NASA's second Mars Exploration Rover (MER-B) will be 1.5 million mi. from Earth this week following launch on the inaugural Boeing Delta II Heavy, giving the U.S. its first twin-lander mission to Mars in 28 years and the space program a much-needed boost in the wake of the Columbia accident. But the flight was a cliffhanger as insulation problems and then a failed battery delayed launch to July 7, when the first attempt was aborted by the vehicle's computer only 8 sec. before liftoff in a 1-sec. launch window.
SPACE SWARM The EADS-Khrunichev venture Eurockot is set to launch a Japanese experimental satellite, Servis-1, from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia on Oct. 8. Built by Japan's Unmanned Space Experiment System Research and Development Organization, the spacecraft will carry 11 types of commercially available semiconductors and processors to measure their tolerance for the space environment. It is to remain in a 1,000-km. (620-mi.) orbit for two years, with a second version--Servis-2--scheduled for launch in 2006.
VICRE (VIdeo voice Cockpit REcorder) can record cockpit video images and audio events that are coupled with the position of the aircraft by means of a GPS receiver. VICRE belongs to the category of flight parameter recorders that are usable for both the reconstruction of flight phases before an event and for analysis of aircraft behavior during operative flight steps, as well as its response to pilot commands. This nearly 2.5-lb. "black box" measures 10 X 10 X 8 in.
Kosmotras is marketing an upgraded version of its Dnepr light launch vehicle with an all-new upper stage designed for high-energy orbits. The variant is meant to meet demand for low-cost geostationary Earth-orbit (GEO), interplanetary, highly elliptical-orbit (HEO) and other special orbit missions, said Director General Vladimir Andreev.
The Transportation Security Administration received another black eye in late June as several hundred air marshals were fired or put on administrative leave because of background checks.
'J SPEED' GROWTH Japan Airlines is upgrading its three-year-old "J Speed" express cargo service to bring it into the WOW cargo alliance network that JAL has formed with Lufthansa Cargo, Singapore Airlines Cargo and Scandinavian Air Services Cargo. In the past, J Speed has provided express shipment, onboard guarantees, late package acceptance, Internet booking and e-mail tracking services. The carrier says a specific delivery time at the airport will be guaranteed when the reservation is made. It also notes that shipments up to 100 kg.
OFF THE BANDWAGON Because the Air Force pays the bulk of space operations costs and hasn't been able to convince other services to share the burden, its leaders are trying desperately to avoid any substantial obligation for homeland defense. The unwritten mandate to top Air Force commanders "is to not get too involved or get too good at it," says a senior aerospace industry official.
Ruth David, who is president/CEO of Anser Inc., is among those people appointed to the Homeland Security Dept.'s Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC). Among the others are: former U.S. Rep. Lee H. Hamilton (D-Ind.); and James R. Schlesinger, chairman of the Mitre Corp. and former Defense secretary, Energy secretary, director of central intelligence and chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Among the ex-officio members are: Norman R. Augustine, former chairman/CEO and currently a member of the board of directors of the Lockheed Martin Corp.; and Vance D.
WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP 22 Indonesian police give En- strom its largest helo order 23 Improved FAA oversight of repair stations sought 23 It's back from the wars for Tinker-based AWACS WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS 26 U.S. Navy may join Army on new sigint aircraft 28 Gulfstream proposing ver- sion of G550 jet for UAV 30 Germans yet again seeking proposals for UAV 31 NASA will continue impact tests on shuttle leading edges 32 Key Columbia mission managers reassigned
The FAA's strategic plan for Fiscal 2004-08 will establish what Administrator Marion Blakey terms "fast-track" safety and aviation system capacity initiatives--and by implication back-burner status for programs that can't move forward soon--in an attempt to be realistic about how much money the agency and the beleaguered aviation industry can come up with.
Israeli Civil Aviation Administration Director Amos Amir is missing an opportunity (AW&ST June 16, p. 158). This is roughly how the numbers shake out for two possible aircraft self-defense strategies: *Amir's proposal. Defend against the threat by equipping 4,000 aircraft--the worldwide commercial fleet--with airborne self-protection systems at $2 million each, or $8 billion. This estimate is probably on the low side.
