Space Technology News

China has entrusted a defense-focussed state firm to ship millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil despite U.S. sanctions, part of a deal to offset Caracas' billions of dollars of debt to Beijing, according to three sources and tanker tracking data. China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) stopped carrying Venezuelan oil in August 2019 after Washington tightened sanctions on the South American exporter. But it continued to find its way to China via traders who rebranded the fuel as Malaysian, Reuters has reported.

Maritime Robotics' new multi-purpose Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) platform, the Mariner X, is the company's most configurable and optimizable USV platform to date, built to deliver high-quality data acquisition at sea.The first operator of the new Mariner X USV platform is Argeo. Dubbed Argus, Argeo’s first unmanned survey and inspection vehicle is intended to exploit the strong demand for accurate ocean mapping, especially within the growing offshore wind market. The Argus…

Subsea technology company Seatools has delivered deep-sea mineral collection equipment for Allseas' Hidden Gem seabed mining ship.Seatools was responsible for the engineering, manufacturing, and qualification of the electronics, instrumentation, and hydraulics for Allseas’ pilot polymetallic nodule collection vehicle. The vehicle will be part of a pilot nodule collection test conducted by Allseas, which is scheduled to take place in 2022 in the Pacific Ocean.Allseas developed…

Hydrogen as fuel was in the spotlight during the last two weeks. The Senate's Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on February 10 looking at H challenges in the transportation, utility, industrial, commercial, and residential sectors.A week later, the US House Committee on Science, Space, & Technology held a hearing titled "H2Success: Research and Development to Advance a Clean Hydrogen Future."Also, of note, the US Department of Energy published two hydrogen RFIs - "requests for information." One on "Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing…

Hundreds of workers set up oil barriers along beach fronts in Thailand's eastern Rayong province on Friday as authorities raced to limit the environmental damage from gallons of oil that leaked from an underwater pipeline earlier this week.The leak from a pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Limited (SPRC) started late on Tuesday and was brought under control a day later after spilling an estimated 50,000 litres (13,209 gallons) of oil into the ocean 20 kilometers…

Modern space technology and artificial intelligence have combined to enhance the conservation of marine animals: the new service, “SPACEWHALE”, developed by a team of creative scientists in Germany and the UK, detects whales from space. Supported by funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) Space Solutions program, this research enables whales and other large marine megafauna to be surveyed at an unprecedented scale. Earth Observation from satellites is developing fast and within a few years, space technology companies aim to provide daily high-resolution images of the whole globe.

The SpaceTech4Sea project sees ABS, OceanFinance and Cimarron Composites joining forces to adapt composite technologies developed for the space industry to shipping. The first target: LNG tank technologyA project to adapt technology developed for use in space to maritime LNG fuel tanks received design approval from ABS.The SpaceTech4Sea project, supported by $1.2m funding from the European Union, explores whether composite technology, which is lighter and potentially more cost-effective…

Iran has moved a mock-up U.S. aircraft carrier to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, satellite images show, suggesting it will use the look-alike vessel for target practice in war games in a Gulf shipping channel vital to world oil exports.The use of dummy American warships has become an occasional feature of training by Iran's Revolutionary Guards and its naval forces, including in 2015 when Iranian missiles hit a mock-up resembling a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.Tehran, which opposes the presence of U.S.

ABS has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) to a conceptual design for carbon fibre LNG fuel tanks, in what it describes as a ‘milestone’ for a project to adapt space industry technology to small-scale LNG fueling.SpaceTech4Sea project sees ABS, OceanFinance and Cimarron Composites joining forces to adapt composite technologies developed for the space industry to LNG shipping.Backed by EUR1m funding from the European Union, the project explores whether composite technology, which is lighter and more cost-effective, offers a competitive alternative in LNG as marine fuel designs, principally for short sea shipping.“The potential of this technology to reduce barriers to the utilization of LNG as fuel for short sea shipping is significant.

China successfully launched a new marine satellite into orbit yesterday (Friday) to help improve understanding of maritime waters and study the impact of climate change, Xinhua reported.A Long March-2C rocket carrying the HY-1C satellite took off at 11:15 a.m. from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province.The satellite will assist in monitoring ocean colour and water temperatures, providing basic data for research on the global oceanic environment, reports Xinhua, citing the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND), which oversees China's space activities.Its data will also be used in the survey of the resources and environment of China's offshore waters…

John Canada founded Ocean 5 Naval Architects in 2007, arguably the worst time in history to start a maritime company as the industry was just entering the worst downturn in a generation. But more than 10 years later, and with the industry still in recover mode, Canada and his company are still standing. Ocean5 has become synonymous with sportfish, luxury, performance and composite high speed small craft naval architecture, and the company’s international presence is founded on patrol craft…

China’s Academy of Space Technology in Beijing has launched a new high-tech satellite, called the Gaofen 3 high-resolution Earth observation satellite, which has been designed to protect its maritime interests, as well as warn of natural disasters, according to China Daily. The satellite was delivered by a Long March 4C rocket that blasted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province. "The satellite will play an important role in monitoring the marine environment, islands and reefs, and ships and oil rigs," the official China Daily newspaper said, citing project leader Xu Fuxiang. "Satellites like the Gaofen-3 will be very useful in safeguarding the country's maritime rights and interests," he added, according to the newspaper.

