to begin test flights on its Dreamliner planes even as investigators still work to try to pinpoint what caused battery fires on the aircraft. The request is currently under review by the FAA. Officials at a recent Department of Transportation briefing said investigators may not be any closer to identifying the root cause than they were when the NTSB started examining the problem. Flying test planes would let Boeing study the Dreamliner's lithium-ion power packs in operation while the 50 787s in service stay grounded. The tests would include a potential resolution to the issue, but reportedly even if it was used passenger flights would still be off the table for weeks at least. (Image Credit: Boeing)
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4 February 2013
NTSB Making Progress on Boeing 787 Investigation
The NTSB said Friday that its investigators are making progress in its investigation into the Boeing Dreamliner battery fires. Investigators have not found enough evidence in the charred remains of two Boeing 787 batteries to determine why they overheated, and they are expanding their examination of other electrical components. The NTSB said it is also examining the flight data recorded by the 787 involved in the Boston incident. The NTSB said that an expert from the Department of Energy has joined the investigation, and that an NTSB investigator will travel to France with a "battery contactor" from the battery fire for a probe at the company's office. (Image Credit: Boeing)
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4 February 2013
Germany to Develop Armed UAVs with France
Germany plans to join the ranks of countries that deploy armed drones on the battlefield, a move critics say would lower the threshold for foreign military interventions. German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the country would team with France to develop armed UAVs which will join the unarmed ones that are already deployed. Since the German Parliament has to approve any troop deployment, opposition lawmakers warned that Germany could end up sending armed drones into conflicts abroad even when there are political reservations about deploying troops. (Image Credit: U.S. Army)
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1 February 2013
Friday Marks 10th Anniversary of Columbia Disaster
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the space shuttle Columbia disaster. The seven-member crew of the STS-107 mission was just 16 minutes from landing on the morning of 1 Feb. 2003 when Mission Control lost contact with the shuttle Columbia. A piece of foam, falling from the external tank during launch, had opened a hole in one of the shuttle’s wings, leading to the breakup of the orbiter upon re-entry. Addressing the nation, President Bush said, “mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on.” AIAA remembers the seven crew members who were lost. (Image Credit: NASA)
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31 January 2013
TDRS-K Launches from Cape Canaveral
The first of NASA’s three next-generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS), known as TDRS-K, launched at 8:48 p.m. EST Wednesday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, aboard an Atlas V rocket. The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite project provides follow-on and replacement spacecraft necessary to maintain and expand the NASA Space Network. The TDRS system provides a critical communications link to Earth for the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope and many satellites. (Image Credit: NASA)
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31 January 2013
Boeing Defends Use of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Boeing said Wednesday it isn’t sure yet what caused the problem that grounded its 787 Dreamliners or when it will be fixed. The company said problems with the lithium-ion batteries on the plane haven’t changed their plans to step up production of the jetliner. Boeing is working with investigators at the National Transportation Safety Board, their Japanese counterparts and the Federal Aviation Administration to find the problem that caused battery fires on two planes earlier this month. Meanwhile, the company hasn't lost faith in lithium-ion batteries, which are flammable but provide power for the innovative plane that is 20% more fuel-efficient than similar planes. (Image Credit: Boeing)
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31 January 2013
Sierra Nevada Teams with Lockheed on Dream Chaser Spacecraft
Sierra Nevada Corp. announced Wednesday it’s getting ready for test flights of its Dream Chaser mini-shuttle, and announced a partnership with Lockheed Martin Corp. to certify the spacecraft as safe for astronauts. The full-size Dream Chaser test vehicle will be put through a series of approach and landing tests at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Within six to eight weeks, the unmanned vehicle, which is in the competition to fly astronauts to the International Space Station, is expected to be dropped by a helicopter from about 12,000 feet and land autonomously. Sierra Nevada is competing with The Boeing Co. and SpaceX to develop vehicles for flights to low Earth orbit under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. (Image Credit: NASA)
