Aerospace
4,410 news found
AerospaceSpace shuttle Endeavour's launch postponed again
Cape Canaveral, USA - This time due to bad weather. New attempt today
The launch of space shuttle Endeavour has been postponed again. This time the bad weather caused the stop of the countdown. As forecast it made impossible to go on with operations at launch pad 39A, Kennedy... more
AerospaceNASA: new launch attempt for the Endeavour
Cape Canaveral, USA - But weather conditions are not favourable
It is all ready at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, for the launch of space shuttle Endeavour, that will carry STS-127 mission's crew to the International Space Station (ISS). Lift off... more
AerospaceAstrium conducts ESA study on a new transport system for return to Earth
Bremen, Germany - First flight is possible in 2016
Astrium conducts European Space Agency (ESA) study on a new transport system for return to Earth: the Advanced Re-entry Vehicle (ARV) Transportation of cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) and... more
AerospaceHandover to Telespazio of the infrastructure that will host the Control centre for the Galileo European space programme
L'Aquila, Italy - Yesterday the signing, at the Fucino Space Centre, of the formal agreement
"Yesterday saw the signing, at the Fucino Space Centre, of the formal agreement to hand over the infrastructure for one of the control centres of the Galileo satellite constellation to Telespazio, a Finmeccanica/Thales... more
AerospaceESA: "Planck" reached its destination
Rome, Italy - In orbit around the L2. From there, for two years, the ESA's space observatory will hear the echo by Big Bang
"On Friday night, the detectors of Planck's High Frequency Instrument reached their amazingly low operational temperature of -273.05°C, making them the coldest known objects in space. The spacecraft has... more
AerospaceRussia puts three military satellites into orbit
Plesetsk, Russia - With a Rokot launcher, the same used for GOCE
Russia performed this morning the launch of three military satellites from Plesetsk cosmodrome. For the lift off has been used a Rokot launcher, the same that had been used in March to launch ESA's (European... more
AerospaceESA: new black hole class discovered
Paris, France - The weigh 500 times more than our Sun
Astronomers using ESA’s XMM-Newton X-ray observatory have discovered a black hole weighing more than 500 solar masses, a missing link between lighter stellar-mass and heavier supermassive black holes, i... more
AerospaceEnded, last June 30, the Ulysses mission
Rome, Italy - After almost 19 years years of observations and extraordinary discoveries around the Sun
"In 2008, Ulysses was expected to cease functioning due to weakening power. But solid engineering know-how and on-the-fly innovation have eked out an additional year of important science returns, which... more
AerospaceNASA, LRO sent first images from the Moon
Cape Canaveral, USA - They will be used to realize a map of the lunar surface
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has transmitted its first images since reaching the moon on June 23 (see AVIONEWS). The spacecraft's two cameras, collectively known as the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter... more
AerospaceAriane-5 puts into orbit the largest telecommunications satellite ever
Kourou, French Guiana - From Kourou spaceport in French Guiana
The European Space Agency (ESA) yesterday evening, from Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana, launched an Ariane 5 ECA launcher on its mission to place the heaviest and most powerful telecommunications satellite... more
AerospaceProblems with space shuttle Endeavour's refuelling solved
Cape Canaveral, USA - Lift off scheduled for July 11
Checks on a failed refuelling system that caused the delay of space shuttle Endeavour's launch (see AVIONEWS), that will carry the crew of mission STS-127 to the International Space Station (ISS), have... more
AerospaceNew astronauts for NASA
Washington, USA - Six men and three women chosen among 3,500 candidates
NASA, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, selected nine new astronauts among more than 3,500 received applications. The three women and six men chosen will start their training at Johnson... more
AerospaceCapital increase for e-GEOS: company created by ASI and Telespazio fully operational from today
