Aerospace & Defence
AVX’s space-level BME X7R MLCCs are now NASA approved
AVX has revealed that it is the first, and currently only, company to be recognised as a qualified supplier of space-level BME (Base Metal Electrode) X7R dielectric MLCCs for use in aerospace designs and US military applications under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) S-311-P-838 specification.
Two technologies to help find other Earths
Scientists are getting closer to finding worlds that resemble our own 'blue marble' of a planet. NASA's Kepler mission alone has confirmed more than 1,000 planets outside our solar system -- a handful of which are a bit bigger than Earth and orbit in the habitable zones of their stars, where liquid water might exist. Some astronomers think the discovery of Earth's true analogs may be around the corner. What are the next steps to search for life o...
Selective plating increases aerospace efficiency potential
SIFCO ASC has launched a whitepaper which outlines the increased efficiency potential of selective plating for aerospace applications. By highlighting the performance and portability of the aerospace approved SIFCO Process, the paper makes the case for a wider adoption of selective plating - for salvage, repair and many OEM applications.
Switches certified for UC APL
The nGenius 3900 Series Packet Flow Switches (PFS) from NETSCOUT have been certified by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) for the Department of Defense (DoD) Unified Capabilities Approved Products List (UC APL) and approved by the National Information Assurance Partner (NIAP) as Common Criteria certified against the requirements of Protection Profile for Network Devices v1.1. Last year, these products were certified - nGeniusONE Servi...
Wireless systems improve aircraft weighting
All aircraft gain weight over time and as such, it is vital to accurately weigh an aircraft. This is particularly the case in larger aeroplanes, with paint applied, painting and not stripping, configuration changes and cabin equipment modifications. On smaller crafts, such as lighter planes and helicopters, additional equipment such as cameras and communications apparatus will also add to the weight, as may certain repairs.
NASA works to improve solar electric propulsion
NASA has selected Aerojet Rocketdyne of Redmond, Washington, to design and develop an advanced electric propulsion system that will significantly advance the nation's commercial space capabilities and enable deep space exploration missions, including the robotic portion of NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) and its Journey to Mars.
Sailing to Alpha Centauri at 100 million mph
The Alpha Centauri star system is more than 25 trillion miles or 4.37 light years away. Even today's fastest spacecraft would take about 30,000 years to get there. However, renowned cosmologist Stephen Hawking, investor and philanthropist Yuri Milner and Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg have announced a new Breakthrough Initiative focusing on space exploration and the search for life in the Universe which aims to shorten the journey to just ...
Wind River Technology powers Airbus helicopters’ system
Airbus Helicopters, a division of Airbus Group, is utilising Wind River VxWorks 653 Platform for its Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) system, Helionix. Helionix represents the latest technological evolution from the European helicopter manufacturer offering an unrivaled pilot assistance and intuitive human machine interface. The avionics system, which includes the certified H175 and H145 civilian rotorcrafts, significantly improves helicopter ma...
Enhancing turnkey or custom designs
Offering reduced size and weight using high permittivity, temperature stable materials, the new series of Directional Couplers from Knowles brand, DLI, are manufactured using DLI’s precision Thin Film technology and offer an option for microwave systems in commercial, military and space applications.
Microsemi enhances radiation-tolerant space product portfolio
Microsemi Corporation has announced a recent member of its high-reliability space product portfolio, the LX7710 radiation-tolerant diode array. The LX7710 is the industry’s first integrated solution of its kind offering eight diode pair channels designed specifically for satellites and other space applications. The company also announced its AAHS298B radiation-tolerant source driver has achieved Qualified Manufacturers List (QML) Class V an...