Previous observations of Earth’s Van Allen belts have long documented two distinct regions of trapped radiation surrounding our planet. Particle detection instruments aboard the twin Van Allen Probes, launched Aug. 30, quickly revealed to scientists the existence of this new, transient, third radiation belt.

The belts, named for their discoverer, James Van Allen , are critical regions for modern society, which is dependent on many space-based technologies. The Van Allen belts are affected by solar storms and space weather and can swell dramatically. When this occurs, they can pose dangers to communications and GPS satellites, as well as humans in space.

“The fantastic new capabilities and advances in technology in the Van Allen Probes have allowed scientists to see in unprecedented detail how the radiation belts are populated with charged particles and will provide insight on what causes them to change, and how these processes affect the upper reaches of Earth’s atmosphere,” said John Grunsfeld , NASA’s associate administrator for science in Washington.

This discovery shows the dynamic and variable nature of the radiation belts and improves our understanding of how they respond to solar activity. The findings, published Thursday in the journal Science, are the result of data gathered by the first dual-spacecraft mission to fly through our planet’s radiation belts.

The new high-resolution observations by the Relativistic Electron Proton Telescope (REPT) instrument, part of the Energetic Particle, Composition, and Thermal Plasma Suite (ECT) aboard the Van Allen Probes, revealed there can be three distinct, long-lasting belt structures with the emergence of a second empty slot region, or space, in between.

“This is the first time we have had such high-resolution instruments look at time, space and energy together in the outer belt,” said Daniel Baker , lead author of the study and REPT instrument lead at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado in Boulder. “Previous observations of the outer radiation belt only resolved it as a single blurry element. When we turned REPT on just two days after launch, a powerful electron acceleration event was already in progress, and we clearly saw the new belt and new slot between it and the outer belt.”

Scientists observed the third belt for four weeks before a powerful interplanetary shock wave from the sun annihilated it. Observations were made by scientists from institutions including LASP; NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.; Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M.; and the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space at the University of New Hampshire in Durham.

Each Van Allen Probe carries an identical set of five instrument suites that allow scientists to gather data on the belts in unprecedented detail. The data are important for the study of the effect of space weather on Earth, as well as fundamental physical processes observed around other objects, such as planets in our solar system and distant nebulae.

“Even 55 years after their discovery, the Earth’s radiation belts still are capable of surprising us and still have mysteries to discover and explain,” said Nicky Fox , Van Allen Probes deputy project scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md. “We thought we knew the radiation belts, but we don’t. The advances in technology and detection made by NASA in this mission already have had an almost immediate impact on basic science.”

The Van Allen Probes are the second mission in NASA’s Living With a Star Program to explore aspects of the connected sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society. Goddard manages the program. The Applied Physics Laboratory built the spacecraft and manages the mission for NASA.

SOURCE NASA

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Based on the list price for the CS300 aircraft, a firm order from IFC for 32 aircraft would be valued at approximately $2.56 billion US. Should IFC also exercise its 10 options, the contract would have a total value of approximately $3.42 billion US.

“The aircraft leasing world is changing rapidly,” said Alexander Rubtsov, Director General, IFC. “As older, less efficient designs present ongoing challenges to airlines – given high fuel costs and heightened environmental concerns – the CSeries aircraft offers transcontinental range, superior field and runway performance, and a superb cabin that will bring air transport into the 21st century.”

Mr. Rubtsov also noted that the order for the game-changing, technologically advanced CSeries jetliners is its first large, non-Russian aircraft order, adding that the CSeries aircraft, with its capacity and performance, is ideally placed between the Russian Superjet and the MC-21 aircraft, which IFC has committed to purchase.

“This is a landmark opportunity for Bombardier Aerospace and its CSeries aircraft,” said Mike Arcamone, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “The CSeries aircraft was tailor-made for operation in this vast region and has the potential to offer a step-change in air travel in Russia and throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States.”

Currently, 95 CRJ regional jets and Dash 8/Q-Series aircraft are in service or on order in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. In addition, Bombardier is also exploring opportunities for its Q400 NextGen turboprop aircraft in Russia.

Source: IndiaPrWire

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“Sikorsky’s S-61 helicopter has a 50-year legacy of reliably performing missions for the U.S. and foreign allied militaries.  With its rugged endurance, spaciousness, and lift capabilities, the modernized S-61 aircraft can be outfitted to meet a wide variety of requirements.  It provides superior value for a mid-size multi-mission helicopter,” said John Johnson , Director, Commercial Customer Support and S-61 Programs.  “We are pleased to work with Cobham, which has a solid reputation for innovation and system performance in harsh conditions.”