Rome, Italy - Company aims for global leadership in the Earth observation sector
"e-GEOS, the company created by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Telespazio (a Finmeccanica /Thales company) is fully operational from today. The shareholders’ meeting of the company approved the c... more
AerospaceAmerican Sirius-Radio FM5 satellite launched with Russian Proton-M carrier
Baikonur, Kazakhstan - It will supply radio transmission for center and north America
A Russian booster rocket Proton-M has been launched yesterday evening at 11:10 pm Moscow's time. Lift off took place from Baikonur cosmodrome, in Kazakhstan. Proton-M's upper stage, the Breeze-M, carried... more
AerospaceThe most complete topographic map of the Earth
Pasadena, USA - Realized by NASA and Japan thanks to the ASTER system
NASA and Japan released a new digital topographic map of Earth that covers more of our planet than ever before. The map was produced with detailed measurements from NASA's "Terra" spacecraft. The new... more
AerospaceLockheed Martin gets contract for the "Space Fence" project
Moorestown, USA - To track and report space debris in orbit
The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded Lockheed Martin a $30 million contract to begin concept development for "Space Fence", a system of land-based S-Band radars and supporting operations centers that will... more
AerospaceNASA GOES-O satellite successfully launched
Cape Canaveral, USA - First signals received from the spacecraft's devices
After being delayed on Friday (see AVIONEWS) the launch of NASA's GOES-O (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) satellite has been successfully carried out Saturday at 6:51 pm EDT (10:51 pm... more
AerospaceNASA: GOES-O satellite's launch possibly delayed
Cape Canaveral, USA - The chance of thunderstorms made favourable opportunities drop down to 30%
The launch of NASA's meteorological GOES-O (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite), scheduled for today between 6:14 pm and 7:14 pm EDT (between 10:14 pm and 11:14 pm GMT) from launchpad 37B... more
AerospaceNASA: GOES-O satellite's lift off tomorrow
Cape Canaveral, USA - On board of a Delta IV launcher
Last preparations for the launch of the GOES-O (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) satellite are underway on launchpad 37B in Cape Canaveral. Lift off is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday... more
AerospaceGround broken for the first touristic spaceport in the world
New Mexico, USA - It will be built in New Mexico and will host Virgin Galactic
Works to build Spaceport America, the first touristic space base in the world, have officially started in New Mexico. The event opens new perspectives towards the next frontier in space exploration as,... more
AerospaceCassini finding hints at Ocean within Saturn’s moon Enceladus
Rome, Italy - The analysis detect the last data sent by Cassini's drill and Earth's observations of the great Planet's satellite
"European scientists on the joint NASA/ESA Cassini mission have detected, for the first time, sodium salts in ice grains of Saturn’s E-ring, which is primarily replenished by material from the plumes o... more
AerospaceNASA: LCROSS completes swing-by maneuver
Cape Canaveral, USA - Search for water on the moon is ready to start
NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) successfully completed its most significant early mission milestone with a lunar swing-by and calibration of its science instruments. The... more
AerospaceLRO reaches lunar orbit
Cape Canaveral, USA - It will seek for suitable places for future landings
After successfully performing an engine start, the LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) spacecraft reached its lunar orbit this morning at 6:30 am EDT. It will now start its primary mission, that is mapping... more
AerospaceUSAF has taken delivery of the first STSS satellite demonstrator
Redondo Beach, USA - Produced by Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman has delivered the first of two Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites to the U.S. Air Force's Cape Canaveral Air Station for launch preparation. Northrop... more
AerospaceESA: deferred to November the launch of SMOS and Proba-2 satellites
Paris, France - After an agreement with Krunichev Space Centre and Eurockot Launch Services
