Diseñadores de Estados Unidos presentan naves para turismo espacial en Rusia
Diseñadores estadounidenses presentaron en Rusia un proyecto nuevo de turismo espacial que permitirá ver la Tierra desde el espacio cósmico por 100.000 dólares durante un vuelo suborbital.
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El primer turista espacial ruso podrá viajar en una nave suborbital estadounidense
http://sp.rian.ru/neighbor_relations/20101011/147733744.html
Nace la primera agencia española especializada [http://destinia.com/www/viajes_espacio] en viajes al espacio
http://www.lavanguardia.es/viajes/noticias/20101007/54020302937/nace-la-primera-agencia-espanola-especializada-en-viajes-al-espacio.html
Russia's space agency says it plans to allow two space tourists to journey to the International Space Station on a Soyuz spacecraft in 2013.
http:// http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2010/09/25/Russia-to-take-space-tourists-in-2013/UPI-41721285447091/
First Russian space tourist to leave Earth in 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sci/2010-10/11/c_13552135.htm
Space hotel race blasts off
“The idea has long been hovering in our minds,” he said. “It will be a station that will serve as a space hotel and an orbiting laboratory.”
http://s.noticias-aero.info/spacialHotel
El presidente del Gobieno hay inaugurado hoy la nueva terminal del aeropuerto de León
El presidente del Gobierno, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, acompañado por el ministro de Fomento, José Blanco, ha inaugurado hoy la nueva Área Terminal del aeropuerto de León, una actuación que ha supuesto la construcción de un nuevo edificio Terminal, aparcamiento para vehículos y autocares, los accesos y viales de circulación, así como la ampliación de la plataforma de estacionamiento de aeronaves.
El Gobierno de España ha invertido más de 29 millones de euros en esta nueva infraestructura para León, de los que 22,1 se han destinado a la nueva ÁreaTerminal y el resto a infraestructuras complementarias, como la remodelación de la central eléctrica, que supuso una inversión de 6,9 millones de euros.
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A320 Re-Engining Decision Coming By Year-End
http://s.noticias-aero.info/320re-engined
Airbus officials met late last month to finalize details on the A320 New Engine Option (NEO), with much of the focus on having the required engineering resources. But not all issues were resolved, so deliberations are still underway.
However, Gallois says the plan remains to make a decision before year-end; some Airbus officials wanted to request board approval this month. “Airbus is taking its time” to properly assess its resources and ensure it has the engineering capacity to do the NEO program without adversely affecting other developments, Gallois says while visiting Airbus’ Filton site for the opening of the A350 landing gear test building.
Worldwide market for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) predicted to total $71 billion from 2010 to 2020
http://www.militaryaerospace.com/index/display/article-display.articles.military-aerospace-electronics.executive-watch-2.2010.10.worldwide-market_for.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html
The worldwide market for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will grow from $5.1 billion in 2009 to a cumulative total of $71 billion from 2010 to 2020, predict analysts at Visiongain Ltd. in London in the report "The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Market 2010-2020: Technologies for ISR and Counter-Insurgency."
The report examines current programs and future prospects for current and new entrants into the UAV market. Armed forces worldwide are embracing UAVs as critical tools for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as for strike missions in counter-insurgency (COIN) operations.
Boeing 747-8 makes a big splash [video]
Technicians paint a mild cleanser that is mixed with pink dye to the underbelly of the airplane. The dye washes off when water hits it.
The pilots have to line up the 747-8 Freighter precisely to where the pool is set up in the middle of the runway.
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VSS Enterprise Completes First Manned Glide Flight [press release + photo + video]
VIRGIN GALACTIC'S SPACESHIPTWO ACHIEVES MAJOR MILESTONE IN ITS PROGRAM TO BECOME WORLD'S FIRST MANNED COMMERCIAL SPACE VEHICLE.
VSS Enterprise achieves manned free flight from over 45,000 ft (13,700 metres) and successfully glides to land at Mojave Air and Spaceport.
10th October 2010, Mojave, CA. Virgin Galactic, the US company developing the world’s first commercial manned space flight system and tourism business, is delighted to announce the successful completion today of the first piloted free flight of SpaceShipTwo, named the VSS Enterprise. The spaceship was released from its mothership at an altitude of 45,000 ft
(13,700 metres).
During its first flight the spaceship was piloted by Pete Siebold, assisted by Mike Alsbury as co-pilot. The two main goals of the flight were to carry out a clean release of the spaceship from its mothership and for the pilots to free fly and glide back and land at Mojave Air and Space Port in California.