Decommissioned legacy S-61 aircraft are being converted into a modernized S-61T fleet that incorporate a full array of system upgrades for enhanced mission performance.  The IDIQ serves as a contracting vehicle for any U.S. Government agency to purchase the modernized S-61T variant.  The integrated avionics package features large-format synthetic vision flight displays, advanced flight management capability, integrated Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS), dual digital audio/radio control display units, dual VHF navigation, and communication radios. 

“Cobham Commercial Systems is excited to be part of Sikorsky’s modernization of the S-61 helicopter” said Roger J. Smith , General Manager, Cobham Commercial Systems, Mineral Wells. “We are proud to have been selected to enhance the mission performance of Sikorsky’s S-61T aircraft with Cobham’s intuitive 21st century cockpit.”

Cobham’s advanced avionics suite also includes an automatic direction finding system, a distance measuring system, an integrated digital audio/radio management system incorporating aft-cabin audio control.  With integration of navigation, communications and warning systems that provide real-time information, Cobham’s avionics suite reduces pilot workload, enhances safety, and improves situational awareness.  The modernized S-61T aircraft also offers its operators superior performance at a reasonable purchase price, with efficient operating costs and intrinsic resale value.

Cobham Commercial Systems makes helicopter and airplane flight safer, simpler, more efficient, and more comfortable from takeoff to landing.  The business unit develops, deploys, and supports technologies for Civil General Aviation, Military, Search & Rescue, Law Enforcement, OEM, and retrofit markets around the world.

SAS is the worldwide aftermarket business of Sikorsky, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UTC.  SAS provides comprehensive support to rotary and fixed wing aircraft throughout the world.  It offers its military and commercial operators a full portfolio of support services, including material distribution, maintenance, overhaul & repair, aircraft modifications, and life-cycle support.  Sikorsky, based in Stratford, Connecticut, is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture, and service.  UTC, based in Hartford, Connecticut, provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide.

SOURCE Sikorsky Aerospace Services

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The Plan reflects a global settlement with the Company’s first and second lien lenders, the official committee of unsecured creditors, and the Company’s labor unions, allowing the Company to exit from bankruptcy with reduced debt, a rationalized and lower cost fleet, and new five-year collective bargaining agreements with four of its five represented work groups.  In connection with the Plan, the Company also secured an exit financing facility of $35 million.  The exit facility, liquidity on hand, and reduced cost structure provide the necessary framework to effectively compete in today’s marketplace.

“With today’s successful emergence from Chapter 11, we are well positioned for success and can devote our full attention to growth and business development,” stated Rob Binns , CEO.  “We are emerging from bankruptcy as a much stronger company with significantly reduced debt and the appropriate aircraft fleet and operational structure to compete in today’s challenging economic environment.”

Binns added,  “We want to thank our customers, suppliers, lenders, advisors, and dedicated employees for their support throughout the Chapter 11 process.  The commitment of our stakeholders has been a key component to completing the necessary financial and operational restructuring of the Company.”

Global Aviation Holdings Inc., based in Peachtree City, Ga., is the parent company of North American Airlines and World Airways.  Global is the largest commercial provider of charter air transportation for the U.S. military, and a major provider of worldwide commercial global passenger and cargo air transportation services.  North American Airlines, founded in 1989, operates passenger charter flights using B767-300ER aircraft.  World Airways, founded in 1948, operates cargo and passenger charter flights using B747-400 and MD-11 aircraft.

SOURCE Global Aviation Holdings Inc.

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The warning comes from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), whose online tool helps people compare the costs of any extras charged by the top 22 airlines operating in the UK. It includes information on how much airlines charge passengers for checking in luggage, in-flight meals, reserved seating and a host of other services that passengers may have to pay for on top of the headline ticket price.

Originally launched in 2012, the fees and charges comparison table has been comprehensively reviewed and now includes the very latest information available from the most-used airlines in the UK. With the peak holiday booking season in full flow, the CAA is urging people to check the table before booking their flights to make sure they’re not left in the dark about any extra costs they may have to pay.

Iain Osborne, Group Director for Regulatory Policy at the CAA, said:

“Given the weather in the UK over the past few weeks there will be a lot of people looking hard at some of the deals airlines are offering for some winter sun at the moment. However, to make sure they don’t get caught out by unexpected extra costs, our table allows them to compare the different charges that airlines apply, and choose the flight that best suits them.”

More than 10,000 people have used the fees and charges comparison table since it first launched, and the fully updated version is now available from the CAA’s Passenger Portal. Further advice for passengers to use before they fly, on board the aircraft and after they return from their trip is also available from the portal.

Where fees and charges are not optional extras but unavoidable e.g. air passenger duty, they must by law be included in the price of the ticket at the start of the booking process and therefore clear to consumers. The CAA continues to work to make sure airlines and travel companies display prices to consumers correctly.

