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 critical infrastructure disruptions caused by a single electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack on the U.S. could cost the country $10 trillion or more, according to EMP commission member Lowell Wood. Caused by high-altitude nuclear blasts, an EMP can knock out electrical systems of all types on the ground over a very large area. The Commission to Assess the Threat from High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse first presented its findings to Congress in July following a two-year study (DAILY, July 23).
A new report from the National Academies urges NASA to quickly choose a systems integration approach for Project Constellation, and "staff the selected approach adequately before making major commitments to hardware procurement." Project Constellation includes the proposed Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) for human transport, various robotic precursor missions and associated systems supporting the exploration of the moon and Mars.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has awarded Northrop Grumman a $400 million contract to co-design the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO) spacecraft, the agency announced Sept. 20. Under the contract, which covers work through mid-2008, Northrop Grumman will work with NASA on the preliminary design for the spacecraft. JPL chose Northrop Grumman over bids submitted by Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
