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.
A panel of military space analysts agreed that America's space assets are highly vulnerable to potential attacks, although opinion diverged as to whether the current threat warrants putting weapons in space. Speaking at a Cato Institute conference on military space in Washington, D.C. September 5, John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org, argued that while there is no pressing need for America to develop offensive anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, U.S. dependence on satellites provides incentive for others to do so.
With the help of one of the largest wind tunnels and one of the most complex wind tunnel models ever built, aeronautical and acoustic engineers at NASA Ames Research Center are joining forces to develop new aircraft noise reduction technologies. Aircraft are noisiest when their landing gear, wing flaps and slats are deployed. NASA's ultimate goal is to develop technologies that will restrict aircraft noise to within the boundaries of the airport.
NASA is planning to spend over $50 million next year on nanotechnology running the gamut of applications, from lightweight materials to intelligent computing. Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., is concentrating on airframe materials, carbon nanotubes, and nanotube composites, Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, is focusing on propulsion materials and Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., is handling nanocomputing and bio/nano sensing.