Source: CAA

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The fresh hole, about 0.63 inch (1.6 centimeters) wide and 2.5 inches (6.4 centimeters) deep in a patch of fine-grained sedimentary bedrock, can be seen in images and other data Curiosity beamed to Earth Saturday. The rock is believed to hold evidence about long-gone wet environments. In pursuit of that evidence, the rover will use its laboratory instruments to analyze rock powder collected by the drill.

“The most advanced planetary robot ever designed now is a fully operating analytical laboratory on Mars,” said John Grunsfeld , NASA associate administrator for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate. “This is the biggest milestone accomplishment for the Curiosity team since the sky-crane landing last August, another proud day for America.”

For the next several days, ground controllers will command the rover’s arm to carry out a series of steps to process the sample, ultimately delivering portions to the instruments inside.

“We commanded the first full-depth drilling, and we believe we have collected sufficient material from the rock to meet our objectives of hardware cleaning and sample drop-off,” said Avi Okon , drill cognizant engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena.

Rock powder generated during drilling travels up flutes on the bit. The bit assembly has chambers to hold the powder until it can be transferred to the sample-handling mechanisms of the rover’s Collection and Handling for In-Situ Martian Rock Analysis (CHIMRA) device.

Before the rock powder is analyzed, some will be used to scour traces of material that may have been deposited onto the hardware while the rover still was on Earth, despite thorough cleaning before launch.

“We’ll take the powder we acquired and swish it around to scrub the internal surfaces of the drill bit assembly,” said JPL’s Scott McCloskey , drill systems engineer. “Then we’ll use the arm to transfer the powder out of the drill into the scoop, which will be our first chance to see the acquired sample.”

“Building a tool to interact forcefully with unpredictable rocks on Mars required an ambitious development and testing program,” said JPL’s Louise Jandura , chief engineer for Curiosity’s sample system.”To get to the point of making this hole in a rock on Mars, we made eight drills and bored more than 1,200 holes in 20 types of rock on Earth.”

Inside the sample-handling device, the powder will be vibrated once or twice over a sieve that screens out any particles larger than six-thousandths of an inch (150 microns) across. Small portions of the sieved sample will fall through ports on the rover deck into the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument and the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument. These instruments then will begin the much-anticipated detailed analysis.

The rock Curiosity drilled is called ” John Klein ” in memory of a Mars Science Laboratory deputy project manager who died in 2011. Drilling for a sample is the last new activity for NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory Project, which is using the car-size Curiosity rover to investigate whether an area within Mars’ Gale Crater has ever offered an environment favorable for life.

JPL manages the project for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

SOURCE NASA

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A Zenit 3SL launch vehicle was carrying the satellite built by Boeing. Intelsat 27 was to operate from 304.5º East, an orbital location currently occupied by Intelsat 805 and Galaxy 11. The satellite is designed to serve customers in North America, South America, the North Atlantic and Europe.

Sea Launch will establish a Failure Review Oversight Board to determine the cause of the failure. Service to customers on Intelsat 805 and Galaxy 11 will not be interrupted as a result of today’s event. Intelsat is committed to working with its customers to identify the most appropriate solutions for service continuity. The satellite and launch were fully insured.

“We are clearly disappointed with the outcome of the launch. The cause of the failure is unknown, but we will work closely with our launch and manufacturing partners to determine the necessary next steps,” said Intelsat CEO David McGlade.

Source: Business Wire

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This was the first of 13 ULA launches scheduled for 2013, the 35th Atlas V mission, and the 67th ULA launch.

“ULA and our mission partners are honored to work with the outstanding NASA team and we are proud of the vitally important data relay capabilities that were safely delivered today,” said Jim Sponnick , ULA vice president, Mission Operations.

This mission was launched aboard an Atlas V 401 configuration vehicle, which includes a 4-meter diameter payload fairing. The Atlas booster for this mission was powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine and the Centaur upper stage was powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) RL10A-4 engine.

NASA established the TDRS project in 1973 to provide around-the-clock and around-the-Earth communications for the network that routes voice calls, telemetry streams and television signals from the International Space Station, as well as science information from the Hubble Space Telescope and other orbiting spacecraft.

“With this team’s innovative and ever-present focus on delivering mission success and best value through Perfect Product Delivery, final work at the Cape to prepare the Atlas V rocket that launched today was completed in record time – 27 days from when the vehicle was first erected to launch,” said Sponnick. “The ability for ULA to reduce its processing time both during manufacturing and at the launch sites, offers our customers added manifest flexibility as well as additional launch opportunities to ensure their payloads are delivered reliably and on-time.”

