NASA Antares Rocket Explodes on Launch

     On October 28, 2014, the NASA resupply rocket deemed "Antares" exploded about 10 seconds into the launch. The rocket had a planned destination of the ISS (International Space Station) for a resupply. Antares was full of supplies and new materials for experiments, and other necessities for the ISS. Luckily, nobody was killed or even hurt on this deadly launch since it was an unmanned flight.

       
     About 2 miles away at the press site, where all of the news and cinematographers sit and watch, there was panic and confusion as the rocket unexpectedly dropped from the sky and caused a major shock wave. About 10 seconds after the rocket hit the ground, a very distinct loud explosion was heard at all of the press sites. Seconds later, NASA launch teams sent out recovery crews and firefighters to put out the blazes caused by the blast. The rocket failure was caused by one of it's 2 engines suddenly losing thrust. Shortly after, to prevent further destruction, the Antares operator opted to self destruct the rocket.

People Leaving the Launch Site After the Accident

      The Cygnus rockets (Antares) have only had 5 totals launches since their introduction in 2013. This was their first failure and until they find out what caused the problem, it is expected that their competitor, Space X is going to take over the resupply missions. The Antares rockets have had good success until now and Orbital Sciences hopes to fix their hurt reputation by improving Antares and finding out what caused the disaster.

Mitsubishi Releases New Regional Jet

       Since WWII, Mitsubishi has produced more than cars and UTV's. Mitsubishi has been a famed producer of planes since WWII. In the war, Mitsubishi was most famous for their "Zero" fighter. This is the kind of fighter that attacked Pearl Harbor. In modern times, the manufacturer is planning on releasing the first major Japanese jet in 50 years. The newest jet will be produced for Regional Airlines like Allegiant, and American Eagle.

MRJ Before It Receives It's Paint Job

        The MRJ is considered by many to be the most advanced regional jet ever produced. The jet produced by Mitsubishi has 4, large computer displays in the cockpit, and a heads up display (HUD) in front of each pilot in the cockpit. The jet also integrates new turbine technology. The engines have larger blades, and fewer of them, cause for reduced noise, and efficient thrust quantities. The new engines produced by Pratt and Whitney produce far more thrust to the amount of weight than most current regional jets.

The Cockpit of the MRJ Is Very Technology Based

    The new jet is scheduled to take it's first test flight in the second quarter of 2015. Mitsubishi hopes to have the jet in the airlines by 2017, Since almost all of the regional airlines jets are nearing the end of their service, Mitsubishi has already had 400 orders.

Virgin Galactic's Space Ship Two

       Since the 1970's the Virgin Group founded by Richard Branson has been making technological advancements and amazing feats of engineering. The Virgin Group owns many companies including Virgin Atlantic (airline service) Virgin Mobile (cellular service) and recently Virgin Galactic (spacecrafts). Founded in 2004, Virgin Galactic has been creating and designing new spacecraft including the Spaceship One, and the new Space Ship Two. Their newest spacecraft is supposedly going to offer the chance for people to buy tickets to take a ride into space.

      The space ship called "Space Ship Two" is carried into the lower atmosphere by a twin boom, four engine aircraft called "White Knight Two" built specifically for the challenge. Once the craft arrives at a set altitude, the smaller spacecraft is released from the belly and a large rocked sends it into the lower altitude of space. This design reduces cost and makes the journey easier for the smaller craft by giving it a piggy back ride half way there.

The Smaller Shuttle Hangs Between the Wing of the Large Carrier Aircraft

  This space craft is capable of flying into the lower extents of the upper atmosphere. This is technically going into space and passengers will feel reduced gravity effects. People who desire to go to space will actually be able to pay for a ticket for a ride into space. Virgin Galactic is currently building a second spacecraft since their first was for research only. Hopefully in the upcoming years, all of their research goes as planned and they can start taking passengers up for the ride of their lives.

Many Fear Pilot Shortage in Future

    Since the 1940's, air travel has continually grown. More and more people every year get to their destinations by traveling through the sky. But in recent times, regional airliners are having more trouble finding pilots to fly their aircraft. 

American Eagle CRJ-900

     Ever since September 11, 2001, air travel has been more secure and more restricted. Since air travel has become more restricted, the number of new pilots per year has gone down about 2% per year. Every time there is an accident with a commercial jet, the FAA seems to add a new law or change the minimum requirements to become a pilot. Although you only needed 250 hours of flight time to get into the airliners before, now you need 1,500 hours. To get this amount of flight time, it will take you about 2 years of flying every chance you get and it will cost you about $80,000. Since it costs this much to train for a job that starts at an annual salary of $20,000, many people aren't too excited to be a new pilot. 

A Cessna 172, a Common Plane for a Student Pilot

      Since people are reluctant to become pilots because of cost and low benefits, very few people are getting their pilot's licenses in modern times. If people do get their licenses, they don't go into the Regional airlines in fear of getting paid less than a fast food worker and never paying off debt. Since the regional airlines are the bottom of the chain that you move up to get to the big time jets, people never start the chain and that is where the shortage is coming from. 

Federal Aviation Administration Attacks Hobby Community

     Since the origins of aviation, people have always looked for a cheaper alternative to actually flying. In the last twenty years, the aviation hobby community has grown exponentially and the technology has become amazing. Though this technology seems to have an unlimited amount of usefulness and endless possibilities, the FAA has recently pulled in the reigns on the hobby and really limited it's use.

     The above video was taken on a GoPro mounted on one of my home created planes. This is the activity that the FAA has recently outlawed. The act of shooting live stream video from an unmanned aerial aircraft is called FPV (First Person View). Thousands of hobbyists around the world have recently taken up FPV for it's amazing feeling of virtually flying a plane. The pilot wears video goggles that display a live stream video from the camera mounted on the plane. Though some people buy already created planes, many hobbyists like myself, create their own planes from various foam and composite materials. Though FPV has many uses like search and rescue in dangerous areas, and filming agriculture for farmers, the FAA has decided FPV is too dangerous and too much of a cause for concern. 

My Quadcopter That Can be Used for FPV

   Although the FAA has only allowed Hollywood production companies to use FPV for now, many hobbyist organizations are suing the FAA for their quickly made law. One organization called "FliteTest" told everyone who saw their post to put a bad review on the FAA's Facebook page. Since they made that statement, the FAA now has a very low review and most are complaints about the FPV ban.  Although this technology has continued to advance for years, the recent law has put the hobby to a standstill and is taking us into the past.