Packed with about 3,800 pounds of cargo and science, SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft departed the International Space Station on Tuesday, January 7. A parachute-assisted splashdown in the Pacific Ocean occurred that morning just west of Baja California. A recovery team then secured Dragon on a boat for the return trip to the Port of Los Angeles, wrapping up SpaceX’s 19th resupply mission to the space station.
Filled with approximately 5,700 pounds of supplies and payloads, Dragon launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on December 5, 2019 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and arrived at the space station on December 8. The Dragon spacecraft supporting the CRS-19 mission previously supported the CRS-4 mission in September 2014 and the CRS-11 mission in June 2017. Dragon is the only spacecraft currently flying that is capable of returning significant amounts of cargo to Earth.
On Monday, January 6 at 9:19 p.m. EST, or 2:19 UTC on January 7, SpaceX launched its third launch of Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
Falcon 9’s first stage supported a Starlink mission in May 2019, the Iridium-8 mission in January 2019, and the Telstar 18 VANTAGE mission in September 2018. Following stage separation, SpaceX landed Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. You can watch a replay of launch below and learn more about the mission in our press kit.
Alstom congratulates Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW), on the opening of the CBD and South East Light Rail project and the start of revenue service, returning Light Rail back down Sydney’s George St for the first time in more than 60 years.
Alstom, as part of the ALTRAC Light Rail consortium[1], has been responsible for the integrated light rail system that included the design, delivery and commissioning of 60 Citadis X05 Light Rail Vehicles (LRV), power supply equipment including APS – the wire-free ground-based power supply (over two kilometres), the energy recovery substations – HESOP, signalling, communications, depot equipment and 19 years of maintenance.
The new 12km network has been delivered under a turnkey PPP model that will provide the commuters of Sydney with frequent, reliable, high capacity services running from Circular Quay in the city’s CBD to Central Station, then south east to Randwick. Each LRV has a capacity of 450 passengers – the equivalent of nine standard buses and will move up to 13,500 commuters per hour (6,750 in each direction) during peak times once fully operational. Normal tram services will operate seven days a week between 5am and 1am.
As part of the contract, the consortium has also taken over the operations and maintenance of the existing Inner West Light rail (IWLR) that connects Sydney’s inner west with the Pyrmont peninsula, Darling Harbour and the southern CBD. Alstom is also responsible for the maintenance of the existing system which includes 12 CAF Light Rail Vehicles.
“Alstom is extremely proud to be a part of this iconic project” said Mark Coxon, Managing Director for Alstom in Australia & New Zealand, “This new Light Rail system will transform Sydney and provide a step change in the city’s public transport capability and reliability while protecting the aesthetic appeal of the CBD and improving sustainability of the overall transport network”
[1] Made up of Alstom, Transdev, Acciona and Capella
Alstom will provide new cars for service to the enlarged Line E of Buenos Aires City metro, which represent a notable improvement for the metro cars of this line and an increase in passengers comfort.
The modernized cars of the series 100 produced by Alstom are incorporated into this line in which around more than 100,000 passengers travel per day, from the Plaza de los Virreyes station to Retiro in the centre of Buenos Aires. This modernization is in addition to the installation and validation of the signalling system in the three new stations of the E Line, completed successfully at the beginning of June.
Those metro cars are subject to a general review after 15 years to ensure their safety and efficiency. This “half-life” maintenance includes the disassembly, polishing, cleaning, profiling and painting or absolute replacement of all cars pieces and parts that are sent to Los Hornos workshop, in Las Plata. In that, full repair and maintenance’s are done by fifty professionals and workers, mostly from the same city, who works daily in the renovation of the cars that are part of the Buenos Aires metro network.
“The modernization of these series 100 cars for Line E is another proof of the enormous efforts that Alstom makes daily in its factory of Los Hornos to improve the travel´s quality of the thousands of users of the Buenos Aires city metro. To this we must add the activities that we have carried out recently in the expansion of Line E, with the incorporation of our state-of-the-art signalling system. We are proud of our customer’s trust in our experience, and we continue to bet on transforming the Argentine transport system” says Ernesto Garberoglio, General Director of Alstom Argentina.
Alstom has been present in Argentina since 1993, maintaining its presence over the years, which demonstrates a strong commitment to the country and its inhabitants. Dedicated to the transport sector on rails, it provides products and services to the metro operator of the City of Buenos Aires (Metrovías) and to the owner of the metro infrastructure (SBASE). It also has projects with Argentine Railways Infrastructure (formerly ADIFSE) and with the Railway Operator State’s Society (SOFSE) in the implementation of technological solutions for passenger and commercial transport.
(Saint-Cloud, October 29, 2019) – This summer, Lann-Bihoué French naval air station received the first two ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft upgraded by Dassault Aviation.
Last week, Florence Parly, Minister of the Armed Forces, flew on one of these aircraft.
