Researchers find new phase of carbon, make diamond at room temperature
Raleigh NC (SPX) Dec 04, 2015 -
Researchers from North Carolina State University have discovered a new phase of solid carbon, called Q-carbon, which is distinct from the known phases of graphite and diamond. They have also developed a technique for using Q-carbon to make diamond-related structures at room temperature and at ambient atmospheric pressure in air.
Phases are distinct forms of the same material. Graphite is o ...
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ORNL process could be white lightning to electronics industry
Oak Ridge TN (SPX) Dec 04, 2015 -
A new era of electronics and even quantum devices could be ushered in with the fabrication of a virtually perfect single layer of "white graphene," according to researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The material, technically known as hexagonal boron nitride, features better transparency than its sister, graphene, is chemically inert, or non-reactive, and ...
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German parliament approves military action in Syria against IS
Berlin (AFP) Dec 4, 2015 -
Lawmakers on Friday approved plans for Germany to take on a direct role in the battle against the Islamic State group in Syria, answering France's appeal for help after the deadly Paris attacks.
Parliament agreed to the mandate for the deployment of Tornado reconnaissance jets, a frigate and up to 1,200 troops by an overwhelming majority of 445 votes in favour and 146 against.
The green ...
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On American forces, Iraq PM caught between US and Iran
Baghdad (AFP) Dec 4, 2015 -
Iraq's premier wants Washington's assistance against the Islamic State group, but American remarks about anti-jihadist efforts and Iran-allied organisations' strong opposition to US combat troops put him in a bind.
Trying to navigate the political minefield, Haider al-Abadi has issued increasingly strident statements about foreign forces over the past week, most recently saying the deploymen ...
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Hard hit by bombings, IS is turning to child soldiers: US
Washington (AFP) Dec 4, 2015 -
The Islamic State group is increasingly filling its ranks with child soldiers to replace thousands of its fighters killed in US-led coalition air strikes, a US military spokesman said Friday.
Colonel Pat Ryder of the US military's Central Command said that the number of boy soldiers - some as young as 10 - had been growing steadily, and that some are even being used to put prisoners to dea ...
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IS could expand from Libya but faces hostile environment
Paris (AFP) Dec 4, 2015 -
The Islamic State group has built a base in Libya from which to exploit tribal conflicts and expand across Africa, though experts say the jihadists remain vulnerable even if the West's attention is elsewhere.
Libya's collapse into a chaotic mess of competing militias since the overthrow and death of dictator Moamer Kadhafi has made it an ideal stomping ground for IS.
IS jihadists gradual ...
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At Saudi base, warplanes roar off to pound Yemen rebels
Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia (AFP) Dec 4, 2015 -
At a sprawling air base in southern Saudi Arabia, another warplane roars off into the harsh sun carrying a payload of laser- and GPS-guided bombs to drop over Yemen.
Roughly 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the Yemeni border, the King Khalid Air Base near the city of Khamis Mushait is at the forefront of the Saudi-led intervention against Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen.
Launched in March, th ...
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UK Labour MPs who backed Syria strikes face online trolling
London (AFP) Dec 4, 2015 -
Labour MPs who this week voted in favour of Britain joining air strikes on Syria have faced online abuse and even death threats, forcing the opposition party to appeal for calm Friday.
In Wednesday's vote in the House of Commons, 66 members of the main opposition party voted with Prime Minister David Cameron to help him win approval for air strikes, despite leader Jeremy Corbyn opposing the ...
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US military to open frontline combat roles to women
Washington (AFP) Dec 3, 2015 -
The US military will open up all positions - including frontline combat roles - to women, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced Thursday in a sweeping move officially ending centuries of men-only tradition.
The historic step served as a rebuke to a Marine Corps call this year for a partial exemption, after it argued mixed-gender combat units were not as effective as male groups.
"T ...
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ELaNa IX mission launches first cubesat built by elementary school students
Kennedy Space Center FL (SPX) Dec 03, 2015 -
NASA will enable the deployment of three small research satellites, or CubeSats, selected through the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) for two universities and one primary school as part of the ninth installment of the Educational Launch of Nanosatellite (ELaNa) missions. More than 400 students have been involved in the design, development and construction of the CubeSats that will be deployed f ...
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USAF works with Congress to get leeway on using Russian RD-180 Engines
Washington DC (Sputnik) Dec 03, 2015 -
The US air force is working with Congress to ease restrictions on using Russian RD-180 rocket engines, US Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James stated on Wednesday.
In 2014, Congress passed a law requiring the United States to develop a domestically produced next-generation rocket propulsion system by 2019 in order to eliminate reliance on the Russian RD-180 rocket engines.
"We are t ...
