In a recent Viewpoint, “Norwegian Air Deserves Better” ( AW&ST June 9, p. 58), Andy Card, in his support for Norwegian Air being granted Transportation Department access to the U.S. under the U.S./EU open skies agreement, cites the Obama administration’s pro-airline competition policies.
I am a retired nuclear engineer who was concerned about the viability of space solar-power (SSP) concepts more than 30 years ago. While the “space” side of the technology may have advanced, it appears proponents are still in denial as to its viability.
“Sun Power” ( AW&ST June 9, p. 42) has me worried. Solar power satellites are unacceptable because they would create light pollution worldwide. A 1-km satellite in geosynchronous orbit would have an apparent diameter of 5.7 arc seconds. In a telescope, it would appear similar in size to Mars at a distant point in its orbit. If the albedo (reflectivity) of the satellite was 10% (dark gray), it would appear as a very bright star of 0.4 magnitude.
USN Capts. Scott D. Conn, Dale E. Horan, James W. Kilby and Johnny R. Wolfe, Jr., have been selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half). Conn will become commander of the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, Fallon, Nevada. He has been director of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) at the Pentagon. Horan will be named deputy director for operations for National Joint Operations Intelligence Center, Operations Team Five, at the Pentagon.
Todd Duncan has been appointed director of government programs for Zenith Aviation, Fredericksburg, Virginia. He was a subject matter expert in the counterintelligence human intelligence equipment program of URS.
Gavin A. Schmidt has been named head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York. He has been deputy director and succeeds James E. Hansen, who has retired.
John Briscoe has become senior vice president/chief financial officer for the Houston-based Bristow Group Inc. He held the same positions at Weatherford International Ltd.
