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Yahoo
7 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
European Space Agency Is Building A Hypersonic Spaceplane
The European Space Agency is throwing its weight behind a design effort for a hypersonic spaceplane, with hopes of getting the final idea airborne (and spaceborne) by 2031. The ESA is putting up funding for the Invictus research program, which wants to achieve one of the space industry's most coveted breakthroughs: The ability for a spacecraft to launch horizontally off a runway, like a normal plane, and then land back there all in one piece. There have been several attempts over the decades to build a so-called Single Stage to Orbit (SSTO) vehicle, but thus far, none have succeeded. Invictus (Latin for "invincible") is hoping to solve the engineering puzzle, which would make spaceflight radically cheaper and simpler than it is today. The program is headed by Frazer-Nash Consultancy, with support from Spirit AeroSystems, Cranfield University, and a few smaller companies. Critically, the project has hired a bunch of staff from Reaction Engines Ltd, a British company that had been working on spaceplane engines for decades before going bankrupt last year. Reaction's core innovation was pre-cooling technology, which it always said was the key to unlocking hypersonic and orbital travel. While the company itself didn't live long enough to find out, with the ESA's money, Invictus is going to try to find out for sure. Read more: These Cars Are Police Magnets Pre-Cooling Air Before It Hits The Engine Going to space is expensive. You need a big rocket that launches vertically, which requires a launch pad and launch tower. Rockets are usually multi-stage, and most (if not all) of those stages are discarded during the flight. SpaceX is developing ways to make those stages fly home for later reuse, but it's still a massively complex endeavor. Spaceplanes are a much simpler and theoretically cheaper idea — just take off and land like a plane! — but the trick is building cost-effective engines that can power both air and space flight. Ordinary jet engines need oxygen to burn, which they pull out of the air. But to reach the speeds needed to break orbit, hypersonic speeds of Mach 5+, the sheer heat of air friction hitting the engine would actually melt it. Pretty bad! Reaction's purpose in life was more or less to figure out a way to get the air temperature down before it hit the engine, a process called pre-cooling. With that system installed, even traditional jet engines should, theoretically, be able to reach speeds over 15,000 mph, enough to get anywhere in the world in just a few hours. Then, if the craft goes up past the atmosphere and into space, the engines would switch over to onboard oxygen tanks. If it all works, it should be able to ferry cargo to space for radically less than current systems and to other places on Earth at much faster speed. The Spaceplane Race The ESA, it should be clear, is only putting €7 million of its money into Invictus, which won't exactly build a working plane. This investment is to see if the Invictus team can come up with a workable design within 12 months. If not, well, game over again. If they can, however, then humanity has an exciting future ahead of it. Meanwhile, there are a number of other projects around the world trying to get their own spaceplanes off the ground. Startup company Sierra Space has been working on its Dream Chaser design since 2015, which is getting close to being able to fly to the ISS. China has flown the Shenlong a few times since 2023. The U.S. Space Force has been flying the remotely operated X-37B since 2010, a program that just got a $1 billion from the Big Beautiful Bill. All of these are experimental and not in any kind of active use just yet. If any of them get ready for showtime, then the days of the massive rocket on a launchpad may be numbered. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
United News of India
17-07-2025
- Climate
- United News of India
Indian Army rescues around 500 pilgrims stranded on Amarnath Yatra route due to landslides
Jammu, July 17 (UNI) The Indian Army today rescued about 500 Amarnath pilgrims who were stranded because of landslides triggered by heavy rains and shifted them to safer places. "Yesterday around 7:25 pm, persistent rain triggered a landslide at Z Morh, between Rayalpathri and Brarimarg, resulting in the halting of Yatra movement and stranding a large number of pilgrims," said Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal. "Responding to the situation, the Army detachment deployed at Brarimarg swung into action," he added. Around 500 yatris stranded in the area were accommodated in tents and provided with tea and drinking water, adding, "additionally, another 3,000 pilgrims found refuge in langars located between Brarimarg and Z Morh, which offered essential shelter and sustenance." The Indian Army Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) rescued a critically ill stranded yatri by undertaking a manual stretcher evacuation under adverse weather conditions and safely transported the patient to Rayalpathri from where an ambulance moved the individual for further medical care, he added. The spokesperson said the camp director at Brarimarg and the company commander of the Indian Army are present at the site and have assessed the situation as stable and under control, adding, "efforts continue to ensure the safety and well-being of all yatris in the area." As per weather prediction, light rains at both Rayalpathri and Brarimarg are likely, and the Army remains on high alert to respond to any evolving situation, he said. "These prompt actions are yet another testament to the Indian Army's professionalism, dedication, and humanitarian commitment during Amarnath Yatra 2025, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with every pilgrim through every challenge", said the spokesperson. UNI VBH AAB
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'It's time to strip him' - UFC veteran Daniel Cormier demands immediate action after Jon Jones' comments on Tom Aspinall and heavyweight title unification bout
Daniel Cormier (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) and Jon Jones (Photo by Jeff Botari/Zuffa LLC) Former rival and UFC veteran Daniel Cormier reacts to Jon Jones ' latest podcast statement, as the latter reveals his intentions and attitude towards having a fight at the moment. In a recent episode of the Full Send Podcast, Jones talks about his role as part of the UFC while reflecting on the current interim champion Tom Aspinall 's wish to face Bones in the heavyweight title unification bout . Jon Jones reveals his lack of interest in having a fight shortly, wishes for Tom Aspinall to have a great career ahead Tom Aspinall has become the longest-reigning interim champion in the UFC, with heavyweight champion Jon Jones showing no interest in a title unification bout. The last few months, during which fans called out the champion and even signed a petition to strip Jones of his belt, have also gone in vain, with no tangible outcome. Time and again, Jones, through his social media accounts, has showcased his disinterest in having a bout at the moment. In a recent episode of the Full Send Podcast, Jon Jones, upon being asked if he has retired from the world of combat sports, stated, 'I don't wanna say that I am retired. Because fighting is in my blood. Right now I could really care less about fighting. I have been doing it my whole life at a very high level. And when the itch comes back and if it comes back, I will do it with my whole heart.' Jon Jones Responds to Tom Aspinall and Speaks on His Relationship with Dana White! Jones further praised the interim champion while showing his reluctance to face him in a bout at the moment, saying, 'I think he is awesome, man. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo I think he should go on and have a wonderful career.' The fighter further added, 'I don't think he needs me. I think when you want something bad enough and you get it, it could be the worst thing that could ever happen to you.' These statements from the veteran fighter have not only garnered the attention of the fans but also veteran members of the MMA community, including his longtime rival and former heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. In his segment of Instant Reaction, Cormier sent out a message to the UFC for an immediate stripping of the championship belt. 'Right now, it's time to strip him. He doesn't want to fight this guy [Aspinall].' Cormier stated, 'If he does not sound like he is going to fight, it's time to take the belt. It's time to move on. And hope that the itch he speaks about comes back and if it does, stick him in there with Tom Aspinall. Give him no other choice.' Also read: Former UFC champion Charles Oliveira makes it to big screens with his biopic in works at 405 films It is almost clear that Jones is least interested in facing the interim champion or having a fight at all at the moment. While veterans like Cormier, on several occasions, have supported stripping the fighter of his championship belt, the UFC executives are yet to take a stand on this callout. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
News18
31-05-2025
- General
- News18
Operation Jal Rahat 2: Indian Army, Assam Rifles Rescues Nearly 800 In Flood-Hit Manipur
Last Updated: Two major rescue columns were also activated. The first, based in Singjamei, conducted operations in Wangkhei Khunou, rescuing 193 people. The Indian Army and Assam Rifles launched Operation Jal Rahat 2 in response to severe flooding across several regions of Manipur. The operation aimed to provide immediate relief and assistance. Assam Rifles troops, equipped with Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), were swiftly deployed to the worst-affected areas. These included Porompat, Wankhei, Sanjenthong, Palace Compound, New Checkon, Khurai Heikrumakhong Heinang, Soibam Leikai, Wangkhei Angom Leikai, Nongmeibung Raj Bari, and other parts of Imphal East and West districts. Two major rescue columns were also activated. The first, based in Singjamei, conducted operations in Wangkhei Khunou from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., rescuing 193 people (64 men, 85 women, and 44 children). The second column operated in Heikrumakhong between 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., rescuing 182 people (35 men, 90 women, and 57 children). Officials rescued a further 408 people (137 men, 179 women, and 92 children) from other flood-affected areas, including Imphal East and West. In total, approximately 800 people were evacuated, including around 10 to 20 differently abled and elderly individuals. All those rescued were relocated to higher ground and secure shelters, receiving drinking water, food packets, and immediate medical attention. Earlier, Assam Rifles responded to an urgent request from the Director of All India Radio (AIR) Imphal, evacuating the flooded AIR office premises. The rescue operation was conducted under intense conditions, with multiple fully equipped columns using buoyant rescue boats to assist affected civilians. The situation is currently under control. First Published: May 31, 2025, 21:22 IST
Arab News
27-03-2025
- General
- Arab News
German air force wards off Russian reconnaissance plane
BERLIN: A Russian reconnaissance aircraft approached northeastern Germany on Thursday before it was escorted away by fighter jets, the German air force said. The air force said on its Whatsapp communication channel that its Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) was activated at the Laage air base near Rostock, on the Baltic coast in the northeast. 'The reason was an unknown aeroplane over the Baltic Sea, which was flying without a flight plan or activated transponder,' the air force said in the message, which confirmed an earlier press report in Bild. German Eurofighter jets were scrambled to identify the Ilyushin Il-20 reconnaissance plane, which was subsequently 'escorted' back toward the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, from where it was first tracked. Bild said the Russian aircraft was found early Thursday east of the German Baltic island Rugen from where it was heading toward 'German air space.' The fact that the aircraft's transponder was deactivated presented 'a considerable danger to civilian air traffic,' Bild said. Military sources quoted by Bild said that Russian reconnaissance planes were occasionally identified off the German coast. Many NATO nations have a QRA system to help protect their air space. Tensions over the Baltic Sea have heightened since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
