Aerospace and Defense Review : News

  Over the last few decades, there has been an explosion of over two thousand commercial space companies. This has accelerated the world's commercial space capabilities and satellite industry. The launch of Sputnik in 1957 was regarded as the pinnacle of space technology back then. Over 135 space shuttle flights later, humanity has significantly benefitted from space technology over various fields like communications, positioning services, earth observation, and economic activity related to the government-funded space programs. Since 1957, the world has witnessed landing on the moon, construction of the International Space Station (ISS), and the launch of more than 8100 space objects. The U.S. government's announcement to accelerate the schedule to return humans to the moon in 2024 permanently has attracted many nations to focus on a return to the moon. Over the last few decades, there has been an explosion of over two thousand commercial space companies, dealing in various space technologies like building communication satellites, orbit launch vehicles, rovers for moon and mars, orbital habitats, space manufacturing platforms, and space greenhouses. This has accelerated the world's commercial space capabilities and satellite industry. Revenue from commercial space companies globally reached USD 277 billion in 2018 alone. The plunging costs of launch to Lower Earth Orbit (LEO) are one of the reasons behind the recent explosion in the space-related activity. Earlier, launching to LEO costs averaged more than USD 10,000 per kilogram. With the onset of companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin , and United Launch Alliance, there has been a significant drop in these prices. SpaceX's Falcon Heavy boasts the lowest cost in the industry, with prices starting at USD 1,655 per kilogram. The long term ambitions of these new companies could bring a further slash in prices, as low as USD 100 per kilogram or lesser. Here is a quick rundown of the major ways space technology is revolutionizing human life. Weather Prediction and Climate Monitoring Deriving accurate weather information from space systems has become critically important today for the government, space industry , and personal decision making. Satellites used for weather prediction help save thousands of lives each year by informing the authorities of possible storms, which in turn send out warnings in advance. Earth-observing satellites are also helpful in monitoring greenhouse gases and other crucial climate indicators, as well as the overall Earth ecosystem health. Observing Earth's Resources Earth observation satellites provide vital information and support the management of agricultural production, fisheries, freshwater, and forests. They also help in keeping a lookout for harmful activities like illegal logging, animal poaching, hunting, fires, and environmentally damaging mining activities. Space-based Communication Technologies Space-based communication technologies have made a positive impact on multiple facets of human life. Satellite technology has already been successful in revolutionizing navigation, banking and finance, and everyday communications. These technologies have been helping to make international and long-distance national phone calls, video feeds, streaming media, and satellite television and radio a routine process. Check Out This : Media Entertainment Business Review Enhancing Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Services Sectors like land and sea navigation, logistics, precision agriculture, military operations , and electrical grids have been influenced by global PNT satellite systems, which can accurately pinpoint a location down to meters. Space-based location services have become an integral part of mobile phones. They are used extensively by mobile applications ranging from maps to dating services. Increasing Economic Opportunities Economic opportunities from space-based operations are not just limited to those working in the space sector, but also to non-space industries. The expansion of the commercial space sector will increase not only high tech space jobs, but also everyday jobs connected to construction, food services, wholesale and retail , and finance . This is also an effective way to tackle problems like dependence on limited government budgets and cost-plus contracting. Creating a Scientifically Literate Society A developing space sector helps to inform people, both young and old, about new frontiers, discoveries, and technologies. This fosters an interest in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Disciplines, thereby creating a scientifically literate world which is capable of participating in an increasingly technology-driven society. Increasing Space Developed Technologies There have been over two thousand adaptations of space-based technology since the launch of the space program. These technologies include cordless power tools, freeze-dried foods, integrated circuits, flame-resistant firefighter gear, and lightweight insulation, improvements to lightning detection, kidney dialysis, and automated credit card transactions. Check This Out: Social Media:  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Linkedin        CIOReview  |  Crunchbase CIOReview  |  Review   ...Read more

The aerospace industry is aiming to produce airplanes more quickly, efficiently, and profitably. As a result, there has been a considerable change in the supply chain management techniques. Thousands of suppliers from across the globe have joined their hands to deliver the world's most efficient air transport vehicles. The global appetite for air travel is ever-increasing, and with it comes a massive demand for airplanes. The surging needs for airplanes and the fast-improving technologies have made it even more difficult for the aerospace industry to effectively address  the rising market demands. The aerospace industry is now aiming to produce airplanes more quickly, efficiently, and profitably. As a result, there has been a considerable change in supply chain management techniques. Here are five key factors, influencing the aerospace and defense logistics. Strict Regulations Governments across the world have begun to implement strict rules concerning tracing the location and history of airline parts, detailed down to serial numbers. Airline parts often come with high price tags and a short life span. Monitoring, maintenance, and repair of these parts must be followed on a specific schedule. Airline companies today want to be able to track each element from the time they were sent for repairs, till they arrive back. The advent of specialized components for different models of airplanes has made sharing of parts across platforms even difficult. This has led to the rise in demand for tailor-made solutions for each airline. Inventory Carrying Costs Minimizing aerospace-related inventory costs will make your business operations more efficient and cost effective. Companies today are striving to achieve highly-skilled, global supply chains that help them to stay competitive. Aerospace companies also rely highly upon airfreight for the supply of parts, due to the expensive nature of components involved. This has pushed companies to seek strategic logistics partners that can guarantee excellent service at lower costs. Check Out : Logistics Tech Startups Top Aerospace Manufacturing Companies   Ramping Up to Meet Demands According to reports, both Airbus and Boeing saw a significant increase in production, with Airbus attaining 11 percent increase and Boeing by 6 percent. Both of the companies have also predicted the passenger growth to average at least 4.5 percent over the next twenty years. With commercial aviation order books reaching an all-time high, multiple new models of airplanes were launched to meet the diverse needs of different airlines. Optimizing Supply Chain An airplane consists of more than 350,000 parts of different sizes that serve different purposes. Shipping these parts to the manufacturing location is a mammoth task in itself as they come from different parts of the globe. As a result, the aerospace manufacturers have begun to prioritize their supply chains, and spend the same amounts of time and money on research and development. Third-party logistics companies enable manufacturers to focus on production while they handle the smooth functioning of supply chains. Lower Fuel Costs Manufacturing airplanes as light as possible, without compromising on quality, is of utmost importance to airlines companies. Lighter planes mean more economical fuel consumption, which in turn increases profits. As a result, the carriers are now shifting their focus and efforts to the production of lighter aircrafts using composite materials. However, in most cases, high purchase and maintenance costs outweigh the reduced fuel costs. Check Out Review Of CIOReview :  Crunchbase ,  Glassdoor Check This Out :  CIOReview Overview ,  Muckrack ...Read more