ESA Mars orbiter prepares for atmosphere plunge // Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine

While many people are taking it easy for the holiday season, ESA is gearing up for a very busy New Year. On January 19, the space agency will begin an unprecedented and complicated year-long maneuver to radically alter the orbit of the ExoMars 2016 Trace Gas Orbiter around Mars using the Red Planet's atmosphere as a giant brake.
.. Continue Reading ESA Mars orbiter prepares for atmosphere plunge
Category: Space
Tags: MarsExomarsOrbitESA Related Articles: ExoMars sharpens its scientific tools ExoMars uses new navigation technique to tack for the Red Planet Contact lost with Schiaparelli lander as ExoMars 2016 arrives at the Red Planet Images suggest Schiaparelli Mars lander exploded on impact New Mars orbiter provides tantalizing close-up of the Red Planet ExoMars set for Mars rendezvous after communications failure ----
Heavy-lift drone could carry a person // Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine

When it comes to industrial copter-type drones, it's easy to think that there are just two varieties: little ones that carry Amazon-type small packages, and full-sized unmanned helicopters. Griff Aviation, however, recently announced an aircraft that sits somewhere between the two. The Norwegian company's Griff 300 weighs 75 kg (165 lb) on its own, and can reportedly lift a payload of up to 225 kg (496 lb).
.. Continue Reading Heavy-lift drone could carry a person
Category: Drones
Tags: UAVDelivery drones Related Articles: Grasping drone brings new meaning to "armed aircraft" Government gives green light to French drone delivery service UPS seeks out Roomba-maker to help put delivery drones in the sky Rwanda's blood-delivering drones to service 20 hospitals this summer 7-Eleven deploys donut delivery drone Peer-to-peer Pegasus drone allows pilots to take deliveries into their own hands ----
Embraer CEO: Political uncertainty not good for investors, passengers ATWOnline Global political and economic uncertainties are creating a difficult environment for those in the air transport business and their customers, the head of Embraer believes. Embraer CEO Paulo Cesar Silva told ATW editors last week that while President ...
Swarm UAV Capabilities will Enhance Ground Units Effectiveness i-HLS - Israel Homeland Security Unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) have long proven beneficial in such difficult areas, but their value to ground troops could be vastly amplified if troops could control scores or even hundreds of these robotic units ...
China's Xianglong HALE UAV to enter service shortly, says report IHS Jane's 360 China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) will soon take delivery of production variants of the Guizhou Aviation Aircraft Corporation Xianglong (Soaring Dragon) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the state-owned China Daily newspaper reported on 6 December.
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 20, 2016 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] and partner Saab [Stockholm: SAABB] today completed the first flight of their all-new T-X aircraft, which is designed specifically for the U.S. Air Force’s training requirements.
During the 55-minute flight, lead T-X Test Pilot Steven Schmidt and Chief Pilot for Air Force Programs Dan Draeger, who was in the seat behind Schmidt, validated key aspects of the single-engine jet and demonstrated the performance of the low-risk design.
“I’ve been a part of this team since the beginning, and it was really exciting to be the first to train and fly,” Schmidt said. “The aircraft met all expectations. It’s well designed and offers superior handling characteristics. The cockpit is intuitive, spacious and adjustable, so everything is within easy reach.”
“It was a smooth flight and a successful test mission,” Draeger added. “I had a great all-around view throughout the flight from the instructor’s seat, which is critical during training.”
Both pilots trained for the flight using the complete Boeing T-X system, which includes ground-based training and simulation.
With one engine, twin tails, stadium seating and an advanced cockpit with embedded training, the Boeing T-X is more affordable and flexible than older, existing aircraft.
Boeing and Saab revealed their first two T-X aircraft in September. The second is currently in ground testing and expected to fly in early 2017.
T-X will replace the Air Force’s aging T-38 aircraft. Initial operating capability is planned for 2024.
Get the latest Boeing T-X updates at www.boeing.com/t-x or by searching #NewBoeingTX on Twitter. Media can also access photos and video of the first flight at http://bds.navigon.net; user name: TX_2016; password: TX4USAF; folder: T-X. Continue to check back for updated content.
