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WhiteKnightTwo made its second test flight on 5 February, taking off from Mojave air and spaceport’s runway 30 just before 8 a.m. PST. WhiteKnightTwo returned to testing with a 1.5h flight with a Beech Starship chase plane. The aircraft did a low pass and then a touch-and-go before touching down on runway 12, opposite of the take-off direction. To counter a fishtail issue that WhiteKnightTwo is suspected to have, vortex generators were added to its vertical stabilizers prior to its second flight. This second flight took place about seven weeks after its maiden flight on 21 December 2008. (Image Credit: Virgin Galactic)
As determined from the ongoing investigation of Flight 1549, the U.S. Airways jetliner that splash landed in New York's Hudson River three weeks ago, federal officials on Wednesday said bird remains were found in the two engines of the Airbus 320. The NTSB said remains from both engines of the downed plane have been sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington to have the particular bird species identified. The aircraft, meanwhile, was moved last week to a secure salvage yard in Kearny, N.J, where it will remain throughout the estimated 12 to 18 months the NTSB investigation could take. (Image Credit: Aviation Week)
Iran has entered the Space Age with the reported launch of its first satellite into orbit Tuesday. American intelligence officials said that a satellite and the rocket that launched it Monday amounted to Sputnik-era technology, so named for the satellite launched on 4 Oct., 1957. The Iranian satellite, named Omid, was the same kind of low-altitude, elliptical orbit technology long surpassed by faster and more advanced equipment. The Obama administration nonetheless expressed concern about an overlap between the technology used to launch satellites and the technology necessary for making advanced ballistic missiles. (Image Credit: Fars News Agency)
After postponing the launch of space shuttle Discovery until no earlier than 19 Feb., NASA is evaluating concerns about possible flow control valve damage that could be experienced during liftoff. Particle impact tests, models and thorough discussions will take place before a shuttle meeting on 10 Feb. to decide the best way to proceed. The Flight Readiness Review that began Tuesday will resume 12 Feb. to evaluate the valve situation and to potentially set a launch date for Discovery’s STS-119 mission to the International Space Station. (Image Credit: NASA)
The Facilitated Access to the Space Environment for Technology Development and Training (FAST) program recently put forth "a call to action" for tech projects to take up in high-flying parabolic aircraft. It's a public–private collaboration, as the planes are owned and flown by outfits such as the Zero Gravity Corporation, and managed by the Johnson Space Center's Reduced Gravity Office. An ideal project would be at or just past the proof-of-concept phase, ready for testing in a relevant space-like environment. The call is open to all U.S. companies, individuals, research institutions, universities and government agencies. (Image Credit: NASA)
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