"Malaysia Airlines, which lost a wide-body jet with 239 people aboard three years ago in one of history’s most enduring aviation mysteries, has become the first airline to sign an agreement for space-based flight tracking of its aircraft. Malaysia Airlines Bhd.
"Flying between 60,000 and 90,000 feet, Aquila uses lasers to transmit data to other aircraft as well as receivers on the ground that then convert signals into internet access."
from jpl.nasa.gov - "Lunar Flashlight is an exciting new mission concept that was recently selected by NASA’s Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) by a team from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Marshall Space Flight Center.
New from HXI Millimeter-Wave components - The HLNAV-609 Low Noise Amplifier covers the frequency range from 64 to 71 GHz. MMIC technology is employed for high reliability and repeatability. The amplifier package provides WR-15 waveguide interfaces in an in-line configuration using the standard UG-385/U flange. The amplifier can be used in receivers for communication and radar systems and also for amplification in test equipment. The LNA contains a voltage regulator and bias sequencing circuitry allowing the use of a single bias to power the amplifier.
We want to take a brief moment and reintroduce you to one of our suppliers and their 2017 catalog - for over 30 years, Res-Net Microwave has been delivering high performance RF/Microwave components for wireless communications, broadcast, medical, test and measurement equipement, and custom engineering solutions. Reliable and rugged products for mission-critical applications such as: radar, microwave radio, telemetry, aerospace, avionics, shipboard systems, EW, unamned vehicles, and electronic counter measures.
Our friends over at HXI Millimeter-wave products recently partnered with Farran Technology to provide MmWave VNA test & measurement tools. You can see some specs below, or email hello@quantumflow.co for datasheets and demo opportunities.
Farran Technology VNA Systems
"A small, faint star relatively close by is home to seven Earth-sized planets with conditions that could be right for liquid water and maybe even life.
The discovery sets a record for both the most Earth-sized planets and the most potentially habitable planets ever discovered around a single star." More here via NPR
Millimeter-wave technology has been more recognizable in the last decade, and with this new chip that researchers at UC Irvine have developed, it can become more pronounced. This specific application targets medical data. More here on TechCrunch.
SpaceX lands its first rocket since a previous attempt in September 2016 exploded before takeoff. The Falcon 9 rocket took approximately nine minutes to return to earth after launch, landing on a barge in the Pacific south of Vandenberg, California to the obvious delight of SpaceX employees. -theguardian
If you've ever encountered the acronym VSWR, our anchor Principal (Micro-Coax / Carlisle IT) explained the definition in regards to transmission lines. See Jim Alexander's original post on the Carlisle IT blog
VSWR
(n): Voltage Standing Wave Ratio