Swedish defense and security company Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defense to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs. Saab is a $4 billion business with approximately 14,000 employees in about 35 countries. Follow us on Twitter: @Saab.
Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth fighter took a lot of heat last week when president-elect Donald Trump slammed the program as "out of control." But the U.S. Air Force general in charge of the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) got the chance to tell his side of the story today during a media briefing.
The UAE Air Force takes part in the air war on Daesh with the most advanced F-16 in the world. And here's some interesting footage. Filmed from aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker with the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, the video below shows United Arab Emirates F-16 Block 60+ Desert Falcons refueling during a mission in […
The first ExoMars mission arrived at the Red Planet in October and now the second mission has been confirmed to complete its construction for a 2020 launch.
ESA and Thales Alenia Space signed a contract today that secures the completion of the European elements of the next mission.
The main objective of the ExoMars programme is to address one of the most outstanding scientific questions of our time: is there, or has there ever been, life on Mars?
The Trace Gas Orbiter will soon be exploring this question from orbit: it will take a detailed inventory of trace gases, such as methane, that might be linked to biological or geological processes. The first test of the orbiter’s science instruments was recently completed.
It will also act as a communications relay for various craft – in particular for 2020’s rover and surface platform.
ESA’s rover will be the first capable of drilling 2 m into Mars, where ancient biomarkers may still be preserved from the harsh radiation environment on the surface.
The Russian platform will carry instruments focused on the local atmosphere and surroundings.
ExoMars is a joint endeavour between ESA and Roscosmos, with important contribution from NASA.
The contract signed in Rome, Italy, secures the completion of the European elements and the rigorous tests to prove they are ready for launch.
These include the rover itself, which will be accommodated within the Russian descent module, along with the carrier module for cruise and delivery to Mars.
ESA is also contributing important elements of the descent module, such as the parachute, radar, inertial measurement unit, UHF radio elements, and the onboard computer and software.
The science instruments for the rover and surface platform are funded by national agencies of ESA member states, Roscosmos and NASA following calls to the scientific community.
The structural models of the carrier and rover are expected to be delivered in January and February 2017, respectively, along with structural and thermal models of the various descent module elements.
“ExoMars is a cornerstone of ESA’s exploration programme,” says David Parker, ESA’s Director of Human Spaceflight and Robotic Exploration. “Using its miniaturised life-search laboratory and advanced robotic technology, the mission will explore the Red Planet in search of new evidence to answer questions that have long fascinated humanity.
“Following the renewed support demonstrated by ESA member states in the recent Ministerial Council, this new contract allows us to complete the flight models of the European elements and keeps us on track for a July 2020 launch.”
“The steadfastness and tenacity of both the European and Italian space agencies has reassured all program partners, and enabled us to continue our production work so we can go ahead with this new and very complex mission,” says Donato Amoroso, Deputy CEO of Thales Alenia Space.
The landing site for the mission is still under consideration, with Oxia Planum a strong candidate. The target region shows evidence for a past wet environment that may have had suitable conditions for preserving ancient biosignatures. ESA and Roscosmos are expected to confirm the landing site around six months before launch.
After two years of development and testing, a commercial drone delivery operation has officially received the government go-ahead in the south of France. The General Directorate for Civil Aviation recently granted authorization to DPDgroup, the international express subsidiary of French postal service Le Groupe La Poste, to operate a weekly delivery service stretching between two depots in the Provence region.
The General Directorate for Civil Aviation (DGAC) has authorised DPDgroup, the international express subsidiary of Le Groupe La Poste, to operate a regular commercial line in the Var department of France.
Following two years of tests, crowned with success, DPDgroup, GeoPost's international parcel delivery network and international express subsidiary of Le Groupe La Poste, received authorisation from the General Directorate for Civil Aviation to deliver parcels using drones on a regular 15km route.
For the first time worldwide, a regular commercial route makes it possible to deliver parcels by drone.
Once a week, the DPDgroup drone travels between Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Beaume and Pourrières, in south of France (Provence region). The route makes it possible to delivery items to a cut-off incubator of companies including a dozen start-ups specialized in technology. Their parcels now delivered by Chronopost and DPD France will be sent by drone from the Pick-up point in Saint-Maximin.
