Two countries place probes in Martian orbit for the first time

In one week, two countries were able to celebrate the safe insertion into Martian orbit of their space probes. And neither country had ever before launched an interplanetary mission. They are the... 

Bombardier to make more savings, end production of the Learjet

Canadian aerospace company Bombardier announced, during the release of its annual results for 2020 earlier this month, its latest steps to return to profitability. The company is now focused... 

Boeing 737 MAX cleared to return to service by European aviation regulators

On the same day late last month the European Union (EU) Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) both authorised the return to service of the Boeing 737 MAX... 

SKA Observatory officially comes into being

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Observatory (SKAO) is now active, following the first meeting of the SKAO Council on February 4. The current members of the SKAO are Australia, Italy, the... 

Forests absorbing more CO2 than previously believed

Research by biologists at West Virginia University (WVU), in the US state of the same name, has established that trees around the globe are consuming greater amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) than... 

Astronomical observations boost UJ scientist’s theory

A model to predict gamma ray burst (GRB) behaviour, developed by a team headed by University of Johannesburg (UJ) Centre for Astro-Particle Physics director Professor Soebur Razzaque, has been... 

Defence industrial group increasing focus on exports

During the 2019/2020 financial year, exports accounted for 42% of State-owned defence industrial group Denel’s business, with Asia being the single biggest export market, taking 24%. Perhaps... 

Denel finally publishes 2019/20 annual report

South African State-owned defence industrial group Denel released its 2019/20 annual report on February 1. The period covered by the report did not include the very difficult months for the group... 

Scientists probing the depths of Titan’s largest sea

Astronomers at Cornell University, in Ithaca, in the US state of New York, have used radar data to determine that the biggest sea on Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, is, near its centre, at least... 

UK awards contract for advanced uncrewed fighter aircraft prototype

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has placed a £30-million contract with a consortium of  aerospace companies, led by Spirit AeroSystems Belfast (a British subsidiary of major US aerospace group... 

Another breakthrough for South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope array

South Africa’s world-leading 64-dish radio telescope array, MeerKAT, which was inaugurated in July 2018, has registered another significant success and again increased our knowledge of the cosmos.... 

Rolls-Royce inaugurates major new engine facility

UK-based global major industrial technology group Rolls-Royce has functionally inaugurated its new leading-edge engine testbed by successfully completing the first engine run in it. (The official... 

It’s now easier for South African farmers to export citrus to Britain

With the UK’s departure from the European Union’s (EU’s) single market and customs union at the start of this year, London has deregulated, among other commodities, citrus fruit and leaf imports.... 

While air cargo demand continues recovery, air passenger demand stalls

The International Air Transport Association (Iata) has reported that air cargo volumes increased in November last year, compared with October. However, they were still down on the figures for... 

Insurer trying to limit Covid-19 business interruption payout indemnity to just three months

Specialist public loss adjustment company Insurance Claims Africa (ICA) has expressed disappointment, but no surprise, at major insurance company Santam’s latest manoeuvre in the seven-month-long... 

UK launches study into using nuclear power for space exploration

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has signed a contract with global major industrial technology group Rolls-Royce to study future nuclear power options for space missions. This is the first such contract... 

Japan and the UK partnering on robotics for use in nuclear facilities

Japan and the UK are partnering to develop and deploy new automation and robotics techniques for use in both the decommissioning of nuclear plants and the development of nuclear fusion energy. The... 

New theory suggests that dark matter is made up of black holes formed by exotic events

Scientists at the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe at the University of Tokyo, in Japan, have proposed a new theory to explain the mysterious phenomenon of dark... 

Commercial business delivers 777 freighters after securing separate order for 737 MAXs

US-based global major aerospace group Boeing marked the advent of the new year with the delivery of three 777 Freighter (777F) aircraft to Qatar Airways Cargo. One of the aircraft concerned was the... 

Climate change affecting arid areas in poorer and richer countries differently

At the global level, as the climate has been changing, the amount of vegetation in arid areas has been increasing. But scientists at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, have, following analysis... 