The launch of SMOS (Soil Mosture and Ocean Salitnity) - second ESA (European Space Agency) Earth Explorer mission after GOCE launched on March 17 (see AVIONEWS) - and of the secondary payload PROBA-2 (Project... more
AerospaceRussia puts Malaysian satellite into orbit
Baikonur, Kazakhstan - With a Zenit-3SLB launcher
Russia yesterday evening at 9:50 pm GMT put a Malaysian Measat-1R satellite into orbit, launched from Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, on board of a Zenit-3SLB launcher, Russian space agency (Roscosmos)... more
AerospaceLRO and LCROSS took off towards the Moon
Cape Canaveral, USA - Preparations for GEOS-O's satellites launch already underway
LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) and LCROSS (Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Spacecraft) successfully took off yesterday at 5:32 pm EDT from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on board... more
AerospaceNASA: LRO and LCROSS ready for launch
Cape Canaveral, USA - They will study the Moon with a wide range of instruments
Following the delays caused by space shuttle Endeavour's problems (see AVIONEWS), the day of lunar missions LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) and LCROSS (Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Spacecraft)... more
AerospaceEndeavour's launch delayed again
Cape Canaveral, USA - Also deferred the lift off of LRO and LCROSS
Space shuttle Endeavour's launch has been delayed again, this time of about one month, as the same hydrogen leak that caused last Saturday's cancellation (see AVIONEWS) happened again. Data collected during... more
AerospaceItaly-Israel agreement on space cooperation
Paris, France - Signed today by ASI and ISA at the "Paris Air Show 2009"
Italy and Israel, through their space agencies (respectively ASI and ISA), today signed a bilateral agreement on space cooperation for peaceful purposes. The deal has been ratified in Paris-"Le Bourget"... more
AerospaceESA ed Arianespace signed a deal for the launch of Galileo satellites
Paris, France - At Paris-"Le Bourget" during the "Paris Air Show 2009"
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Arianespace signed an In-Orbit Validation (IOV) launch services contract, concerning the launch of the first four operational Galileo satellites on two Soyuz launch... more
AerospaceNASA: second launch attempt of space shuttle Endeavour
Cape Canaveral, USA - Tomorrow, on Wednesday 17, after Saturday's delay
NASA will perform tomorrow, on Wednesday June 17 at 5:40 am EDT (9:40 am GMT), the second launch attempt of space shuttle Endeavour that will carry STS-127 mission crew to the International Space Station... more
AerospaceGPS III project entered Critical Design Review phase
Paris, France - Lockheed Martin's announcement during the "Paris Air Show 2009"
Lockheed Martin, during its participation at the "Paris Air Show 2009" underway in Paris-Le Bourget from June 15 to 21, announced that the Global Positioning System (GPS) III program for the US Air Force... more
AerospaceNew flight software architecture for Sbirs GEO satellites
Paris, France - The announce has been given by Lockheed Martin during the "Paris Air Show 2009"
Lockheed Martin announced today, during the "Paris Air Show 2009" (Paris-Le Bourget June 15-21), that it has delivered the final block of a new flight software architecture that will provide highly reliable... more
AerospaceItalian ASI: LRO Mission Update
Rome, Italy - Next Wednesday afternoon the Atlas V rocket will leave the Cape Canaveral base
"Final spacecraft closeouts are underway at the launch pad and countdown dress rehearsal activities are planned for all day Thursday. A Launch Readiness Review, or LRR, is scheduled for Monday at 9... more
AerospaceSpace shuttle Endeavour to take off tomorrow
Cape Canaveral, USA - Boeing completed works on Japanese laboratory Kibo
Lift off of space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled for tomorrow at 7:17 am EDT (11:17 am GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center of Cape Canaveral, Florida. It will carry STS-127 mission crew to the ISS (International... more
Aerospace"Cirque du Soleil" founder will go on the ISS
Ottawa, Canada - He will be the seventh space tourist, the first from Canada
Guy Laliberte, founder of the "Cirque du Soleil", will be the first Canadian space tourist to fly to the ISS (International Space Station), the seventh globally. The billionaire will pay $35 million for... more
