New Horizons update: Cruising from Earth to Jupiter

Posted at: Fri Feb 10th, 2006

New Horizons continues to do well in flight - three weeks down and 492 to go. With more than 99% of the journey to the Pluto system still ahead of us, you might say we are just beginning - and we are. But we have retired much of the risk we worried about to reaching Pluto by getting a good launch an...

SpaceX Scrubs Falcon 1 Launch Debut for Third Time

Posted at: Fri Feb 10th, 2006

A private launch firm has scrubbed its third attempt to make the inaugural launch of its Falcon 1 rocket after problems cropped up during a planned engine test, the company said late Thursday. The El Segundo, California-based firm Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) hoped to debu...

Mineta: Space Tourism May Come in 2008

Posted at: Fri Feb 10th, 2006

Commercial space craft could be cleared to carry passengers by 2008, according to SecTrans Norman Mineta. Speaking to a group of space entrepreneurs, the Secretary said that a number of companies should be set to take passengers into space and that the U.S. Department of Transportation would be read...

Halfway point passed by Fossett

Posted at: Fri Feb 10th, 2006

Steve Fossett has passed the halfway point of his solo bid to make the longest non-stop flight in history. The US aviator hit midway at 0014 GMT Friday, 36 hours and 47 minutes into his flight, as he flew over Japan and headed east towards the Pacific. The flight, if ...

Sir Digby - It's time to stand up to America

Posted at: Fri Feb 10th, 2006

CBI director general Sir Digby Jones last night stepped up his vitriolic attack on America, saying it was time to abandon the special relationship. Speaking at the Birmingham Law Society President's Dinner, Sir Digby said it was time for the "ending of a myth". Two issues in particula...

Pentagon gives details on tanker bidding

Posted at: Fri Feb 10th, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Competition for the contract to replace the Air Force's aging fleet of refueling tankers likely will open by midyear, the Pentagon's weapon-buying chief said. Formal requests for information will be sent to The Boeing Co. and a competing team composed of European Aeronau...

Air Force cancels B-52 jammer program

Posted at: Fri Feb 10th, 2006

A program to add electronic jamming capabilities to the B-52 Stratofortress was canceled by the U.S. Air Force. Boeing Integrated Defense Systems Wichita officials had hoped to win the B-52 Stand off jammer program with plans to perform the modif...

PICTURES: Lockheed F-35 JSF gets PW F135 engine fitting

Posted at: Fri Feb 10th, 2006

Lockheed Martin has conducted a fit test of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter's (JSF) Pratt and Whitney F135 turbofan engine, as the US Department of Defense appears to have killed off t...

Sea Harriers fly with F-15s one last time

Posted at: Fri Feb 10th, 2006

RAF LAKENHEATH, England - It wasn't the first time Royal Navy FA2 Sea Harrier and 48th Fighter Wing F-15C Eagle jets collaborated in the sky to rehearse combat scenarios, but it will be the last when a two-week training ex...