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.
Preliminary results from Europe’s Planck cosmic background observer show data quality to be as good or better than expected. The mission, launched May 14, undertook a preliminary all-sky survey from its position at the second Lagrange Point on Aug. 13 following instrument checkout and adjustment. The initial two-week survey, covering nine 15-deg.-wide strips—one for each frequency—was intended to verify the stability of the instruments and the ability to calibrate them during the long periods needed to meet accuracy requirements. Routine operation began on Aug.
The unequivocal and unexpected discovery of widespread water in the uppermost layer of the moon’s surface means a whole new set of challenges for engineers working on methods for future astronauts to extract lunar resources.
Tantalizing early results from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) indicate that hydrogen could exist in more areas of the south polar region of the moon than previously thought.
