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.
NASA's network of Earth-observing satellites has revealed that global ocean levels have risen at a more rapid pace over the past 12 years than in previous decades. Over the past 50-100 years, Earth-based tide gauges have shown ocean levels rising at a rate of 1.8 millimeters (.07 inches) a year, according to NASA. By contrast, satellite data gathered since 1992 has shown that the rate has risen to 3 millimeters (.12 inches) a year.
The competing industry teams working on the Air Force's Transformational Satellite effort are bracing for likely schedule slips as they await the final numbers on the fiscal 2006 budget cut to be levied by skeptical Capitol Hill lawmakers. House lawmakers have voted to cut the Air Force's $835.8 million FY '06 request for TSAT by $400 million, while Senate authorizers cut $200 million. The final scope of the reduction won't be known until the Senate finalizes its numbers and goes into conference with the House.
The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System program still is in talks with its overseeing agencies about the possibility of getting additional funding to avoid a launch slip.
