In a key decision that would boost the NASA Kennedy Space Center role for spacecraft development and integration beyond what it was for the Apollo Moon program, Lockheed Martin has chosen KSC for Crew Exploration Vehicle assembly and integration should it win NASA's CEV contract. The contractor's decision also would make direct use of KSC's existing shuttle workforce.
After reading "Airline Angst" (AW&ST Feb. 6, p. 38), I would like to help educate Herb Hunter, an Air Line Pilots Assn. (ALPA) official at United Airlines and 747 captain, on how carriers in general, and United in particular, operate in terms of employee accountability. While nobody is disputing Hunter's assertion that pilots are accountable for air- planes and their passengers while airborne, here is a primer on the responsibilities of United's engineering organization after the aircraft has landed and he has gone home.
New Breed Logistics will locate a facility in Everett, Wash., to provide logistics services for final assembly of the Boeing 787. New Breed's software will be applied to components shipped by air, land, sea and rail.
Despite funding pressures on both aviation and shipbuilding, the U.S. Navy is committed to maintaining 10 aircraft carrier wings, according to Adm. Robert Willard, vice chief of naval operations.
It continually amazes me that you print letters like "TSA Rationale Misdirected" (AW&ST Feb. 6, p. 6), whining about having to pass through security like a passenger. You want to know why the Transportation Security Administration should search every airline employee three times more thoroughly than passengers? *They have access to aircraft controls. *Their IDs can be faked by a 14-year-old. *Their uniforms can be faked even more easily.
Airbus has unveiled the first rendering of the A350 cockpit, showing enhancements the aircraft maker plans to introduce over the flight deck being installed on the A380 (AW&ST Feb. 13, p. 60).
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Orbital Sciences Corp. is updating its forecast for 2006, predicting revenues in the $760-780-million range, up from $750-770 million, and free cash flow of $55-60 million versus $50-55 million. Orbital said it established records in 2005 for new-business volume, cash flow and overall operational activity, booking $550 million worth of firm orders and raising its backlog 8% to $1.26 billion. Revenues climbed 7% to $703.5 million. Although operating income was down slightly to $53 million from $55.3 million the year before, the stock price has hit an 18-month high.
A preproduction F-35A Joint Strike Fighter is entering a series of ground-based tests as Lockheed Martin begins grooming the airplane for its first flight in autumn. Initial tests will include fueling the aircraft and evaluating the fuel system, structural coupling (interactions between the flight control system and airframe vibration modes) and ground-vibration testing (flutter checks), says Doug Pearson, vice president of the F-35 Integrated Test Force.
The intelligence community will begin to shift toward network-centricity and start making more efficient use of information technology under a plan outlined by the newly confirmed chief information officer for the director of national intelligence (DNI). Dale W. Meyerrose sees a reduction in the number of networks used by the community and increasing emphasis on information itself.
Malaysia is buying 10 Pilatus PC-7 Mk. 2 turboprop trainers, with deliveries slated to take pace in 2007. It's the country's second buy of the Mk. 2 version, after a purchase of nine in 2000. The order value is $54 million.
Europe's Venus Express probe has successfully tested its main engine, which will be used to brake the spacecraft so it can enter orbit around Earth's cloud-shrouded neighbor. The 3-sec. burn, performed on the night of Feb. 16-17, came as a prelude to a 51-min. firing set for Apr. 11. Built by EADS Astrium on the basis of the Mars Express orbiter now circling the red planet, Venus Express was launched in November 2005.
As the European Defense Agency starts crafting multi-national programs to meet military needs of its 24 member states, it wants to get a glimpse of what problems may lie ahead. To help ascertain the challenges, it's soliciting for a company or group to produce a report on the overall performances of European defense cooperative programs. The study should be completed by year-end.
Eight other Northrop Grumman employees were included among the 100 Most Important Blacks in Technology. Patricia A. Newby, president of the subsidiary Xetron Corp., was recognized by U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine. The Modern Day Technology Leaders Award went to ESS systems engineer Tameika N. Hollis. Michael K. Johnson is a Six Sigma black belt at Northrop Grumman Space Technology. In recent assignments, he was deputy integration and test manager on the Space Tracking and Surveillance System program.
NASA Administrator Michael Griffin is in a rush to get the space exploration program started. He thinks program momentum will vaccinate it against cancellation. But to meet his schedule, Griffin allows only flight-proven technologies. This condemns the program to high recurring costs that look economical only when compared to the shuttle. This will make the program a target for administrations faced with repaying war debts. NASA may consume a tiny fraction of the federal budget, but politics will require that the pain be spread.
Nigeria is receiving $20 million in World Bank assistance to modernize its ailing aviation infrastructure. The efforts are supposed to improve the situation in the country ahead of an International Civil Aviation Organization audit in November.
TSS Technologies Inc., a Cincinnati-based metal fabricator, is leasing a 24,000-sq.-ft. facility in Xiamen, China, to directly supply operations of GE Aviation and Honeywell there. Aerospace projects at the Xiamen plant are expected eventually to represent 30-40% of the plant's total output. A family-owned company founded in 1948, TSS started as a producer of parts and components for General Electric at its engine facility in Evendale, Ohio.
Eumetsat and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have agreed on a data-denial plan that ensures Eumetsat and U.S. public-service providers real-time access to data from NOAA instruments on Eumetsat's Metop polar-orbiting satellites. The agreement specifies that service providers may retain real-time data access, as well as the technical mechanisms involved in implementing data denial. This will apply only to data that are no more than 3 hr. old.
NASA will tell the heads of the Japanese, European, Canadian and Russian space agencies meeting here this week that launch of the next space shuttle mission to the International Space Station will remain targeted for mid-May, pending resolution of key external tank and space shuttle main engine issues. The partners will discuss the manifesting of key ISS assembly elements under checkout here with specific shuttle flights remaining until the shuttle is phased out in four years.
During National Engineers Week (Feb. 19-25), a coalition of more than 70 engineering and educational societies and 50 corporations supported activities to promote math and science education for students in Grades K-12. Engineers visited schools and hosted game show-style competitions to engage students and showcase the impact of engineers on the world, and students visited manufacturing facilities and participated in Engineering Design Challenges.
Boeing has received a $148-million U.S. Air Force contract to start work on the fourth Wideband Gapfiller satellite. The money also covers engineering activities to avoid parts obsolescence. The Boeing 702-based spacecraft is slated for launch in 2007.
Thales also announced the sale of TopFlight flight decks for 18 Airbus A319s to be delivered to low-cost carrier Germanwings. In addition to a full glass cockpit, the TopFlight line includes a flight management system, developed with Smiths Aerospace; and the T2CAS terrain and traffic collision avoidance system, designed with Thales/L-3 Communications joint venture ACSS.
