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.
Following the space shuttle's next flight, STS-115, NASA hopes to free the orbiter from its current daylight-only launch restriction, instituted after the Columbia accident to allow clear photography of the vehicle during ascent. "With a good outcome on this flight ... we think we'll be a in a posture to move to 'anytime' operations, which is certainly something that you've got to have if you want to fly in the winter half of the year," Shuttle Program Manager Wayne Hale said during a news conference in Houston Aug. 11.
BAE Systems expects to receive its own Phase III contract for commercial aircraft defense systems from the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security this week, according to a company spokeswoman. DHS on Tuesday warded Northrop Grumman a $55.4 million to assess the feasibility of installing infrared countermeasures on commercial airliners to safeguard them against man-portable air defense systems, known as MANPADS (DAILY, Aug. 9).
The Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Directed Energy Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., is embarking on a follow-on to its recently demonstrated Aerospace Relay Mirror System (ARMS) in an effort to prove that laser relay mirrors can be made deployable and operationally effective. 'Not our decision' AFRL's future vision is for a system small enough to be carried on an airship that could relay and redirect high-energy laser beams fired from other platforms to destroy mortars, missiles or other targets.
