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.
ANOTHER TRY: United Launch Alliance is targeting March 31 for its next attempt to launch the U.S. Air Force’s second Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellite aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla. An attempt last week had to be scrubbed and the vehicle rolled back to its integration facility following the discovery of a leaky oxidizer valve on the rocket’s Centaur upper stage that has since been replaced.
The U.S. Air Force’s latest Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite was delivered to orbit early March 24 by a United Launch Alliance Delta II from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Liftoff took place at 4:34 a.m. EDT from Launch Complex 17A. One hour and eight minutes later, the rocket deployed GPS IIR-20, the seventh of eight modernized spacecraft in the GPS Block IIR-M series built by Lockheed Martin.
WALKING PAPERS: Three senators have sent a letter to President Obama asking for the removal of NASA Inspector General (IG) Robert Cobb, “following years of complaints and investigations into Cobb’s work as the government’s watchdog at NASA,” according to a statement from the lawmakers’ offices. “We respectfully ask that you take immediate action to put an end to conflict of interest and cronyism in the IG process by replacing Mr. Cobb and nominating a qualified candidate,” wrote Sens.
