Scientists confirm array of microorganisms in buried Antarctic lake
Washington (UPI) Aug 20, 2014 -
Scientists have confirmed the presence of an array of microorganisms, including an extensive family of rock-eating bacteria, living in a subglacial lake in Antarctica. The discovery gives hope to scientists who suggest life could still be lurking deep under the surface of Mars.
Lake Whillans is buried under 2,640 feet of ice. It's primarily fed by the lower portion of the Whillans Ice S ...
more
Northrop Grumman team developing space plane
Redondo Beach, Calif. (UPI) Aug 19, 2014 -
A preliminary design and flight demonstration plan for an experimental space plane with a reusable booster is being developed by Northrop Grumman.
The space plane, the XS-1, is envisaged for lifting 3,000-pound class spacecraft into low Earth orbit at a lower cost than current launch equipment. The plane would serve as a test-bed for a new generation of hypersonic aircraft.
The w ...
more
Exoskeleton technology set for Navy testing and evaluation
Orlando, Fla. (UPI) Aug 19, 2014 -
Exoskeltons from Lockheed Martin that boost a person's strength and endurance are to be tested and evaluated for industrial use by the U.S. Navy.
The contract was issued for the Navy through the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences, or NCMS, but its details were not disclosed.
Lockheed said its FORTIS exoskeleton is an ergonomically designed, wearable and unpowered device t ...
more
General Hyten takes control of AFSPC
Peterson AFB CO (SPX) Aug 18, 2014 -
General John E. Hyten became the 16th commander of Air Force Space Command, in a change-of-command ceremony, replacing General William L. Shelton. General Mark A. Welsh III, Air Force Chief of Staff, presided over the ceremony.
General Hyten attended Harvard University on an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship, graduated in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in engineering and ...
more
Small variations in the climate system can result in dramatic temperature changes
Bremerhaven, Germany (SPX) Aug 21, 2014 -
Over the past one hundred thousand years cold temperatures largely prevailed over the planet in what is known as the last ice age. However, the cold period was repeatedly interrupted by much warmer climate conditions. Scientists have long attempted to find out why these drastic temperature jumps of up to ten degrees took place in the far northern latitudes within just a few decades.
Now, f ...
more
Experts probe launch failure for EU's satnav project
Paris (AFP) Aug 25, 2014 -
Experts are racing to identify and fix a problem that saw two satellites from Europe's troubled Galileo satnav programme sent into the wrong orbit.
The pair were launched from Europe's space pad in Kourou, French Guiana, last Friday and were intended to be the first two fully operational satellites in the new-generation navigation system.
Experts said it seemed unlikely the two misplaced ...
more
Hypersonic weapon detonated after lift-off: US military
Washington (AFP) Aug 25, 2014 -
The US military had to detonate a hypersonic weapon seconds after lift-off Monday due to a technical problem, cutting short a flight test for the experimental project, officials said.
"Less than four seconds into the lift-off phase, we terminated the flight," Pentagon spokeswoman Maureen Schumann told AFP.
The decision to abort the flight test in Alaska was due to a technological "anomal ...
more
