[ad_1] The spacecraft completed “all mission objectives,” according to USAF Rapid Capabilities Office director Randy Walden. Just what those are isn’t clear, though. X-37B payloads are still classified, and officials have typically provided only vague hints of what was aboard. One was a thermal spreader that helped test “experimental electronics” and heat pipe cooling in […]
Category: boeing
SpaceX’s next Crew Dragon test could happen next week
[ad_1] An “anomaly” that occurred during another static fire test in April caused an uncrewed capsule to explode. Earlier this month, SpaceX suggested the problem was due to a leak somewhere between the launch abort and orbital maneuvering systems. It has redesigned that part of the capsule. The capsule will eventually transport as many as […]
Boeing messages hint staff may have misled FAA about 737 Max
[ad_1] The FAA confirmed receiving notice about the messages, noting that Boeing had discovered them “some months ago.” While it didn’t discuss the specific content of the messages, it said they were “concerning” and was reviewing the chats to decide what came next. Boeing is in the midst of fixing the flaw, in part by […]
Boeing and Porsche are developing an electric ‘flying car’
[ad_1] Their collaboration will also look into urban air mobility as a whole and won’t just focus on the development of a vehicle. Porsche’s announcement says they’ll create an international team as part of the Memorandum of Understanding they signed. That team will address the various aspects of urban air mobility, as well as investigate […]
Boeing may use two computers to fix 737 Max’s latest flaw
[ad_1] The scoops also indicate just what the June flaw apparently entails. Reportedly, a microprocessor in the 737 Max wasn’t sufficiently protected against the consequences of random bit flips (a 0 changing to a 1, for instance). While this would be extremely unlikely — it’d be the result of cosmic rays hitting the chip — […]
Cellphone interference still poses a risk aboard some Boeing jets
[ad_1] The manufacturer is pushing back on Bloomberg’s estimate that “potentially hundreds of aircraft worldwide are flying with the unsafe systems.” In a statement, Honeywell spokesman Nina Krauss said the problem may impact 70 or fewer jets, and there’s no evidence that the airplanes are operational. Many units could be on retired aircraft or simulators. […]
European regulators demand changes to 737 Max autopilot
[ad_1] EASA wasn’t initially ready to comment. The FAA didn’t comment on its European counterpart’s work, but did say it was continuing to “work closely” with other civil aviation authorities to ensure the 737 Max is safe to fly. The additional concern could lead to a significant delay for any fixes. Bloomberg had already heard […]
Boeing teams with flying taxi startup Kitty Hawk on ‘urban air mobility’
[ad_1] Both sides have clear incentives to forge an alliance . Kitty Hawk has already shown promise with Cora (above), an autonomous electric taxi prototype that’s already in testing in New Zealand. However, it’s still a relatively small outfit. Even with former Google exec Sebastian Thrun at the helm and the backing of Google’s Larry […]
FAA discovers another potential risk with the Boeing 737 Max
[ad_1] “On the most recent issue, the FAA’s process is designed to discover and highlight potential risks. The FAA recently found a potential risk that Boeing must mitigate,” the FAA told the news agency. “The safety of our airplanes is Boeing’s highest priority,” a Boeing spokesperson told Engadget in a statement. “We are working closely […]
Boeing is closer to ISS spaceflights after Starliner’s final parachute test
[ad_1] To be able to simulate an actual flight suffering from parachute failure, the Starliner test capsule was dropped from a balloon at an altitude of 40,000 feet. It took four minutes for the vehicle to land at the White Sands Missile Range, where future missions will also touch down. Boeing had to ensure that […]