ULA’s next launch is the Atlas V LDCM mission for NASA scheduled Feb. 11, 2013, from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

ULA program management, engineering, test, and mission support functions are headquartered in Denver, Colo.  Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are located at Decatur, Ala., and Harlingen, Texas. Launch operations are located at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif.

SOURCE United Launch Alliance

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The maritime surveillance aircraft will be used to guard the extensive coastline of the island nation in the Indian Ocean. The Dornier 228 manufactured by the defense public sector undertaking, the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) will also be supported by the HAL team for maintenance on site to enable the new user to get the requisite expertise.

The DO-228 is a highly reliable, multi-purpose, fuel efficient, rugged, light weight twin turbo prop aircraft with a retractable tricycle landing gear.

Describing the event as yet another milestone in the defense cooperation between India and Seychelles, Shri Antony said HAL-DO-228 aircraft is being extensively utilized by our various users such as the Coast Guard, the Navy, Air Force and civilians for a variety of applications. He said it is a frontline surveillance platform for applications like maritime reconnaissance, intelligence warfare, search and rescue, pollution control and transport. He expressed confidence that the aircraft will prove useful for maritime applications by Seychelles, as it is fitted with the latest state of the art surveillance and communication equipment.

Shri Antony complimented the transport aircraft division of HAL at Kanpur for manufacturing the aircraft three months ahead of schedule. He asked HAL to maintain timelines for the products meant for the Indian Armed Forces.

The Foreign Minister of Seychelles Mr. Jean Paul Adam thanked New Delhi for the aircraft and said it will revolutionize the coastal surveillance of Seychelles. He said it will not only help Seychelles to fight piracy but would come as a useful platform for security in a broader way. He fondly recalled the cooperation New Delhi has extended to the island nation in their fight against piracy and capacity building in air and maritime surveillance.

Among those present on the occasion included the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral DK Joshi, the Secretary (Defence Production) Shri RK Mathur, Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs Shri Sanjay Singh and the Chairman of HAL Shri RK Tyagi.

Source: pib.nic.in

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The findings were made using the European Space Agency’s Herschel Space Telescope, a mission in which NASA is a participant.

At roughly 10 million years old and 176 light years away, TW Hydrae is relatively close to Earth by astronomical standards. Its planet-forming disk has been well studied. TW Hydrae is relatively young but, in theory, it is past the age at which giant plants already may have formed.

“We didn’t expect to see so much gas around this star,” said Edwin Bergin of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Bergin led the new study appearing in the journal Nature. “Typically stars of this age have cleared out their surrounding material, but this star still has enough mass to make the equivalent of 50 Jupiters,” Bergin said.

In addition to revealing the peculiar state of the star, the findings also demonstrate a new, more precise method for weighing planet-forming disks. Previous techniques for assessing the mass were indirect and uncertain. The new method can directly probe the gas that typically goes into making planets.

Planets are born out of material swirling around young stars, and the mass of this material is a key factor controlling their formation. Astronomers did not know before the new study whether the disk around TW Hydrae contained enough material to form new planets similar to our own.

“Before, we had to use a proxy to guess the gas quantity in the planet-forming disks,” said Paul Goldsmith , the NASA project scientist for Herschel at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif. “This is another example of Herschel’s versatility and sensitivity yielding important new results about star and planet formation.”

Using Herschel, they were able to take a fresh look at the disk with the space telescope to analyze light coming from TW Hydrae and pick out the spectral signature of a gas called hydrogen deuteride. Simple hydrogen molecules are the main gas component of planets, but they emit light at wavelengths too short to be detected by Herschel. Gas molecules containing deuterium, a heavier version of hydrogen, emit light at longer, far-infrared wavelengths that Herschel is equipped to see. This enabled astronomers to measure the levels of hydrogen deuteride and obtain the weight of the disk with the highest precision yet.

“Knowing the mass of a planet-forming disk is crucial to understanding how and when planets take shape around other stars,” said Glenn Wahlgren , Herschel program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

Whether TW Hydrae’s large disk will lead to an exotic planetary system with larger and more numerous planets than ours remains to be seen, but the new information helps define the range of possible planet scenarios.

“The new results are another important step in understanding the diversity of planetary systems in our universe,” said Bergin. “We are now observing systems with massive Jupiters, super-Earths, and many Neptune-like worlds. By weighing systems at their birth, we gain insight into how our own solar system formed with just one of many possible planetary configurations.”

Herschel is a European Space Agency (ESA) cornerstone mission, with science instruments provided by a consortium of European institutes and with important participation by NASA. NASA’s Herschel Project Office is based at JPL, which contributed mission-enabling technology for two of Herschel’s three science instruments. NASA’s Herschel Science Center, part of the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, supports the United States astronomical community. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

SOURCE NASA

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