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Materials

Using Thermoplastics in Aerospace Applications

In August 2017, Qantas Airlines laid down the challenge to both Boeing and Airbus to offer an aircraft that can cross one of aviation's “last frontiers.” That “last frontier” was an...

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Articles
Software

Communicating from Space: The Front End of Multiscale Modeling

As satellites and astronauts travel further out in space, the more communication challenges they face. NASA launched the InSight Mission on May 5, 2018 from Vandenberg Air Force...

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Briefs
Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Hydraulic Testing of Polymer Matrix Composite 102mm Tube Section

The objective of this research was to hydraulically pressurize the internal diameter of one 102mm Polymer Matrix Composite (PMC) over-wrapped cylinder up to 25,000 pounds per...

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Application Briefs
Materials

3D Printed Spacecraft Parts

Stratasys Ltd.Eden Prairie, MN952-937-3000www.stratasys.com/aerospace Phoenix Analysis and DesignTechnologies (PADT) Tempe, AZ1-800-293-PADTwww.padtinc.com Stratasys Ltd., a company that specializes in applied...

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Articles
Aerospace

Designing a High-Speed Decoy Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Drone aircraft and their uses have been evolving quickly, supported by a great deal of ongoing research. One area of increasing interest is the decoy drone, designed to mimic the radar...

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Articles
Sensors/Data Acquisition

Using Turbine Flow Meters for Aerospace Test and Measurement Applications

Turbine flow meters have long been a preferred technology for obtaining precise measurements of fluid flow in the aerospace industry. In addition to their high accuracy,...

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Articles
Software

In-Flight Real-Time Avionics Adaptation

Avionics is a very restricting domain for obvious safety reasons. Along with miniaturization comes the idea of integration. More functionality on one spot requires a good management of privacy and...

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Articles
Photonics/Optics

Laser-Based System Could Expand Space-to-Ground Communication

A new research project announced recently as a collaboration between the Georgia Institute of Technology and satellite communications provider Xenesis could help open the bottleneck...

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Briefs
Aerospace

Permeation Tests on Polypropylene Fiber Materials

The Toxic Industrial Chemical/Toxic Industrial Material (TIC/TIM) Task Force MFR#1 published in February 2009 focuses on inhalation hazards in an operational environment and provides a list of...

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News
Defense

Ceramic Matrix Composites in Aircraft Engines Projected to Double over Five Years, Stratview Research Predicts

The use of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) is up across the aerospace market, and among the fastest-growing trends in the global...

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News
RF & Microwave Electronics

Iridium, Aireon, SpaceX Celebrate Satellite Launch, System Deployment

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 04:39:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on July 25, 2018 and placed 10 new Iridium NEXT...

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News
Test & Measurement

VPT Rad-Hard Point of Load Converters Designed for Digital Processing in Space Environments

VPT Inc. (VPT), a HEICO company (NYSE:HEI), in Blacksburg, Va., is introducing its SVPL series space-qualified, radiation-hardened (rad-hard) point...

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INSIDER
Aerospace

DARPA-Boeing Spaceplane Completes Engine Tests

Boeing and DARPA are collaborating to design, build, and test a technology demonstration vehicle for the agency’s Experimental Spaceplane program. The Phantom Express would reinvent space...

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INSIDER
Aerospace

Forget Joysticks – Use Your Torso to Pilot Drones

Imagine piloting a drone using the movements of your torso only and leaving your head free to look around, much like a bird. Your torso is more intuitive – and more precise – than...

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News
Aerospace

Blue Origin Mission 9 a Success

Earlier this week, Blue Origin’s New Shepard flew for the ninth time, completing a test of the crew capsule escape motor. This launch, known as Mission 9 (M9), marks the highest elevation achieved by Blue...

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News
Power

U.K. Space Agency Partners with Industry to Advance Spaceflight Program

U.K. Space Agency officials in Swindon, England, are partnering with Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) in Bethesda, Md., to execute several strategic projects to support the...

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INSIDER
Sensors/Data Acquisition

AgilePod Flies on U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper

In March 2018, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Sensors Program Office, working jointly with the AFLCMC Medium Altitude Unmanned Aerial Systems Program Office, sponsored three...

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INSIDER
Defense

Heavy Ground Testing Puts Airbus’ BelugaXL On Track for First Flight

In preparation for its upcoming maiden flight, Airbus’ first BelugaXL is now in its heavy ground test phase – which focuses on the highly modified airframe for this...

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INSIDER
Manufacturing & Prototyping

Researchers Push Limits in High-Temp, Polymer Additive Manufacturing

Researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate are “turning up the heat” in the field of polymer additive manufacturing....

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INSIDER
Defense

Superstrong Al Alloys May Change Aerospace Manufacturing Processes

Purdue University researchers have developed a superstrong material that may change some manufacturing processes for the aerospace and automobile industries.

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News
Aerospace

NASA and AeroVironment Are Building a Helicopter for Mars

Last week, AeroVironment, Inc. of Monrovia, Calif. revealed its critical role in collaborating with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif. to build the “Mars...

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News
Automotive

ISS Launches Largest Satellite to Date to Test Active Debris Removal

Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) have launched RemoveDEBRIS, the first satellite with space debris-removal capabilities and the largest satellite ever...

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News
Imaging

SAE International Issues, Revises Technical Reports for Aerospace Engineering

Standards development teams at SAE International in Warrendale, Pa., have issued 11 new technical documents and revised or reaffirmed another 54 technical reports...

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INSIDER
Aerospace

Laser-Made Parts Could Transform Aircraft Industry

Researchers are manufacturing steel and titanium aircraft parts using laser metal deposition technology. It can be used to 3D-print parts from scratch or to fix existing parts with a bond...

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INSIDER
Aerospace

NASA UAV Flies Alone in Public Airspace

NASA’s remotely piloted Ikhana aircraft successfully flew its first mission in the National Airspace System without a safety chase aircraft on Tuesday. Flying these large remotely piloted aircraft...

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News
Automotive

Northrop Grumman Acquires Orbital ATK, Adds Solid Rocket Motors to Space Portfolio

Northrop Grumman Corp., an aerospace and defense technology company in Falls Church, Va., has acquired Orbital ATK Inc., one of only two leading U.S....

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INSIDER
Aerospace

NASA CubeSats Head to Mars

NASA has achieved a first for the class of tiny spacecraft known as CubeSats. The MarCO-A and MarCO-B CubeSats are designed to trail InSight on the way to Mars, aiming to relay back data about InSight as it enters...

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INSIDER
Software

Aircraft Scheduling Models Ease Traveler Frustration

Flight schedules that allow for a little carefully designed wiggle room could prevent the frustration of cascading airport delays and cancellations. By focusing on the early phases of flight...

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News
Manned Systems

FAA, SAE International Focus on Engine Fire Protection System Standards for Aerospace

Aerospace systems, subsystems, and components must continue to operate as intended when exposed to fire, rather than going up in flames and ceasing to...

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