NASA Selects Mission to Study Mars Atmosphere
September 16, 2008
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — NASA has selected a
Mars robotic mission that will provide information about the Red Planet’s
atmosphere, climate history and potential habitability in greater detail
than ever before.
Called the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft,
the $485 million mission is scheduled for launch in late 2013. The
selection was evaluated to have the best science value and lowest
implementation risk from 20 mission investigation proposals submitted in
response to a NASA Announcement of Opportunity in August 2006.
“This mission will provide the first direct measurements ever taken to
address key scientific questions about Mars’ evolution,” said Doug
McCuistion, director of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters
in Washington.
Mars once had a denser atmosphere that supported the presence of liquid
water on the surface. As part of a dramatic climate change, most of the
Martian atmosphere was lost. MAVEN will make definitive scientific
measurements of present-day atmospheric loss that will offer clues about
the planet’s history.
“The loss of Mars’ atmosphere has been an ongoing mystery,” McCuistion
said. “MAVEN will help us solve it.”
The principal investigator for the mission is Bruce Jakosky of the
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado
at Boulder. The university will receive $6 million to fund mission planning
and technology development during the next year. NASA’s Goddard Space
Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., will manage the project. Lockheed Martin
of Littleton, Colo., will build the spacecraft based on designs from NASA’s
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and 2001 Mars Odyssey missions. The team will
begin mission design and implementation in the fall of 2009.
Launched in August 2005, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is a
multipurpose spacecraft that carries the most powerful telescopic camera
ever flown to another planet. The camera can show Martian landscape
features as small as a kitchen table from low orbital altitudes. The
mission is examining potential landing sites for future surface missions
and providing a communications relay for other Mars spacecraft.
The 2001 Mars Odyssey, launched in April of that year, is determining
the composition of the Red Planet’s surface by searching for water and
shallow buried ice. The spacecraft also is studying the planet’s radiation
environment.
After arriving at Mars in the fall of 2014, MAVEN will use its
propulsion system to enter an elliptical orbit ranging 90 to 3,870 miles
above the planet. The spacecraft’s eight science instruments will take
measurements during a full Earth year, which is roughly equivalent to half
of a Martian year. MAVEN also will dip to an altitude 80 miles above the
planet to sample Mars’ entire upper atmosphere. During and after its
primary science mission, the spacecraft may be used to provide
communications relay support for robotic missions on the Martian surface.
“MAVEN will obtain critical measurements that the National Academy of
Science listed as being of high priority in their 2003 decadal survey on
planetary exploration,” said Michael Meyer, the Mars chief scientist at
NASA Headquarters. “This field of study also was highlighted in the 2005
NASA Roadmap for New Science of the Sun-Earth System Connection.”
The Mars Scout Program is designed to send a series of small, low-cost,
principal investigator-led missions to the Red Planet. The Phoenix Mars
Lander was the first spacecraft selected. Phoenix landed on the icy
northern polar region of Mars on May 25, 2008. The spacecraft completed its
prime science mission on Aug. 25, 2008. The mission has been extended
through Sept. 30.
NASA’s Mars Exploration Program seeks to characterize and understand
Mars as a dynamic system, including its present and past environment,
climate cycles, geology and biological potential.
Sikorsky Aerospace Services to provide Aerial Refueling Capability for 13 U.S. Air Force H-60 Helicopters
September 16, 2008
STRATFORD, Conn., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ — Sikorsky Aerospace Services
today announced a contract to supply the U.S. Air Force with 13 aerial
refueling assemblies for H-60 helicopters. Sikorsky Aerospace Services is
the worldwide aftermarket division of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary
of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
“The refuel assemblies enable in-flight aircraft refueling, which
increases the helicopters’ range, saving valuable time and expanding the
mission and role of the aircraft,” said George Mitchell, Director, Sikorsky
Aerospace Services, Material Logistics and Spares.
Sikorsky Aerospace Services supplies the fuel probe assemblies as an
aftermarket option for H-60 aircraft. The contract value is approximately
$2 million.
Sikorsky Aerospace Services, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.’s aftermarket
business, includes Derco Aerospace, Inc., Helicopter Support, Inc.,
Sikorsky Aerospace Maintenance, Composite Technology, Inc., and Sikorsky
Aircraft Australia – Helitech, and offers complete aftermarket support
solutions globally.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader
in helicopter design, manufacture and service. Sikorsky Aircraft’s mission
statement reflects the company’s long commitment to safety and innovation:
“We pioneer flight solutions that bring people home everywhere… every
time(TM).” More information is available at the interactive
http://www.sikorsky.com Web site.