Other detailed objectives of the flight were successfully completed, including; verification that all systems worked prior and following the clean release of Enterprise; initial evaluation of handling and stall characteristics; qualitative evaluation of stability and control of SS2 against predictions from design and simulation work; verification of performance by evaluating the lift-to-drag ratio of the spaceship during glide flight; practice a landing approach at altitude and finally descend and land.
Preparations for the milestone flight were extensive. The WhiteKnightTwo mothership (Eve) flew 40 times including 4 captive carry flights of spaceship and mothership mated together. The most recent captive carry was on Sept 30th. The most recent solo flight was on October 5th and demonstrated that all the systems required for a free flight by the VSS Enterprise were functioning correctly without any safety issues. Commenting on the successful flight Scaled Composites pilot, Pete Siebold, said “The VSS Enterprise was a real joy to fly, especially when one considers the fact that the vehicle has been designed not only to be a Mach 3.5 spaceship capable of going into space but also one of the worlds highest altitude gliders.”
Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, who was present during the first successful flight, added “This was one of the most exciting days in the whole history of Virgin. For the first time since we seriously began the project in 2004, I watched the world’s first manned commercial spaceship landing on the runway at Mojave Air and Space Port and it was a great moment. Now, the sky is no longer the limit and we will begin the process of pushing beyond to the final frontier of space itself over the next year.”
Virgin Galactic is now well on the way to becoming the world’s first commercial space line with 370 customer deposits totalling $50 million. Future commercial operations will be at Spaceport America in New Mexico where final preparations are taking place for a finished runway inauguration ceremony on Friday 22nd October 2010. National Geographic channel in the United States will be showing a documentary on the build up and preparation for the first flight of VSS Enterprise on Monday, 18 October at 10.00pm ET/PT.
George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic who was also present at the historic flight, added “To see the world’s first manned commercial spaceship landing on a runway is a sight I always dreamed I would behold. Now, our challenge going forward will be to complete our experimental program, obtain our FAA licence and safely bring the system into service at Spaceport America, New Mexico.”
Virgin Galactic
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Comercial Spaceflight Federation Congratulates SpaceShipTwo Team for Milestone First Glide Flight
Washington, D.C. – The Commercial Spaceflight Federation is pleased to congratulate Scaled Composites, Virgin Galactic, and the SpaceShipTwo team for successfully conducting today’s first-ever glide flight of the SpaceShipTwo suborbital spacecraft. Over the Mojave Desert this morning, Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo was released from carrier aircraft WhiteKnightTwo at an altitude of 45,000 ft. and descended for about 15 minutes before landing at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
“First flight days are always extraordinary,” said Stu Witt, General Manager of the Mojave Air and Space Port. “This team effort by so many has been punctuated by a successful first test flight, and now everyone seeking a ride to space is a giant step closer.”
“This is a critical milestone in Virgin Galactic’s test program and a great day for the commercial spaceflight industry,” added John Gedmark, Executive Director of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. “At the end of the day, getting hardware off the ground is what it’s really all about. Today’s SpaceShipTwo test flight marks another key milestone towards opening the space frontier for private individuals, researchers, and explorers. Congratulations to the entire SpaceShipTwo team.”
SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo are being developed for Virgin Galactic by legendary aircraft development firm Scaled Composites. The vehicles build on the success of SpaceShipOne, the first privately-built vehicle to fly a person into space, which won the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE for its achievements. SpaceShipTwo will carry six people in addition to two pilots, providing those on board with a view of space and several minutes of weightlessness once space flights begin. Eventual operational flights of SpaceShipTwo will occur from Spaceport America in New Mexico.
About the Commercial Spaceflight Federation
The mission of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation (CSF) is to promote the development of commercial human spaceflight, pursue ever-higher levels of safety, and share best practices and expertise throughout the industry. The Commercial Spaceflight Federation’s member companies, which include commercial spaceflight developers, operators, spaceports, suppliers, and service providers, are creating thousands of high-tech jobs nationwide, working to preserve American leadership in aerospace through technology innovation, and inspiring young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. For more information please visit www.commercialspaceflight.org Read more...
Russian Air Force to receive first Su-35 by yearend - Sukhoi
The Russian Defense Ministry will receive its first Su-35 fighter plane by the end of the year, Russia's Sukhoi Aircraft Design Bureau said on Monday.
The first modernized Su-35 was presented at the 2007 MAKS air show outside Moscow. The Russian Defense Ministry signed a deal with Sukhoi on the purchase of 48 modernized Su-35 jets in 2009.
http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20101011/160909205.html