Aerospace
4,407 news found
AerospaceUSA: NASA to test an Italian biomedical suit without gravity
Washington, USA – Trial is scheduled on Saturday and even an Italian engineer will attend there
A test designed by NASA and devoted to analyses on effects generated by gravity lack on human body will be held on next Saturday, November 5, on board an aircraft flying between 8000 and 11,000 m. On such... more
AerospaceHurricane "Wilma": NASA's Space Center in Titusville closed
Washington, USA - All employees sent home
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Titusville, Florida, yesterday has remained close because of the threat of hurricane "Wilma" (see for details AVIONEWS). So NASA has decided to send all center’s employees hom... more
AerospaceKarel Van Miert new mediator between EU and industry for "Galileo" project
Brussels, Belgium - European Commission announced it in a press release
"Over the past few weeks, some decisions at industrial level have been delayed for various reasons, partly because of the complexity of the industrial organisation. We want to see urgent progress. The... more
AerospaceAero Vodochody "Into orbit" with the first contribution in the space sector
Prague, Czech Republic - It attends to the production of a structural component for the European Ariane 5 rocket
Czech group Aero Vodochody started participating to space programmes. After the great experience gained in the aeronautical sector, most of all concerning the production of military basic and advanced... more
AerospaceMig-31: the Mach 3 interceptor turns into a micro-satellite platform-launcher
Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan - A joint Kazakh Government-MIG group initiative to start a feasibility study in the space field
Kazakhstan and Russia intend to cooperate for the development of new space solutions concerning rocket-carriers and in the satellite field. The main newness regards recent talks between Alma-Ata Administration... more
AerospaceSpace: medicine, Aeronautics' Centre towards excellence
Rome, Italy - Synergy with University and Space agencies
"The aerospace medicine centre of the Italian Air Force is candidate as excellence centre at international level for astronauts’ training and for studing the effects on health of the human missions in t... more
AerospaceISS: ceiling increase failed, another attempt to be performed today
Moscow, Russia - The Progress rocket carrier would have switched off the engines too soon when considering schedule
Russian Space Agency Roskosmos failed in an attempt to increase the International Space Station (ISS) ceiling increase. According to schedule, it had been forecasted that the ISS was moved additional 10... more
AerospaceWill the Space Shuttle be flying again in May?
Washington, USA - The May 3-23 period would be an ideal one for it but some safety problems must be solved
The Space Shuttle could fly again in May with a new NASA mission. Experts from the US space agency would think that the ideal period to perform a new launch is the one included in particular between May... more
AerospaceNorthrop Grumman/Boeing: a modular solution for the future space explorations
Washington, USA - A joint project on the so called Crew Exploration Vehicle has been shown
Northrop Grumman and Boeing showed recently their own joint project for the production of a modular spacecraft for the future, by which to reach the ISS (International Space Station) from the Earth and... more
AerospaceChina: mission accomplished for the Shenzhou VI
Beijing, China - The two Chinese astronauts have landed and they would be in good health condition
The two Chinese astronauts which performed the second space mission of the People Republic have landed (see for details AVIONEWS). The arrival of the Shenzhou VI capsule in Mongolia occurred on Monday... more
AerospaceChina: is space research hiding military purposes?
