That earlier milestone represented speeds three times faster and altitudes five times higher than those achieved in tests conducted in 2023. The Aurora’s rapid advancements demonstrate Dawn’s relentless pursuit of pushing the boundaries of aeronautics.

This latest test flight underscores the company’s broader ambitions: achieving hypersonic speeds of 6,173–12,348 km/h and flying to altitudes exceeding 100 kilometers. Even more impressive is their aim to accomplish these feats twice within a single day.

With each successive test, Dawn Aerospace is bringing its vision of commercial space travel closer to reality, promising to revolutionise how humanity approaches the frontier of space exploration.

“As a company, we have been working for more than seven years to design, develop, test, and deliver supersonic flight. We are now achieving this and will start commercial payload operations in the coming months,” said CEO of Dawn Aerospace, Stefan Powell.

Fastest aircraft to climb from ground level to 20 km.

The company, headquartered in the Netherlands and New Zealand, claims that during the test last week the Aurora also broke the world record for the fastest aircraft to climb from ground level to 20 km.

The spaceplane made the ascent in just 118.6 seconds, beating the previous record set in the 1970s by a highly modified F-15 fighter jet.

The post Dawn Aerospace Mk-II Aurora Becomes First Civil Aircraft To Fly Supersonic Since Concorde.  appeared first on Tech Business News.

While details about the payload remained scarce, reports suggested it could be a robotic spacecraft. This fits with a previous agreement under which Northrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics division is building such a spacecraft for Optus.

Optus-X satellite is believed to be linked to a $405 million contract in 2022 and is expected to support satellite services through to 2034.

The spacecraft is intended to attach a mission extension pod to one of Optus’ satellites. However, SpaceX described the TD7 mission’s payload as a communications satellite, and confirmed that the Optus satellite was the only cargo aboard.

After a successful launch and booster separation, the Falcon 9’s upper stage moved into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. At this point, the military communications satellite detached and began its journey to geostationary orbit, about 36,000 kilometers above Earth.

The satellite has since been referred to as “Optus-X,” a name first used in the Federal Aviation Administration’s flight schedule and later by the U.S. Space Force in its launch weather forecast.

“At our customer’s request, we will be ending the webcast before the payload deploys,” a SpaceX commentator said during a live launch broadcast.

The post Optus Launches Secret Military Communications Satellite Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 appeared first on Tech Business News.

The initiative is part of NASA’s broader commitment to ensure sustainable practices in space, alongside several key missions that align with its Moon to Mars exploration goals and the Artemis Accords.

Attendees can look forward to an exhibit featuring the first public display of samples from the asteroid Bennu, a highlight not typically seen outside of museum settings.

The unique opportunity will allow the public to engage with NASA’s ongoing efforts in planetary science and exploration.

The exhibit will also provide information on the Artemis campaign, detailing NASA’s plans for human exploration of the Moon and beyond, as well as insights into the agency’s future in low Earth orbit and upcoming science and technology missions.

Throughout the week, NASA will host a series of talks led by subject matter experts, offering deeper insights into their initiatives and future projects.

The discussions will cover a range of topics related to microgravity research and space exploration, providing a platform for attendees to engage with the latest developments in the field.

The post NASA To Discuss Its Low Earth Orbit Microgravity Strategy appeared first on Tech Business News.

It was the farthest human mission from Earth since the Apollo flights in the 1970s. One of the Polaris Dawn objectives is to rapidly advance human spaceflight capabilities through extensive scientific research.

Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS) is an area of space research as it is a key risk faced in long-duration flight by most astronauts. PlenOptika’s handheld autorefractor QuickSee Free aided data collection and study during the five-day mission by the crew.

In the experiment led by University of Colorado Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences Allison Hayman (née Anderson), the research seeks to observe what biological factors contribute to SANS in microgravity, and the degree of impact on crew members’ vision.