UK aid to be focused on seven areas, including climate change, health and girls’ education

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab recently informed the House of Commons in London on the the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s plans to overhaul Britain’s Official Development... 

Drone Council seeks to help the industry by influencing govt

Although South Africa was, only a few years ago, the leader in Africa in the development, deployment and operation of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs, also known as remotely piloted aircraft systems... 

Renowned US radio telescope to be decommissioned due to structural instability

The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that the world-renowned Arecibo Observatory, in the US territory of Puerto Rico, is to be decommissioned after 57 years of operation. The... 

Hard times for airlines forecast to continue next year, except for cargo operators

The International Air Transport Association (Iata), the representative body for the global airline industry, has forecast that the sector will continue to suffer deep losses next year, although... 

What the end of the UK–EU transition period means for UK–SA trade

With effect from January 1 this year, the UK left the European Union (EU). But that day also inaugurated the start of a transition period, during which the UK remained part of the EU customs union... 

Iata issues guidance for Covid-19 vaccine transport

Against a background of pharmaceuticals companies announcing breakthroughs in the development of vaccines against the Covid-19 disease, the International Air Transport Association (Iata) has issued... 

UK funds study into space-based solar power

The British government has commissioned a study into the engineering and economic practicality of space-based solar power (SBSP) systems. More specifically, the study – the value of which has not... 

Rolls-Royce signs two international agreements on small modular nuclear reactors

UK-based global major industrial technology group Rolls-Royce recently signed, in rapid succession, two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) regarding the development and operation of small modular... 

Scientists discover more evidence that, in the past, women were hunters and fighters

  American archaeologists and anthropologists, supported by forensic scientists and physicists, have made a striking and theory-upsetting discovery in the Peruvian Andes. They uncovered the 9... 

Iata head calls on African governments to save their airlines as crisis stays deep

Remotely addressing the recent fifty-second annual general meeting of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), International Air Transport Association (Iata) director-general and CEO Alexandre de... 

Trade Minister stresses Britain’s commitment to values-based free trade

UK Secretary of State (Cabinet Minister) for International Trade Liz Truss has highlighted the “evangelical” commitment of the British government to free trade and reaffirmed the importance of free... 

International Space Station marks 20 years of operations

November 2 marked the 20th anniversary of the arrival of the first crew on board the International Space Station (ISS). More than 15 countries have worked together to build it, and, since the first... 

South African pharmaceuticals company approved to produce medicine active ingredients

South African startup pharmaceuticals company CPT Pharma, a subsidiary of Chemical Process Technologies (CPT), has received Good Manufacturing Practice approval from the South African Health... 

Nasa announces new discovery on the Moon

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) announced late last month that the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (Sofia) has, for the first time, confirmed the... 

Nuclear regulator confirms Eskom seeks to extend Koeberg nuclear plant’s life

The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has confirmed that it is in preliminary talks with State-owned national electricity utility Eskom regarding extending the operating life of the country’s only... 

Top UK companies highlight advanced technologies they are developing for future fighter

Major British aerospace, defence and industrial technology companies BAE Systems (BAES), Leonardo UK (part of Italy-based global aerospace and defence group Leonardo SpA), MBDA UK (part of the... 

UK provides funding for ‘self-eating’ space rocket concept

The UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), an agency of the country’s Ministry of Defence, has committed £90 000 (about R1.92-million) to support the development of a potentially... 

UK announces support for Southern and East African trade

UK Minister for Africa James Duddridge visited Zambia earlier this month to discuss British support to boost trade across Southern Africa and between Zambia and East Africa. He held talks with... 

Regional airline body calls for travel restrictions to be clear and consistent

The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) has warned the governments of the region that the continuation of “inconsistent and arbitrary” air travel restrictions (to counter the Covid-19... 

Nasa’s new crewed space programme becomes more international

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) has signed agreements with seven international partners to support Nasa’s Artemis crewed space programme and to establish a set of...