The Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) "easily" could be available in a human-rated form capable of launching passengers by 2010 or 2011, according to George Sowers, vice president for advanced programs at United Launch Alliance (ULA).
NASA hopes to keep adding partners to its Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program beyond the four companies signed up so far, according to Dennis Stone, assistant manager for commercial space development in the Commercial Crew and Cargo Program Office at Johnson Space Center.
REVIEW: NASA will review its psychological screening process in the wake of the arrest of astronaut Lisa Nowak, news service reports said Feb. 7. Nowak has been charged with attempting to murder a woman who she believed was her rival for the affections of another astronaut, authorities say.
Researchers hope to learn more about seasonal changes in the hydrocarbon rain and evaporation processes they believe shape the moon Titan by using cameras on the Cassini Saturn probe that have spotted this expected cloud of organics over Titan's north pole.
The Defense Department's budget is now forecast to grow at a 2.8 percent compound annual growth rate through fiscal 2012, slightly slower than some Wall Street analysts' prior forecast, although still coming off a significantly higher FY '08 baseline budget.
The new African Command (AFRICOM) will have more civilians in key positions than other more military-centric commands, Pentagon Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Ryan Henry said during a Feb. 7 briefing. The Defense Department also does not have plans to increase the number of troops in operations on the continent, he said.
The National Aeronautic Association announced Feb. 7 that Lockheed Martin Corp. and the F-22 Raptor team have won the 2006 Robert J. Collier Trophy. Team members include Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, BAE Systems and the U.S. Air Force. The group will be recognized "for designing, testing and operating" the F-22, the NAA said.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency could receive $28 million in fiscal 2008 funds for 151 pilots, air crew and specialists to support growing border security operations at primary and satellite air sites around the country, CBP officials said late Feb. 6.
ASDS BATTERY: SatCon Technology Corp. announced Feb. 6 that it received $108,600 from the U.S. Navy to evaluate, refurbish and test its emergency battery power supplies for the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS). The effort follows cancellation of Northrop Grumman's ASDS beyond the first one produced due to reliability concerns, including battery life issues (DAILY, Nov. 6, 2006). SatCon originally designed and built the ASDS power supplies in 1998 and asserts that the units have been successfully deployed and reliably operated in the ASDS since then.
Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) urged the Defense Department on Feb. 6 to reconsider plans to drop the alternate engine program from F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production. "If we have but a single engine then we're, in effect, giving a sole source contract to one contractor, which could amount to $100 billion. I've calculated that out," Warner told Pentagon Comptroller Tina Jonas during a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing on the $481.4 billion fiscal 2008 defense budget request.
NASA next week is to launch five spacecraft from Cape Canaveral atop the same Delta II rocket to unravel secrets of Earth's aurora. The $180 million flight using small spacecraft also has extensive Canadian ground system involvement. Liftoff of the Delta II with nine solid rocket boosters is set for 6:07 p.m. Eastern time Feb. 15.
The Democratic-run Senate Budget Committee will formally ask Robert Gates to testify before the panel, and the committee's chairman opened speculation Feb. 6 that the defense secretary could be compelled if he does not make a voluntary appearance. The desire to confront the newly installed secretary over defense-related budgets comes after a hearing in which Budget Democrats berated the Bush administration and Pentagon leaders for their budget submissions and costs related to defense and war-fighting.
AMCS: General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems has been awarded a $56.2 million contract for full rate production of 223 Type 3 Advanced Mission Computers (AMCs) for integration into F/A-18E/F and E/A-18G aircraft, the Defense Department said Feb. 5. A total of 84 AMCs will be purchased for forward fit, 114 for retrofit, and 25 spares. The work will be done in Bloomington, Minn., and is expected to be finished by July 2009. The contract was awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md.
A day after U.S. Navy officials outlined future cutbacks in the program, Northrop Grumman Corp. said the service awarded it $16 million for two more MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical-takeoff-and-landing unmanned aircraft (VTUAV) and that it would help the Navy in "refining" the rotorcraft drone's concept of operations.
The worldwide commercial geostationary satellite market is projected to stay at 20-25 satellite orders annually for the next few years, according to Clay Mowry, president of Arianespace Inc. The market is continuing to recover after having a rough period from 2002 to 2005, Mowry said during FAA's Tenth Annual Commercial Space Transportation Conference in Arlington, Va., Feb. 6. Over that time, annual orders slipped from the high 20s to less than 10, he said. Launches typically follow two years behind satellite orders.
Funding the Pentagon priority joint air capabilities programs for fiscal year 2008 would cost about $20 billion for 100 aircraft, excluding unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles or other weapons, according to Defense Department budget documents (See related chart, page 7). And all of the aircraft have developmental or other issues that need to be resolved, according to the recently released Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) annual report. Here's the Pentagon lineup of the aircraft, costs and issues on the table:
