Aerospace

NASA Space Rocket Explodes while Launching, Virginia

Published

9 years ago

October 29, 2014

An unmanned commercial rocket headed for the International Space Station to deliver supplies exploded just after launching Tuesday, filling the sky with a massive fireball. The Antares rocket supplied by contractor Orbital Sciences blew up moments after liftoff at NASA‘s space launch facility on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, the space agency said. The explosion destroyed the rocket and spacecraft and immediately raised questions about the future of NASA’s reliance on private commercial ventures to carry vital payloads into space to supply and support the orbiting space station. NASA and Orbital Sciences were gathering data to determine the cause of the failure of the Orbital CRS-3, the space agency said. No injuries were reported.

The launch vehicle, dubbed Antares, exploded at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Facility in Virginia after takeoff at 3:22 p.m. PT.

No personnel were in the area and only the launch site suffered damage from the explosion, NASA confirmed. A 1,400 square-mile launch hazard area was cleared prior to liftoff in the event of a rocket failure.

The Antares rocket was made by Orbital Sciences Corp. and carried an Orbital-made Cygnus CRS-3 spacecraft ferrying about 5,000 pounds for resupplying the International Space Station, the heaviest payload to date for the Virginia-based rocket company. The spacecraft was supposed to dock with the ISS on November 2, when the six-person crew of Expedition 41 was to unload the supplies.

Orbital has a $1.9 billion contract with NASA, signed in 2008, as part of the organization’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services. Today’s launch would have marked the third Orbital cargo mission out of a total of eight launches under its NASA contract. Orbital has supplied NASA with launch vehicles for more than two decades with its Pegasus and Minotaur rockets, many iterations of which have 100 percent launch success records.

Orbital Sciences is contracted to conduct eight supply missions delivering 20 tons of material to the space station.NASA said engineers from Orbital Sciences were not “tracking any issues” before the launch. NASA said it is investigating the crash and collecting all telemetry and other data, along with the contractor. The National Transportation Safety Board is monitoring, NASA said

The launch had already been delayed once after a sailboat entered its range on Monday night. Tuesday brought good launch weather, with clear skies and light winds.To guard against the dangers of a failed launch the Nasa facility maintains a hazard area of about 1,400 square miles around the site. Orbital said parts of the mission were covered by insurance and the rocket alone had been worth $200m.

The company has a $1.9bn contract with Nasa to make eight missions to ferry supplies to the space station and would have completed its third delivery with this launch. Since the US space agency retired its shuttle fleet in 2011 it has relied on private companies and co-operation with Russia for its missions into space.

Orbital said the spacecraft suffered a “catastrophic failure” at 6.22pm ET. “It is far too early to know the details of what happened,” said Culbertson in an initial statement. “As we begin to gather information our primary concern lies with the ongoing safety and security of those involved in our response and recovery operations. We will conduct a thorough investigation immediately to determine the cause of this failure and what steps can be taken to avoid a repeat of this incident.

Among the cargo were more than a dozen student research projects, including an experiment from students at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Houston to test the performance of pea shoot growth in space. NASA is paying the Virginia-based Orbital Sciences and the California-based SpaceX company to keep the space station stocked in the post-shuttle era. This is the first disaster in that effort.

Courtesy : NASA Space station, The Guardian, USA today.

Up Next

This flying car is simply superb.

Don't Miss

After 50 years it has made Heroic Entry in Commercial Aircrafts.

Aerospace

Saudia Enters a New Era Through Major Re-Brand Strategy

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2023

Dawal

Jeddah, Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, revealed its new brand identity and livery during a milestone event in Jeddah, in the presence of Royal Highnesses, Excellencies, and leaders from both the public and private sectors, as well as prominent media correspondents and aviation experts. This new identity is in line with a wider strategic digital transformation plan aimed at strengthening the airline’s support for the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to bring the world to Saudi Arabia.

The new brand color identity, comprised of green, blue, and sand, represents Saudia’s aim to expand its fleet and destinations, connecting the world to Saudi Arabia, and emphasizing the Kingdom’s authenticity and deep-rooted values.

In parallel to the rebrand, Saudia has also undertaken a huge digital transformation, entirely enhancing the customer digital experience. Saudia leads among international airlines in operating generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a virtual assistant, named “SAUDIA”, being one of the first of its kind in the region. Saudia will enable guests to complete the entire transaction through this efficient process by the end of the year.

The ambitious, long-planned digital transformation, fully improves customer experience but also allow more streamlined operations and processes while ensuring the highest levels of protection of guests’ personal data, through strong partnerships with global leading companies.

His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, said: “We are experiencing a new era and a very exciting time for Saudia. Our airline has evolved from a Douglas DC-3 aircraft in 1945, to a 140-aircraft modern fleet serving over 100 destinations, becoming one of the largest airline in the region.

The name and logo of Saudia are integral parts of the Kingdom’s aviation history and development, and our people share a special emotional connection with the brand. We have incorporated this rich heritage into our new identity, adding elements that reflect our visionary approach, poised to captivate the world.”

