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.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is organizing an "Armor Challenge" in which new types of lightweight passive vehicle armor will be tested against an array of projectiles. "The Armor Challenge is aimed primarily at inventors and small organizations who do not have the resources to initiate full-scale armor development programs," DARPA says. Proposals will be accepted from Feb. 20 through Aug. 31. The best-performing samples will be considered by DARPA for further development.
The Federal Aviation Administration is inviting public comment on proposed new safety rules applying to crew and passengers on commercial space tourism flights. FAA published the proposed rules in the Federal Register on Dec. 29 and expects to receive final approval for them this summer. They are available at http://www.faa.gov. Comments are due by Feb. 27. Industry was invited to comment on earlier draft versions of the rules last February (DAILY, Feb. 14, 2005).
A recent $5 million budget cut to the Missile Defense Agency's High Altitude Airship program is not expected to slow the effort significantly, according to prime contractor Lockheed Martin. Congress cut the money from HAA's $16 million budget request in its fiscal 2006 defense appropriations bill. MDA still is assessing the potential impact of the cut, according to an agency spokesman.