This represent a new way of addressing the issue of last-mile deliveries, especially when it comes to areas that are difficult to access.
For both the departure and arrival of the drone, a delivery terminal is used to secure the parcel loading phases, from take-off to landing and placement of the parcel.
The terminal features
a structure protecting access to the drone during landing and take-off phases,
an automated carriage system for transporting the parcel,
an electronics system devoted to the safety of handling operations around the drone
A long-standing project
It was back in June 2014 that DPDgroup, in partnership with Atechsys, an SME based in south of France, begin conducting tests to develop the drone. After numerous tests and over 600 hours of flight time, the DPDgroup drone demonstrated, in September 2015, its ability to fly in complete autonomy as it transported a parcel weighing 1.5kg over 14km.
These tests validate the approach chosen by DPDgroup aiming to use drones to access cut-off areas (mountains, islands, rural areas, etc.) or areas that are difficult to access.
The first commercial line represents a new step in the program being led by DPDgroup. After the testing phase, the experimentation phase on the regular route can now begin.
Technical features:
Range: up to 20km
Payload: up to 3kg
Max speed: 30km/h
Navigation system capable of transmitting up to 50km
6 electric rotors, carbon fibre chassis
Latest-generation embedded electronics
On-board GPS and camera with live data stream
Redundant electronics
Automatic parachute (detection of anomalies during flight and automatic deployment in case of fall)
About DPDgroup
DPDgroup is the second largest international parcel delivery network in Europe. DPDgroup combines innovative technologies and local expertise to provide simple, flexible services for both senders and recipients. Through its Predict service, DPDgroup has established new service standards by placing customers’ at the centre of the delivery process. With 60,000 experts and a network of over 26,000 pick-up points, DPDgroup delivers 3.6 million parcels in 230 countries every day, through its four brands: DPD, Chronopost, SEUR and Interlink Express.
DPDgroup is the parcel delivery network of GeoPost, which reported revenues of €5.7 billion this year. GeoPost is a holding company owned by Le Groupe La Poste.
About Atechsys and the centre for studying and testing autonomous vehicles (CEEMA)
Atechsys was founded on the idea that each application will require a specific drone. At a time when off-the-shelf drones are being produced, Atechsys develops the technological building blocks which, when assembled, create a drone that is perfectly suited to the customer's specifications. This is what is called the third generation drone. Such a unique positioning on the market, combined with the fact it has full control over the value chain, puts Atechsys in a position to let its products fly. With nine employees and €650,000 in revenues in 2013, Atechsys features among the leading companies in the professional civil drone market.
CEEMA is the leading civil drone testing centre in Europe. Founded in 2008, this 65-hectare aeronautical platform has become a standard-setter in its field. The centre boasts a reserved flight area for testing drones weighing up to 150kg. In 2010, CEEMA set up its first business incubator devoted to civil and drone applications. Accredited by the French government in 2013, this ecosystem that is both stimulating and reassuring for entrepreneurs is now home to 15 companies and has created thirty or so long-term jobs.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced the Gulfstream G600 has completed its first flight, officially kicking off the aircraft’s flight-test program. Two additional G600 test aircraft have been inducted into the flight-test center in anticipation of their flights early next year.
“Launching the G600’s flight-test program is a milestone for us and our customers, who have guided the vision for this aircraft from the beginning,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “We look forward to delivering this aircraft to them in 2018. Today’s flight, which went flawlessly, represents a significant step forward in the journey to certification and delivery.”
The G600 departed Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport at 1:50 p.m. Dec. 17 and spent 2 hours and 53 minutes in the air. The aircraft was piloted by Gulfstream experimental test pilots Scott Martin and Todd Abler, with Flight Test engineer Nathaniel Rutland providing on-board support.
“This flight went exactly as anticipated, thanks in large part to the investments we have made in our ground-based laboratories,” Burns said. “This flight is the perfect way to wrap up 2016 and set the tone for a successful 2017.”
