Perseverance rover marks 1 Mars year on Red Planet

NASA’s Perseverance rover took this selfie on Mars on Sept. 20, 2021. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover is wrapping up its prime mission on the Red Planet.

The car-sized Perseverance rover landed on the floor of Mars’ Jezero Crater on Feb. 18, 2021, kicking off an ambitious surface mission designed to last one Red Planet year, which is about 687 Earth days.

That time is now up; the Mars calendar turned for Perseverance on Friday (Jan. 6). But don’t fret: The six-wheeled robot will transition seamlessly into an extended mission on Saturday (Jan. 7).

More info: space.com/perseverance-one-mars-year-on-red-planet

Source: Space.com

Webb reveals an exoplanet atmosphere as never seen before

The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope just scored another first: a molecular and chemical portrait of a distant world’s skies. While Webb and other space telescopes, including the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, have previously revealed isolated ingredients of this heated planet’s atmosphere, the new readings provide a full menu of atoms, molecules, and even signs of active chemistry and clouds. The latest data also give a hint of how these clouds might look up close: broken up rather than as a single, uniform blanket over the planet.

Source: European Space Agency

Citation M2 Gen2

Perfect for corporate, charter or private use, the M2 Gen2 jet features enhanced cabin lighting, upgraded cabin technology and a GARMIN G3000 flight deck with touchscreen avionics suited for a single pilot. Two powerful Williams FJ44 engines facilitate a cruising speed of up to 404 knots for serious jet performance. Trips are fast and efficient with exceptional range at 1,550 nm.

This aircraft features a Fresh Air System to keep cabin air clean. This system operates by bringing fresh air from outside into the aircraft through the engines. The engines compress and heat the air killing pathogens and germs. The air is then cooled and enters the cabin as cold or warm air before exiting aft.

The M2 Gen2 jet is equipped with a fully digital, dual-channel autopilot system with many features for added safety, redundancy and reliability. It maximizes aircraft performance with precise lateral and vertical navigation guidance for all phases of flight. Integrating data from the avionics system, the AP is built to inspire confidence while ensuring optimum smoothness and comfort.

Features such as the Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT), standard Garmin GWX8000 STORMOPTIX weather radar and optional Enhanced Vision System (EVS) camera provides a clear, concise picture of your environment during flight.

More info: cessna.txtav.com

Mars: Perseverance Rover – Find an unidentified handcrafted item

Epic E1000 GX

It may be hard to imagine reaching speeds over 333 knots in a single-engine aircraft. And harder still to comprehend the thrill of a 4,000 feet-per-minute climb out. But that’s the power of a 1200-horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67A engine on an optimally designed all-composite Epic airframe. Delivering speeds faster than any single-engine turboprop on the market. And performance that rivals most business jets, without jet-class costs. In fact, the E1000 GX is the only aircraft that flies over 300 knots on less than 50 gallons per hour. Fast and fuel efficient.

The E1000 GX.
Unparalleled Performance.

A remarkable clean-sheet, all carbon fiber design that delivers exceptional speed, range, payload, comfort, elegance, affordability and safety. This is what flying was meant to be.

Max Cruise Speed

333 ktas

Max Operating Altitude

34,000 ft

Rate of Climb

4,000 fpm

Max Range

1,560 nm

Useful Load

2,860 lb

Max Full Fuel Payload

1,100 lb

View brochure

Epic’s signature wing design optimizes stability, efficiency, and slow-handling characteristics. Certified in the “utility” category, the E1000 GX meets structural strength requirements that are well beyond that of any traditional metal aircraft.

The cabin design is a flawless extension of the aircraft’s sleek and elegant lines. Whether you’re sitting at the controls or relaxing in the rear, the E1000 GX ensures every seat delivers a first-class experience.

The ergonomically designed all-glass flight deck features the latest in advanced situational awareness and optimized workflow patterns, emphasizing intuitive, comfortable single-pilot flight operations. Synthetic vision displays, GPS, autopilot, along with vital traffic, weather, terrain, stall protection and engine monitoring systems, are all within easy view and reach. Mission critical flight data are strategically grouped for optimum visibility just below the glare shield to simplify operations during critical phases of flight.

This is Epic

TBM 960

Taking maximum advantage of today’s turboprop technology, the TBM 960 provides high efficiency for more sustainability. Its digitally-controlled turboprop engine enables the pilot to use precise settings in flying with maximum efficiency. Daher’s recommended cruise setting for the TBM 960 lowers fuel consumption to 57 U.S. gallons per hour at a fast cruise speed of 308 kts.

TBM 960 is equipped with the GWX 8000 – an advanced Doppler radar with automatic threat analysis. This all-digital weather radar uses StormOptix™ analysis to automatically adjust antenna sweep patterns to accurately profile weather cells. Advanced surveillance features include lightning and hail prediction, turbulence detection, zero blind range for close-in returns and ground clutter suppression.

POWERPLANT

Pratt & Whitney Canada
PT6E-66XT turboprop

Thermodynamic power1,844 hp

Nominal power850 hp

Usable fuel capacity292 U.S. gal / 1,106 liters

DIMENSIONS

Height14.29 ft / 4.35m

Length35.22 ft / 10.74 m

Wingspan42.10 ft / 12.83 m

Source: tbm.aero

Aircraft Lights

Record: Nasa’s JWST finds oldest galaxy EVER seen in universe

The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered the oldest galaxy in the cosmos.

