Mars lander Curiosity protected by largest ever heat shield

Mars lander Curiosity protected by largest ever heat shield:

This Sunday will see one of the most dramatic events in the history of space exploration. On August 5, 2012 at 10:31 PM PDT (August 6, 05:31 GMT), the nuclear-powered science rover Curiosity will reach Mars It will involve one of the most complex, most daring landings ever attempted. Ironically, it may end in one of two ways - a triumph for the men and women of NASA as the Curiosity lander sends back its first signals from the red planet or utter silence. And the key to this is a heat shield that is so new to the field of planetary exploration that it is an experiment in itself... Continue Reading Mars lander Curiosity protected by largest ever heat shield

NASA narrows commercial manned spacecraft competition

NASA narrows commercial manned spacecraft competition:

Today NASA announced that it has reduced the number of companies competing to produce the first privately built and operated manned spacecraft, to three. The current competitors for the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) initiative are now Sierra Nevada Corporation (which will receive a development contract of US$212.5 million), Space Exploration Technologies (aka SpaceX, receiving $440 million) and the Boeing Company (getting $460 million). This is the third round of initiatives designed to promote the development of manned private spacecraft that will be available to the US government to fly crews to the International Space Station (ISS), as well as being available to private customers. .. Continue Reading NASA narrows commercial manned spacecraft competition

Panansonic develops world's most efficient artificial photosynthesis system

Panansonic develops world's most efficient artificial photosynthesis system:

Panasonic has recently developed an artificial photosynthesis system that, using a simple and straightforward process, can convert carbon dioxide into clean organic materials with what it says record efficiency. This development may lead to the creation of a compact way of capturing pollution from incinerators and electric power plants and converting them into harmless – even useful – compounds... Continue Reading Panansonic develops world's most efficient artificial photosynthesis system

NTSB investigates missing Avantair P180 elevator

NTSB investigates missing Avantair P180 elevator: The two pilots of an Avantair Piaggio P180 Avanti II that landed at the Henderson Executive airport in Nevada the morning of 28 July discovered during a...

Programa de Gestión Aeronautica de la EOI

Programa de Gestión Aeronautica de la EOI: El proximo 20 de septiembre comienza una nueva edición delPrograma de Gestión Aeronauticaorganizado porEOI Escuela de Negociosy laFundacion Helice.Como enediciones anteriores, el programa está dirigido fundamentalmente a PYMES interesadas en introducirse en el sector aeronáutico, o en consolidar su viabilidad en el sector a medio y largo plazo.El programa tiene una duración de tres meses

Boeing orders KC-46A gas systems from Cobham

Boeing orders KC-46A gas systems from Cobham: Boeing has selected Cobham to supply on-board inert gas generating systems (OBIGGS) for integration into the US Air Force's (USAF) new KC-46A tanker aircraft.

F-35 JSF's surprising sonic boom

F-35 JSF's surprising sonic boom:
A couple of months ago I was fortunate enough to spend a day with a NASA and Air Force test team in the Mojave Desert near Edwards AFB. The day involved testing a small unmanned air vehicle equipped with an automatic ground collision avoidance system, with the intent of showing that – no matter how hard we tried to crash the UAV – the system would prevent us from doing so. I will post a separate blog about this program in the next few days.
However, the day was also eventful for me in other ways. Having spent many years now reporting on goings on in the high desert, and been bombarded by sonic booms on several occasions, I was not surprised or disturbed by the constant barrage of booms that echoed around the area as we conducted the UAV testing. After all, were in the heart of the R-2508 Edwards test range complex, and right beneath the Black Mountain low level supersonic corridor (marked in red circle below).

X-47B UCAS-D Begins Deck Handling Trials

8/3 AvWeek Stories:
X-47B UCAS-D Begins Deck Handling Trials
Northrop Grumman’s X-47B unmanned combat aircraft system demonstrator (UCAS-D) is about to begin ground maneuver trials at NAS Patuxtent River, Md., to evaluate deck handling procedures as it moves toward a landing on an aircraft carrier in 2013.

A350 XWB 'MSN1' Flight-Deck Comes To Life

A350 XWB 'MSN1' Flight-Deck Comes To Life: Avionics And Other Systems Powered On A Year Before Its First Flight Airbus has successfully powered-up the flight-deck of A350 XWB “MSN1” for the first time, following the initial application of electrical power to the aircraft’s front fuselage. This significant milestone was passed only two weeks after this section was delivered to the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse, France.

USAF Academy UAS Program Continues To Mature

USAF Academy UAS Program Continues To Mature: Program Started In 2009 Cadets participating in Expeditionary Survival and Evasion Training aren't alone. Throughout the day, winged guardians watch over them, protecting them from harm.

2012 NASA Advanced Technology Concepts Selected For Study

2012 NASA Advanced Technology Concepts Selected For Study: Twenty-Eight Proposals Picked For Further Review NASA's Space Technology Program is turning science fiction into science fact. The program has selected 28 proposals for study under the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program. Eighteen of these advanced concept proposals were categorized as Phase I and 10 as Phase II.