The G600 has been designed with input from customers to ensure an unparalleled passenger experience. It has the longest cabin in its class, satellite communications and high-speed internet and can accommodate up to four living areas to create distinct yet flexible spaces for work, entertainment, dining and rest. Fourteen panoramic windows ̶ the largest in the industry ̶ a low cabin altitude and 100 percent fresh air contribute to the superior cabin environment, helping passengers feel refreshed and rested upon arrival.
The G600 can travel 6,200 nautical miles/11,482 kilometers at Mach 0.85 and 4,800 nm/8,890 km at Mach 0.90, and its maximum operating speed is Mach 0.925, the same maximum speed as the flagship Gulfstream G650ER.
Airbus will supply four types of aircraft: its medium-haul A320 and A321 aircraft and the long-haul A330 and A350, he said, in remarks confirming Iran's decision to drop the A380 superjumbo from a draft deal signed in Paris in January. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-aircraft-idUSKBN1480HJ
Alfred Mtilatila, director of the Department of Civil Aviation, said the launch of the testing corridor is largely supported by UNICEF-Malawi as a pilot project using unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS, for transporting dried blood samples for the early diagnosis of HIV in infants.
"We would like to establish a designated area where we will permit different types of unmanned aerial vehicles so that we will be able to come up with the right type of vehicles which can be used for different purposes," Mtilatila said.
THE UNMANNED FRONTIER: Drone entrepreneurs take advantage of new FAA rule Evening News and Tribune Now, hopeful drone entrepreneurs can take a test quizzing them on their knowledge of airspace classifications and emergency procedures. If they pass, they can be like Zahnd: enterprising users of unmanned aircraft systems, or drones. "To me, it was a ...
Northrop's New Combat Drone Could Outclass Boeing F/A-18, Lockheed F-35 Motley Fool One year ago, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) tapped Northrop Grumman to build it a TERN prototype, capable of launching from and landing on small naval warships. Just six months later, before TERN had even conducted its ...
ALERT Two Aeroflot Airbus A330 clipped wing tips at Moscow-Sheremetyevo Airport yesterday @masha_iva/Instagram-@AirCrashMayday pic.twitter.com/DeIYM1Iyar
The U.S. Navy has temporarily grounded all its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler jets after a ground incident at Whidbey Island. The U.S. Navy Naval Air Forces commander has suspended flight operations of both Super Hornet and Growler types after a canopy incident involving an EA-18G from the VAQ-132 "Scorpions" caused unspecified injuries to […] https://theaviationist.com/2016/12/18/all-u-s-navy-super-hornets-and-growlers-grounded-after-incident-injured-aircrew/
It is an amazingly rewarding feeling to spend such an intense and focused time working on CYGNSS and then, in a matter of just a few hours, have the entire constellation suddenly come to life. I am excited (and a little exhausted) and really looking forward to diving into the engineering data in the coming days, and then into the science data in the weeks to follow.
Go CYGNSS!!
–Chris
Mission Update - December 15, 2016 Our Pegasus rocket successfully launched NASA's Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) from our L-1011 Stargazer aircraft this morning at 8:37 a.m. EST, and completed payload deployment at 8:52 a.m. To learn more about the CYGNSS mission, visit NASA's blog here. About the Mission
The three-stage Pegasus XL will be used to deploy eight small satellites for NASA’s Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission into a Low-Earth orbit. Pegasus is carried aloft by Orbital ATK’s Stargazer L-1011 aircraft to approximately 40,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, where it will be released and free-fall for five seconds before igniting its first stage rocket motor. With its unique delta-shaped wing, Pegasus will deliver these satellites into orbit in a little over 10 minutes.
CYGNSS, developed by the University of Michigan, will probe the inner core of hurricanes to learn about their rapid intensification. CYGNSS is designed to remedy the inability of current remote sensors to see through the heavy rain in the inner core of a hurricane or to observe changes in the storm over short periods of time.
For mission updates, follow us on Twitter @OrbitalATK and on Facebook. Images of the launch campaign are available on our Flickr and Instagramaccounts.
