Aero-News Network: The aviation and aerospace world's daily/real-time news and information service

Martian Skies Clearing Over Opportunity Rover

NASA Increasing Efforts To Contact The Rover

Scientists reviewing data from the Mars Color Imager (MARCI) aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) have determined that the tau estimate (a measure of the amount of haze in the Martian atmosphere) in the skies above the rover Opportunity has been below 1.5 for two consecutive measurements.

Loon Program Marks 'Major Milestone'

Relays Data Across A Distance Of 540 Nautical Miles

Alphabet's Loon has reached what it is calling a major milestone after successfully relaying data across 1,000 km (about 540 nautical miles) between a network of seven balloons.

OSIRIX-REx Begins Science Mission

Takes First Scientific Observations Of Asteroid Bennu

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has begun its science mission as it continues to approach near-Earth asteroid Bennu. Mission principal investigator Dante Lauretta, a professor of planetary science and cosmochemistry at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Tweeted "Big day for @OSIRISREx — we start our first science observations — searching for dust plumes around Bennu" on Tuesday.

Researchers Teaching Drones To Fly Through Narrow Gaps At High Speeds

University Of Maryland Scientists Working On Project GapFlyt

Researchers at the University of Maryland are teaching drones to employ techniques used by birds and insects to fly through narrow gaps at high speeds. The drone, a Bebop 2 drone with an NVIDIA Jetson TX2 GPU on board, has been able to fly through a small hole at about 6 feet per second with about an 85 percent success rate.

ASU Modifies CO Fire AT-802 For First Fixed-Wing NVG Firefighting Operations

Gives Pilots An Increased Safety Margin At Night

Fighting fires at night is an effective tool for combating threatening wildfires. Temperatures drop, humidity typically increases and it is easier to spot hot spots at night making nighttime firefighting ideal. Now, CO Fire Aviation has a new tool to combat fires at night. Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Inc., (ASU) recently modified an Air Tractor AT-802F for night vision goggle (NVG) operations giving pilots an increased advantage in the safety and effectiveness at night.

Experimental Helicopter Pilot Fatally Injured In Montana Accident

Aircraft Impacted A Hangar At Billings Logan International Airport

The pilot of an experimental helicopter was fatally injured Wednesday when the aircraft impacted a hangar facility at Billings Logan International Airport (KBIL).

Pratt & Whitney Awarded Contract Modification For Adaptive Engines

U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center To Pay $437 Million For Maturation Of Technologies

Pratt & Whitney has been awarded a $437 million contract modification by the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) for next generation adaptive propulsion risk reduction for potential air superiority applications.

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (09.15.18)

“The Sun is breaking through the haze over Perseverance Valley, and soon there will be enough sunlight present that Opportunity should be able to recharge its batteries.” Source: John Callas, Opportunity project manager at JPL.

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (09.15.18): Direct Indication

The true and instantaneous reflection of aircraft pitch-and-bank attitude by the miniature aircraft, relative to the horizon bar of the attitude indicator.

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (09.15.18)

Capital Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

The Capital Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (CHGPA), founded in 1974, is a non-profit association dedicated to the growth, safety, and solidarity of the sports of hang gliding and paragliding. CHGPA is an exciting, active organization of about 150 members, most of whom live in Washington, D.C. and the surrounding suburban areas of Maryland and Virginia.