All aerospace news – Page 1789
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Lockheed Martin seeks commercial GPS role
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Lockheed Martin has taken the first step towards fielding a commercially owned and operated satellite network for worldwide augmentation of the global positioning system (GPS), enabling it "to serve as the backbone for future air navigation". The company, which signalled its intent last year to ...
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Brazil sets date for second VLS launch attempt
The Brazilian Space Agency will attempt to launch its second Veiculo Lancador de Satelites (VLS) indigenous launch vehicle in September. The first flight failed in 1997, shortly after lift-off, when a solid rocket strap-on motor malfunctioned, putting the vehicle off course. The VLS will launch the SACI 2 satellite ...
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Hermes knowhow lives again
Dassault Aviation is talking to NASA on conducting further aerodynamics design work on the International Space Station (ISS) Crew Research Vehicle (CRV) and the X-38 reuseable spaceplane, using technology from its ditched Hermes programme. NASA chief Daniel Goldin says the work carried out so far by the French company ...
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Mechanical faults delay Japan's moon probe launch
The launch of Japan's Lunar-A space probe will be delayed for at least another three years, following mechanical faults. The launch was originally planned for mid-1997 and postponed on two occasions by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, because of mechanical problems. During tests, two "penetrators" - which ...
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Rotary Rocket woos investors with low-risk Roton engine
Rotary Rocket will use a low-risk conventional engine for its Roton flight demonstrator, rather than the original RocketJet engine, "so that the development programme can be concluded more rapidly and with less technical risk". The move is believed to be in response to investor concern about the use of new ...
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Proton launch
ILS International Launch Services conducted another launch on 18 June from Baikonur. A Proton K carried the Hughes-built Astra 1H into geostationary transfer orbit for Société Européenne des Satellites (SES). It is the first SES satellite to offer Ka-band services for interactive multimedia applications. Source: Flight International
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NASA could pay Russians more to build Space Station module
Tim Furniss/LONDON Frederic Castel/PARIS NASA is considering providing funding to Russia in exchange for hardware to ensure that the Russian service module for the International Space Station (ISS) makes its 12 November launch. Any shortfall in payments by the Russian Government could delay further the launch of the $320 million module ...
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Omniflight contract
Omniflight Helicopters has signed a 10-year contract extension to operate Indianapolis, Indiana's Life Line air medical programme and to refurbish its two Eurocopter BK117s. Omniflight has signed a similar deal with Billings, Montana-based Help Flight Services, which will upgrade to a Eurocopter EC135. Source: Flight International
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Croatian amphibian
Bombardier has sold a Canadair 415 amphibian to the Croatian Government. The order brings to five the amphibious fleet operated by the Ministry of the Interior. The aircraft will be deployed for firefighting missions. Source: Flight International
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Japan distributor
Osaka Aviation has been named the authorised New Piper Aircraft distributor in Japan. The company has charter, training and maintenance operations. Source: Flight International
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Icy crater
Close-up radar images of the lunar south and north poles by NASA's tracking network antenna indicate that deep craters that do not receive direct sunlight may hold ice deposits. NASA's Lunar Prospector could release up to 18kg of water vapour from the craters when it makes its scheduled controlled crash ...
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Chinese aim for first manned Long March mission in 2003
Tim Furniss/LONDON China will launch the first unmanned test flight of its spacecraft and booster system next year in preparation for its first manned mission in 2003. China Great Wall Industry (CGWIC) says the manned space programme will involve an uprated version of the Long March 2E satellite launch ...
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Successful Delta II launch cheers Boeing
A Delta II booster lifted Boeing's morale on 10 June, when a successful launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, placed four Globalstar satellites into orbit. It was the first launch since the Delta III mission failed in May. The Delta II is lined up for four more missions this summer, ...
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Routes
Belgian long haul airline City Bird will operate a weekly flight linking Brussels and Point-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, from 30 October-29 April next year, under an agreement with tour operator Nouvelles Frontières. The agreement strengthens collaboration with Nouvelles Frontières on City Bird routes to the USA. Crossair will start a midday service ...
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Alitalia commits to $1 billion fleet upgrade
Andy Nativi/GENOA Alitalia has committed to a L2,000 billion ($1.1 billion) fleet upgrade of its Alitalia Express and widebody fleets, despite facing strike action by its workforce and downgraded performance estimates for the year. The airline's board has approved the purchase of five Boeing 747-400s, with deliveries from the ...
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Boeing measures demand for 717 family variants
Plans for a proposed 75/80-seat version of the Boeing 717 may be abandoned, warns the manufacturer, despite market interest in the study, particularly among European airlines. "Right now, we can't make much of a business case for the 717-100, although that might change," says Joe Ozimek, director of product ...
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United and Qantas in non-stop battle
United Airlines and Qantas are racing to be the first to operate non-stop flights between Los Angeles, California, and Melbourne, Australia. Just hours after United announced that daily Boeing 747-400 flights will begin on 6 December, Qantas responded with a plan to launch five weekly flights on the new ...
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Virgin 747-400 flies the flag with new colour scheme
The first Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-400 is sporting the airline's new colour scheme. A total of 25 Virgin aircraft - six 747-400s, eight Series -200s, 10 A340s and one A320 - are due to wear the new colours by the end of next year. The aircraft will be repainted ...
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Pegasus FMS heads for A340 flight tests with CNS/ATM
Airbus Industrie plans to use an A340 to flight test an advanced Honeywell Pegasus flight management system (FMS) fitted, for the first time, with communications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) functionality. New functions include dual system communication links via Airbus' air traffic services unit (ATSU). The FMS-ATSU link provides ...
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Eurockot plans Iridium launch on converted SS-19 ballistic missiles
The Russian-German Eurockot company has won a contract from Motorola for the December launch of two Iridium mobile communications satellites. This will be the first launch by the commercial organisation, which uses Rockot-converted Russian SS-19 intercontinental ballistic missiles as launch vehicles. Eurockot, a joint venture of DaimlerChrysler Aerospace and ...