About Pegasus
On April 5, 1990, Orbital ATK began a new era in commercial space flight when our Pegasus rocket was launched from beneath a NASA B-52 aircraft in a mission that originated from Dryden Flight Research Center in California. In the decades since its maiden flight, Pegasus has become the world's standard for affordable and reliable small launch vehicles. It has conducted 42 missions, launching 86 satellites.
This patented air-launch system provides customers with unparalleled flexibility to operate from virtually anywhere on Earth with minimal ground support requirements. Pegasus launches have been conducted from six separate sites in the U.S., Europe and the Marshall Islands, the first time a space launch vehicle has demonstrated such operational flexibility. Pegasus XL is a category 3 NASA-certified vehicle.
Gannets (left) are the largest seabirds in the north Atlantic and hunt fish by diving from height into the sea at up to 60 miles per hour. Flying fish can make powerful, self-propelled leaps out of the water and into the sky, where their wing-like fins help them to glide over considerable distances.
The team from Imperial College London have taken inspiration from these behaviours in their prototype AquaMAV robot. The AquaMAV is designed to collect samples in situations such as monitoring water quality in reservoirs and measuring changes in ocean salinity to gauge the effects of climate change.
By examining the diving qualities of gannets and the leaping behaviour of flying fish, we can make an aerial drone that needs less on board control, making it more robust and more affordable to manufacture.
– Rob Siddall
Department of Aeronautics
Currently, researchers generally have to use boats to manually collect water samples. AquaMAV is designed to be rapid, efficient, and more cost effective than this method. It can also carry out tests in dangerous situations such as in disaster zones or from locations currently inaccessible to people, such as deep under the ocean.
One of the current drawbacks for small scale flying robots is that they generally lack sufficient power to make the transition from water to the air. The team in today’s study say they have potentially overcome this problem with their drone by mimicking the way flying fish make ‘impulsive’ leaps from the water.
The AquaMAV uses carbon dioxide, which is stored internally, to propel itself out of the water. In the air, retractable wings are deployed to help it glide, much in the same way that fins help flying fish.
The drone only weighs 200 grams and can currently achieve speeds of around 30 miles per hour from a starting point beneath the water. It can make the aerial leap even if conditions on the surface are rough. The researchers say AquaMAV can currently fly around five kilometres to and from an analysis. The team say the aerial range would enable those analysing the samples to be at a safe distance away from a potentially hazardous situation.
Dr Mirko Kovac, the director of the Aerial Robotics Lab in Imperial’s Department of Aeronautics, said: “During an emergency scenario such as a major oil leak an AquaMav could fly and dive into isolated patch of water, where it could collect samples or loiter and record environmental data. The vehicle could then perform a short take-off and return to its launch site to submit samples for analysis. This would enable a fast, targeted response that could not be matched by the current methods.”
Previous studies have, for example, demonstrated the effectiveness of water sampling using drones that have large multi-rotational propellers. This approach is more complex, relying on very accurate sensing and control systems to maintain the drone in the air while sample probes are carefully lowered into the water to collect specimens.
The team say the advantage of their small, fixed-wing AquaMAV is that it can travel faster and over longer distances compared to hovering vehicles. The plunge diving approach, which mimics how the gannet dives, reduces the need for highly accurate control. This means that the AquaMAV would be more cost effective to manufacture because it needs less gadgetry, and more could be bought and deployed, to give a more in-depth analysis.
Rob Siddall, lead author and postgraduate from Imperial’s Department of Aeronautics, added: “We are really excited by our AquaMAV prototype. We believe we may have overcome the power density problem which makes launching out of the water so challenging for small drones. Nature often has an elegant way of solving engineering challenges. By examining the diving qualities of gannets and the leaping behaviour of flying fish, we can make an aerial drone that needs less on board control, making it more robust and more affordable to manufacture.”
The researchers are currently looking to collaborate with oceanographers and various water authorities to take their testing to the next stage. The aim is to deploy the robot in a wide variety of scenarios, to test the robot’s limits in waves, wind and weather, and examine the physics of high speed dives into water. An additional propulsion system is also under development to make the AquaMAV fully aquatic, capable of long periods of submarine operation.
