Jeff has been involved in aerospace journalism since the mid 1990s. Prior to joining Aviation Week, Jeff served as managing editor of Launchspace magazine and the International Space Industry Report. He has been the editor and chief of Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report since 2007 and has been a regular contributor to Aviation Week magazine. He received his B.A. from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) conducted a full launch dress rehearsal and hold-down firing of its third Falcon 1 rocket June 25 at its launch site at Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. The test marked the first pad firing of SpaceX’s new Merlin 1C reusable engine – an upgraded version of the Merlin 1A used for previous Falcon 1 launches. The regeneratively cooled Merlin 1C operated at full power, with only the hold-down system keeping the rocket from lifting off, according to the company.
ASTRONAUT DEADLINE: NASA’s application deadline for the 2009 Astronaut Candidate Class is July 1. To be considered, a bachelor’s degree in engineering, science or math and three years of relevant professional experience are required, the agency says. After a six-month evaluation period, NASA will announce final selections in early 2009. Astronaut candidates will report to Johnson Space Center in Houston during the summer of 2009 to begin their basic training program.
The recently revealed $1.1 billion in additional costs for the troubled NPOESS program is an estimate of its out-year operations and maintenance expenses that was purposely not considered in previous estimates of the total price tag, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA is leading the development of the NPOESS (National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System) civil/military weather satellite constellation in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force and NASA. Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor.