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29 January 2013
Joint U.S., Japanese Probe Shifts From Battery-Maker to Monitoring System
The joint U.S. and Japanese investigation into the battery problems associated with Boeing's 787s has shifted from the battery-maker to the manufacturer of a monitoring system. Japanese officials said Monday the current probe into battery-maker GS Yuasa has been ended since no evidence was found linking it to the source of the issues, and that they will now inspect Kanto Aircraft Instrument Co. as part of the ongoing probe. The company manufactures a system that monitors voltage, charging and temperature of the lithium-ion batteries. (Image Credit: Boeing)
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29 January 2013
Crimped Fluid Line Cause of F-35 Propulsion-System Leak
An improperly crimped fluid line was the probable cause of a propulsion-system leak that led the Pentagon to suspend flight tests of the F-35 fighter's Marine Corps version according to the Pentagon. A Pentagon spokesperson stressed there were no design or maintenance issues involved, but the grounding remains in place for now. Additionally, an audit of quality control records has identified six additional non-compliant units that have been removed from the aircraft and returned to Pratt & Whitney for replacement. The Marine Corps F-35 was the only version affected by the faulty parts. A Pratt & Whitney spokesperson said flights should be able to resume once the parts are replaced. (Image Credit: USN)
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28 January 2013
Monday Marks 27th Anniversary of Challenger Disaster
Today marks the 27th anniversary of the space shuttle Challenger disaster. The shuttle exploded less than two minutes after lift-off from the Kennedy Space Center in 1986. All seven crew members were killed. An investigation revealed that the cold temperatures compromised the seals on the solid rocket boosters, which led to the explosion. AIAA remembers the seven crew members who were lost. (Image Credit: NASA)
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25 January 2013
NTSB Says Nothing Ruled Out Yet In Dreamliner Investigation
Federal investigators said Thursday they were still far from determining what caused a battery fire in a Dreamliner in Boston earlier this month – one of two battery-related incidents that led to the plane’s grounding by regulators worldwide – ending any hope that 787s would be flying in the near future. The National Transportation Safety Board said that the lithium-ion battery that caught fire in a parked 787 at Logan International Airport showed signs of short-circuiting and of a “thermal runaway,” a chemical reaction that begins to overheat the battery and speeds up as the temperature increases. Unlike the FAA, the NTSB does not have regulatory powers but its public recommendations can weigh heavily on air safety policy. The FAA has already made clear that the plane cannot fly again until the cause is determined and the problem fixed. Meanwhile, Boeing said Thursday it has formed teams consisting of hundreds of engineering and technical experts who are working around the clock to resolve the issue and return the 787 fleet to flight status. (Image Credit: Boeing)
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24 January 2013
NASA Demonstrates Manufacturing Methods for Hybrid Wing Aircraft
Researchers at NASA have demonstrated a manufacturing method that would make "hybrid wing" design practical. Combined with an extremely efficient type of engine, called an ultra-high bypass ratio engine, the hybrid wing design could use half as much fuel as conventional aircraft. Although it may take 20 years for the technology to come to market, the manufacturing method developed at NASA could help improve conventional commercial aircraft within the next eight to 10 years. NASA is now developing a 30-foot-wide, two-level pressurized structure that will be used in an attempt to validate the manufacturing approach that is expected to be completed in 2015. (Image Credit: NASA)
More Info > (MIT Technology Review)
23 January 2013
Deep Space Industries Announces Plans for Asteroid Mining
Deep Space Industries (DSI) announced it is raising $20 million to fund the first stage of a mission to identify asteroids close to Earth and mine them for valuable materials. DSI is targeting 2015 to launch satellites called “Fireflies” to identify targets, followed a year later by “Dragonflies” to return samples. It plans to pay satellite companies to allow its 55-pound Fireflies to ride piggyback on existing launches of commercial satellites. The company also has a patent pending on a 3-D-printing process that can create high-strength metal objects from schematics in zero-gravity conditions. (Image Credit: Deep Space Industries)
More Info > (The Los Angeles Times)
23 January 2013
FAA Approval of Dreamliner Lithium Ion Batteries Being Examined