A drone has been equipped with feathers to increase its precision during flight. The bio-inspired device can spread or close its wings while flying, making it easier to maneuver and more resistant in high winds http://actu.epfl.ch/news/a-drone-that-flies-almost-like-a-bird/
There is much to learn from the natural world when it comes to robotics, and there may be no better exponents of this than the folks in the Laboratory for Intelligent Systems (LIS) at Switzerland's École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. For their latest bio-inspired project, the scientists have crafted a drone with a feathered, shape-shifting wingspan that allows it to fly fast, turn sharply and endure strong winds. Kind of like a bird. .. Continue Reading It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a ... feathered drone? http://newatlas.com/drone-feathered-wings/47000/
Following the first full-scale testing of its solar-powered Aquila drone back in July, Facebook described the event a success. Well, turns out that wasn't entirelytrue, with the aircraft crashing on the landing and the right wing taking on a bit of damage. This was obviously less than ideal, but the upside is Facebook now has some thoughts on how to better build a drone fit for the purpose of bringing the entire world online.
Wind gusts beyond the capability of the autopilot are blamed for the structural failure of Facebook’s Aquila unmanned aircraft on final approach after its June 28 first flight at Yuma Proving Ground in ...
Northrop Grumman's newest version of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye has made its maiden flight. The latest iteration of the carrier-borne turboprop airborne early warning aircraft – designed for the US Navy starting in the late 1950s – the new Hawkeye now has the ability to refuel in the air from a tanker aircraft. This allows it to remain on station longer and operate at longer range.
Europe’s own Galileo satellite navigation system has begun operating, with the satellites in space delivering positioning, navigation and timing information to users around the globe.
Today, the European Commission, owner of the system, formally announced the start of Galileo Initial Services, the first step towards full operational capability.
Further launches will continue to build the satellite constellation, which will gradually improve the system performance and availability worldwide.
ESA has overseen the design and deployment of Galileo on behalf of the Commission, with system operations and service provision due to be entrusted to the European Global Navigation Satellite System Agency next year.
After five years of launches there are now 18 satellites in orbit. The most recent four, launched last month (see liftoff replay), are undergoing testing ahead of joining the constellation next spring.
The full Galileo constellation will consist of 24 satellites plus orbital spares, intended to prevent any interruption in service.
ESA Director general Jan Woerner noted, “For ESA, this is a very important moment in the programme. We know that the performance of the system is excellent. The announcement of Initial Services is the recognition that the effort, time and money invested by ESA and the Commission has succeeded, that the work of our engineers and other staff has paid off, that European industry can be proud of having delivered this fantastic system.”
Paul Verhoef, ESA’s Director of the Galileo Programme and Navigation-related Activities, added, “Today’s announcement marks the transition from a test system to one that is operational. We are proud to be a partner in the Galileo programme. Still, much work remains to be done. The entire constellation needs to be deployed, the ground infrastructure needs to be completed and the overall system needs to be tested and verified. In addition, together with the Commission we have started work on the second generation, and this is likely to be a long but rewarding adventure.”
Initial ServicesGalileo is now providing three service types, the availability of which will continue to be improved.
The Open Service is a free mass-market service for users with enabled chipsets in, for instance, smartphones and car navigation systems. Fully interoperable with GPS, combined coverage will deliver more accurate and reliable positioning for users.
Galileo’s Public Regulated Service is an encrypted, robust service for government-authorised users such as civil protection, fire brigades and the police.
The Search and Rescue Service is Europe’s contribution to the long-running Cospas–Sarsat international emergency beacon location. The time between someone locating a distress beacon when lost at sea or in the wilderness will be reduced from up to three hours to just 10 minutes, with its location determined to within 5 km, rather than the previous 10 km.
Finding your wayLike all satnav systems, Galileo operations rely on the extremely precise measurement of time – around 10 billionths of a second on average.
Because all electromagnetic waves, including radio, travel at a fixed speed – just under 30 cm each billionth of a second – the time it takes for Galileo signals to reach a user receiver yields distance measurements. All the receiver has to do is multiply the travel time by the speed of light.
A minimum of four satellites must be visible to pinpoint position: one each to fix latitude, longitude and altitude, with another to ensure synchronised timings. More satellites provide a greater level of service coverage and precision.
