Researchers in three projects will split grants from the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (Casis) totaling $1.2 million to take advantage of the microgravity environment on the International Space Station for pharmaceutical research. Casis, set up to run the public portion of the U.S. National Laboratory on the ISS, awarded its first research grants to scientists at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, California Institute of Technology and iXpressGenes Inc.
Four student pilots participating in an operational utility evaluation of the F-35A at Eglin AFB, Fla., have each begun the flying portion of their training, and officials there say they are on track for completion of the OUE in the next few weeks. “If we have good weather, we will be done in the next two weeks,” says Lt. Col. Lee Kloos, 58th Fighter Squadron commander at Eglin, where pilot training is taking place.
From the White House to the House of Representatives, the 2012 campaign is full of races that remain within the statistical margin of error. And a number of those too-close-to-call elections are for Senate seats in key defense industry states. Here are some to watch: Virginia: For more than three decades, one of Virginia’s senators was a former Navy secretary. In this election, neither Republican George Allen nor Democrat Tim Kaine has a military background.
NASA’s Glenn Research Center is looking for large fairings and adapters for the agency’s heavy-lift Space Launch System (SLS). In a request for information published Nov. 1, the Cleveland-based field center asks industry to suggest options for fairings and payload adapters that can expand the big rocket’s ability to carry cargo and spacecraft to orbit.
Click here to view the pdf 2013 U.S. Defense Spending: Current Funding Outlook: Army RDT&ELines where 2013 request differs from the 2012 enacted amount by more than 20% ($ in thousands) 2013 U.S.
DEFENDING SHIPS: The U.S. Navy has awarded Raytheon a $22.5 million contract to continue development, test and integration of its Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS), and extend Raytheon’s support to fleet-deployed systems through fiscal 2013. The SSDS combat management system is in service on carriers and amphibious ships, including CVN, the LSD dock landing ship, LPD, LHA and LHD classes. The LHA variant is nearing initial deployment, a technical refresh of the LSD-class is almost complete, and system development is under way for the new CVN 78-class of aircraft carriers.
Answering the U.S. Navy’s call for a deeper dive into unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), Boeing is continuing to develop its Echo Ranger UUV. While many of the other UUV candidates for Navy programs are focusing on launching, operating and returning to vessels, the Echo Ranger anchors its missions from pierside. The Boeing UUV has a notably long range, though, and Boeing sees a ship-operated version of the Echo Ranger in future years, according to Mark Kosko, program manager for the company’s Unmanned Undersea Systems group.
Controllers are checking out two large spacecraft built by Russia’s ISS-Reshetnev after their successful tandem launch on a Proton rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome Nov. 2. Separating from the Proton’s Breeze-M upper stage were the Yamal 300K telecommunications bird, and a space station relay satellite designated Luch 5B.
An Orbital Sciences Corp. Antares rocket first stage apparently will be able to undergo a hot-fire test later this month on its seaside launch pad, despite the high winds and water that blasted NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia during Hurricane Sandy. A company spokesman said Nov. 2 that work crews were able to reach access hatches and environmental-data recorders on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 to complete their initial inspection of the kerosene-fueled rocket stage. “Everything apparently looks good,” he said. Dress Rehearsal
Selected aerospace and defense contracts for the week of Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 2012. AIR FORCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Marietta, Ga., (FA8625-07-C-6471, P00140) is being awarded a $489,413,280 contract modification for the C-5 Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program Lot 6 material and fabrication effort. The location of the performance is Marietta The work is expected to be completed by July 17, 2015. The contracting activity is AFLCMC/WLSK, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
AIR FORCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Marietta, Ga., (FA8625-07-C-6471, P00140) is being awarded a $489,413,280 contract modification for the C-5 Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program Lot 6 material and fabrication effort. The location of the performance is Marietta The work is expected to be completed by July 17, 2015. The contracting activity is AFLCMC/WLSK, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
While the development of Chinese aircraft carriers may have garnered most of the public’s attention recently, naval defense analysts say the Asian giant’s amphibious fleet plans deserve a closer look given the vessels’ potential for far-flung missions.
SINGAPORE — Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) plans to develop a new model of the IAe C-212 twin-engine turboprop, as well as an updated variant of the IAe CN-235. The new C-212 will seat 28 passengers, whereas the current model, the C-212-400, seats 24 and the original, the C-212-100, 22 passengers, says an IAe spokesman. He says the increased passenger capacity will be achieved through more efficient use of space and a different type of seat.
The U.S. Navy may be moving at sub-light speed in developing a ship-board laser weapon, but service officials say they remain more committed than ever to the effort even though there still is no official program guiding the research and resources. “While we are still a long way from what George Lucas envisioned in ‘Star Wars,’ we are a lot closer to a laser system that will help our Navy do its mission better,” Quentin Saulter, program manager for the Free-Electron Laser (FEL) at the Office of Naval Research (ONR), says in a recent Navy blog post.
BRUSSELS — The European Space Agency (ESA) is seeking ideas for an orbital waste-management service capable of grabbing defunct satellites circling in low Earth orbit and disposing of them through controlled reentry into the atmosphere. By year-end, the 20-nation space agency plans to issue a tender for up to three industry study contracts dealing with concepts for orbital-debris removal o be awarded early next year.
To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.) NOV. 6 - 7 — Aviation Week Aerospace & Defense Programs, Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, Ariz. For more information go to www.aviationweek.com/events NOV. 13 — Aviation Week MRO Engine Forum, Singapore. For more information go to www.aviationweek.com/events
NEW DELHI — Sweden’s Saab will invest $37.5 million in Indian private sector defense shipyard Pipavav. “Finalization of the investment is expected to be made within three months, under the condition it meets the necessary approval of the shareholders meeting of Pipavav Offshore and Defense Engineering Ltd. (Pipavav) and government approvals,” according to Saab. “After the investment, Saab will hold approximately 3.5% of the capital and votes in Pipavav.”
MAYBE SO, MAYBE NO: When Congress returns later this month, the Senate majority leader has promised to take up cybersecurity legislation. But the most optimistic odds of it passing are 50-50, says Jim Lewis, director of the technology and public policy program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. It may be possible to reach a compromise on versions of a bill passed in the House and a Senate information-sharing bill, Lewis says. But such a bill would be more of a feel-good measure rather than one that substantially increases cyber protections.
