Aviation/Space

Cygnus cargo spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station

"Orbital’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft is now on its way to becoming the second commercial cargo vehicle to service the International Space Station. The Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus cargo spacecraft lifted off on schedule at 10:58 am EDT (1458 GMT) Wednesday and placed the Cygnus spacecraft into earth orbit. The spacecraft is carrying 700 kilograms of supplies, more than any previous commercial cargo mission to the station, Orbital’s Frank Culbertson said at a post-launch press conference (a subtle dig at SpaceX’s three Dragon flights to the station.)" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCygnus cargo spacecraft is on its way to the International Space Station

SpaceShipTwo flies a little higher and a little faster

"Virgin officials and investors hailed the flight as bringing the company another step closer to commercial operations. 'We couldn’t be more delighted to have another major supersonic milestone under our belts as we move toward a 2014 start of commercial service,' said Sir Richard Branson. 'The successful completion of all major aspects of the flight mission demonstrates that we are very close to achieving one of Galactic’s key goals: commercializing access to space for the broader public,' said H.E. Khadem Al Qubaisi, chairman of Aabar Investments, a major investor in Virgin Galactic." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSpaceShipTwo flies a little higher and a little faster

Delta and Virgin Atlantic venture gets tentative immunity from antitrust laws

"Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways on Friday won tentative US approval for antitrust immunity for their proposed transatlantic joint venture, officials said. The Department of Transportation said it had recommended approving a request by the two airlines for protection from prosecution over antitrust issues, saying the tie-up would likely increase competition. The antitrust immunity 'would allow the airlines to operate a joint venture on flights between the United States and the United Kingdom,' the department said on its website." Continue reading →

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Peter Schiff: The Unfriendly Skies

"The truth is that our impoverished citizenry can no longer support the airline industry we once had. That's why American and U.S. Air had to merge in order to stay competitive and profitable. That is the sad truth behind the headlines. The government is correct about one thing, the merger would result in fewer choices and higher fares for customers. But given the reduction of our living standards that outcome is impossible to avoid. If our government really wants to protect consumers and allow for more affordable air travel, a better solution would be to reverse the destructive policies that made the merger necessary in the first place." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPeter Schiff: The Unfriendly Skies

Dream Chaser is nearly ready to fly

"Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC’s) Dream Chaser spacecraft performed a 'captive carry' flight at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at California’s Edwards Air Force Base. During the two-hour test, the Dream Chaser engineering test article (ETA)—a full-sized version of the spacecraft, built for atmospheric tests—flew suspended under a helicopter at altitudes of up to 3,780 meters (12,400 feet). Last August, it received one of three Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) awards from NASA, but its award was a 'half-sized' award, valued at $212.5 million. The other two awardees, Boeing and SpaceX, received larger awards: $450 million and $440 million, respectively." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDream Chaser is nearly ready to fly

NASA begins selling shuttle launch platforms

"Nasa is selling three huge mobile platforms used to launch the Apollo moon missions and the space shuttle – adding to the list of historic facilities and equipments it wants private industry to take over, including a shuttle launchpad and its landing runway. The massive steel structures – 7.6 metres high (25ft) 49 by 41 metres on top – were originally built in 1967 for the Apollo moon programme’s Saturn rockets, then modified for the space shuttles, which flew from 1981 until 2011. The Kennedy Space Centre launchpad has attracted competing bids from the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, co-founder of Paypal and chief executive of electric car company Tesla Motors." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNASA begins selling shuttle launch platforms

Can You 3-D Print An Airplane?

"It’s a new phase in the 3-D printing revolution. 'We’re transitioning now to a stage where not only can the machine make something, but the machine can actually make its own parts,' said Gershefeld. Rather than laying down materials flatly, layer after layer, it will be possible to print stronger, interlocking parts that build into huge structures. Just as pixels of different colors come together to form a picture, 3-D pixels will come in different 'colors' or shapes. It’s incredible. If a simple 'Can you 3-D print an airplane?' leads down the road to such innovation, imagine what other inventions are stemming from other questions." Continue reading →

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Scientists emerge after 4 months of space-cooking for simulated Mars mission

"The team lived in a mock-up of a Mars vehicle that was positioned on the side of a Hawaiian volcano, where they experimented with different instant foods and other provisions. For 118 days, Vermeulen and his five team members experimented with a variety of non-perishable ingredients and kept detailed journals of their health, well-being, weight and body mass to determine what foods would be best for a manned Mars mission. NASA recently awarded a $125,000 grant to a researcher who is exploring the possibilities of 3-D printing as a means of producing nutritious, non-perishable foods." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingScientists emerge after 4 months of space-cooking for simulated Mars mission

Virgin Galactic “gearing up” for second powered SpaceShipTwo flight

"After a hiatus of more than three and a half months that has raised questions by some industry observers, Virgin Galactic is making preparations for a second powered test flight of its SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle, the company’s CEO said Friday. He said the company had now signed up about 625 people for suborbital flights, accounting for $125 million in business. That works out to $200,000 per customer, but Whitesides did note that Virgin Galactic had raised its ticket price to $250,000. Those customers come from 54 countries, and range from 'teenagers to 88 years old,' he said. 'We think we can make a really good business out of that.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVirgin Galactic “gearing up” for second powered SpaceShipTwo flight

Grasshopper reusable rocket demonstrates its lateral moves

"While everyone chats about Elon Musk’s 'hyperloop' concept, one of his companies, SpaceX, has been showing off some actual hardware. On Tuesday, SpaceX flew Grasshopper to an altitude of 250 meters, this time including a 100 meter lateral maneuver in the process, before returning the reusable launch vehicle demonstrator back to the center of the pad. 'The test demonstrated the vehicle’s ability to perform more aggressive steering maneuvers than have been attempted in previous flights,' the company said in an emailed statement. 'Grasshopper is taller than a ten story building, which makes the control problem particularly challenging.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGrasshopper reusable rocket demonstrates its lateral moves