These two events demonstrate the progress made on the upgrade program which is designed to modernize the ATL2 combat system to standard 6.
new radar: Thales Search Master with active antenna,
new Thales acoustic subsystem to gather and process signals from the latest-generation air-dropped sonobuoys for submarine detection,
new navigation console designed by Dassault Aviation,
new consoles for the tactical display subsystem, developed by SIAé.
The upgrade work is performed by Dassault Aviation and Thales (co-contractors), in association with Naval Group and in cooperation with SIAé. Architect of the combat system, Dassault Aviation is as well responsible for development of the core system including LOTI software designed by Naval Group. Dassault Aviation is also in charge of overall integration of all subsystems.
All the specifications for this program were established using the PLM Systèmes tool as part of a Dassault Aviation-Thales-Naval Group-SIAé collaborative work platform installed at St-Cloud in the Dassault Aviation design office.
The standard 6 upgrade will improve the ATL2s’ capability to support the Strategic Ocean Force, to deal with modern threats (future nuclear or conventional submarines, naval forces at sea, etc.) and to support air-land missions, until 2030.
France is one of the very few countries producing high-technology maritime patrol aircraft combining detection (optronics, radar, acoustics) with a variety of weapons (anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, laser-guided weapons).
“This expertise as an architect of maritime patrol solutions, both for the platform and for systems integration, is the result of experience dating back to the late 1950s and the launch of the ATL1 program, the predecessor of the ATL2. Dassault Aviation has extended this experience, from the 1970s onwards, with the maritime surveillance Falcons, the latest version of which is the Falcon 2000 MRA-based Albatros program. As we have shown once again with the standard 6, this maritime patrol/maritime surveillance expertise builds largely on the trust and the excellent working relations between our company, the DGA and the French Navy, to which I express my sincere gratitude. We will leverage this know-how to prepare together maritime patrol solutions beyond 2030”, declared Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.
Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana, first for Spain;
El Metropol Madrid, Curio Collection by Hilton, first for Madrid;
Atocha Hotel Madrid, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, first for Spain and first outside Americas
MADRID and MCLEAN, Va. – Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of three hotel franchise agreements with strategic investor partners, bringing three new brands to Madrid, of which two mark brand entries to the country. The addition of Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana; El Metropol Madrid, Curio Collection by Hilton; and Atocha Hotel Madrid, Tapestry Collection by Hilton represents a significant milestone for the global hospitality company, illustrating Hilton’s continued investment in Madrid as a premier tourist destination and its ambitions to further expand across Spain.
Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton, said: “Spain has seen a surge in popularity, and Madrid is a particularly strong tourist market that has so much to offer. In 2018 the city welcomed a record-breaking 10 million visitors, making Madrid one of Europe’s most dynamic destinations for both business and leisure travellers. Responding to the increasing demand for great hotels combined with opportunities from world-class infrastructure investment and regeneration programmes, Hilton has expanded its portfolio to bring some of our most popular brands to Spain. Our new Madrid hotels will offer fantastic guest experiences and enrich communities.”
Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana
In partnership with Hotel Investment Partners (HIP), Hilton introduces its upper-upscale lifestyle brand, Canopy by Hilton, to Spain. HIP, Blackstone’s hotel investment platform, own the property and intend to invest €34 million in the hotel’s transformation, which will offer 311 guest rooms and multiple dining outlets, including a terrace restaurant overlooking Carlos Trias Bertran Square and a signature lobby café, Canopy Central. Expected to open in 2021, Canopy by Hilton Madrid Castellana is a perfect venue for guests looking to explore the capital. Situated close to the Paseo de la Castellana, one of the longest and widest avenues of Madrid, the hotel is near vibrant neighbourhood bars and restaurants, commercial buildings and international company headquarters, as well as Madrid’s world-famous Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid Football Club.
El Metropol Madrid, Curio Collection by Hilton
Joining a global portfolio of more than 70 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts and located at the corner of Calle de la Montera and Gran Via, El Metropol Madrid, Curio Collection by Hilton is in the heart of Madrid’s historical town centre and close to the lively Puerta del Sol neighbourhood. With many rooms facing Gran Via, one of the city’s bustling streets with theatres, cinemas, shopping, restaurants and bars, guests can enjoy a stunning view of Madrid city life. Guests at the 93-room upper-upscale hotel will enjoy a range of facilities and amenities, including a rooftop bar with unbeatable city views. Its central location means many tourist attractions are within walking distance with easy access to Madrid’s metro network and connections to its business district. In partnership with owning company Montera 47, El Metropol Madrid is slated to make its debut in January 2021, joining existing Curio Collection hotels in Barcelona, Alicante, Malaga and Ibiza.