Beijing, China - Asian and US analysts would think so, putting into evidence some key aspects of the matter
Asian and US military analysts are focusing on the influence that Chinese space research can have concerning defence. One should not limit to consider the first Chinese space missions as merely promotional,... more
AerospaceThe Globemaster III "Turns itself into" a rocket carrier
Washington, USA – The launch of a rocket from a rear door of the airplane has been tested scheduling to put satellites into orbit later
No geographical limit and low costs when launching satellites by resorting to bug cargo airplanes. US Air Force and DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) are trying to do it and believe in... more
Aerospace"Moon Base: a Challenge for Humanity": international conference on human return to the Moon and the first man to Mars
Washington, USA - For Italy, Finmeccanica and Alenia Space Italia participated too
It has been discussed the human return to the Moon and the first trip to planet Mars. The international conference "Moon Base: a Challenge for Humanity", followed by an initiative held at Venice last May,... more
AerospaceChina: second space mission started
Beijing, China - The Shenzhou VI spacecraft with two astronauts on board took off
Two Chinese astronauts performing the second Chinese space mission left today aboard the Shenzhou VI spacecraft at 09:00 am (local time). This operation will last for five days and the two cosmonauts wil... more
AerospaceCapsule carrying the third space tourist on board back to Earth
Moscow, Russia - Moreover, it is being waited for the second Chinese space mission scheduled between October 12 and 15
Soyuz capsule carrying two astronauts and the third space tourist in history, US citizen Gregory Olsen, arrived on the Earth. Landing occurred in the Khazakhstan’s territory as scheduled. Olsen was enabled t... more
AerospaceFuture of space missions to be more and more robotized
Washington, USA – NASA is carrying out various projects for construction and repairing of orbital stations or for astronauts transport on the surface
NASA should be able to warrant a series of robotized solutions for space missions which will be performed between 2010 and 2020 and for the following ones, solutions which must enable on the one hand to... more
AerospaceESA lost the "Cryosat" satellite
Paris, France - It fell headlong in the Artic Ocean due to a failure to the Russian rocket carrier which carried it
Mission of the European "Cryosat" satellite, produced by ESA (European Space Agency) in order to monitor Artic condition for three years, failed. The launch of the Russian "Rokot" rocket carrier, happened... more
AerospaceUSAF: future threats to be faced from the outer space
Washington, USA – Attack and enemy surveillance could be performed by means located quite far from the surface
Representatives from US Air Force intend to be sure they can face any threat by the next 20 years, forecasting several operational scenarios. Two sectors prove mainly relevant, according to the armed forces’ e... more
AerospaceGoogle together with NASA in space research projects
Washington, USA - California-based company to design technological solutions with the US Space Agency
Google will cooperate with the US Space Agency in space research projects and will build a new campus at the NASA’s research center situated in the US Navy ex-air base at Moffett Field, in the Silicon V... more
AerospaceISS opened its "hatches" to the third private visit
Moscow, Russia - The latest space tourist arrived just today aboard the orbital station by a Soyuz spaceship together with two astronauts
After US citizen Dennis Tito and South African Mark Shuttleworth, Greg Olsen (another American) is the third private to be hosted on the International Space Station (ISS). The Russian Soyuz TMA-7 spaceship... more
AerospaceUSA: "eyes" from the space to detect missile threats
Washington, USA – Lockheed Martin produced a sensor destined to be installed aboard a dedicated military satellite
Lockheed Martin produced an anti-missile warning system with an infra-red sensor named SBIRS (Space-Based Infrared System) which will have to be installed aboard a military satellite and put into orbit... more
AerospaceGalileo: Saudi Arabia intends to participate
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - European Commission is analysing such proposal after that Israel, China, Ukraine and India joined the programme
After setting the full compatibility between the US GPS global positioning system and the European Galileo satellite system and confirming cooperation commitments by Israel, China, Ukraine and India for... more
AerospaceGalileo: additional funds are necessary for the European global positioning system
Brussels, Belgium - Meanwhile, Germany asked for larger participation for its firms
