Articles tagged with Avionics
A team of computer scientists at the University of California San Diego developed a device that can take over communications between two key flight computers on a Boeing 737 by plugging into an unused maintenance port. This attack can be carried out in under 60 seconds, posing a significant risk to aviation security.
Florida Atlantic University has received a $4.5 million grant from the US Air Force to establish a high-fidelity platform for autonomous decision-making and real-time sensor fusion research. The T-1A Jayhawk simulator will be used to study cognitive performance, situational awareness, stress and decision-making under pressure.
The US Naval Research Laboratory showcased its latest advancements in defense technology, including the OmniGlobe, a large spherical display visualizing Earth's environmental data. NRL's PROTEUS tool provides near real-time global tracking and analysis of maritime vessels.
The PUNCH spacecraft will study the solar corona and track space weather events in three dimensions for the first time. The constellation includes four small suitcase-sized spacecraft that will provide a clear view of the Sun's outer atmosphere, allowing scientists to discern the exact trajectory and speed of coronal mass ejections.
Researchers have discovered Flickering Gamma-Ray Flashes (FGFs), a phenomenon that could be the missing link between Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes and gamma-ray glows. Studies reveal dynamic gamma-ray emissions in tropical thunderclouds, challenging previous assumptions about these events.
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science developed a computationally quick approach to predict molten droplet solidification on a solid surface. The model simulates the solidification process by considering the droplet behavior and heat transfer between the hotter droplet and cooler surface, replicating experiments with high accuracy.
Tropical Storm Kammuri's center of circulation is nearly centered in the South China Sea, with a tail of clouds streaming over Luzon and northern Philippines. The storm appears to be elongating, indicating weakening, as forecasters predict it will dissipate by December 6.
Southwest Research Institute successfully demonstrated a miniature solar observatory on a high-altitude balloon, collecting 75 minutes of solar images. The SwRI Solar Instrument Pointing Platform provides optical precision equivalent to imaging a dime from a mile away, supporting the development of custom solar instruments.
Scientists can study multiple regions in space simultaneously using sounding rockets equipped with sub-payloads and a distributed payload communications system. This technology allows for the transmission of data from multiple instruments at different altitudes, enabling new research opportunities.
NASA's Modular Unified Space Technology Avionics for Next Generation missions (MUSTANG) is a smaller, more capable 'brain' for smaller spacecraft. The system controls various functions, including command and data handling, attitude control, power, and propulsion.
NASA engineers test the ATLAS instrument's thermal performance in a vacuum chamber, simulating extreme temperatures and conditions. The successful test ensures that the laser altimeter system functions as expected, measuring the height of Earth's surface below.
Tropical Cyclone Nathan made landfall on March 19 at the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, with sustained winds reaching over 30 meters per second. NASA's RapidScat instrument revealed the strongest winds were south of the center before landfall, and the storm was moving west across the peninsula.
New discoveries are being made on high-altitude balloons, which offer a space-like environment for various disciplines. The longest flight to date was SuperTIGER's 55-day journey to 39.6 km altitude, paving the way for longer flights and novel instrumentation.
The Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope withstood 116 days of extremely cold temperatures, simulating conditions found in space. The successful test ensures the telescope will function correctly at its final destination one million miles away from Earth.
The new instrument will improve severe storm warning accuracy, detect lightning ground strike hazards, and provide early warnings for heavy rainfall and flash flooding. It will also enhance storm monitoring during radar outages or in areas with poor coverage.
The first four GOES-R instruments - ABI, SUVI, EXIS, and SEISS - have been delivered to Lockheed Martin for integration. These instruments will improve NOAA's ability to observe weather in near real-time, providing critical data on weather patterns, oceans, and space weather.
WASP offers sub arc-second accuracy and stability, enabling planetary scientists to study Jupiter and other celestial bodies. The device allows for flexible, standardized support of multiple science payloads, freeing researchers to focus on instrument development.
The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) has completed its commissioning phase, with all three science instruments deemed healthy. The LADEE spacecraft is now in a high-altitude preliminary orbit, preparing for its 100-day science mission to gather information about the moon's structure and composition.
The Landsat thermal sensor has successfully imaged the heat emanating from Paluweh volcano in Indonesia, capturing a hot spot at the top of the volcanic island. The sensor's ability to distinguish between the hot lava and cooler ash is crucial for scientists studying volcanic activity.
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has been selected to provide a low-rate crosslink wireless communications platform for the DARPA System F6 Program. The K-band space crosslink radio supports continuous data links among cluster members and high-rate point-to-point data links.
The Landsat 8 satellite, part of a 40-year record of change measurement from space, will continue to observe the planet in critical sectors like energy and water management. The satellite carries advanced instruments for land observation, including thermal imaging and coastal monitoring.
Engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center are integrating instruments on the first of four MMS spacecraft decks in a newly fabricated cleanroom. The mission aims to investigate magnetic reconnection, a fundamental process affecting space weather and modern technological systems.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is assembling the Fast Plasma Instrument (FPI), a crucial element of the MMS instrument suite, to study magnetic reconnection phenomena. The FPI will collect data at 30 times per second and is being tested with international partners.
The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite is nearly ready for a December delivery to the Curiosity rover on NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Once deployed, SAM will become an automated laboratory, assessing whether Mars ever supported microbial life.
Three NASA Goddard Space Flight Center employees, Matt Greenhouse, Randy Kimble, and Alexander Moiseev, received the 2010 Robert H. Goddard Award for Science for their outstanding work in sciences at NASA Goddard. The award recognizes their exceptional achievements in developing instrumentation and analysis methods for premier astronom...
The Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) is being tested in a simulated environment at RAL to prepare for its delivery to NASA. The instrument will enable astronomers to study the first light of the early Universe and form planets around distant stars.
The EUREKA E! 3931 ASARP project developed a small and cheap-to-build unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can fly in severe weather conditions. The UAV uses shape-changing technology to improve flight stability, enabling it to carry up to 40 kg of equipment.
The University of Leicester is involved in the ExoMars mission, which aims to characterise the chemical, geological and possible biological environment on Mars. The mission will attempt to gather samples from a depth 1-2m below the surface where they are protected from radiation.
NASA engineers have completed a critical design review of the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) instrument, which will help monitor water consumption in the U.S. West. TIRS will extend the Landsat database in the thermal infrared bands needed by various users, providing high-sensitivity cryogenically cooled detector arrays.
NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull Volcano ash plume being pushed to the northeast due to a low pressure area. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instrument onboard Terra made the observation on May 18.
The Southwest Research Institute's SC-11 spacecraft control avionics unit is the brain of the WISE spacecraft, providing complete command and control over operations. The SC-11 also offers a backup 'safe mode' processor to ensure sun-safe orientation in case of main processor failure.
The FASTSAT mission will analyze the Earth's outer atmosphere with three NASA-built instruments: Thermosphere Temperature Imager (TTI), Mini-ME neutral atom imager, and Plasma and Impedence Spectrum Analyzer (PISA). The instruments will provide critical data for global space weather prediction, improving communication and navigation.
The Iowa State T-ray facility offers a state-of-the-art tool for measuring and characterizing materials, with applications in automotive, energy, and medical fields. The instrument uses terahertz rays to provide spectroscopic analyses of chemical and physical compositions.
The AIAA will recognize outstanding achievements in digital avionics and information systems with the presentation of two prestigious awards. John Moody and colleagues from The MITRE Corporation will receive the Dr. John C. Ruth Digital Avionics Award for their invention and implementation of the Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) and ...
Kepler will observe a broad region of the summer-time sky using a photometer to measure the brightness of stars. The mission aims to determine the number of Earth-like planets in the galaxy by watching for tiny flickers in starlight that could indicate a planet passing in front.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will present awards at the 26th Digital Avionics Systems Conference. Andrew Zeitlin and Robert Acree are being recognized for their outstanding achievements in digital avionics and information systems.
Scientists from Japan, US, and UK collaborate to build instruments for Solar-B, a satellite studying the Sun's magnetic field and its impact on Earth's climate. The mission aims to understand how magnetic fields interact with the Sun's atmosphere and release energy in solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
For the first time, scientists have measured nitric acid trihydrate crystals (NAT crystals) in polar stratospheric clouds. These particles contain three molecules of water and one molecule of nitric acid and can exist in the atmosphere up to 7° above the ice point.
A team led by Dr. Charles Meegan is developing a new burst monitor to fly on the Gamma Ray Large Area Space Telescope, which will provide broad energy coverage for gamma-ray studies and help solve the nature of gamma-ray bursts.
Compton Gamma Ray Observatory's Burst And Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) discovered nearly 30 new exotic astrophysical objects and phenomena, rewriting astronomy textbooks. The instrument also contributed to 10 scientific prizes and 18 Ph.Ds.
A new study reveals that relying on computers for pilot support can actually decrease performance and increase errors. The researchers found that volunteers who used automated cues performed poorly, while those who relied solely on instrument readings achieved higher accuracy.
The High Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer has made the most precise measurements ever recorded of a star's corona, revealing new insights into stellar behavior. The instrument's success marks a major milestone for modern astronomy, enabling scientists to study the chemical composition and temperature of the corona with unpreced...
The two-year TIMED mission will focus on the portion of Earth's atmosphere between 60 and 180 kilometers above the surface. The spacecraft will measure temperature, pressure, winds, and chemical composition, gaining a better understanding of the dynamics of this gateway region.
After 20 years, NASA's Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) satellite is nearing its scheduled June 23 launch. The project faced numerous setbacks, including the Challenger rocket explosion and budget cuts, but ultimately, Johns Hopkins University took over management and implemented cost-saving measures.
FUSE is the first large-scale space mission fully planned and operated by a university department. It will study the origin and evolution of hydrogen and deuterium, as well as galaxy evolution and star formation, analyzing clouds of gases between stars in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies.
Researchers are studying the upper levels of hurricanes to understand their mechanics, a shift from traditional middle-altitude observations. This is part of ongoing research to save lives by providing more accurate data on storm intensity and energy exchange.
A recent review of data suggests that comet impacts on Earth may be random events common to scientific instruments using image intensifiers. Dr. Louis Frank's claims of small comets striking the atmosphere have been challenged by NASA scientist Dr. James Spann, who attributes similar dark smears in images to instrument noise.
FORCAST, a new infrared camera, will be built at Cornell to image the universe in the infrared spectrum and study stars' neonatal environments. The instrument will fly aboard NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) and make observations that are impossible for ground-based telescopes.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed technology to measure forces and torques in surgical procedures, enabling the creation of more realistic simulators. These enhanced simulators could drastically reduce training time and costs while improving performance.
The MSX satellite has released the highest resolution mid-infrared maps of the Galactic Center, providing insights into the thermal radiation from cool dust and HII regions. The images reveal hot objects like stars as blue and cool objects as red, offering a new understanding of the galaxy's structure and composition.
The ACE spacecraft, a NASA mission to study the nature and origin of energetic particles from the sun and beyond our solar system, is nearing completion at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The spacecraft will provide advance warning of powerful geomagnetic storms that can disrupt power grids and communications o...