Northrop Grumman wins contract to build next US superbomber
Washington (AFP) Oct 27, 2015 -
Northrop Grumman beat out Boeing and Lockheed Martin on Tuesday to win a multibillion-dollar contract to build America's next generation of long-distance bombers.
The award, valued at more than $55 billion, will see the creation of up to 100 strategic bombers to replace America's aging fleet of B-52 and B-1 planes.
"We believe that our decision represents the best value for our nation," ...
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All-female Russian crew starts Moon mission test
Moscow (AFP) Oct 28, 2015 -
Six Russian women on Wednesday clambered into a mock spaceship to begin a unique experiment testing how an all-female crew would interact on a trip to the Moon and back.
For eight days, the female volunteers will live inside a wood-panelled suite of rooms at Moscow's Institute of Biomedical Problems, renowned for its wacky research into the psychological and physical effects of space travel. ...
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Study reveals origin of organic matter in Apollo lunar samples
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Oct 29, 2015 -
A team of NASA-funded scientists has solved an enduring mystery from the Apollo missions to the moon - the origin of organic matter found in lunar samples returned to Earth. Samples of the lunar soil brought back by the Apollo astronauts contain low levels of organic matter in the form of amino acids. Certain amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, essential molecules used by life to bu ...
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Astrophysicists produce the first age map of the halo of the Milky Way
Notre Dame IN (SPX) Oct 29, 2015 -
University of Notre Dame astronomer Timothy Beers and his Galactic Archaeology group, which includes Notre Dame astronomers Daniela Carollo and Vinicius Placco, have led an international team of researchers that produced the first chronographic (age) map of the halo of the Milky Way galaxy. The halo, along with the disk and bulge, are the primary components of the galaxy.
Using a sample of ...
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Dartmouth-led study explores wave-particle interaction in atmosphere
Hanover NH (SPX) Oct 29, 2015 -
A Dartmouth-led study sheds light on the impact of plasma waves on high-energy electrons streaking into Earth's magnetic field from space.
The findings are important because relativistic electrons can lead to ozone depletion and threaten orbital satellites, spacecraft and astronauts, and understanding the evolution of Earth's radiation belts could help lessen the effects of these particles ...
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Techniques to cool 3D integrated circuits stacked like a skyscraper
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Oct 28, 2015 -
Future integrated circuitry is expected to look a lot like skyscrapers: units will be stacked atop one another and interconnects will link each level to its adjacent neighbors, much like how elevators connect one floor to the next. The problem is how do integrated-circuit designers remove heat from these tightly packed 3-D chips? The smaller the space between the chips, the harder it is to remov ...
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Russia to Open Four New Glonass Stations Abroad
Moscow (Sputnik) Oct 29, 2015 -
Russia will open four new Glonass ground relay stations abroad in addition to the existing five, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Wednesday.
"We now have five stations outside Russia that are already open for the monitoring and signal relay ground segment. We will open four stations in the near future, talks are underway with other countries," Rogozin said at a meeting wit ...
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Halloween asteroid gives us a miss, confirms ESA
Paris (ESA) Oct 29, 2015 -
An asteroid four times the size of a football pitch will miss Earth on All Hallows' Eve. The flyby highlights the need to watch for space rocks. Halloween, according to some, is a time to be afraid, but no one need fear asteroid 2015 TB145, an object some 400 m across that will pass safely by at around 17:00 GMT (18:00 CET) on 31 October.
The space rock was discovered only on 10 October fr ...
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Virtual Reality System to Fly in Space Brings Non-Astronauts Aboard ISS
Moffett Field CA (SPX) Oct 29, 2015 -
For the first time ever, a virtual reality recording system will be flown in space. The project, announced by Deep Space Industries (DSI), will use a spherical video capture system to create a virtual reality float-through tour of the International Space Station's science lab.
Feeding into the exciting growth of VR systems created by Oculus Rift, Sony, and Samsung, this project, initiated ...
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Methane-powered engine key to next generation landers
Huntsville AL (SPX) Oct 29, 2015 -
NASA tested components for an engine that could be used for Mars landers powered with methane, a fuel that has never before propelled a NASA spacecraft.
A spectacular blue flame erupted as a rocket engine thruster roared to life in a series of tests recently at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The blue flame, not typical of most engine tests, was the signature of ...
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From science fiction to reality - sonic tractor beam invented
Sussex, UK (SPX) Oct 29, 2015 -
A team of researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Sussex in collaboration with Ultrahaptics have built the world's first sonic tractor beam that can lift and move objects using sound waves.
Tractor beams are mysterious rays that can grab and lift objects. The concept has been used by science-fiction writers, and programmes like Star Trek, but has since come to fascinate scientists ...
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Study solves mysteries of Voyager 1's journey into interstellar space
Durham NH (SPX) Oct 29, 2015 -
In a study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, scientists from the University of New Hampshire and colleagues answer the question of why NASA's Voyager 1, when it became the first probe to enter interstellar space in mid-2012, observed a magnetic field that was inconsistent with that derived from other spacecraft observations.
Voyager 1 sent back several different indications t ...
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No immediate increase in Syria anti-IS campaign
Washington (AFP) Oct 28, 2015 -
The US-led coalition attacking Islamic State militants showed no immediate sign of increasing strikes in Syria, figures released Wednesday showed, even though the Pentagon chief has said America would intensify its campaign.
