US Spy Flies To Gain New Eyes

New miniature camera technology may be about to give the US military's insect-sized surveillance drones a new way of seeing the world that's more energy-conscious than before. Yay, technology?

New Scientist reports that a new microchip-sized digital camera, developed by the California Institute of Technology using funding from NASA and the Pentagon, has been patented and is expected to replace current camera technology on the tiny spy drones.


According to the article, the revolutionary aspect of the design is that the new size means that the main power drain on existing minicams - connecting the chips for the sensors and support circuitry - is no longer necessary, making the new remote controlled camera use much less energy, and therefore be more suited for secret surveillance missions. I'm not sure how I feel about this news, not least of all because I didn't even know that the US military even had insect-sized surveillance drones before.

LINK HERE

STS-125 Ends With Edwards AFB Landing

STS-125 Ends With Edwards AFB Landing: "Hubble servicing mission ends successfully after landing at Kennedy Space Center is waved off for weather."

(Via AviationWeek.com Space Channel.)

Weather again delays shuttle landing

Weather again delays shuttle landing: "Weather conditions forced NASA to wave off a landing attempt for space shuttle Atlantis scheduled for 9:16 a.m. ET Saturday at Florida's Kennedy Space Center, the space agency said.

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(Via CNN.com.)

USAF Looks To Next-Gen UAV

USAF Looks To Next-Gen UAV: "

The USAF's next-generation unmanned air system could be a 'lightweight-fighter sized, 20,000 pound' aircraft with 'minimally stealthy' characteristics, according to the service's chief procurement officer for UAVs.

Col. William Bridges, chief of the airborne reconnaissance division in the office of the assistant secretary of the air force for acquisition, says that an analysis of alternatives (AoA) for what the service calls the Next Generation UAV or MQ-X could get under way in 2010, with a program start (budgets permitting) in 2012. The goal is a fielded capability in 2020. Bridges was speaking at a London conference organized by Hanson Wade.'

The service's views of MQ-X have changed since it issued a request for information in 2008. 'Two years ago we thought it would be the next improvement on the Predator - now we're thinking of something brand new.' Almost twice the size of the MQ-9A Reaper, the new aircraft would have turbofan power for higher response speeds and would be designed as 'a truck' for new and emerging sensors and weapons.'

The aircraft would be 'minimally stealthy', Bridges says, with some stealth-related shaping but few if any special materials. The rationale is that for a high-altitude, long-loiter vehicle to evade detection would require a level of stealth that's not affordable in the numbers that the USAF wants. It would probably use an off-the-shelf engine to reduce development costs.'

In what might be a sign of a new trend, Bridges also prefers to use the term 'remotely piloted aircraft' or RPA for UAVs. 'They have a pilot in the loop, and to me 'unmanned aircraft' sounds like 'horseless carriage',' Bridges says.'

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(Via Ares.)

V-22 Faces Mission Capable Rates Issues

V-22 Faces Mission Capable Rates Issues: "An aircraft is usually deployed only after it has passed its Material Support date; the V-22 was deployed a year prior"

(Via AviationWeek.com Defense Channel.)