United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, provides a
broad range of high technology products and support services to the
aerospace and building systems industries.
La NASA Selecciona Misión para Estudiar la Atmósfera de Marte
September 16, 2008
WASHINGTON, 16/09/2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — La NASA ha seleccionado una misión robótica a Marte, la que proporcionará la información más detallada hasta la fecha sobre la atmósfera del Planeta Rojo, así como también sobre su historia climática y potencial de habitabilidad.
La misión no tripulada valuada en $485 millones, denominada sonda MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution – Atmósfera de Marte y Evolución Volátil), será lanzada, según el cronograma, a fines de 2013. La selección se evaluó sobre la base del mejor valor científico y el menor riesgo de implementación entre 20 propuestas de misiones de investigación, presentadas en respuesta a un Anuncio de Oportunidad de la NASA en agosto de 2006.
“Esta misión ofrecerá las primeras mediciones directas jamás tomadas, las que servirán para abordar preguntas científicas clave sobre la evolución de Marte”, dijo Doug McCuistion, director del Programa de Exploración de Marte, en la oficina central de la NASA en Washington. (FUENTE NASA)
United Airlines Aumenta Tarifa para Segundo Equipaje Despachado
September 16, 2008
CHICAGO, 15/09/2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Considerando el difícil entorno económico, donde el precio del combustible sigue siendo muy volátil y se ubica más de 50% por encima del precio del año anterior, United decidió aumentar la tarifa de servicio para la segunda maleta despachada en sus vuelos de cabotaje, de $25 a $50 en billetes sin regreso. Esta modificación se implementará a partir del 16 de septiembre de 2008 en el caso de clientes que viajen a un destino dentro de Estados Unidos y a partir del 10 de noviembre de 2008, en el caso de que viajen o vuelvan de Canadá, Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes de Estados Unidos.
La tarifa de servicio no se aplicará a los clientes de Primera Clase y Clase Ejecutiva de United, socios del programa Premier de United o Star Alliance o miembros de las fuerzas armadas que viajen por orden oficial. United estima que la tarifa de $50 se aplicará a uno de cada siete clientes. (FUENTE United Airlines)
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Russia – ExecuJet sees opportunities in managed aircraft
September 16, 2008
With some 100 new business jets entering the Russian market in the next 12 months, ExecuJet Aviation Group foresees the market shifting. Fewer charter customers, but heightened interest from owners looking to manage their aircraft. With its geographical reach, full suite of business aviation solutions and extensive experience in the East European countries, ExecuJet is upbeat about increased business in the region. The Group currently has nearly 20 aircraft based in Russia and the CIS, under its four European AOC’s (Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom) according to Marcel Wepfer, ExecuJet Director Aircraft Management.
The charter market in Europe remains pretty steady, he notes, with larger cabin, longer range aircraft more popular in this region. “Although charter prices are up slightly owing to higher fuel prices and the strength of the Euro against the US$, for the longer term we think prices will drop off a bit. As a European-headquartered charter operator and part of a world-wide organization, ExecuJet can attend to both your regional and global aviation transportation needs and because we can call on a 25-strong charter aircraft fleet based widely over Europe – Moscow, Kiev, Zurich and London, for example – we can quickly respond to short notice bookings.” The other regions of ExecuJet (Middle East, South Africa and Australia) account for an additional 36 aircraft available for charter around the world.
Global Express newly added to managed fleet
This week ExecuJet added a fifth Global Express to its managed fleet in Europe. Aircraft registration HB-JGO, configured for 14 VIP seats and fitted with state of the art inflight entertainment and connectivity, will be based at ExecuJet’s Zurich facility, to be operated under its Swiss AOC.
ExecuJet Aviation Group will be at Jet Expo this week (Hall 7, Stand C190) to talk up its capabilities, including its new all-embracing SimplyFly aircraft ownership program, now headed by Executive Director Simply Fly, Paul-Justin Schilling. Coinciding with the show, ExecuJet will also officially open its representation office in Moscow, overseen by Peter Hartmann, Managing Director of ExecuJet Europe.
ExecuJet Aviation Group
ExecuJet Aviation Group is a leading global business aviation organization offering a diverse range of services including pre-owned and new aircraft sales, aircraft management, aircraft charter, aircraft maintenance, aircraft completions management and fixed base operations. Headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, ExecuJet Aviation Group has operations in four regions – Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australasia, embracing a workforce of over 750.
