Pluto probe launches from Florida

Posted at: Thu Jan 19th, 2006

The US space agency, Nasa, has successfully launched its New Horizons mission to Pluto. The spacecraft blasted off at 1900 GMT aboard an Atlas 5 rocket for a 10-year journey to the ninth planet. The $700m probe will gather information on Pluto and its moons before - i...

Towards air-breathing rockets

Posted at: Thu Jan 19th, 2006

THE INDIAN Space Research Organisation (ISRO) added another feather to its cap when it successfully tested the use of oxygen moving at a speed of Mach 6 — six times the speed of sound — in laboratory conditions to produce a stable supersonic combustion lasting for a few seconds.

Global Hawk UAV 'arrives'

Posted at: Thu Jan 19th, 2006

1/18/2006 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Senior Airman Richard Griego puts chocks under a Global Hawk at a desert base. The unmanned aerial vehicle is the Air Force's first production Global Hawk and the first deployed. It has been upgraded from previous mo...

Transatlantic turbulence over strike fighter deal

Posted at: Thu Jan 19th, 2006

When the US offered its closest ally a slice of its multi-billion dollar Joint Strike Fighter program four years ago, the opportunity seemed too good to decline. For a contribution of just US$2 billion, Britain could become the top international partner...

SA Gripen hits Swedish skies on maiden flight

Posted at: Thu Jan 19th, 2006

Saab and BAE Systems acquired a joint direct industrial participation (DIP) obligation arising from South Africa’s combined procurement of 28 Gripen fighters and 24 Hawk lead-in fighter trainers from the two companies.

The trouble with JSF

Posted at: Thu Jan 19th, 2006

THE Federal Government major review of Defence spending conducted in December 2005 heralds a new era in combat capability for the Australian Defence Force. However uncertainty remains on the details of large projects such as the Navy’s new destroyers and transport ships, and the re...

Test Failures Slow U.S. Missile Defense

Posted at: Thu Jan 19th, 2006

FORT GREELY, Alaska Jan 18, 2006 — Behind the heavy barbed wire at this snowy range are silos containing eight interceptors designed to shoot down incoming enemy missiles. There were supposed to be as many as 16 in place by now.

Pentagon begins briefing Congress on results of QDR

Posted at: Thu Jan 19th, 2006

The Pentagon has begun briefing Congress on the results of the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review in preparation for Senate hearings next month. Ryan Henry, the Pentagon’s point man on the QDR, yesterday briefed congressional staffers about the review, which will likely recommend chang...

NASA to try Pluto launch again

Posted at: Thu Jan 19th, 2006

(CNN) -- NASA will try again Thursday to launch its New Horizons spacecraft on a mission to explore the planet Pluto. NASA officials scrubbed Wednesday's launch attempt because of a power outage. Tuesday's launch was scrubbed because of strong winds. Thursday's launch ...