Aerospace
4,442 news found
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
AerospaceVittori received by the speaker of Italian Chamber of Deputies
Rome, Italy - Which role Italy is expected to play in the space sector?
The speaker of Italian Chamber of Deputies, Pier Ferdinando Casini, received last Friday at Montecitorio the Italian spaceman Colonel Roberto Vittori after the Eneide mission aboard the International Space... more
AerospaceMysterious object wanders the solar system
Washington, USA - It could be a planet composed by rock and ice
Astronomers of the Institute of Astrophysics in Andalusia (Spain) would have found a great object in the solar system which should not be larger than 1500 kilometers across. It would be composed by ice... more
AerospaceDiscovery docked at the ISS
Washington, USA - To fear for the integrity of the shuttle
Discovery docked at the International Space Station (ISS) and today its crew started to unload the 15 tons of supplies. During the spacewalk, Shuttle’s astronauts planned to control close up the damages c... more
AerospaceDiscovery (3): the Shuttle "drew" a trail in the sky carrying Raffaello
Rome, Italy - The module produced by Alcatel Alenia Space is being deployed for the transport of food and devices towards the ISS
The launch of the Discovery Space Shuttle also encourages progress for Italian space industry. The Raffaello module produced by the new Alcatel Alenia Space joint-venture (consisting of Italian holding... more
AerospaceDiscovery (2): crew is trying to found possible damages
Washington, USA - They used a mechanic arm equipped with a camera
Discovery’s astronauts are at the work into the space for the first time and have had, already after 12 hours from the lift-off, starting a scrupulous inspection of the US space shuttle in order to verify t... more
AerospaceCan Discovery suffer from debris falling off?
Washington, USA - NASA's technicians are concerned about it as relive with the nightmare of Columbia
Some debris of Discovery’ thermic covering detached from the Shuttle during take-off would have hit the fuselage, but NASA is not currently able to say if it caused damages (see for details AVIONEWS). W... more
AerospaceDiscovery (3): the launch was successful, shuttle blasted off
Washington, USa - The event marks the US return into the space after more than two years
The latest, unfortunate space mission of a NASA shuttle occurred in 2003 when the Columbia broke up returning from the earth’s atmosphere killing seven cosmonauts. After more than two years and after s... more
AerospaceDiscovery to orbit if weather bulletin enables it
Washington, USA - There is the 40% chance to put off the launch
Florida Cape Canaveral NASA Centre is ready for Discovery’s shot. But new problems related to weather conditions could still bar the shuttle from departing in two weeks (see for details AVIONEWS). The c... more
AerospaceDiscovery (2): Cape Canaveral's weather conditions improved
Washington, USA - The first lady Laura Bush will attend the launch event
It began to get light and sky is clear and blue in the United States, so shuttle’s departure for the 114th mission is taken for granted now. Meteorologist increased the percentage of success up to 80%. T... more
AerospaceDiscovery's launch: trying again on next Tuesday
Washington, USA - Problems which prevented the launch from being performed on last July 13 appear solved
NASA, after solving the problem affecting the sensor indicating the external tank hydrogen level (see for details AVIONEWS 1 and 2), will try again on next Tuesday July 26 at 10:39 am local time (04:39... more
AerospaceASI: the Italian national space plan 2006-2008 to be released in September
Rome, Italy - The European Vega rocket carrier and the Cosmo Sky-Med satellite system are among the most important programmes
ASI (Italian Space Agency) will show Italian Government its national space plan for the 2006-2008 period by next September. It deals with important industrial and research efforts as Italy will play a... more
AerospaceIran about to put its first communications satellite into orbit
Teheran, Iran - It will include Italian technology as well but Iranian space research will go on with collaboration with Russia, Thailand and China
Iran is going to put its first communications satellite into orbita by the end of this year. It deals with the Mesbah, a national product also produced with Italian technology and it will launched to the... more
AerospaceRussia: new space programme has started
Moscow, Russia - Satellite systems and a new spacecraft by 2015
The Russian space programme 2006-2015 is finally ready. Some USD 11bn will be invested by the next ten years and destined to several projects both for satellite purposes and for the development of a new... more
AerospaceBlack smoke-signal for Shuttle's launch (2): it has recurred the same failure found in April
Washington, USA - The problem disappeared in the following tests
Nasa has until July 31 to launch Shuttle: after that the mission will have to delay until September 9, when the International Space Station again comes into the right position for connecting Discovery. A... more
AerospaceBlack smoke-signal for Shuttle's launch
Washington, USA - It shuold wait at least other two days before turning into the space
NASA announced that it needs at least 48 hours for finding solution to the problem occurred at sensor indicating the level of liquid hydrogen fuel in the external fuel tank which forced to stop Discovery’s l... more