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Aerojet Rocketdyne completes build of 3-D printed parts for Orion spacecraft
Sacramento CA (SPX) Dec 03, 2015 -
Aerojet Rocketdyne has completed 12 additively manufactured production nozzle extensions for use aboard the Orion spacecraft. The nozzle extensions are part of Orion's crew module reaction control system that Aerojet Rocketdyne is building for Lockheed Martin and NASA.
"These components are the first additively manufactured parts we have provided for the Orion spacecraft," said Julie Van K ...
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Aerojet Rocketdyne completes AJ60 solid booster for Atlas V launcher
Sacramento CA (SPX) Dec 02, 2015 -
Aerojet Rocketdyne, a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. has completed its 100th deliverable Solid Rocket Booster (SRB), AJ60, for United Launch Alliance (ULA) in support of the Atlas V launch vehicle program.
"This is a tremendous milestone - not just for Aerojet Rocketdyne but for our team of engineers and production personnel who have demonstrated unparalleled commitment an ...
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Bezos takes big step towards reusable commercial space flight
Bethesda MD (SPX) Dec 02, 2015 -
Last week Jeff Bezos' space company demonstrated the first launch and return of Blue Origin's reusable rocket-powered stage. This unmanned "New Shepard" rocket lifted off from a west Texas test and launch facility, then returned and safely landed. This event is being lauded as a coup for space flight.
Media reports and quotes by Bezos go on to claim "Rockets have always been expendable. No ...
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EU, Internet giants join forces to fight online extremism
Brussels (AFP) Dec 3, 2015 -
The European Union on Thursday launched a forum bringing together Internet firms like Google, Facebook and Twitter as well as law enforcement agencies to combat online extremism.
The move comes amid growing alarm in Europe over the use of social media as a powerful recruiting tool, especially by the Islamic State group.
"Terrorists are abusing the Internet to spread their poisonous propa ...
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More Galileo satellites broadcasting navigation signals
Paris (ESA) Dec 02, 2015 -
Having completed their rigorous checks in space, two more of Europe's Galileo satellites are now fully operational, broadcasting navigation signals and, from today, relaying search and rescue messages from across the globe. Galileos 7 and 8 were launched from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on 27 March. Once the satellites were nursed to life in orbit, their navigation payloads underwent a l ...
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Pentagon to re-examine Air Force GPS OCX program
Washington (UPI) Dec 2, 2015 -
Pentagon officials are not satisfied with the Operation Control Segment program, and will meet with U.S. Air Force officials to discuss other options.
Department of Defense undersecretary for acquisition Frank Kendall told reporters on Wednesday the GPS OCX program is not "where we'd like it to be."
"There is a range of things we could do," Kendall said. "I don't want to say much ...
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Kongsberg third-generation HiPAP enhances acoustic positioning
Washington (UPI) Dec 2, 2015 -
Kongsberg's third-generation High Precision Acoustic Positioning and Navigation System is now available, and improves on earlier capabilities.
The company says its new High Precision Acoustic Positioning and Navigation System, also known as HiPAP 502, is smaller, lighter and more accurate than earlier models. The product is designed to support scientific vessel offshore operations.
...
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China to build navy base in Djibouti: Djiboutian minister
Johannesburg (AFP) Dec 4, 2015 -
China is to build its first naval base in Djibouti, the Djiboutian foreign minister said Friday, in the latest sign of China's growing international security presence.
Djibouti is seen as a key strategic location in the Horn of Africa, with United States, France and Japan already having facilities in the country.
"The negotiations have come to an end and the naval base will be built in D ...
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Japan, US vow to push Okinawa base relocation
Tokyo (AFP) Dec 4, 2015 -
Japan and the US vowed Friday to press ahead with the construction of a new air base on strategic Okinawa, and pledged to speed up the return of some land on the island where pacifist sentiment runs high.
The announcement came just two days after Tokyo pressured Okinawa in court to try and force its governor to support the controversial transfer of a US Marine air base from one part of the i ...
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The Promise of the Future in the Satellite Industry
McLean VA (SPX) Dec 02, 2015 -
At the SATCON show in New York earlier this month, Kay Sears, President of Intelsat General Corporation, participated on the opening keynote panel, entitled, "The Satellite Industry Today and Tomorrow - A Dialogue between Today's Industry Leaders and the Promise of the Future."
A few themes came through in Kay's comments in the discussion:
+ The idea of blurring lines between commerc ...
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Russia flies strategic space warfare missile
Moscow (Sputnik) Dec 03, 2015 -
Moscow carried out the first successful flight test of its new anti-satellite missile last month, becoming just the second nation to arm its military with space warfare weapons.
Russia's direct ascent anti-satellite missile, known as Nudol, was successfully tested on November 18, according to defense officials familiar with reports of the test. It was the first successful test in three att ...
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