Destined for Mars and beyond, NASA’s Space Reactor-1 (SR-1) Freedom will be humanity’s first fission-powered spacecraft to travel outside Earth’s orbit. Announced during NASA’s “Ignition” event, this mission will demonstrate nuclear electric propulsion in deep space, and progress is underway on its key element: the nuclear power module. To expedite development of the spacecraft, NASA […]
Category: Technology
Drone technology takes flight to strengthen East Coast’s response to severe weather on the railway
Network Rail is exploring how drones could help teams respond more quickly and safely to flooding, storms, and other weather-related incidents on the East Coast Main Line. Drone flight exercises near Doncaster are demonstrating how aerial imagery can give engineers an early view of railway infrastructure and help identify areas in need of closer inspection. […]
Alstom awarded signalling contracts to equip Ireland’s national rail fleet with ETCS
Alstom has signed contracts with Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) to deliver the onboard deployment of the European Train Control System (ETCS) across Ireland’s existing national rail fleet. The contracts, valued at approximately €95 million, cover the design, manufacture, installation, testing, commissioning, and maintenance of ETCS Level 1 onboard equipment for up to 176 vehicles operated […]
Wales and Borders first to use railway communication masts for new weather monitoring technology
Network Rail’s Wales and Borders route has become the first in the organisation to install local weather stations on existing GSM-R railway communication masts, providing more accurate, real-time information to help teams respond to severe weather. Ten stations have been installed across Wales and Borders, measuring rainfall, wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric […]
NASA Develops Batteries to Power Humanity’s Return to Moon
If you’ve ever had your car start sluggishly, or not at all, on a particularly frigid winter morning, you know standard batteries do not like extreme cold. That’s why NASA researchers are working to develop a battery that could function in the brutal cold of the Moon’s South Pole, where nighttime temperatures plunge to minus […]
Immersive learning space brings railway to life for Avanti West Coast staff
Avanti West Coast has unveiled a cutting-edge immersive learning space to help staff put their skills to test in a safe environment. Located in the intercity operator’s Talent Academy in Crewe the facility called ‘Immerse’ enlists 270-degree video projections, sound, light and scent to recreate situations on the rail network that can support with learning. […]
Immersive learning space brings railway to life for Avanti West Coast staff
Avanti West Coast has unveiled a cutting-edge immersive learning space to help staff put their skills to test in a safe environment. Located in the intercity operator’s Talent Academy in Crewe the facility called ‘Immerse’ enlists 270-degree video projections, sound, light and scent to recreate situations on the rail network that can support with learning. […]
Immersive learning space brings railway to life for Avanti West Coast staff
Avanti West Coast has unveiled a cutting-edge immersive learning space to help staff put their skills to test in a safe environment. Located in the intercity operator’s Talent Academy in Crewe the facility called ‘Immerse’ enlists 270-degree video projections, sound, light and scent to recreate situations on the rail network that can support with learning. […]