AerospaceNASA and ESA together on Mars
Rome, Italy - Starting from 2016
Budget problems might bring NASA to join forces with European Space Agency (ESA) for a mission to Mars, starting in 2016. So far the Americans prefered to go by themselves, but exorbitant costs of the... more
AerospaceLast preparations for Endeavour's launch
Cape Canaveral, USA - Lift off scheduled on Saturday 13 at 11:17 am GMT
The crew of space shuttle Endeavour arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral from Houston on board of a Shuttle Training Aircraft Gulfstream II aircraft to complete last pre-flight operations.... more
AerospaceNorth Pole: SoRa mission starts on balloon
Rome, Italy - It will test technologies for planetary exploration, firstly Mars
The stratospheric balloon, pending on the suitable weather conditions, is ready to the launch in flight from Svalbard Isles, not far from North Pole, to circumnavigate the Arctic at 35 km from the ground... more
AerospaceESA extends Envisat satellite mission
Paris, France - ESA has voted to extend it through to 2013
"ESA Member States have unanimously voted to extend the Envisat mission through to 2013. Envisat – the world’s largest and most sophisticated satellite ever built – has been providing scientists and o... more
AerospaceEADS Astrium to carry out feasibility studies for future Moon landings
Bremen, Germany - With a € 1 million contract awarded by the German Aerospace Center
EADS Astrium has been commissioned by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) to conduct a study for the testing of future moon landings. The aim is to prove the technological feasibility of a soft and precise... more
AerospaceThe number of active GLONASS satellites grows to 17
Moscow, Russia - Three are still undergoing maintenance operations
The number of active satellites in the GLONASS (GLObal NAvigation Satellite System) constellation has grown to 17. GLONASS is the Russian equivalent of GPS (Global Positioning System). Roscosmos, the Russian... more
AerospaceNASA getting ready for space shuttle Endeavour's launch
Cape Canaveral, USA - Scheduled lift-off on June 13 to carry the crew of mission STS-127 to the ISS
The last preliminary reviews to space shuttle Endeavour's launch have been completed yesterday. NASA confirmed that lift-off will take place on June 13 at 7:17 am EDT (11:17 am GMT) from Kennedy Space... more
AerospaceESA: XMM-Newton takes astronomers to a black hole’s edge
Rome, Italy - A supermassive black hole lying deep at the core of a distant active galaxy
Using new data from ESA’s XMM-Newton spaceborne observatory, astronomers have probed closer than ever to a supermassive black hole lying deep at the core of a distant active galaxy. The galaxy – kno... more
AerospaceLockheed Martin will develop a third SBIRS satellite
Sunnyvale, USA - With a contract worth $1.5 billion
Lockheed Martin yesterday announced the US Air Force has awarded it a $1.5-billion contract for the third highly elliptical orbit (HEO-3) payload, the third geosynchronous orbit (GEO-3) satellite and associated... more
AerospaceExpedition 20 arrived to the ISS
Rome, Italy - On board of Russian Soyuz TMA-15 spaceship
Expedition 20 to the International Space Station (ISS) completed its trip today at 12:36 pm GMT after taking off on last Wednesday from Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan (see AVIONEWS), on board of Russian... more
AerospaceESA: GOCE's "Drag free" achievement
Rome, Italy - The satellite reaches a never-before technological record
ESA's (European Space Agency) gravity mission GOCE has achieved a first in the history of satellite technology. The sophisticated electric propulsion system has shown that it is able to keep the satellite... more
AerospaceExpedition 20 to the ISS succesfully launched
Baikonur, Kazakhstan - On board of Russian spaceship Soyuz TMA-15
Succesfully completed at 10:35 GMT, from Baikonur cosmodrome, in Kazakhstan, the launch of the Soyuz TMA-15 spacecraft that will carry three Expedition 20 members to the ISS (International Space Station):... more
AerospaceTowards X-51A WaveRider's first Mach 6.0 flight
Washington, USA - By the end of the year
All technical operations in preparation of Boeing X-51A WaveRider's first flight have been completed. The new experimental aircraft should perform its first test flight at a speed of about Mach 6.0 (7300... more