The public will begin benefiting as Galileo-capable devices enter the marketplace: 17 companies, representing more than 95% of global supply, now produce Galileo-ready chips.
‘Galileo System Time’ is set to become an important utility in its own right, essential for synchronising worldwide banking, power and data networks.
Allo Bruxelles, ici l'espace. Près de vingt ans après la naissance, en 1999, du projet Galileo, le « GPS européen » est enfin entré en service ce jeudi. Le lancement par Ariane 5 mi-novembre de quatre nouveaux satellites, portant leur total à 18 en orbite, a permis à la constellation européenne d'atteindre la taille nécessaire à son lancement opérationnel. Il reste partiel : le système ne sera pleinement opérationnel qu'en 2020, après la mise en orbite de douze nouveaux satellites.
Airbus and Local Motors Complete the Cargo Drone Challenge Commercial UAV News The rules were simple and the objectives clear: to design a safe, easy to operate and affordable UAV solution adaptable for many different civil applications. The winner had to present a drone that allows for simple reconfigurations, in a safe and ...
Entrevista a German Fisher, en la que cuenta las dificultades que le están poniendo para volar drones... ¡cuando la ventaja de volar drones respecto a aviones convencionales es que todo el mundo puede hacerlo!
The kind of rovers that drive on the Moon would be useless on Mars. So how will astronauts get around the Red Planet? The mission statement for Journey to Mars declares that Nasa expects to land an astronaut on the Red Planet by the mid-2030's. But in order to achieve this goal, Nasa will need to...
Drone jamming, for future clashes Antennas are the latest weapon in the war on drones. Small, unmanned flying robots can scout the locations of troops, help artillery commanders aim attacks, and sometimes even carry explosives themselves. To catch drones, police and militaries are experimenting w...
The company will not meet its 2017 deadline. It's official: SpaceX is not going to meet its 2017 deadline to carry its first astronauts into space. The first crewed flight of the Dragon capsule has been pushed back from August 2017 to May 2018. Since NASA retired the space shuttle in 2011, Americ...
---- UK, France and Spain sign A400M support service contract with Airbus // Air Force Technology News Press Releases
The UK, France and Spain have signed a long-term global support service contract with Airbus Defence and Space for their new fleet of A400M Atlas aircraft. ----
---- Lockheed completes critical design review phase of GPS III upgrades // Air Force Technology News Press Releases
Lockheed Martin has announced that it has passed a milestone in developing the upgrades for the US Air Force's (USAF) current GPS satellite ground control system. ----
---- NASA Announces Early Stage Innovation Space Technology Research Grants // Aero-News Network
Thirteen University-Led Proposals Selected For Up To $500,000 Each NASA has selected 13 university-led proposals for the study of innovative, early stage technologies that address high priority needs of America's space program. ----
Cleveland OH (SPX) Dec 13, 2016 Car, truck, train and aircraft manufacturers have made great strides in recent years to reduce fuel consumption, resulting in consumer savings and lower emissions. With NASA's help, the aircraft industry is striving to increase fuel efficiency even more. One way to do that is to create new aircraft engine designs. Engineers at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland are testing a new fan
Engineers Begin Next Phase of Unmanned Aircraft Technologies Trials in Flying Testbed I-Connect007 As part of collaborative efforts across the UK to assess how autonomous air vehicles could be integrated in UK airspace, scientists and engineers at BAE Systems have begun another tranche of ground-breaking unmanned aircraft technology trials using a ...
Exploring the Present and Future of the Drone Industry Commercial UAV News If you've ever done a search for "commercial drone" or something similar, you've likely come across one of Colin Snow's articles. A 25-year technology industry veteran whose interest and expertise in commercial drones stems from his experience making
Capt. Andy Gibbons: Navy Begins to Integrate MQ-25 UAV With ... ExecutiveGov The U.S. Navy has started to integrate the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial vehicle with its aircraft carriers, C4ISRNET reported Tuesday. Mark Pomerleau writes Capt. Andy Gibbons, program manager for carrier and air integration at program executive ...
