SPACEDEV AWARDED DARPA SATELLITE PROGRAMME EXTENSION
PROPULSION The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has extended Spacedev's High Delta-V (HiDVE) satellite programme contract with a $3.6 million option following a successful critical design review. The HiDVE goals are to develop a space qualified, low-cost, modular solar thermal propulsion (STP) system and integrate it into a small spacecraft. The award is for a six-month extension to develop the STP and its nano-satellite bus further.
darpa.gov
SIKORSKY SIGNS $11.4M CONTRACT TO DEVELOP ENHANCED ROTOR BLADES
RESEARCH Sikorsky is to develop enhanced helicopter rotor durability and capability under a $11.4 million contract over 42 months with the US Army aviation applied technology directorate. The work will attempt to increase rotor blade life in erosive environments, provide a reliable and maintainable ice protection system, and create an improved methodology for assessing and repairing battle damage. Other team members include the Army Research Laboratory, BAE Systems, Engineering Consulting Services, Integran, Ross Technology, Sanova, South West Research Institute and United Technologies Research Center . Most of the work will occur at Sikorsky's headquarters with support at United's test facility in East Hartford, Connecticut.
sikorsky.com
BOEING CLAIMS FIRST WITH C-130H MOUNTED LASER FIRING
DIRECTED ENERGY Boeing Integrated Defense Systems fired a chemical laser from a Lockheed Martin C-130H for the first time on 13 May while it was on the ground at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, achieving a milestone for the US Department of Defense's Advanced Tactical Laser advanced concept technology demonstration programme. After conducting a series of additional laser tests on the ground and in the air, and later this year, the chemical laser will be fired in-flight at mission-representative ground targets. The test team will fire the laser through a rotating turret that extends through the aircraft's belly. Last year, the high-energy laser concluded laboratory testing at Kirtland, demonstrating reliable operations in more than 50 firings.
boeing.com/ids
SOUTH AFRICAN INVENTOR AIMS FOR FUEL CELL POWERED AIRCRAFT
PROPULSION South African inventor Mark van Wyk, funded by Swedish online travel agency Travelstart, wants to develop a fuel cell powered two-seater commercial aircraft. He will test his fuel cell technology using two unmanned air vehicles. The first UAV will use a customised fuel cell manufactured by Hong Kong based-Horizon Fuel Cells. The second UAV will use a cylindrical shaped fuel cell, developed almost entirely in South Africa, which uses cooling fins and a ram-air intake to compress the cell's incoming air. Van Wyk claims the South African cell is reversible, meaning it could generate its own hydrogen with external power. He claims he has already built a test proton exchange membrane reversible fuel cell, which is solar powered and produces about 1 litre (0.26USgal) of hydrogen per hour. Van Wyk believes lighter fuel cells for aircraft can be made by using flexible graphite and hdyrogen storage problems overcome using magnesium-based hydride compounds. The two-seater aircraft could also have solar panels on the wings to generate electricity and in-turn hydrogen.
BLEEDING GLASSFIBRES 'HOLD KEY TO SELF-REPAIRING AEROSTRUCTURES'
REPAIR A self-repair technique developed through a three-year £171,000 ($338,000) UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council-funded project, called Bleeding Composites: Damage Detection and Repair Using a Biomimetic Approach, could be available for commercial use in about four-years, say its developers. Aerospace engineers at Bristol University developed the technique during the project that ended in April. It involves filling the hollow glassfibres contained in fibre reinforced composite (FRC) aerostructures' with a resin and its hardener. If the FRC fibres break the resin and hardener ooze out and then cure, enabling the composite to recover up to 90% of its original strength. By mixing ultra-violet fluorescent dye into the resin, while any repairs would not show up in normal lighting conditions, coloured patches that pinpoint damage could be located. And a full repair carried out if necessary. The Bristol team is working with UK company Hexcel Composite. The resin used to date is an off-the-shelf, Araldite-like substance but a custom-made resin optimised for the system is in development.
epsrc.ac.uk
Source: Flight International
