Latest Engineering News
Ariel Spacecraft Passes Crucial Design Review, Bringing ESA Exoplanet Mission Closer to Reality
The European Space Agency's (ESA) Ariel exoplanet mission reached an important milestone on December 5th, 2023, when its preliminary spacecraft design successfully passed a key ESA review board. This latest approval formally concludes Ariel's initial design phase after 19 months of refinement to structural specifications and interface requirements....
Multi-Billion Pound Mersey Tidal Barrage Pitched as 120-Year UK First
If given the green light, a proposed tidal barrage across the River Mersey could become the largest infrastructure project in the North West. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) has proposed a £multi-billion barrage designed to generate predictable renewable energy for over a century while better connecting...
NASA’s “Son of Concorde” X-59 Set for Historic First Flight
Imagine flying from New York to London only to land across the pond in a mere 90 minutes. This hyper-fast future of air travel is approaching liftoff as NASA prepares its trailblazing X-59 jet for a history-making inaugural test flight. Dubbed the "Son of Concorde," NASA's bullet-nosed X-59...
Concorde Takes Flight Again – The Legacy of Supersonic Travel
Twenty years after the Concorde supersonic airliner took its last flight into Filton, Bristol, in 2003, aviation enthusiasts commemorate its legacy with model tribute flights and local events. As an aerospace icon designed and built in Filton, Concorde holds particular significance in the Bristol community. The Woodspring...
Northvolt Achieves Major Milestone in Sodium-Ion Battery Development
Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt announced a significant advance in sodium-ion battery technology for renewable energy storage this week. The company validated prototype cells demonstrating an energy density exceeding 160 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) – on par with commercial lithium iron phosphate batteries. Northvolt's cells utilise hard carbon anodes...
Electric Powertrains Set to Revolutionise Aviation Sustainability
A UK startup is charging ahead to decarbonize regional and domestic flights with an innovative drop-in electric engine replacement. After receiving recent grant funding, Flux Aviation has accelerated the prototype development of its 75kW battery-powered powertrain system. During engineering studies, Flux Aviation founders Neofytos Dimitriou and Radovan Gallo...