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Tuesday said the coalition would conduct extra bombing runs against IS jihadists in Iraq and Syria, but only two strikes have been con ...
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German UN diplomat to take over Libya peace effort
United Nations, United States (AFP) Oct 28, 2015 -
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon plans to appoint German diplomat Martin Kobler, who led the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to head a struggling peace effort in Libya.
Ban on Wednesday informed the Security Council of his decision in a letter, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.
Kobler will succeed Bernardino Leon as special envoy for Libya just as efforts to end years ...
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Family buries first Russian soldier dead in Syria, doubts suicide
Grechanaya Balka, Russia (AFP) Oct 28, 2015 -
The first Russian serviceman confirmed dead in Syria was laid to rest in his native village on Wednesday as his family and friends disputed the official explanation that he committed suicide.
Authorities said 19-year-old soldier Vadim Kostenko hanged himself at Russia's airbase in the Syrian province of Latakia due to relationship trouble, but his loved ones said they would never believe he ...
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Saudi Arabia denies coalition hit Yemen MSF hospital
United Nations, United States (AFP) Oct 28, 2015 -
Saudi Arabia on Wednesday denied that coalition air strikes hit a hospital in Yemen run by medical charity MSF after the attack was condemned by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
The hospital in the northern city of Saada was hit late Monday, but MSF (Doctors Without Borders) said there were no casualties.
The Saudi mission to the United Nations said in a statement that "the Arab coalit ...
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Britain to maintain troop presence in Afghanistan
Washington (UPI) Oct 28, 2015 -
Britain will maintain its troop presence in Afghanistan to continue training and supporting local military forces, the Ministry of Defense announced.
Britain will uphold its current commitment of around 450 troops in Afghanistan throughout 2016 as part of NATO's Resolute Support Mission. The announcement comes Tuesday as military officials review the performance of the Afghan National D ...
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Schiebel demos unmanned helicopter for South Africans
Vienna (UPI) Oct 27, 2015 -
An unmanned helicopter from an Austrian technology company has demonstrated its capabilities in maritime operations in South Africa.
Schiebel said its Camcopter S-100 unmanned aerial system successfully completed the flight trials off the South African coast this month for the South African Navy and other government agencies from the deck of the SAS Protea, a Hecla-class deep ocean hydr ...
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Austal launches Oman Navy support ship
Henderson, Australia (UPI) Oct 26, 2015 -
Austal, the Australian shipbuilder, has launched a high speed support vessel being built and outfitted for the Royal Navy of Oman.
The vessel is 236.2 feet in length and was launched Saturday from the company's facility in Henderson, South Australia, after 13 months of construction work.
The future RNOV Al Mubshir will complete final fitting before sea trials. It will be delivere ...
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Wal-Mart eyes drone home deliveries
San Francisco (AFP) Oct 27, 2015 -
Wal-Mart is actively looking at the possibility of using drones to make deliveries to US customers, a spokesman said Monday, following the lead of Amazon and other retailers.
The retail behemoth has been testing the technology indoors "for several months" and on Monday made a request to US aviation authorities to do likewise outside.
In addition to deliveries, Wal-Mart wants to use the u ...
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Soldiers assemble newly developed tactical command post
Kaiserslautern, Germany (UPI) Oct 27, 2015 -
Soldiers from the 7th Mission Support Command at Panzer Kaserne in Germany assembled a newly-developed tactical command tent designed to support them in any environment.
The tent is a star-shaped structure covering 6,000 square feet, capable of expanding quickly and being used as a brigade-sized operations shelter for up to 200 people.
"It's designed to withstand high winds of up ...
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Russia Plans to Grant Private Companies Access to Space Services Market
Moscow (Sputnik) Oct 28, 2015 -
Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, will allow private companies access to the market of space services by 2020, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Tuesday.
"By 2020, we plan to form an effective system of support for Russian corporations on the market of space services and allow private companies onto the market," Rogozin, who oversees the country's space industry, said durin ...
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Lockheed Martin delivers 31st C-5M Super Galaxy to U.S. Air Force
Marietta, Ga. (UPI) Oct 27, 2015 -
Lockheed Martin delivered the 31st C-5M Super Galaxy to the U.S. Air Force on October 23, the company announced on Monday.
The Super Galaxy, a large military transport aircraft, was flown by the 22nd Airlift Squadron from the Travis Air Force Base to Stewart Air National Guard Base for internal paint restoration. The craft will be flown back to Travis once the paint restoration is compl ...
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Runaway military blimp causes power outages in US
Washington (AFP) Oct 28, 2015 -
A massive US surveillance blimp broke loose from its mooring Wednesday, sparking power outages as it drifted around Pennsylvania dragging a 6,600-foot cable before eventually easing down to Earth, officials said.
Two US F-16s fighter jets were scrambled to pursue the so-called JLENS blimp as it floated north of Washington at an altitude of about 15,000 feet (4,600 meters).
The North Amer ...
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U.S. demos Standard Missile 3 in Europe
Faslane, Scotland (UPI) Oct 28, 2015 -
The U.S. Navy reports it has performed the first at sea ballistic missile defense firing of a Standard Missile 3 in Europe.
The firing this month took place during three weeks of at sea demonstrations by allied navies at the Maritime Theater Missile Defense Forum in Faslane, Scotland.
The MTMD Forum, started in 1999, is to facilitate and improve interoperability and enhance indiv ...
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