The FAA, in 2007, certified the use of lithium ion batteries aboard the 787 Dreamliner when regulators concluded that it was safe to let the batteries burnout mid-flight, as long as any fires were contained and fumes were vented. The FAA's decision is being carefully examined after two separate battery fires caused Dreamliners to be grounded worldwide. An FAA spokesperson defended the decision, saying that the whole aviation system is designed so that if a worst case happens, there are systems in place to prevent that from interfering with other systems on the aircraft. Meanwhile, Boeing has said it is confident that the battery could safety burn out during a flight because the 787 has a system for containing such a fire and venting any fumes. (Image Credit: Japan Transport Safety Board)
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22 January 2013
Timetable to Lift Dreamliner Grounding Reportedly Extended
When the FAA grounded Dreamliner flights Wednesday, it said it hoped to allow 787s to resume operations as soon as possible. Subsequently, Boeing and FAA officials took interim steps to resume flights, expressing optimism that operational and maintenance changes could be quickly agreed upon to lift the grounding order by the early part of the coming week. That timetable has been extended, so a final decision may come at the end of this week or later. Japanese investigator Hideyo Kosugi said initially that the review of the ANA jetliner could take three months, but he updated that timetable to about a week after meeting with U.S. officials and Boeing experts. (Image Credit: Boeing)
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22 January 2013
Aerojet Successfully Tests AJ26 Engine
Aerojet conducted a successful test fire of the company's AJ26 rocket engine Friday at NASA's Stennis Space Center located in Mississippi. Once the results are reviewed, the engine is expected to be shipped to the Wallops Flight Facility for installation in Orbital Sciences' Antares rocket. The rocket's first test flight is scheduled for next month. If all goes according to plan, the rocket will be used to send Orbital's Cygnus spacecraft into orbit. (Image: An AJ26 is test fired at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. Credit: Orbital)
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18 January 2013
All Dreamliners Now Grounded
All of Boeing's new 787 Dreamliners are now grounded. Airlines and governments all over the world on Thursday ordered the grounding of Boeing 787s until they could determine what caused a new type of battery to fail on two planes in recent days, resulting in an emergency landing Wednesday and a fire last week. Eight airlines now fly the 787, which entered service in November 2011, including All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines in Japan, Air India, Ethiopian Airlines, LAN, LOT, Qatar Airways and United. Boeing plans to keep building its flagship jetliner while engineers try to solve the battery problems. It's not clear how long the investigation, or the fix, will take. (Image Credit: Boeing)
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18 January 2013
NASA Holding Contest to Help Boost ISS Power
NASA is holding a $30,000 contest to boost the power of the solar arrays on the International Space Station. The object of the contest is to maximize power output and minimize shadowing of longerons, the long arms holding the arrays to the station, which are sensitive to temperature changes. The work of the ISS Longeron Shadowing Optimization Challenge would allow astronauts to perform more experiments, increasing the station's scientific returns. The contest is open to all TopCoder members, which itself is free to join. (Image Credit: NASA)
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17 January 2013
FAA Orders Temporary Grounding of Boeing 787s
After several reported problems in recent weeks, the FAA has ordered all new 787 Dreamliners grounded for the time being. The FAA's emergency air-worthiness directive says before any other 787 can fly, the operator or Boeing, must prove the aircraft’s batteries are safe. Investigators are taking a hard look at the 787's electrical system and lithium batteries. The batteries in question are in protective housings that can withstand intense heat. Last week, as the FAA announced a complete review of the 787, Boeing reiterated, the plane is safe. (Image Credit: Boeing)
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16 January 2013
Japanese Airlines Suspend Dreamliner Flights After Emergency Landing
All All Nippon Airways Co. and Japan Airlines Co., the world's largest users of Boeing Co. 787 jets, grounded their entire fleet of Dreamliners for at least two days after one of All Nippon's 787s made an emergency landing in Japan because of smoke coming from the aircraft. Japan Air also said it would idle its fleet, and neither carrier specified for how long. The NTSB is aware of the incident and monitoring it. Meanwhile, India’s Director General of Civil Aviation said the country will wait to decide whether to ground Air India's Dreamliners until after Boeing issues its report on the plane. (Image Credit: ANA)
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16 January 2013
Curiosity Preparing to Make First Drill
NASA said that it has discovered rocks on Mars that hint at a watery past on the Red Planet. The Curiosity rover sent back images of the rocks and will soon drill into them to collect samples for analysis. Curiosity is expected to test its drill for the first time on the rocks in the next two weeks. While NASA has been dealing with the possibility that the drill could contaminate samples, scientists are reasonably confident that it's something that they will be able to work their way around. (Image Credit: NASA)
