Tuesday, September 30, 2014
NASA-ISRO to collaborate on Mars and Earth missions
In a meeting Tuesday in Toronto, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and K. Radhakrishnan, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), signed two documents to launch a NASA-ISRO satellite mission to observe Earth and establish a pathway for future joint missions to explore Mars.
Honeywell, Stanford University and ANSYS to develop advanced jet engine
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photo: Rolls Royce
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As demand grows for increased gas turbine efficiency, engine manufacturers are challenged with creating designs that operate at higher temperatures. But that becomes a significant challenge as temperatures approach the melting point of some engine component material.
A well-established method for maintaining turbine blade temperatures at acceptable levels is to employ "film-cooling," a technique in which cooler, compressor-discharge air is detoured around the combustor then ejected from precisely-machined holes placed over the surface of the turbine airfoil. Excessive use of compressor air for turbine film cooling can, however, reduce engine efficiency.
Historically, film-cooling-hole-placement on turbine airfoils has been optimized by elaborate experiments, sometimes necessitating engine testing. For decades, research engineers have been developing computer simulations of film cooling geometries with the ambition of reducing – if not eliminating – the need for expensive, time-consuming rig testing.
Stanford, with support from Honeywell and ANSYS®, is performing a new type of testing with 3-D magnetic resonance velocimetry to measure the velocity and concentration field in a test section. These methods measure the turbulent interaction of crossflow jets with the main flow, for a variety of jet configurations and orientations.
These data sets provide an important benchmark against which the large available range of ANSYS turbulence models and computational methods can be compared. The objective is to develop validated models, methods and best practices for prediction of film cooling.
Orion prepares for maiden flight test in Dec
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The Orion crew module, stacked atop its service module, moved out of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sept 11. Image Credit: NASA |
Monday, September 29, 2014
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Saturday, September 27, 2014
F-22 Raptor make air combat debut
U.S. Air Force F-22 maneuvers after being aerial refueled by KC-135 tanker during the airstrikes. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr. |
Friday, September 26, 2014
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Mi-171 flight testing with new avionics
Russian Helicopters
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Mi-171 is the latest upgraded version of the famous Mi-17/8 transport helicopter, whose certification is scheduled for 2015.
An Mi-8/17 flying laboratory helicopter and first prototype model of the Mi-171A2 is undergoing flight tests at the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant.
The KBO-17 suite is an all weather flight capable avionics that allow Mi-171 to operate in adverse climatic conditions. It also features GPS/GLONASS satellite system displays, mapping, flight-plan navigation systems (VOR/ILS), meteorological information, automated obstacle warning systems (alerting crew to power lines, masts, isolated trees etc.) and can be enhanced with the KOC-17 day/night vision system.
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Image Credit: Russian Helicopters
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The helicopter is also fitted with an on-board equipment maintenance system, which allows it to operate without in-flight engineers, reducing the number of crew to two, without compromising safety.
Soviet era Mi-10 Flying Crane celebrate 50th Anniversary
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Image Credit:Rostec |
This month, Rostvertol, a Russian Helicopters subsidiary celebrates the 50th anniversary of Soviet Mi-10 military transport helicopter's maiden flight.
South Korea announce formal F-35A selection
South Korea has finalized its formal selection of the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II aircraft for its F-X fighter acquisition program.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
10 Apache attack helicopters to Egypt
U.S. plans to deliver 10 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to Egypt to support counter terrorism efforts.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Mangalyaan successfully fired Liquid Apogee Motor
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Mars Orbiter Mission Spacecraft attached to the 4th stage of PSLV-C25 and ready for heat shield closure Image Credit:ISRO |
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Friday, September 19, 2014
Thursday, September 18, 2014
U.S. to field hypersonic weapon-HSSW after 2020
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X-51A on B-52 pylon |
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Bogdan says F-35 program on track, despite engine glitch
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Image Credit:Lockheed Martin |
Laser weapon turret for HELLADS program proves airworthiness
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Aero-adaptive Aero-optic Beam control turret Photo: Air Force Research Laboratory |
Boeing completes FDR of Talon HATE communication pod
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Artist concept of Talon HATE carried in a pod attached to Boeing’s F-15C fighter Image Credit:Boeing |
Talon HATE combines information from fighter networks, national sources and joint command and control assets and can then be used by joint aircraft, ships and ground stations, improving communication and information sharing across the battlespace.
The Talon HATE system will be initially carried in a pod attached to Boeing’s F-15C fighter aircraft.
The pod is designed to connect the fifth-generation Lockheed F-22 to the fourth-generation fighters like F\A-18, F-16, F-15, as the F-35 will only be fielded from Aug 2016.
Boeing worked with industry suppliers to rapidly prototype the Talon HATE system for the USAF Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities office within Air Combat Command.
The swiftness comes from the fact that communications with 4th generation fighters was a limiting factor to use F-22s operationally which affected planner during the Libyan campaign in 2011.
“Working with our customer, Boeing rapidly designed and demonstrated this new system to meet an urgent need on an accelerated timeline,” said Alex Lopez, vice president, Advanced Network & Space Systems, Phantom Works. “The system assimilates information in real-time from multiple domains creating an improved common operating picture for tactical awareness.”
As part of the development, the Boeing team integrated the Intra Flight Data Link (IFDL) used on F-22 aircraft within a proven flight communications system, called the Multifunctional Information Distribution System-JTRS (or MIDS-J).
This marked the first time IFDL was integrated on the MIDS-J system, which is also used on Boeing F/A-18 aircraft. MIDS-J serves as a host for multiple concurrent communications waveforms that are essential for Talon HATE forward operations.
Boeing is scheduled to deliver Talon HATE systems to operational squadrons in 2015.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
NASA selects Boeing and SpaceX for Commercial Crew Transportaion program
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Image Credit:NASA |
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