Atocha Hotel Madrid, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Atocha Hotel Madrid, Tapestry Collection by Hilton joins a portfolio of hotels that offer guests unique style and an authentic connection to their destination. Brought to market by hotel operator Panoram Hotel Management, the 46-room hotel on Calle Atocha is just metres from Madrid Atocha railway station, the busiest in Spain, and is within walking distance of popular tourist attractions, including the Museo Reina Sofia, Prado Museum and the El Reitro Park. The first Tapestry Collection hotel to open in Spain and the brand’s first outside the Americas, Atocha Hotel Madrid will introduce the Tapestry Collection experience to Madrid locals and visitors alike. Amongst the amenities available, guests can select to stay in one of four Five Feet to Fitness rooms, a revolutionary in-room wellness concept created by Hilton allowing guests to work out in their guest room, with more than 11 pieces of fitness equipment and accessory options to choose from. The hotel is anticipated to open in the first quarter of 2020.
Hilton opened its first hotel in Madrid in 1953 and has since continued its commitment to investing in the city and supporting its growth as a leading tourist destination. Other Madrid properties include Hilton Madrid Airport (284 rooms), DoubleTree by Hilton Madrid Prado (61 rooms) and the 138-room Hampton by Hilton Madrid Alcobendas, located on Avenida de Fernando Alonso, which is set to open in January 2020.
Expansion on the Iberian Peninsula is a strategic focus for Hilton, and the company is growing faster in the region than ever before. It has signed a new Franchise or Management Agreement for a hotel in Spain every two months for the past two years, which represents more than 1,800 new keys. Hilton’s current Spanish portfolio of 12 hotels and resorts offers more than 2,000 hotel guest rooms and suites.
Alstom has commissioned its first new-generation Citadis X05 tram in its short version, on the first tramway line of Grand Avignon. The inauguration took place in the presence of Elisabeth Borne, Minister of the Ecological and Solidarity Transition, Renaud Muselier, President of Région Sud, Maurice Chabert, President of the Vaucluse Department, Patrick Vacaris, President of Grand Avignon, Cécile Helle, Mayor of Avignon, Jean-Marc Roubaud, President of Técélys and Jean-Baptiste Eyméoud, President of Alstom France.
“Alstom and its teams are proud to be present at the commissioning of this first tramway line in Avignon. Thanks to their reliability, availability and easier maintenance, we are fully confident in the ability of the 14 Citadis trams to address the major travel challenges of the Agglomeration Community of Grand Avignon. I would also like to thank the members of Grand Avignon for having entrusted us with part of the infrastructural work. This new line will become a showcase for the expertise of the French rail sector,” said Jean-Baptiste Eyméoud, President of Alstom in France.
24 metres long, equipped with 4 double doors on each side, the Citadis X05 tram for Grand Avignon will be able to carry more than 140 passengers. The full low floor and double doors facilitate accessibility and passenger exchange in stations. Everything has been designed for a pleasant travel experience: large bay windows covering 40% of the tram, LEDs with diffusers for soft, homogenous lighting, a state-of-the-art information system, large seats, air conditioning, and a video protection system.
Citadis X05 has standardised, proven, more accessible components, providing residents of the Avignon area with reliable, readily available material. Citadis X05 is particularly energy efficient and up to 99% recyclable.
Alstom offers a wide range of products and services and has also provided the tracks (studies, supply and assembly), the 750 V electrical substation and 6 km of overhead contact lines (studies, supply, installation and testing) in partnership with TSO.
Seven of Alstom’s thirteen sites in France are involved in the design and manufacture of the tram for Grand Avignon: La Rochelle (for the design and assembly of the trams), Ornans (for the engines), Le Creusot (for the bogies), Tarbes (for the traction drive equipment), Valenciennes (for the control system and interior layout), Saint-Ouen (for the design and infrastructure activities) and Villeurbanne (for the on-board electronic systems).
A new ‘Flugzug’ rail service between Lugano Station and Zurich Airport is bookable now for travel from 16 October. The cost of the rail journey is included in the SWISS flight ticket.
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) now offer customers a ‘Flugzug’ rail service between Lugano Station and Zurich Airport for travel on or after 16 October. Selected SBB rail connections between Lugano and Zurich Airport will be issued with a SWISS flight number, and the cost of the rail journey is included in the SWISS flight ticket price.
The ‘Flugzug’ timetable offers 14 daily services in each direction between Lugano Station and Zurich Airport. The new rail service thus provides travellers between the two points with even more flexibility than the present four daily flights. The rail services concerned also cover all the relevant SWISS connecting flights from and to its Zurich hub. The new ‘Flugzug’ services are bookable now for travel on or after 16 October, on the SWISS website or at any travel agency.
SWISS is keen to ensure that the Ticino region is well connected with its Zurich Airport air travel hub. The present arrangement is an interim solution, and SWISS and SBB are working closely on optimising the ‘Flugzug’ rail service which as a SBB feeder rail service until now only existed between Basel and Zurich Airport.