HIGH-SPEED JET A jet of high-energy particles protruding "half a light-year in length" from the Vela pulsar is whipping around like a giant firehose as the pulsar pushes through the gas that surrounds it, held together by magnetic forces as it moves at fantastic speeds. NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory captured the jet's behavior in a series of 13 exposures between January 2000 and August 2002 that show it hooking and curving as features move along its length at half the speed of light.
L-3 Communications Integrated Systems and Australia's Tenix Defense Pty Ltd. have signed an agreement to jointly pursue military programs with an emphasis on maritime patrol. L-3 is the prime contractor responsible for upgrading the Royal Australian Air Force's P-3 patrol aircraft to the AP-3C configuration. Tenix Sea Sentinel will complete production of remaining airframes in the fleet. In addition, the two companies plan to examine methods of providing ongoing support of the airplanes in the future.
Air Canada has reached a tentative agreement with General Electric Capital Aviation Services on the restructuring of all Gecas-financed and managed aircraft, as well as on new exit and aircraft financing totaling about $1.3 billion. The restructuring involves a combination of lease rate reductions, lease payment deferrals, early lease terminations and the cancellation of future aircraft delivery commitments.
In this special report, FAA and NTSB leaders, airport managers and training experts address some of the safety concerns of passengers threatened by terrorism and victimized by airline economic problems. Are carriers in financial distress simply cutting the fat, or have they cut corners in areas such as maintenance that are creating safety risks (p. 48)? What are some of the latest baggage-screening innovations (p. 52)? Are flight crews receiving the latest training (p. 55)?
Gulfstream is offering the Navy both manned and unmanned versions of the Gulfstream G550 as a replacement for the EP-3 electronic intelligence-gathering aircraft, as a candidate for the broad area maritime surveillance (BAMS) aircraft and as an unmanned aerial tanker for unmanned strike aircraft.
U.S. aerospace suppliers voiced strong opposition last week to "Buy America" provisions in the House version of the Fiscal 2004 defense authorization bill (AW&ST July 7, p. 23). About 40 members of the Suppliers Management Council of the Aerospace Industries Assn. told members of Congress that U.S. manufacturing jobs would be lost, not gained, if the amendments became law.
USN Rear Adm. Anthony L. Winns has been assigned as deputy director of the Air Warfare Div. in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon. He has been commanderof the Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, Pacific, and commander of Task Force 12, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The management team at Blue Grass Airport decided to take the high and initially expensive road to meet the U.S. government's mandate for screening of baggage. Today, seven months after the deadline, their decision is regarded as partially responsible for a traffic resurgence and the airport's expanded role as a test site for future security equipment and a model for small-to-medium size airports.
Patrick V. Ford is probably correct that an F-15E Eagle upgrade would result in "a substantial cost savings" over the F/A-22 Raptor. With the Pratt &Whitney F100-PW-220 engine, it might even "super cruise" like the F/A-22. The avionics could be upgraded to 2003 standards, but one thing it will never have is "stealth."
Eric Gust has been promoted to vice president from director of safety and regulatory compliance at Mesa Airlines. Zakaullah Khogyani has been named director of system operation control. He was manager of flight standards.
LAUNCH CYCLES The worldwide space launch market should continue a recovery that started in 2002, reflecting its cyclical nature, but "ominous signs" loom for 2005, according to the Futron Corp.
SLOTTERY TIME The FAA will conduct a lottery July 31 at its Washington headquarters to allocate 15 daily slots in the 9 p.m. hour at Washington Reagan National Airport, nine of them for regional airlines and six for mainline carriers. All were allocated previously but were returned to or reclaimed by the FAA. Some are being used temporarily. Additional slots might be available by the time of the lottery.
Since taking office in March, NTSB Chair Ellen G. Engleman has led her independent federal agency through a critical self-evaluation, seeking what she calls "opportunities for efficiencies" in fulfilling the board's mission: investigating all civil aviation accidents and major accidents in other modes of transportation, and issuing preventive safety recommendations.
Eilene M. Galloway has been named to receive the Katherine Wright Memorial Award from the Arlington, Va.-based National Aeronautic Assn., in partnership with the Ninety Nines Inc. international organization of female pilots. The award is named for the sister of Wilbur and Orville Wright and honors women who have made behind-the-scenes contributions to the advancement of aviation and space flight. The nonagenarian Galloway is being recognized for her participation in the U.S. space program since 1957, as a consultant to U.S.