SANS symptoms include swelling of the optic nerve, changes in the shape of the eye, and changes to vision. The Polaris Dawn crew equipped smart contact lenses, using micro-sensors to continuously measure their ocular pressure, and used the QuickSee Free to measure any noted vision changes.

“We are thrilled to be part of this crucial scientific research, which will help humanity expand its frontiers into deep space,” said Shivang Dave, PlenOptika CEO.

“It’s every engineer’s dream to be part of space exploration, and QuickSee Free’s inclusion in the mission—as the first handheld wavefront aberrometry and autorefraction device in space—is a testament to our engineers’ envelope-pushing ability to design technology equal to the demands of health research under the most challenging circumstances.” Dave said.

The post Astronauts Use Mobile Autorefractor To Measure Vision Changes In flight appeared first on Tech Business News.

Since 2020, ZephAir has been delivering real-time air quality data to around 75 U.S. diplomatic posts. The tool has now expanded to provide three-day forecasts for PM2.5 levels—fine particulate matter that poses serious health risks—across all 270 U.S. embassies and consulates globally.

Tiny particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular issues.

“This collaboration with NASA showcases how space-based technology can directly impact lives on the ground,” said Stephanie Christel, climate adaptation and air quality monitoring program lead with the State Department’s Greening Diplomacy Initiative.

“This is not something the State Department could have done on its own.” For instance, placing air quality monitors at all U.S. diplomatic posts is prohibitively expensive,”

“NASA’s involvement brings not only advanced technology,” she added, “but also a trusted name that adds credibility and reliability to the forecasts, which is invaluable for our staff stationed abroad.” she said.

The forecasts, developed using NASA satellite data, computer models, and machine learning, are vital for U.S. embassies and consulates, home to around 60,000 American citizens and local staff with many of the locations situated in areas with limited air quality monitoring and few early warning systems for pollution.

The post NASA Data Shields And Protects US Embassy Staff From Air Pollution Risks appeared first on Tech Business News.

According to Sally Davies, the UK’s special envoy on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the growing number of untreatable infections could force societies to isolate individuals to prevent the spread of these deadly pathogens.

“It’s a truly disastrous scenario,” Davies said, sharing that her own goddaughter died two years ago from an infection that modern medicine could not treat. “Some aspects of COVID would seem minor in comparison,”

AMR is already responsible for 5 million deaths annually, and new research published in The Lancet on 16 September warns that drug-resistant superbugs could claim nearly 40 million lives by 2050.

This warning comes ahead of a critical meeting at the United Nations General Assembly on 26 September, where global leaders will discuss measures to combat AMR.

Key strategies are expected to include infection prevention, vaccinations, reducing antibiotic use in both agriculture and human medicine, and advancing research into new antibiotics.

Could a Simple Infection Become Fatal?

Experts are concerned that, without immediate action, even minor infections could become life-threatening. “Could you die from a simple dental infection? With AMR, this could become an everyday reality,” warned Lindsey Edwards, a microbiology expert at King’s College London.

The post Superbugs Could Kill 40 Million By 2050 As Action Is Taken On Drug Resistance appeared first on Tech Business News.

Kinéis is keeping to its announced schedule: the second of the 5 launches is scheduled during a 14-day launch window that opens onTuesday 17 September 2024, from New Zealand, with Rocket  Lab’s Electron launcher.

Commenting on this 2nd launch, Alexandre Tisserant, Chairman of Kinéis, said, “The Kinéis teams are ready to build on the success of the 1st launch.”

“They have capitalised on this first and delicate technical experience of putting our first 5 satellites into position and are delivering a real technical performance in managing the 5 new satellites simultaneously, in addition to the 5 already in the air,”

“Rocket Lab’s Electron launcher made a major contribution to this success, thanks to the precision with which it injected our nanosatellites into their positions.”

“The IoT revolution is underway. Thanks to our space based connectivity, we’ll be able to connect any object anywhere in the world in near real time. Go Kinéis!” he said.

