All news – Page 6980
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Eutelsat purchases Orion spare
Eutelsat, the European communications satellite organisation based in Paris, has signed a contract with Matra Marconi Space for a new satellite, to guarantee service continuity in the event of a launch failure of one of its W series spacecraft. The first W series craft, the W2, is scheduled to ...
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Quick rides
NASA has awarded Final Analysis a contract to fly 10 potential agency-sponsored piggyback science satellites on the company's Faisat spacecraft series, launched on Russian Cosmos boosters, starting in 2000. NASA will invite universities to propose the missions, called Quick Ride. Final Analysis has already launched two experimental prototype spacecraft. ...
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Hubble training
Training for the third Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, STS 104/Columbia, scheduled for May 2000, has already started with the selection of four NASA astronauts to conduct a record six spacewalks. The crew are to replace the Faint Object Camera with an Advanced Camera for Surveys imager; replace the Fine ...
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Hughes offers to pay for satellite security
Hughes Electronics has offered to pay for the US Department of Defense to monitor its company satellite launches on Chinese Long March boosters, despite its claims there is no risk to national security. The offer follows fears expressed in the US Congress that there may have been a leak ...
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Lockheed Martin tests RD-180 rocket motor
Lockheed Martin Astronautics successfully test-fired a Russian RD-180 rocket engine for 10s with a prototype Atlas IIIA booster stage at NASA's Marshall facility at Huntsville, Alabama, on 29 July. Lockheed Martin Astronautics will use the RD-180, designed by Russia's NPO Energomash, to power its new Atlas III rockets and its ...
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Next Soyuz to be launched on credit
TIM FURNISS/LONDON The three-man Soyuz mission to the Mir space station on 13 August is being launched on credit worth $33 million after a Russian Government pledge to provide $120 million to Energia failed to materialise, says the company's director general Yuri Semenov. The space station's remaining time ...
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Stretched 757 gets first flight
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Boeing began the 757-300 flight test and certification programme on 2 August when the stretched twinjet made a 2h first flight from Renton, Washington. The maiden flight, which was around a month later than originally planned because of the impact of production-related problems at Renton, was marred ...
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Taking pole position
Paul Lewis/NEW YORK and HONG KONG The International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Asia-Pacific technical office and airline regional co-ordinating group (RCG) has enjoyed a busy three years. Having negotiated safe passage over Afghanistan and helped broker the opening of North Korean airspace, the group scored again with the initial ...
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Nikkiso reversers
Nikkiso of Japan has been selected by the joint Airbus Industrie/Hispano Suiza company, Aircelle, to supply the thrust reverser cascades for the A340-500/600, starting in 2001. Aircelle is supplying the inlet and engine mounts, and Spain's CASA the cowl doors. Source: Flight International
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A3XX Tunnel tests
Airbus has completed the first high speed tests of its 1/22.3 scale turbine-powered simulator model at French research agency Onera in Modane, while the first "definitive" low-speed tests have taken place at Daimler-Benz Aerospace Airbus in Bremen, Germany, and at British Aerospace Airbus at Filton, UK. Meanwhile, the Aircraft Research ...
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Elint launch
Russia launched an electronic intelligence (ELINT) satellite, the Cosmos 2360, aboard a Zenit booster from Baikonur on 28 July, the second Zenit launch in 18 days. Source: Flight International
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TDRS launches
NASA has formally exercised two more options on its Intermediate Expendable Launch Vehicle contract with Lockheed Martin-ILS International Launch Services, to launch the TDRS I and J satellites aboard Atlas 2A vehicles in December 2001 and June 2002. This brings to 24 the number of contracted Atlas launches for ILS. ...
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Orion switch
Loral Space and Communications will replace Matra Marconi Space (MMS) as the prime contractor of the Orion 2 communications satellite, following the US company's acquisition of the Orion organisation. The 38 Ku-band transponder satellite will serve the Atlantic region after launch by an Ariane 44LP in May 1999, and will ...
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New rules
New weather criteria at Cape Canaveral will reduce launch delays by up to 25%, says the Spaceport Florida Authority. US Air Force and NASA officials at the Cape have revised their weather-related rules, easing restrictions that have caused delays in the past. Source: Flight International
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Early breakdown
The Russian Cosmos 2350 geostationary missile early warning satellite, launched on a Proton booster on 29 April, failed in orbit on 6 July after a malfunction in the attitude control system. The $7 million spacecraft was built by NPO Lavochkin. Source: Flight International
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Europe under attack
The International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations has attacked Europe's new "ATM Strategy for 2000+" airspace modernisation plan for extending air traffic management to previously "unmanaged airspace" used by the general aviation and aerial work communities, which requires them to add equipment. Source: Flight International
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Northern contract
Northern Executive Aviation (NEA) has signed an agreement with Air BP to provide fuel for business and light aircraft at its Manchester Airport base. NEA, which operates four Bombardier Learjet 35As and a Dassault Falcon 900B, is due to complete its £1.5 million ($2.5 million) business aviation terminal in October. ...
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Century Falcon
The 100th re-engined Dassault Falcon 20B has been handed over by AlliedSignal and Garrett Aviation Services to a South Carolina-based company. The business jet is fitted with the higher thrust TFE731-5BR turbofan which extends range and performance. The two companies anticipate "at least 20 more retrofits beyond our current bookings". ...
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Challenger work
CSE Engineering has taken delivery of a Bombardier Challenger 601 business jet, which it will maintain for a UK-based company. The CSE subsidiary has enlarged the hangar on its Oxford Airport site to "-accommodate larger aircraft". Source: Flight International
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Galaxy expands
Israel Aircraft Industries has flown the first Galaxy business jet at Mach 0.93, M0.01 above the maximum required for certification (maximum cruise speed will be M0.85). Meanwhile, the second flight-test aircraft has flown to 46,000ft (14,000m), 1,000ft above the certification altitude. The first production Galaxy will fly in September and ...