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 is considering shifting the near-term focus of its Prometheus nuclear power and propulsion technology program away from the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) mission to alternative applications that might be achieved sooner. Begun as NASA's Nuclear Systems Initiative, the Prometheus program is developing space nuclear power and propulsion technology to cut interplanetary trip times and increase the power available to spacecraft.
A recent report by a European Union (EU) technology committee urges western EU countries to actively support efforts to develop unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs), and warns that unless Europe begins cooperating with the United States on such programs, joint operations will become increasingly difficult in the future.
NASA is preparing to submit its responses to the remaining 10 return-to-flight (RTF) recommendations made by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board to the Stafford-Covey Task Group in time for its plenary meeting later this month, according to shuttle managers.
