Aerospace
The technology and science of commercial and military air and space flightDiscover Air & Space articles about aerospace science, technology, industry, recreation and government programs.
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Heroes in the Tower
Stories about air traffic controllers that you probably didn’t see on the evening news.
September 2011 |
By Michael Klesius
Distance Runners
Unmanned aerial vehicles redefine the term "nonstop flight."
September 2011 |
By Michael Milstein
In the Museum: A Fleet’s Final Flight
A civilian flight trainer enters the collections.
September 2011 |
By Rebecca Maksel
Oldies and Oddities: Lying Down on the Job
Piloting in the prone position
September 2011 |
By Graham Chandler
Moments and Milestones: Once Around
The 75th anniversary of a round-the-world trip.
September 2011 |
By George C. Larson, Member, NAA
Reviews & Previews: Prodigal Son
A troubled man, Gregory Boyington found redemption commanding a U.S. Marine fighter squadron in the South Pacific.
September 2011 |
By Phil Scott
A & S Interview: Andy Chiavetta
The Reno Kid, raceplane builder par excellence.
September 2011 |
By Linda Shiner
Destination: Moon or Asteroid? Part I: Operational Considerations
Part I: Operational Considerations The current controversy over the direction of our national space program has many dimensions but most of the discourse has focused on the means (government vs. commercial launch vehicles) not the ends (destinations and activities). Near-Earth objects (NEO, i.e., asteroids) became the next destination for human exploration as an alternative to [...]
August 31, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
Time Lapse From Orbit
Here’s some more creative space photography from Ron Garan, who’s currently on board the International Space Station. Garan and several other astronauts have teamed up for the Fragile Oasis project, to share the perspective of Earth that they see from orbit. This time-lapse sequence is apparently a sneak peek at a longer version. The Peter [...]
August 30, 2011 |
By Tony Reichhardt
Free Shuttle Artifacts!
The four orbiters are already taken, but thousands more shuttle-related items are still available—at no cost.
August 29, 2011 |
By Mark Betancourt
Washington Shifts to the Left
According to computer modeling by NASA’s QuakeSim project, Tuesday’s 5.8-magnitude earthquake in central Virginia moved the city of Washington D.C. a whopping 0.02 inches “to the northwest and downward.” The small town of Mineral, near the quake’s epicenter, shifted about 2.8 inches.
August 25, 2011 |
By Tony Reichhardt
Live 3-D From Space
Got 3-D glasses? Then watch this. According to the European Space Agency, it’s the first live 3-D video ever streamed from space. NASA astronaut Ron Garan is both star and director, and he’s using ESA’s new Erasmus Recording Binocular (ERB-2) camera inside the European Columbus module. ESA plans to start up a 3-D channel on [...]
August 24, 2011 |
By Tony Reichhardt
It’s Alive!
Robonaut 2—the humanoid robot soon to be tested as an astronaut’s helper on the International Space Station—is being powered up for the first time this morning (screen shot at left). Since arriving on the space shuttle last February, the robot has been sitting on its pedestal, lifeless. It won’t be commanded to move for a [...]
August 22, 2011 |
By Tony Reichhardt
Orville Mugs For His Birthday
You may have noticed the U.S. flag flying on a federal building today, but chances are it was on the pole yesterday, too. Or perhaps you woke feeling the need for “appropriate exercises to further stimulate interest in aviation,” which many of us consider part of our routine. At least today, though, you’ve got President [...]
August 19, 2011 |
By Roger Mola
Splat! Two Moons over Miami?
A recent paper suggests that early in the history of the Solar System, two sub-moons collided to create Earth’s present-day Moon. Several people have asked for my opinion on this new concept, so I will examine how this result was obtained, along with some general remarks on the nature of modern scientific research. Over 25 [...]
August 18, 2011 |
By Paul D. Spudis
Apollo in Afghanistan
Three legendary astronauts—Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell, and Gene Cernan—were in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday, meeting with American service men and women as well as young Afghan Air Force trainees. From the NATO press release: “This is the best day of my life!” said Lt. Fatama Abteen, one of a small handful of female Afghan Air Force [...]
August 17, 2011 |
By Tony Reichhardt
Conan Knows Best
Who can forget the immortal question posed by the Mongol General in the 1982 classic Conan the Barbarian? Wait…don’t tell me you’ve forgotten? When the Mongol General bellows “What is best in life?” some (sissy) barbarian offers the following: “The open steppe, fleet horse, falcons at your wrist, and the wind in your hair.” (“The [...]
August 12, 2011 |
By Rebecca Maksel
Coming Extractions
The Army’s CH-47 Chinook helicopter has flown a stunning but standard maneuver—the aft-wheel pinnacle landing—since 1962. In Iraq and Afghanistan, the move has reached its peak. This month as many as 5,000 pairs of boots will leave the ground, with a goal to extract 33,000 by next September. Many will exit the same way they [...]
August 10, 2011 |
By Roger Mola
