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.
Despite rumors that the Bush Administration will order NASA to stop its reusable launch vehicle (RLV) work in favor of developing new expendable vehicles to visiting the moon and Mars, Northrop Grumman engineers working on RLV-related technologies are confident their work will find its niche.
After falling in 2002, worldwide civil helicopter sales have rebounded in 2003 and are expected to total $18.7 billion over the period from 2003 to 2012, according to a new study by Forecast International. Deliveries over the next decade should rise from 934 units in 2003 to a 10-year high of 970-975 in 2004-2005, before falling off steadily to approximately 925 annual shipments in 2012, according to the forecast. The study projects total shipments of nearly 9,500 commercial helicopters from 2003-2012, including 3,600 piston-powered models.
The chairman of the House Science Committee's space panel said Jan. 9 that the Bush Administration should consider asking Russia to join its expected program for manned missions to the moon and Mars. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) has been an advocate for U.S. space cooperation with Russia as a way to improve ties between the former Cold War adversaries and encourage democratic and capitalist forces in Russia.
