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 costly two-year launch delay for Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) does offer a few fringe benefits for the mission’s science objectives, according to NASA. Development problems caused the ambitious rover mission to miss the 2009 Mars launch opportunity and refocus on 2011. The launch slip will cost an estimated $400 million, which brings the program’s total estimated lifecycle cost to $2.2 billion - $2.3 billion (Aerospace DAILY, Dec. 5, 2008).
HYPERSONICS CENTERS: NASA and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory have designated three university and industry partners as national hypersonic science centers. The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Texas A&M University in College Station and Teledyne Scientific & Imaging LLC of Thousand Oaks, Calif., were chosen from more than 60 respondents to a broad agency announcement. The new centers will advance research in airbreathing propulsion, materials and structures, and boundary layer control for aircraft that can travel at Mach 5 or faster.
Acting NASA Administrator Chris Scolese expects recent efforts by the agency to improve cost control over its programs to begin bearing fruit within the next two years, he told House lawmakers during his first Capitol Hill appearance as agency chief March 5.