– Boeing and Virgin Galactic enter strategic partnership to transform commercial space travel and mobility
– Latest investment to date by Boeing HorizonX Ventures organization
Boeing [NYSE: BA] is investing $20 million in Virgin Galactic, a vertically integrated human spaceflight company. The companies will work together to broaden commercial space access and transform global travel technologies.
“Boeing’s strategic investment facilitates our effort to drive the commercialization of space and broaden consumer access to safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible new forms of transportation,” said Brian Schettler, senior managing director of Boeing HorizonX Ventures. “Our work with Virgin Galactic, and others, will help unlock the future of space travel and high-speed mobility.”
To date, Virgin Galactic has invested $1 billion of capital to build reusable human spaceflight systems designed to enable significantly more people to experience and utilize space. In July, the company announced its intent to become a publicly-listed entity via a business combination with Social Capital Hedosophia Holdings Corp. The Boeing investment will be in return for new shares in Virgin Galactic and is therefore contingent on the closing of that transaction, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2019, and any such investment will be in the post-business combination company.
This investment brings together two companies with extensive experience in the space industry. Virgin Galactic is a pioneer of commercial human space flight and is the first and only company to have put humans into space in a vehicle built for commercial service, having built and flown a Mach 3 passenger vehicle. Through its manufacturing and development capabilities, Virgin Galactic can design, build, test, and operate a fleet of advanced aerospace vehicles. Boeing has unsurpassed experience transporting people to orbit and building and operating large structures in that challenging environment. A part of every U.S. manned space program, Boeing serves as NASA’s prime contractor for the International Space Station (ISS) and is preparing the new, reusable, Starliner space capsule for launch to the ISS.
“This is the beginning of an important collaboration for the future of air and space travel, which are the natural next steps for our human spaceflight program,” said Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic. “Virgin Galactic and Boeing share a vision of opening access to the world and space, to more people, in safe and environmentally responsible ways.”
Boeing Defense, Space & Security President and CEO Leanne Caret, said “the unique expertise of our companies stretches from points all around the world to the deepest reaches of space. Together we will change how people travel on Earth, and among the stars, for generations to come.”
George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic, noted: “we are excited to partner with Boeing to develop something that can truly change how people move around the planet and connect with one another. As a Virgin company, our focus will be on a safe and unparalleled customer experience, with environmental responsibility to the fore.”
Additional information on specific projects to be pursued will be shared in the future.
SFO runway view from Grand Suite Parlor at newly open Grand Hyatt at SFO (Photo: Business Wire)
CHICAGO-(BUSINESS WIRE)-SFO’s only on-airport hotel brings elevated experiences to ‘The City by the Bay’
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) and San Francisco International Airport(SFO) today announced the opening of Grand Hyatt at SFO, which is now accepting guests. As the only on-airport hotel at San Francisco International Airport, the $237 million luxury hotel sits on 4.2-acres and features 351 rooms including 22 suites, 14,435 square feet of well-appointed meeting and event space, two distinct culinary concepts, and an impressive art collection that was curated exclusively for the hotel by the San Francisco Arts Commission.
“We are thrilled to open the doors to Grand Hyatt at SFO and welcome our international guests, SFO visitors and local friends,” said Henning Nopper, general manager, Grand Hyatt at SFO. “The completion of this hotel, an iconic addition to our Grand Hyatt brand, is a culmination of many years of hard work and planning by Hyatt, San Francisco International Airport, the great City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Arts Commission, and many more supporters.”
Directly connected to all airport terminals with its own dedicated, newly constructed AirTrain station, Grand Hyatt at SFO serves as a captivating destination within a destination and elevated respite for corporate business travelers as well as leisure guests to bypass the airport bustle. The highly anticipated debut also marks a key milestone in Hyatt’s west coast expansion plan to add 40 new hotels in California, Oregon and Washington by the end of 2021.
“With the opening of Grand Hyatt at SFO, we offer travelers a new benchmark in airport hospitality,” said Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “The new hotel reflects our commitment to deliver a world-class experience for our guests, with seamless access via our AirTrain system, sustainable building design, thoughtful service and amenities, and inspiring works of public art. My thanks go out to Hyatt, the San Francisco Arts Commission, and our entire design-build team for making this day a reality.”
CONCEPT & DESIGN
The bold, vibrant design and architecture of Grand Hyatt at SFO is the vision of San Francisco-based architect Hornberger + Worstell and associate ED21, along with two internationally acclaimed interior design firms, BraytonHughes Design Studios and RoseBernard Studio. Guests step out of the hotel’s new AirTrain station, which features a dramatic kaleidoscopic stained-glass art installation, and after crossing an enclosed bridge, they enter the hotel’s stunning, light-filled lobby where they are greeted by expansive windows and views of SFO and hills beyond.