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16 January 2013
Boeing Unveils First Completed 787-9 Horizontal Stabilizer
A new image released by Boeing shows the first completed horizontal stabilizer for the 787-9 and one of the key redesign efforts for the 290-seat wide-body aircraft as it moves closer to first flight later this year. Boeing unveiled the carbon fiber component at a ceremony on 11 January near Salt Lake City, Utah, where the company announced the acquisition of a new facility to support production of the stabilizer. Boeing brought design and production of the horizontal stabilizer in-house in 2011 after errors on the same section by Alenia Aeronautica had slowed early production of the 787-8. (Image: A new image released by Boeing shows the first completed horizontal stabilizer for the 787-9. Credit: Boeing)
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14 January 2013
FAA Announces Dreamliner Safety Review
The FAA has announced a new, comprehensive safety review of the Boeing Dreamliner. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and DOT Secretary LaHood say they believe the aircraft is safe, but they have ordered a thorough review of the plane, mechanical system, power system, electrical system, and battery system, after seemingly unrelated events. One Dreamliner recently experienced a fire, with no passengers on board, and an Al Nippon Airline 787 in Japan recently developed a crack in a cockpit windshield. Boeing insists these are unrelated incidents and most analysts say they are nothing more than “teething problems” for this new state-of-the-art plane. No planes will be grounded during the review. (Image Credit: Boeing)
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14 January 2013
UAV Designed to be Used by Amateurs
Lehmann Aviation has created the LA 100, a fully automated glider-like drone made for amateurs to easily shoot aerial images and video. To prevent the UAV from going astray, the LA100 follows a pre-programmed flight path, which returns to the original launch site for a horizontal landing. There's no way to override the LA100's planned flight pattern, making it simple for beginners. The LA100 can fly at speeds of up to 50 mph for up to five minutes and has a range of up to 0.3 miles. The LA100 is made mostly of foam and carbon fiber and weighs around 30 ounces with the camera attached. The LA100 was slated to go on sale this month for $1,275. (Image Credit: Lehmann Aviation)
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9 January 2013
Fifteen Launches Planned from Cape Canaveral This Year
Although NASA's shuttle fleet is retired, the Air Force 45th Space Wing is still busy as it plans to launch 15 missions from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station this year. First up is an Atlas V rocket with a NASA communications satellite, scheduled to launch 29 Jan. Atlas V launches also are tentatively scheduled for March, May, July, September and November. ULA Delta IV rockets are scheduled to launch three military payloads. The first is expected in March, with the others following in June and November. SpaceX has set 1 March as a target date for launch of its second ISS resupply mission. SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets plan to launch U.S., European and Taiwanese commercial satellites in April, May and June, respectively, before two more space station resupply missions targeted for August and November. (Image Credit: USAF)
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8 January 2013
Kepler Data Leads to Several Exoplanet Findings
A new study led by Francois Fressin of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics used data collected by the Kepler telescope to determine that our Milky Way is home to at least 17 billion planets that are similar in size to Earth. Another team used a different method to come up with similar results. This is the first reliable tally of the number of worlds outside the solar system that are the size of Earth, but the hunt for Earth’s twin is far from over since no planet that is similar to Earth's size has been found in a star's habitable zone. Meanwhile, in a separate finding, the Kepler telescope has found 461 new candidate planets, bringing the total to 2,740 potential planets, with many of these Earth-size planets and super-Earths. (Image Credit: NASA)
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7 January 2013
Worldwide Aeros Completes Construction On Zeppelin Aircraft
According to aircraft manufacturer Worldwide Aeros Corp., construction is complete on a 36,000-pound blimp-like airship designed for the military to carry tons of cargo to remote areas around the world. Worldwide Aeros, a company of about 100 employees, built the prototype under a contract from the Pentagon and NASA, and named it Pelican. Pelican is a 230-foot long zeppelin that will be able to carry 66 tons of cargo, take off vertically and allow pilots to maneuver it on land without a ground crew. Worldwide Aeros is optimistic that the aircraft, like its namesake, will take to the air despite its weight. (Image: Artist's rendition of Pelican / Credit: Worldwide Aeros Corp.)