Inmarsat, has opened its new Singapore office, which is the company’s largest facility in Asia Pacific region. Inmarsat’s investment in the 1,700 suareq meter office in Toa Payoh, Central Region Singapore, sees the company’s regional hub providing a new solutions lab, demonstration capabilities, training rooms, a knowledge centre and support center, in addition to enhanced production and storage facilities. The opening ceremony was attended by Inmarsat’s CEO, Rupert Pearce, Beh Kain Teik…

TeamSurv, the crowd sourcing project to create better nautical charts, has won support and endorsement from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC). TeamSurv has won a call by ESA to enter their Business Incubation Centre (BIC) at Harwell, Oxford. This provides TeamSurv with finance, with business and technical support, and with office space for the next year to enable a plan for a sustainable future, and to grow with the number of vessels and the amount of data produced.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) reported that third quarter 2009 earnings from continuing operations totaled $487 million, or $1.52 per diluted share, compared with $509 million, or $1.50 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2008. Third quarter 2009 net pension adjustment (FAS/CAS) reduced earnings from continuing operations by $47 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared with an increase to earnings from continuing operations of $42 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2008. Third quarter 2009 earnings included a net tax benefit of $75 million, or $0.23 per share, primarily for final settlement of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) examination of the company's 2001, 2002 and 2003 tax returns.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) reported that second quarter 2009 earnings from continuing operations totaled $394 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, compared with $483 million, or $1.40 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2008. Second quarter 2009 net pension adjustment (FAS/CAS) reduced earnings from continuing operations by $49 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared with an increase to earnings from continuing operations of $45 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2008. Second quarter 2009 earnings included a net $64 million pre-tax gain, or $0.13 per diluted share, for legal matters…

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) reported that first quarter 2009 earnings from continuing operations increased 48 percent to $389 million, or $1.17 per diluted share, compared with $263 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2008. First quarter 2008 earnings were reduced by a pre-tax charge of $326 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, in the company's Shipbuilding sector. Sales for the 2009 first quarter increased 8 percent to $8.3 billion from $7.7 billion in the 2008 first quarter. First quarter 2008 sales were reduced by $134 million due to the $326 million charge in the Shipbuilding sector. In the 2009 first quarter…

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announced several structural actions to strengthen alignment with its customers, improve the company's program performance and growth potential, and enhance its cost competitiveness. These actions, effective immediately, include streamlining its organizational structure, reducing the number of sectors from seven to five. The five sectors will be Aerospace Systems; Electronic Systems; Information Systems; Shipbuilding; and Technical Services. "These actions are critical steps in shaping our future," said Ronald D. Sugar, Northrop Grumman chairman and chief executive officer. "Key to our success is the early anticipation of changes in our markets…

According to reports, Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) will merge its Newport News and Ship Systems units into Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, effective Jan. 28, under C. Michael Petters. The contractor is also realigning its missiles business, which will report to its space technology sector instead of its mission systems sector, effective July 1. Philip A. Teel, corporate vice president and president of Ship Systems, was named corporate vice president of the company's mission systems sector, effective April 1, to succeed Jerry B. Agee, who is retiring in August. Source: Dow Jones

Northrop Grumman Corporation announced a strategic realignment of several of its operating sectors to enhance the company's support to its customers, better utilize its capabilities and resources and drive operating improvements. The company stated that its two shipbuilding sectors, Newport News and Ship Systems, will be realigned into a single sector called Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, effective Jan. 28, 2008. In addition, the company is realigning the reporting of its missiles business from its Mission Systems sector to its Space Technology sector, effective July 1, 2008. With this new reporting structure, Mission Systems will focus on the rapidly growing C4ISR business, and the missiles business will be an integrated element of the company's Aerospace business growth strategy.

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has named Marotta Controls, Inc., a provider of fluid control systems, components and actuators, as the winner of the Contractor Excellence Award in the Small Business Product Category. This award honors Marotta as a valued supplier, most recently demonstrated by its highly successful cold gas microthruster program. Marotta is supplying its station-keeping cold gas microthrusters to Goddard's New Millennium Program's Space Technology 5 (ST5) Project. The Program's goal is to flight test miniaturized satellites and innovative technologies in Earth's magnetosphere. Marotta's microthrusters – whichwere delivered ahead of schedule and on budget – provide performance efficiency 25 percent higher than the specified requirements.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) reported income from continuing operations of $224 million, or $1.21 per share for the 2003 third quarter, compared with $141 million, or $1.17 per share, for the same period of 2002. Third quarter 2003 earnings per share are based on weighted average diluted shares outstanding of 184.5 million versus 115.2 million for the third quarter of 2002. Sales for the 2003 third quarter increased to $6.6 billion from $4.2 billion for the same period of 2002. Ronald D. Sugar, Northrop Grumman's chairman, chief executive officer and president said, "Northrop Grumman's third quarter results were excellent from every perspective.

Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) said third-quarter profit soared 62%, helped by a gain from the dissolution of a joint venture and a strong performance in its ships business. It also raised its forecast for 2007 earnings from continuing operations. The Los Angeles global defense and technology company said net income rose to $489m, or $1.41 a share, from $302m, or 86 cents a share, a year earlier. The latest results included a gain of $21m, or 6 cents a share, for the dissolution of the company's AMSEC joint venture with SAIC Inc. (SAI). For giving up its 55% stake in AMSEC, SAIC received some of the venture's operations. Year-ago results included a pretax legal provision of $112.5m, or 20 cents a share. Revenue rose 6.7% to $7.93b from $7.43b a year ago.