The GLASS-z13 star cluster was formed only 300 million years after the Big Bang. This galaxy is 100 million years older than the previous oldest galaxy. GN-Z11, discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Alien buildings on the Moon?

Credit: Google Earth Pro

All-Electric Alice Airplane Expected To Fly this Summer

_{Eviation’s Alice all-electric airplane is designed to carry nine passengers. [Courtesy: Eviation]}

Eviation’s sleek, all-electric airplane demonstrator–dubbed Alice–reportedly completed a low speed taxi testing program this month at Arlington Municipal Airport (KAWO), in Washington, north of Seattle, and is “gearing up” for its first flight “this summer.”

The FlightGlobal report, from the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE 2022) in Geneva, quotes interim CEO Gregory Davis, who said low-speed ground testing finished on May 2, with Alice achieving a maximum speed of 86 kts. High-speed taxi testing won’t be attempted until Alice has received an experimental permit to fly, Davis told FlightGlobal Tuesday.

In April, Eviation told FLYING it was conducting a parallel process of ground testing and safety board reviews. Based on the ground test results—Davis told FlightGlobal that Eviation has slowed down its timeline.

“When we completed the ground-test program, we found some things that we needed to tweak and that’s what we are working on as we prepare the aircraft for first flight,” Davis told FlightGlobal.

Source: flyingmag.com

Daher TBM 940

Daher’s Aircraft Division

© Jean-Marie Urlacher

Last year’s deliveries were led by 51 TBM very fast turboprop family airplanes in the TBM 940 and TBM 910 versions. In addition to the traditional customer base of TBM pilot-owners, 2021 also saw Daher fulfill the fleet order of four TBM 940s for France’s DGA-EV government-run Flight Test organization.

As in previous years, the majority of TBMs delivered during 2021 were in North America (39 airplanes). Increased demand from European pilot-owners resulted in eight deliveries: two for France, two in the U.K., one for Germany, and one in the Netherlands, along with one each in two new countries for TBM customers: Cyprus, and Denmark.

The Kodiak 100 Series III’s introduction – the first new version developed since the Kodiak sport and utility aircraft product line was acquired by the Daher Group three years ago – energized 2021 sales with 17 aircraft provided to a mix of corporate/business operators, private owners and special mission customers. North America was the leading market overall for these deliveries.

“We’re proud of these impressive results for Daher’s Aircraft Division in producing and delivering Kodiak and TBM aircraft – which are even more noteworthy considering the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the supply chain, its effects on the economy, and the downturn in international travel,” commented Didier Kayat, the Daher CEO. “The perspectives for 2022 are extremely positive, and it could be the best year ever for our aircraft manufacturing activity.”

Nicolas Chabbert, the Senior Vice President of Daher’s Aircraft Division, thanked the Kodiak and TBM customers for their confidence during an exceptionally challenging environment.

“These solid business results underscore the attributes of our aircraft as they continue to evolve in meeting customers’ needs – especially in today’s market conditions, where quality, value, efficiency and performance are, more than ever, key deciding points,” Chabbert explained. “This is underscored by our introduction of the numerous enhancements on the Kodiak 100 Series III for improved flight safety, greater cabin comfort and augmented operational capabilities; as well as the HomeSafe™ emergency autoland system’s integration on the TBM 940, which is a general aviation safety game-changer for owners and operators.”

More info: daher.com

Envisat 20-year anniversary

Twenty years ago, on the first of March 2002, ESA launched a new satellite to monitor our planet from space: Envisat. This research mission, which carried 10 instruments, would become a beacon for the development of future Earth observation satellites. In orbit for 10 years, double its projected lifespan, this flagship mission provided science with a wealth of data on the health of our planet and climate change – a treasure trove of data that is still used today. Thanks to the Heritage Space Programme, ESA ensures these precious data are preserved and made accessible for future generations.

This report includes interviews of :

– Simonetta Cheli, Director of Earth Observation, ESA–ESRIN, Frascati, Italy in English, French & Italian

– Henri Laur, Former Envisat Mission Manager, ESA–ESRIN, Frascati, Italy in English & French

Source: esa.int

Laser Strikes on Aircraft Pilots

The FAA recently reported that laser strikes reached an all-time high in 2021, with 9,723 reports of such strikes from pilots. This is a 41 percent increase from 2020, when pilots reported 6,852 laser strikes. Indeed, the dangerous trend only keeps climbing year after year, even though the FAA has tried to educate the public on the dangerous effects of shining a laser at an aircraft.

More info: flyingmag.com

Pyramids on the Moon (6)

Source: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

Link to the satellite image: https://bit.ly/3tInfEe

__________

Satellite Clementine: https://bit.ly/3AbqJjI

__________

Satellite Chandrayan-1: https://bit.ly/3AdPJXW

__________

Satellite Kaguya: https://bit.ly/3nC9PpC

__________

Pyramids on the Moon (1)

Pyramids on the Moon (2)

Pyramids on the Moon (3)

Pyramids on the Moon (4)

Pyramids on the Moon (5)

Cheops reveals a rugby ball-shaped exoplanet

_{Artist impression of planet WASP-103b and its host star}

ESA’s exoplanet mission Cheops has revealed that an exoplanet orbiting its host star within a day has a deformed shape more like that of a rugby ball than a sphere. This is the first time that the deformation of an exoplanet has been detected, offering new insights into the internal structure of these star-hugging planets.