Five launches are required to deploy the Kinéis IoT constellation. They are scheduled to  take place between June 2024 and early 2025, a first in the new French space sector for the  deployment of a constellation.

The post 5 New Kinéis Nanosatellites For IoT Will Be Launched Into Orbit appeared first on Tech Business News.

Despite global efforts towards renewable energy and electrification, chemical production accounts for approximately 10-15 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. More than 10 percent of the world’s total energy is used in chemical factories, with these numbers rising.

This is due to the large amounts of energy required to cause chemical reactions used to make different products.. Researchers have also developed a road map which demonstrates how chemical processing can be transformed by changing the nature in which reactions occur.

Head of School of Chemical Engineering Professor Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh, who led the research said, “People often forget that chemical reactions are at the heart of all we have and use; almost all modern products are created using some sort of chemical reaction,”

“From high-grade plastics for medical implements through to ammonia for agriculture, the current process in which they are created requires significant amounts of energy leading to growing greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

The potential for liquid metals to significantly advance diverse areas of chemical engineering.

Liquid metals offer promising avenues for enhancing various chemical reactions. These include processes for producing green hydrogen, synthesizing specialised chemicals like polymers for household goods, and breaking down substances such as microplastics and persistent pollutants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

According to Professor Kalantar-Zadeh using liquid metals for chemical reactions is still a very new concept; most chemical reactions still rely on decades old processes.

The post University Of Sydney Proposes To Tap The “Atomic Intelligence” Of Liquid Metals appeared first on Tech Business News.

As a spin-off of the French Space Agency (CNES) and CLS (CNES commercial entity), Kinéis leverages 40 years of experience in data collection, and is fully supported by the French Government, having raised €100 million in funding. 

Initially relying on the Argos constellation with 9 satellites providing global coverage, Kinéis was already operational before launching its own constellation of 25 nano-satellites.

The advancement will offer more competitive technology, almost real-time, while maintaining its low power and low-cost capabilities. The launches of this brand-new constellation will be operated by Rocket Lab at their launch site in Mahia, New Zealand.

Kinéis has started establishing its presence in South-East Asia over several years, playing a pivotal role in enhancing the monitoring capabilities of various logistics sectors, including sea, air, and road freight, alongside agriculture. 

Responding to growing market interest and demand for varied applications in the region, Kinéis opened its physical representative office in Singapore in August 2022. A year later, the decision was made to strengthen its presence by establishing its subsidiary Kinéis Asia Pte. Ltd. in August 2023.

In the meantime, Globalsat, a prominent manufacturing partner from Taiwan, has integrated Kinéis satellite technology protocol into a hybrid device offering NB-IoT/LTE-M and satellite connectivity.

The post Kinéis Announce Launch of Innovative IoT Constellation in APAC appeared first on Tech Business News.

But here’s the cool part: scientists have come up with these super tiny robots, like something out of a sci-fi movie, that can actually snatch up those plastic pieces and bacteria from the water.

Then, they can also clean themselves off and get ready to do it all over again. It’s like having little eco-friendly cleaners zipping around, helping to keep our waters clean.

You know those tiny bits of plastic, called microplastics, that are smaller than 5 millimeters? They’re a big problem because animals can accidentally eat them, which can cause all sorts of harm. And guess what? Those microplastics might end up in the food we eat too, because they can get passed up the food chain.

But wait, there’s more. These little plastic pieces aren’t just floating around innocently. They’re like magnets for bacteria, including the nasty ones that can make us sick if we ingest them.

So, to tackle both the plastic and bacteria problem in water, scientists like Martin Pumera and his team came up with these amazing tiny robots that work together, kind of like fish in a school, to clean up the mess. It’s pretty smart stuff!

Building The Bots

The creation process of these bots involved connecting positive-charged polymer strands to tiny magnetic particles. These particles respond to magnetic fields, enabling movement.

The post Researchers Develop Microrobots Capable Of Removing Microplastics And Bacteria From Water appeared first on Tech Business News.