ExecuJet manages over 130 business jets worldwide under the most stringent safety standards. Its commercial fleet is operated under the regulatory umbrella of eight regional civil aviation issued air operating certificates (AOCs).
ExecuJet is a sales representative and dealer across four continents for Bombardier Business Aircraft’s family of Learjet, Challenger and Global Express business jets. They are an exclusive agent outside North America for the sale of the Grob Aerospace spⁿ light business jet, and the sole sales representative outside the Americas for the 8 to 12-passenger Aerion Supersonic Business Jet.
ExecuJet unveiled its new jet ownership program SimplyFly, tailored for high net worth individuals and corporations, earlier this year. SimplyFly is a one-stop shop service incorporating aircraft acquisition, management, maintenance and operations. The program offers whole aircraft availability at predictable costs, with a dedicated crew, the option to earn charter revenue and the ability to take the aircraft over completely at the end of its lease term.
AIRBUS CONCLUDED NEGOTIATIONS TO SELL ITS WING COMPONENT AND ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURING UNIT AT FILTON TO GKN
September 16, 2008
Airbus and GKN have signed a contract under which GKN will purchase the wing component and assemblies manufacturing unit based at Airbus’ site at Filton, near Bristol, UK. This will result in all operational business, assets and activities, within the parameters agreed, being transferred to GKN. As a result of the transaction, GKN is fully supporting the Airbus Power8 initiative and making further investment in the unit in order that Filton will continue to play its important role in Airbus’ current and future programmes.
The manufacturing unit includes a total workforce of approximately 1,500 employees (both manufacturing workers and support staff), which equates to around 25 per cent of Airbus’ total workforce at Filton. The unit is responsible for producing wing components such as the wing leading and trailing edges; outer wingbox assemblies and shroud box; single aisle wing electrical harnesses; ribs and other machined parts; pipe forming, ducting and other detail components.
“This sale is an important element of our restructuring programme Power8. It will provide new opportunities for those involved and will help to strengthen the Filton aerospace site and the region as a whole.” said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO. “For Airbus this decision will allow us to concentrate on our role of being an aircraft architect and integrator. Our remaining wing, landing gear and fuel systems business at Filton is core to this objective.”
The agreement is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to complete by the end of the year. The contract with GKN also includes major Airbus A350 XWB work-packages for the carbon fibre composite, wing fixed trailing edge, which GKN plans to manufacture locally.
La NASA Realiza la Primera Prueba al Nuevo Motor del Cohete “Ares I”
September 12, 2008
HUNTSVILLE, Ala., 12/09/2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Los ingenieros del Centro Marshall para Vuelos Espaciales de la NASA, en Huntsville, Alabama., han completado la primera ronda de pruebas al motor crítico para la misión del nuevo cohete de la NASA, el “Ares I”. El vehículo espacial “Ares I” es un cohete de dos etapas, que lanzará a los astronautas a bordo de la cápsula tripulada Orión en sus misiones a la Estación Espacial Internacional y a la luna en 2020.
El motor vacío de estabilización es un pequeño motor sólido, que cumple dos funciones clave durante el lanzamiento del “Ares I”. Durante la separación de la primera etapa, que ocurre 125,8 segundos después de iniciado el vuelo, el motor se enciende durante cuatro segundos, lo que produce el impulso necesario para que la segunda etapa, o etapa superior, se desprenda de la primera. Este impulso hacia adelante garantiza también que el combustible líquido del cohete vaya hacia el fondo del tanque de combustible de la etapa superior, previo al encendido del motor J-2X, que impulsa la etapa superior. (FUENTE NASA)
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American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia Set the Record Straight With Facts About Their Application for Antitrust Immunity
September 12, 2008
FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Without any facts
or data to oppose the antitrust immunity application by American Airlines,
British Airways and Iberia, Virgin Atlantic instead has resorted to
baseless arguments and hypocritical scare tactics. Virgin is intentionally
trying to mislead regulators and the general public in challenging the data
we have submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in support
of our antitrust immunity application. In opposing our application, Virgin
is also opposing improved competition and more choices for customers. Here
are the facts:
1) Our DOT application contains MIDT (Marketing Information Data Tapes)
data, which is a widely recognized and valid source of information
that is required by regulators around the world, including the DOT,
the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission, in
analyzing market share and competition.
