HEADLINES ARCHIVE
NASA, SpaceX and Boeing Detail Space Station Flights
NASA, Boeing and SpaceX have laid out plans for the next few years leading to operational missions to the International Space Station (ISS). Both SpaceX and Boeing are expected to conduct a flight test in early 2017 with the following schedules, Boeing said its schedule calls for a pad abort test in February 2017.
DARPA Program Seeks Partners for Drone Systems
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) issued a special notice inviting interested parties to participate in Phase 1 meetings of its Collaborative Operations in Denied Environment (CODE) program.
SpaceX Raises $1bn from Google and Fidelity Investments
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) raised $1 billion in mid-January to help finance its research into space transport, reusability and satellite manufacturing technologies.
Solar-powered Aircraft Preps for Round-the-World Flight
Solar Impulse SA (Lausanne, Swtizerland), the company behind a multi-year exercise to demonstrate the viability of solar-powered flight, has announced that its Solar Impulse 2 aircraft will begin its flight some time between late February and early March.
Boeing and Embraer Open Aviation Biofuel Research Center
Boeing and Embraer opened a joint sustainable aviation biofuel research center in a collaborative effort to further establish the aviation biofuel industry in Brazil.
The “Right Stuff” for Innovative Engineering Teams
No matter what the industry, getting there first with an idea that captivates the customer is the Holy Grail of engineering.
NASA Approves SpaceX Vehicle
NASA has approved SpaceX's approach to Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 v.1.1 rocket, to fly its crews to and from the International Space Station.
Airbus Completes Flight Tests on Airspeed Sensor System for Helicopters
Airbus Group has completed successful flight tests on a fiber-optic, eye-safe, laser-based sensor system that delivers accurate airspeed information in three axes at low and negative airspeed for rotary wing aircraft.
Airbus Plans Aircraft Wing Design Investment
The European aerospace manufacturer Airbus has announced a £100 million ($156 million) investment in research into the next generation of wing design and manufacture in Wales and the southwest of England, following a funding deal with the government and the Welsh Assembly.
SpaceX Secures NASA Launch Services Contract
SpaceX has secured an $87m contract from the U.S. space agency, NASA, to provide launch services for the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission. (Read "SpaceX Innovates as It Aims for Mars" by clicking here.) Under the contract, SpaceX will be responsible for spacecraft processing,
Boeing Breaks Ground for Composites Center
Boeing began construction of a 367,000-square-foot facility in St. Louis, Mo., where it will build parts for the 777X aircraft.
Lockheed Martin's 100 MW Compact Fusion Nuclear Reactor
A Lockheed Martin Skunk Works team is working on a compact fusion reactor (CFR) that could be developed and deployed in as little as 10 years.
Pratt & Whitney Canada Plans Aircraft Engine Investment
Pratt & Whitney Canada says it will invest more than C$1 billion ($870 million) in research and development over the next 4.5 years to develop the next generation of high-performance aircraft engines.
Autopilot Systems Equip Drones With Advanced Capabilities
In September 2014, NASA issued a request seeking partners to help develop a traffic management system for eventual use by the Federal Aviation Administration that applies to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating in Class G airspace (ground level to 500 feet).
FAA Wins Ruling in Drone Aircraft Case
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has the power to hold drone operators accountable when they operate a remote-control aircraft recklessly, a federal safety board ruled November 18.
Boeing Signs Long-term Carbon Fiber Deal for 777x and 787 Aircraft
Japan's Toray Industries says it will be the sole supplier of carbon fiber for Boeing Co's 777X passenger jet in addition to the 787 Dreamliner. Reuters says the deal is likely to exceed $8.6 billion for both planes. Engineering360 recently reported on the carbon fiber market and cited an IHS
Shape Changing Aircraft Wings
Shape changing aircraft wings using compliant materials can improve aerodynamic efficiency, resulting in fuel savings and noise reduction.
Without Relativity, GPS Would Be Lost
Ask the average person what "relativity" means, and you'll likely hear answers such as "everything's relative," "you can't go faster than light" or even the classic formula "E = mc2.”
Boeing, COMAC Open Plant to Transform Cooking Oil into Aviation Biofuel
Boeing and Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) opened a demonstration facility that will turn waste cooking oil, commonly referred to as "gutter oil" in China, into sustainable aviation biofuel.
GKN Aerospace Develops Wing Leading Edge Innovation
GKN Aerospace has delivered a wing leading-edge demonstrator to the Clean Sky program, part of an effort to bring an ultra-high performance, natural laminar flow wing closer to reality.