Despite the foundation of Galileo Joint Undertaking, a body by which to ensure cooperation between the two European consortium called iNavSat (EADS and Thales) and Eurely (Finmeccanica and Alcatel) for... more
AerospacePoste Italiane issued a Mars stamp from the Italian Space Agency
Rome, Italy - Meanwhile we learn that the red planet could be affected by "Marsquake"
Poste Italiane, the Italian Mail Service, issued a stamp with the hologram dedicated to Mars exploration from the Italian Space Agency: the stamp is available for sale starting from today in all Italian... more
AerospaceMan back to the moon before 2020
Washington, USA - Mission should start the works of construction of lunar base
USD 104bn over the next ten years to bring the man back to the moon: it is the amount declared by the NASA which ensured the nation by saying that it is an investment that can be made despite of the efforts... more
AerospaceMalaysia: Telespazio to build the first South-Eastern Asia space centre
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Together with Malaysian company AKRIZ, telecommunications, internet and earth observation services to be provided starting in 2008
AKRIZ, as a Malaysian aerospace company, has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Telespazio (Finmeccanica group) which actually endorses the beginning of the programme for building the first... more
AerospaceSpacecraft Shenzhou VI into the space carrying 2 Chinese astronauts next October
Beijing, China - Mission provides for 121 hours staying in space aboard the spacecraft
China’s second manned space mission will occur probably on the second decade of October, after October 7, the final day of the National Day holiday (see for details AVIONEWS). Spacecraft Shenzhou VI w... more
AerospaceBaikhonur: two Russian rocket carriers took off in two days
Moscow, Russia - Used to carry a cargo spaceship with restocking devoted to the ISS and put a Canadian satellite into orbit
A double launch from Baikhonur Base (Kazakhstan) within two days. A Soyuz U rocket carrier took off yesterday, carrying the Progress M cargo spaceship with restocking including food, oxygen and various... more
AerospaceAlso India joined the Galileo satellite programme
Brussels, Belgium - A new partner for EU after Israel, Ukraine and China
After Israeli, Ukrainian and Chinese joining to the European Galileo satellite programme, also India has officialized its participation for the project of the new global positioning system as an alternative... more
AerospaceNew information from Cassini spacecraft: Saturn's rings made up of soft flocks or snow balls
London, UK - Respect to previous observations the rings have radically changed over the past 25 years
At the meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Cambridge (UK) have been presented the new data by Cassini spacecraft which found that Saturn’s rings would made up of something very similar to a... more
AerospaceFriendly fire: satellite's help to avoid tragedies
Washington, USA – The system warrants a constant monitoring of situation in the battlefield preventing the worst effects
US Army tries to find a solution against the tragic so called "friendly fire" phenomenon by the resort to satellites. A system able to ensure to single operators a constant monitoring of the situation... more
AerospaceGalileo: test on first satellites have been started
Rome, Italy - Payload's functionality tested in Alenia's facilities
Tests on the first Galileo satellites which form part of what is called the Galileo System, the new global positioning system which is expected to enter into competition with the GPS and the Glonass, started... more
AerospaceHurricane "Katrina" (2): two facilities for Shuttle's components have been damaged
Washington, USA - The launch window from March 4 to March 19 could be cancelled
Hurricane "Katrina" rage damaged two Mississippi’s facilities producing NASA Shuttle’s components (Michoud where fuel tanks are produced and Stennis where rocket engines are tested), placing at risk cha... more
AerospaceRussia: will the Clipper be the Soyuz's and Shuttle's heir?
Moscow, Russia - Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori expressed a positive comment on the Russian programme
The Russian proposal for the future of space transport replacing the Soyuz and the Space Shuttle is called Clipper and Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori proves convinced that it can really represent a... more
AerospaceMcDonnel Douglas awarded with a more than USD 52m contract
Washington, Usa - For technical assistance devoted to the Delta rocket carriers
McDonnell Douglas Corp., Huntington Beach, Calif., is being awarded a $52,424,401 cost-plus award-fee contract modification to provide for Launch Operations and Maintenance, Post Production Support, and... more
AerospaceA Chinese space station on the Moon after 2017?