2) MIDT provides information on bookings worldwide from multiple Global
Distribution Systems (GDS databases, such as Amadeus, Sabre,
WorldSpan, Galileo and several others). Significantly, it also
includes third-party online bookings from sources, such as Travelocity
and Orbitz.
3) MIDT data was used in the antitrust applications filed with — and
approved by — the DOT by both the Sky Team and Star alliances and has
been used in competition analysis by the U.S. Department of Justice.
AA, BA and Iberia are using the same data for our application, which
requests immunity for members of the oneworld alliance that provide
transatlantic service.
4) Virgin’s claim that MIDT data does not include the carrier bookings
captured on our respective websites (AA.com and BA.com) is irrelevant.
That’s because MIDT also excludes direct bookings for other carriers,
such as Virgin Atlantic. In other words, in following the DOT’s own
protocol for providing data for our application, we truly offer an
apples-to-apples comparison.
5) In previous filings and public comments, Virgin has extolled the
virtues of MIDT data:
— In a 1997 joint DOT filing, Virgin said that “the MIDT data is
important.” Virgin also said that “the MIDT data improves
transportation planning and enables resources to be used more
effectively.”
— In a 2003 DOT filing, Virgin said that MIDT provides airlines
“with information on (city-pair) markets, such as the potential
size of the market (in terms of number of passengers), the
proportion of business v leisure traffic, the proportion of
traffic carried by its competitors, and so on. MIDT is the only
source of this information on international markets available
to non-US airlines. This information helps carriers make
decisions about whether or not to enter markets or expand
capacity in markets already served, by reducing uncertainty.”
6) The DOT data that Virgin cites is completely inappropriate for this
debate. That data, known as T-100, measures all onboard passengers on
a particular nonstop flight segment, without regard for their actual
origin and destination. In other words, 100 percent of the passengers
on a Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)-Heathrow flight show up in T-100 as
DFW-Heathrow local passengers, even those who don’t begin their trips
in DFW and don’t end their trips at Heathrow. Thus, it overstates a
hub carrier’s share by including everyone on the plane, as opposed to
only those passengers who originate in DFW and are traveling to London
as their final destination, which is the true DFW-Heathrow market.
For example, a passenger who flies from Houston to Paris may connect
via DFW-Heathrow. The true city pair for that customer’s itinerary is
Houston-Paris. But Virgin’s data counts those customers who are
connecting on the DFW-Heathrow segment as part of our market share on
the DFW-Heathrow city pair. That is erroneous because DFW is not the
origin and Heathrow is not the destination — those airports are just
connecting points for the true city pair (Houston-Paris).
7) The data Virgin wants to use also overstates a nonstop carrier’s share
because it does not include any one-stop competition. For example, a
customer who travels from DFW to Heathrow may connect through
Washington Dulles. The city pair market for such an itinerary is
DFW-Heathrow, and thus it competes with nonstop DFW-Heathrow service.
However, Virgin’s stats consider the one-stop service to be two
separate city pairs: DFW-Dulles as one and Dulles-Heathrow as the
other. Therefore, neither segment would show up as a competing route
to nonstop DFW-Heathrow service. This understates competition to a
particular nonstop route and is misleading to use.
In summary, there is simply no better source than MIDT data to analyze
competition. The DOT used MIDT data to consider and approve antitrust
applications by SkyTeam and Star, and the Department of Justice has used
MIDT data in its competition analysis. What’s more, Virgin has vigorously
defended MIDT data in the past as an important source of information but
now disparages it because MIDT doesn’t suit its arguments. The MIDT data
shows that our application for immunity will not harm competition, as
Virgin claims, and in fact the MIDT data demonstrates that the oneworld
alliance will have less market share at Heathrow than Star and Sky Team
alliances have in their major European hubs. For more information
http://www.moretravelchoices.com
About American Airlines
American Airlines is the world’s largest airline. American, American
Eagle and the AmericanConnection(R) airlines serve 250 cities in over 40
countries with more than 4,000 daily flights. The combined network fleet
numbers more than 1,000 aircraft. American’s award-winning Web site,
AA.com, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus
personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a
founding member of the oneworld(R) Alliance, which brings together some of
the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer
their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on
its own. Together, its members serve nearly 700 destinations in over 140
countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle
Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines,
American Eagle, the AmericanConnection(R) airlines, AA.com, We know why you
fly and AAdvantage are registered trademarks of American Airlines, Inc.