Saudia is not only rolling out a fully integrated digital program and revamping its look, it is also effectively and quickly helping advance Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, collaborating with all industry stakeholders to achieve the targets of the National Aviation Strategy. The strategy aims to turn Saudi Arabia into a leader in the global industry, by enhancing the customer experience, improving safety and working towards a more sustainable future, in line with Saudia’s expansion goals to bring around 330 million visitors to the Kingdom by 2030.

Aerospace

By 2026, Dubai hopes to have a fully functioning flying taxi service.

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2023

Dawal

By constructing a fully operating flying taxi network by 2026, Dubai aspires to be the city that leads the future of flying taxis.

According to the Khaleej Times, an English-language newspaper based in the United Arab Emirates, the CEO of Skyports, which builds landing infrastructure for these aerial taxis, said Wednesday that he believed the city would be the first in the world to integrate a “fully-developed network” of flying taxis into its public transportation network.

EASA proposes rules for VTOL operations, including air taxis(Opens in a new browser tab)

According to a news release on its website, Skyports originally announced plans to develop the vertiports – launching pads for these airborne taxis — in February. There are plans to build four landing sites near Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown, and Dubai Marina.

Vistara becomes first Indian airline to provide sanitary pads onboard domestic flights(Opens in a new browser tab)

Four vertiport sites located near Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown, and Dubai Marina, which are currently being considered by Skyports Infrastructure and RTA, were presented to a senior delegation which included His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, accompanied by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. These initial locations will connect four of Dubai’s most popular – and populous – areas, providing high-speed, zero-emissions connectivity.

The Lilium : World’s first all-electric flying taxi.(Opens in a new browser tab)

The air mobility exposition demonstrates the RTA and Skyports Infrastructure’s planned roadmap for developing a vertiport network in Dubai for launch by 2026, including a concept for how future vertiport infrastructure may look and how it will integrate with existing transportation, including the RTA’s Dubai Metro network and Dubai International Airport.

Ahmed Bahrozyan, Chief Executive Officer of The Public Transport Agency at RTA, said, “The RTA’s plan for aerial taxis is in line with the Dubai Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to make 25 percent of all trips in Dubai driverless by 2030. The project aims to roll out a new mobility service driven by pioneering technology to ease the mobility of individuals across urban areas in a safe, smooth, and sustainable manner integrated with the public transport network in Dubai. The service is set to be operational by 2026.

Aerospace

HAL Plans Batch Upgrades for Sukhoi-30MKI Fleet

Published

4 days ago

September 29, 2023

Sana khan

HAL Plans Batch Upgrades for Sukhoi-30MKI Fleet

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s state-owned aerospace and military firm, is planning a significant modernization programme to improve the capabilities of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft fleet. This massive project, which is set to begin in fiscal year 2026-27.

The cockpit of the Sukhoi-30MKI has been completely redesigned as the main point of this upgrade effort. In a state-of-the-art makeover, new-generation touch widescreen checks will replace the present cockpit displays. This improvement is expected to improve pilot situational awareness, data visualization, and control over the aircraft’s systems, leading to a more responsive and accessible interface.

Delta to serve Mumbai nonstop from the U.S. in 2019(Opens in a new browser tab)

The addition of a new Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system produced locally for the programme is critical to the upgrade plan. In electronic warfare settings, this radar technology is critical for improving targeting precision and performance. It improves the Sukhoi-30MKI’s ability to operate effectively in difficult operational conditions by improving detection and tracking capabilities.

Along with the radar update, the mission control computer—a crucial part of the aircraft’s avionics suite—will also see significant advancements. Given the updated Sukhoi-30MKI’s powerful radar system and new display infrastructure, these improvements are crucial to guaranteeing seamless integration and top performance.

Additionally, the modernization programme anticipates an improved arsenal of weaponry that may include advanced electronic defenses and ammunition. A powerful asset in both air-to-air and air-to-ground operations, this improvement will considerably increase the aircraft’s combat effectiveness.

Air India Plans To Lease 3 Boeing 777-300Er From Singapore Airlines(Opens in a new browser tab)

The modernization project planned by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) represents a significant stride in India’s quest for enhanced air combat capabilities and technological self-reliance. With the comprehensive redesign of the Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft fleet, encompassing cutting-edge cockpit displays, an indigenous AESA radar system, and an upgraded mission control computer, the Indian Air Force is on track to secure a formidable edge in contemporary aerial warfare.

This strategic initiative not only strengthens the Sukhoi-30MKI’s capabilities but also underscores India’s commitment to innovation and defense technology development.

In the pursuit of its ambitious upgrade plan, HAL, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, places a pivotal emphasis on successfully securing the much-needed approvals and financial sanctions from both the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Indian Air Force (IAF).

This visionary project, if granted the necessary green light, is set to unfold over the course of multiple years, signifying a long-term commitment and dedication to a transformative goal. The overarching objective is nothing short of remarkable: to meticulously convert the entire existing fleet of Sukhoi-30MKI aircraft into the cutting-edge Super-30 variant, with the ambitious deadline set for the year 2034. The meticulous execution of this grand undertaking will proceed at a steady and methodical pace, with an annual target of transforming 20 to 25 aircraft.

Source