Beijing, China - This is the hypothesis on which People Republic's scientists are working
Cina intends to perform great leaps forward in the space sector by several missions on the Moon by 2017. The first Chinese-made probe could be able to land on the Earth’s satellite during the next two y... more
AerospaceSpace Shuttle: a new mission not to occur before November
Washington, USA - It is before necessary to solve the structural problems found during the launch of the Discovery
The Space Shuttle will ot be able to fly again before next November. NASA would have decided to ground al the three spacecraft available to date to try to solve the structural problem occurred while the... more
AerospaceRaytheon awarded with an over USD 15m contract
Washington, USA - For distributing video, imagery, and other large data files on satellite devices
Raytheon Systems Co., Reston, Va., is being awarded a $5,140,228 cost-plus award-fee contract modification for the Global Broadcast Service (GBS) program, DoD’s satellite-based system for distributing v... more
AerospaceLockheed Martin awarded with a more than USD 48m contract
Washington, USA - For SBIRS Geosynchronous Elliptical Orbit Satellites
Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., is being awarded a USD 48,583,774 cost-plus award-fee contract modification to provide extended engineering and technical support to conduct planning and... more
AerospaceAriane 5 put the biggest worldwide tele-communications satellite into orbit
Kourou, French Guiana - The Thaicom 4 is added to a three Thai-managed satellites network
The fourth Thai Thaicom Ipstar satellite, devoted to tele-communications, was put into geostationary orbit yesterday. It deals with the biggest and heaviest satellite even produced in this class and the... more
AerospaceMars Reconnaissance Orbiter leaving bound for the Red Planet tomorrow
Washington, USA – The new probe provided with Italian technology as well should reach Mars in March 2006
Departure of the new probe devoted do reach Mars next March is scheduled to occur tomorrow. An American rocket carrier will carry Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter towards the space from Cape Canaveral Base... more
AerospaceUnited Launch Alliance: Boeing-Lockheed Martin space alliance does not worry EU
Brussels, Belgium - European Commission provided its green light for the new joint-venture which will manage the Delta and Atlas rocket carriers for US Administration
United Launch Alliance, as the 50%-50% joint-venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin for the management of the space launch activities with the Delta and the Atlas rocket carriers, was granted with... more
AerospaceDiscovery: Italy proves proud about the Shuttle's success
Rome, Italy - ASI President Vetrella and astronaut Vittori underlined some key aspects about the importance of the mission
The success of the Discovery Space Shuttle’s mission is being also clearly appreciated in Italy both by ASI (Italian Space Agency) President Sergio Vetrella and astronaut Roberto Vittori. Vetrella reminded t... more
AerospaceDiscovery (2): the Shuttle landed in California
Edwards Air Base, USA - The spacecraft's re-entry procedure has been perfectly performed
The Discovery Space Shuttle touched the runway at Californian Edwards Air Base at 06:11 am US time. The American spacecraft’s re-entry procedure was perfectly performed after it began around 05:00 am w... more
AerospaceDiscovery: re-entry to occur today in California or New Mexico
Washington, USA – Bad weather conditions still affecting Florida so that NASA opted for another solution
The re-entry stage of the Discovery Space Shuttle scheduled to happen today proves harder and harder. After the postponement announced yesterday due to bad weather conditions in Florida (see for details... more
AerospaceDiscovery: Space Shuttle's re-entry postponed till tomorrow
Washington, USA – The spacecraft will not fly bound for the Earth today due to bad weather conditions in Florida
The Discovery Space Shuttle is forced to delay its re-entry for one day. Bad weather conditions in Florida would advise against the performance of the step when considering the low visibility degree which... more
AerospaceDiscovery is scheduled to land in Florida on Monday
Washington, USA - The other damage was situated in a point not exposed to heat at the re-entry into the atmosphere, so the 4th spacewalk was unnecessary
Discovery seven astronauts have preparing to departing from the International Space Station (ISS): landing is expected in Florida next Monday. NASA said the 4th spacewalk was unnecessary to repair the... more
AerospaceDiscovery: the first repair was successful
Washington, USA - But NASA's technician inform: "A second intervention could be necessary"
US astronaut Steve Robinson, performing the third spacewalk, succeed to carry out the repair on the shuttle’s underbelly: the American cosmonaut attached to a robotics arm manoeuvred by the Japanese S... more
AerospaceGalileo Programme: ESA selected Turin for Precise Time Facility
Turin, Italy - It will be supplied by a consortium made up of public bodies, Alenia Spazio, Sepa, Sia and Altec
Turin Time Consortium, made up of Finpiemonte, Province, City and CCIAA of Turin, Istituto Galileo Ferraris, Politecnico di Torino, Torino Wireless Fundation, Alenia Spazio, Sepa, Sia and Altec SpA, awarded... more
AerospaceDiscovery: second space walk for two crew members
Washington, USA - Meanwhile NASA recognized its mistakes to have underestimated damages occurred at blast-off
Two Discovery astronauts, the Japanese Soichi Noguchi and US Steve Robinson, began today the second space walk: they are expected to replace a failed gyroscope needed to maintain the International Space... more