(NYSE: AMR)
Kaminski: NextGen Will Boost Environmental Efforts
September 12, 2008
ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Making aviation
more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly bolsters the need to
develop the NextGen air transportation system as quickly as possible, Paul
Kaminski told a congressional panel Thursday.
Kaminski, AIA’s representative to the NextGen Management Council, said
the environmental benefits join the requirements of ever-increasing numbers
of air passengers and should prompt officials to give the initiative as
much support as possible. He noted that the FAA is modeling fuel burn and
noise with aircraft operations, which will help quantify the significant
energy and environment benefits of NextGen.
“NextGen promises dramatic increases in efficiency and reduction in
carbon emissions,” Kaminski said to the House Committee on Science and
Technology. “When you add this to capacity, safety and other gains, it is
clear we can’t afford to give NextGen anything less than full support.”
Kaminski spoke during a hearing exploring the status of NextGen
development and implementation. In his role as the AIA’s council
representative, Kaminski provides industry input into the initiative
through the Joint Program and Development Office.
NextGen is an advanced, satellite-based system that will employ cutting
edge technology to totally transform air travel in the United States. It
will replace the current air traffic control system, which is based on
outdated architecture and technology developed during the World War II era.
A former under secretary of defense for Acquisition and Technology,
Kaminski has had a decades-long career involving large program
implementation and application of advanced technology, including the
development and fielding of the F-117 program. He said many lessons learned
during that experience could be applied to NextGen to accelerate
development and allow continuous technology enhancements in the future.
Founded in 1919, the Aerospace Industries Association represents the
nation’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of civil, military, and
business aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, space systems,
aircraft engines, materiel, and related components, equipment services, and
information technology.
SOURCE Aerospace Industries Association
SOUTHCOM Sends Eight-Man Team To Haiti, Kearsarge Delivers 350 Metric Tons of Aid
September 12, 2008
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — An eight-man
team from U.S. Southern Command, headquartered in Miami, will arrive in
Haiti today to support ongoing U.S. relief efforts in the country.
The team, comprised of two Creole translators, three engineers and
three operational planners, will join ongoing U.S. military disaster
assistance activities in Haiti carried out by the crew of the USS Kearsarge
(LHD 3) operating from the Gulf of Gonaves.
“The team will provide technical engineering assistance to the
government of Haiti, MINUSTAH forces and OFDA officials for critical
infrastructure, bridge and road repair efforts,” said U.S. Army Col.
Norberto Cintron, Command Engineer for SOUTHCOM.
“The distribution of aid has been hampered by the devastation of roads
and bridges in Haiti. We look forward to the challenge of restoring access
to isolated communities.”
USS Kearsarge continued its support of disaster relief efforts in Haiti
Sept. 11, launching five helicopters and three landing craft vessels to
deliver aid to remote areas suffering in the aftermath of recent storms.
Overall, the Kearsarge mission in Haiti has delivered an estimated 350
metric tons of relief supplies in addition to 1,500 gallons of water.
The Caribbean nation was hit hard by tropical storms Fay, Gustav and
Hanna and then again by Hurricane Ike, leaving eight of Haiti’s 10
geographic departments flooded, destroying bridges and roads and leaving
residents desperate for aid.
On the fourth day of operations, CH-53E “Sea Stallion” helicopter crews
flew relief missions to Gonaives, Les Cayes and Port de Paix delivering
approximately 85 metric tons of pre-packaged food such as flour, beans,
rice and high-energy biscuits from the World Food Program, as well as
hygiene kits from the United Nations Population Fund.
To date, CH-53E and MH-60S “Seahawk” pilots have flown a combined 28
missions into the country to deliver supplies. Personnel from Assault Craft
Unit 2 have launched landing craft utility vessels daily sending supplies
and personnel ashore.
Kearsarge also continued to send volunteer working parties to
Port-au-Prince, to assist in loading and unloading supplies.
“This is truly a team effort,” said Kearsarge’s commanding officer,
Capt. Walter Towns. “Everyone from the craftmasters, helicopter pilots,
flight deck and well deck crews to the unsung heroes on the working parties
carry hundreds of pounds of food and water supplies. They do it all with
out complaint because they know their efforts are saving lives.”
The capabilities of Kearsarge include the fast movement of personnel
and cargo by helicopter and landing craft vessels, making it the ideal
platform to support urgent humanitarian relief missions.
Additional information is available at http://www.southcom.mil .
SOURCE U.S. Southern Command
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