More Info > (The Los Angeles Times)
7 January 2013
Aviation Group Reports 2012 Safest Year On Record Worldwide
According to the Aviation Safety Network, 2012 was the safest year for air travel since 1945. The world's airlines - including passenger and cargo flights - reported only 23 accidents resulting in 475 fatalities last year, compared with the 10-year average of 34 accidents and 773 fatalities per year. The declining accident numbers are the result of several efforts by international aviation groups to require audits of airlines around the world to comply with safety standards. In the U.S., the Aviation Safety Network's database shows only two fatal commercial airline accidents last year, resulting in two deaths. (Image Credit: American Airlines)
More Info > (The Los Angeles Times)
4 January 2013
NASA Considers Deployment of Robotic Spacecraft to Capture Asteroid
Researchers at the Keck Institute for Space Studies at Caltech have released a paper outlining a proposal to send an unmanned spacecraft into deep space to capture an asteroid and return it as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) orbiting the moon. In putting together the paper, the team at Keck worked with several NASA agencies, universities and private groups with the aim of discerning the feasibility of such a project and then outlining how it might come about. NASA is reportedly giving serious consideration to the project which, if implemented, could come to fruition in the 2020s. The Keck team's vision is to launch a slow-moving spacecraft, propelled by solar-heated ions, with an Atlas V rocket. The specially designed spacecraft would then propel itself out to a targeted asteroid, probably no bigger than seven meters wide. (Image Credit: Keck Institute for Space Studies)
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4 January 2013
2013 to Mark Several Key Space Anniversaries
Looking ahead into the coming year, 2013 will mark several key anniversaries for the events of the previous five decades of human activity outside the Earth. The new year brings with it the 50-year anniversary of the first woman in space. Launched by the Soviet Union on June 16, 1963, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first female space explorer as she circled the Earth 48 times. The first major milestone anniversary of the new year is also perhaps its most solemn: 10 years since the loss of space shuttle Columbia and the STS-107 crew. Skylab, the United States' first space station, lifted off 40 years ago this May 14. 2013 also marks the 30th anniversary of the first launch of space shuttle Challenger (STS-6) on April 4; the 50th anniversary of the first winged craft in space, the U.S. Air Force's X-15 rocketplane, on July 19; the 30th anniversary of Guion "Guy" Bluford becoming the first African-American in space on Aug. 30; and much more. (Image: X-15, Experimental high-speed rocket-powered research aircraft / Credit: USAF)
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2 January 2013
Notable Launches for Coming Year Listed
SPACE has published a list of what it considers the 13 notable launches to look out for in the coming year. These include the first launch of Orbital's Cygnus spacecraft to the ISS, more SpaceX launches to the ISS, other ISS cargo and crew launches, and NASA's LADEE, MAVEN, and Iris unmanned spacecraft. Several foreign and commercial launches are also included in the list. (Image Credit: ULA)
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2 January 2013
FAA Ordering More Inspections On Some Boeing 737s
Federal safety officials said Monday they are ordering additional inspections of some Boeing 737 jets after a hole tore open in a Southwest Airlines plane during flight in 2009. The FAA is calling for more inspections on 737-300, -400 and -500 models. The FAA previously issued rules back in 2005 and said those rules would be expanded to include new inspection methods with scanning technology, checks of more areas of the plane, the installation of additional reinforcements and checks for loose fasteners. The new rules are expected to be issued today. (Image Credit: Boeing)
More Info > (USA Today)