All news – Page 6871
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Hughes technology transfer error helped China's missile programme
The US Department of Defense has confirmed that Hughes Space and Communications inadvertently aided China's missile and satellite programmes during an investigation into the failure of a Long March 2E launcher attempting to orbit the Hughes built ApStar 2 satellite in 1995. The Pentagon says that Hughes gave China ...
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Space Imaging will supply US agency
Space Imaging, which is due to launch its first Ikonos satellite in 1999, has been selected to provide images to the US National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) and to provide the infrastructure to permit distribution of high resolution images within 22h of downlink, under a $4.4 million contract. ...
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Mars Climate Observer lifts off
Tim Furniss/LONDON A Boeing Delta II rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on 11 December, carrying the first of two NASA spacecraft that will be used to conduct the next round of investigations into Mars. The Mars Climate Orbiter (MCO) is scheduled to culminate in an orbital insertion in ...
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Hessi plans
Spectrum Astro has completed the preliminary design review of the next primary mission satellite in NASA's Small Explorer (SMEX) programme. The High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (HESSI) will be launched in July 2000. Orbital Sciences will launch HESSI aboard a Pegasus in 2000. NASA has launched four SMEX craft. ...
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British Aerospace Royal Ordance's BROACH warhead
British Aerospace Royal Ordance's BROACH multi-warhead system has been selected by Raytheon as the main alternative payload for the AGM-154C unitary-warhead variant of its Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW), under development for the US Navy. A second successful test has been conducted, meanwhile, of the BROACH warhead for the US Air ...
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French resolve missiles/satellites dispute
Julian Moxon/PARIS The French Ministry of Defence has brokered a deal ending the dispute between the country's two major electronics and aerospace/defence groupings over their respective missiles and satellites businesses. Under the agreement, Aerospatiale's stake in Sextant Avionique will be sold to Thomson-CSF. The two groups - Thomson-CSF/Alcatel/Dassault Industries and ...
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Ikonos delayed
Space Imaging says the launch of the first commercial 1m-resolution remote sensing satellite, Ikonos 1, will be delayed again, to at least June, because of problems with a spacecraft "subsystem". The spacecraft will be at least a year late in flying. Source: Flight International
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Rotary action
Rotary Rocket has successfully tested its "whirl tower" during the first rotor ground trials to qualify the unit for the landing system of the piloted Roton satellite delivery vehicle. More tests will be required before a maiden flight planned for late 1999. Source: Flight International
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Pegasus launch
NASA's Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite (SWAS) was launched at 00.58 GMT on 6 December by an air-launched Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL booster. The $64 million SWAS will investigate the process involved in the creation of stars, when gravity collapses interstellar clouds of gas. Source: Flight International
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Orbital transfer
Intelsat has transferred five operational satellites, plus a sixth under construction, to New Skies Satellites, an independent company created by the international communications satellite organisation's 143 members, in its road towards full privatisation. The operational satellites are: 513 (183E), 703 (57E), 803 (338.5E), 806 (319.5E), Intelsat K (338.5E) and the ...
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Safety changes
The US National Transportation Safety Board is urging the US Federal Aviation Administration to require safety-related changes for German-made Glaser-Dirks gliders. The recommendations, which result from a fatal accident in 1997 involving a DG-300 glider in Nevada, call for design changes to the aircraft which will enable "reliable jettison of ...
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Nimrod progress
The BMW Rolls-Royce BR710 Mk 101 engine for the upgraded British Aerospace Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol aircraft has completed altitude testing conducted by the UK Defence Research Agency, including a maximum operational altitude test. The engine will undergo a range of further tests in 1999, with the first flight in ...
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Uraguay's 206 delivery
The Uruguayan air force has taken delivery of the first of 10 Cessna Stationair 206s. The aircraft, to be used for surveillance, training and medical evacuation duties, will replace Stationairs that have been in service since the 1960s. Most of the aircraft will be based in Montevideo. Source: Flight ...
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Global Hawk test
The eighth flight of Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical's Global Hawk long-endurance unmanned air vehicle, on 4 December, demonstrated wideband satellite communications between the aircraft and its ground station. The second flight of air vehicle number two, it lasted 3h 18min, reaching 50,000ft (15,250m). Source: Flight International
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Indian refuelling
Flight Refuelling of the UK is in talks with the Indian air force to supply Mk32 refuelling pods to give the air force's Sukhoi Su-30s a flight refuelling capability. The single pod would fit on the centreline pylon of the Sukhoi. Air force Jaguars could also perform buddy-buddy refuelling from ...
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Transport agreement
Hindustan Aeronautics and the National Aeronautics Laboratory have signed a memorandum of understanding to co-operate on a 14-seater transport project known as Saras. The research organisation has been pursuing the programme for years, initially with the Russian aerospace industry. The 14-seater commuter aircraft will be used for an air ambulance ...
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Alaska Air plans marketing pact with American
Alaska Airlines and regional affiliate Horizon Air have signed a letter of intent to enter a marketing partnership with American Airlines and American Eagle. Despite the tie-up, Alaska hopes to maintain its partnership with Northwest Airlines. Bill Ayer, president of Alaska Airlines, says the deal "considerably strengthens Alaska's and ...
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BA chooses to bring A320 training in-house
British Airways is to bring training for its new fleet of Airbus A320s in house, with the airline's Flight Training (BAFT) division finalising the acquisition of its first Airbus simulator. In August, BA selected the A320 family for its future short-haul fleet, placing orders and options for up to ...
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Low cost is key for regional jet, airlines tell Bombardier
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Bombardier has launched technology cost/benefit studies after the first meeting of its BRJ-X airline advisory council confirmed that potential customers for the 90-seat regional jet are looking for the lowest possible operating cost. The council conducted preliminary talks on fly-by-wire versus conventional flight controls, steel ...
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El Al steers course towards profit and privatisation
Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON El Al is on target to record its first profit for two years as it aims to begin its privatisation process by the middle of 1999. The airline is also close to finalising an order for up to five long haul aircraft. The airline's president, Joel ...