Aerospace & Defence
Premature death of star is confirmed by astronomers
A group of Brazilian astronomers observed a pair of celestial objects rarely seen in the Milky Way: a very low-mass white dwarf and a brown dwarf. A white dwarf is the endpoint of the evolution of an intermediate- or low-mass star, with a mass between 0.5 and 8 times that of our Sun. A brown dwarf is a substellar object with mass intermediate between those of a star and a planet.
Coin-sized thermometer to characterise earthbound asteroids
Two NASA teams want to deploy a highly compact, sensitive thermometer that could characterise comets and even assist in the redirection or possible destruction of an asteroid on a collision course with Earth.
High speed machining for aerospace applications
The metal cutting industry continues to develop in order to meet the advanced requirements of the various industrial applications. High speed machining meets the demands of industries which are required to produce high quality tools. These industries include the car manufacturing industry, space and aviation industries, and medical industry.
Space cables and assemblies showcased at Space Tech Expo
W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) showcased its extensive catalogue of qualified GORE Space Cables and Assemblies engineered to perform without failure in critical spacecraft systems at the Space Tech Expo Europe, 24th to 26th October 2017 Germany.
Reduced flange connector targets military markets
Designed for reduced spaces in military and aviation applications, Amphenol Socapex's 38999 Reduced Flange receptacle combines space and weight savings with the performance of a MIL-DTL-38999 Series III connector. Its design reduces the footprint surface by 41%. It is also 20% lighter than a standard MIL-DTL-38999 Series III connector. The connector is suitable in situations where a maximum number of MIL-DTL-38999 Series III connectors need ...
One step closer to creating a sustainable oxygen supply on Mars
A new study has found that plasma technology could hold the key to creating a sustainable oxygen supply on Mars. It suggests that Mars, with its 96% carbon dioxide atmosphere, has nearly ideal conditions for creating oxygen from CO2 through a process known as decomposition.
Tapping out the benefits for aerospace manufacturers
Due to a strong demand for reliable maching solutions in the aerospace industry, cutting tool and tooling system specialist Sandvik Coromant has launched new tapping and thread millung tools for ISO S materials (titanium and nickel-based alloys). The products have been purpose designed to deliver process security on high value components, such as engine casings, thus providing reductions in scrap rates and machine downtime.
Spacecraft tech gets boost in connectivity
Members of the media are invited to join TE Connectivity (TE) at Space Tech Expo Europe to experience TE’s breadth of solutions optimised for the rigors of space launch and spacecraft applications.
Ashes-to-ashes but not quite dust-to-dust
It was previously thought that molecules and dust would be completely obliterated by the tremendous explosions of supernovae. Yet, for the first time, scientists have discovered that this is not actually the case. A group of scientists, including those funded under the European Research Council (ERC) financed projects SNDUST and COSMICDUST, have identified two previously undetected molecules; formylium (HCO+) and sulphur monoxide (SO), found...
Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays have extragalactic origin
Researchers participating in the Pierre Auger Collaboration, which runs the world’s largest cosmic ray observatory located in Mendoza Province, Argentina, have discovered that, above a certain energy level, these particles are of extragalactic origin. Cosmic rays include some of the most energetic particles in the universe and constantly collide with the Earth’s atmosphere.