NASA MANAGERS gave the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia the go-ahead for a record-setting 17th day in orbit after determining the crew had conserved enough fuel-cell power for the extra time. The crew, which is using a Spacelab module for life and materials science experiments, will break a record set by the Shuttle Endeavour last year if they land as planned at 8:43 a.m. EDT on July 7.
Here's how to find out more on the Integrated High-Payoff Rocket Propulsion Technology, or IHPRPT, effort: If you have a contracting or procedural question, you can contact Barbara Barcelona, contract negotiator at Phillips, at (805) 277-3900, extension 2214, or the contract specialist, Amy Williams, at extension 2233. Barcelona and Williams are also handling requests for the Supplemental Package needed to make proposals on specific projects within technology areas.
The U.S. government formally kicked off its rocket propulsion leapfrog program last week, asking potential contractors to file abstracts describing their proposals in six different technology areas with the U.S. Air Force's Phillips Laboratory at Edwards AFB, Calif., by July 15.
Allison Engine Co. will refine its T800-based CTS800 civil turboshaft engine into a turboprop to power U.S. Army reconaissance aircraft under a recent Technology Reinvestment Program, or TRP, award launching a nearly three-year, $28 million program. Parent Rolls-Royce says the new engine should boost the operational capability of U.S. Army de Havilland Dash 7s by more than 200%, while cutting fuel burn by 40%.
Industry is ready now to produce small satellites for the U.S. intelligence community, according to the Small Satellite Review Panel. The panel, convened by Director of Central Intelligence John Deutch, said industry can skip the technology demonstrator phase and proceed directly to an operational prototype of a small intelligence satellite. It said late last week that "a decision should be made now" to build spy satellites 20% to 25% the size of those now planned (DAILY, July 1).
"Cockpit 21," McDonnell Douglas' advanced digital cockpit, has been approved by the U.S. Navy for use in T-45A trainers, the company said yesterday. The cockpit, developed to replace the analog displays now used in the T-45A, is similar to those in fleet aircraft, MDC said. Approval came May 30 after an evaluation that began in April and concluded May 27, it said.
Clinton Administration space managers put their money on Lockheed Martin yesterday to take the U.S. space program into the 21st century with a new reusable launch vehicle that incorporates a lifting body and a linear aerospike engine.
Only three certification tests remain for CFM International's new CFM56-7 medium turbofan for Boeing's next-generation 737 single-aisle jetliner series - emissions, Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) fault and the grueling overhaul 750 "C" cycle test, CFM reports. In the C cycle test, technicians run the engine through a series of rapid, extreme power changes through 750 consecutive cycles as a way of simulating in-service operation at extreme conditions. That test is underway now.
A NASA program to take the first broad-brush look at a wide range of highly advanced ideas for powering next-generation space missions has already produced its first casualty - an ion engine concept using Buckminsterfullerene (C60), better known as Bucky-balls.
Paul F. Holloway, director of NASA's Langley Research Center since October 1991, said yesterday he will leave the agency by this October to make way for a new director "who is willing to stick around for a while." Holloway said he is leaving the center where he has worked since joining NASA in June 1960 because the presidential elections this fall mark a natural transition point. No replacement was named immediately.
The European Space Agency (ESA), France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom signed five-year leases in Paris on June 27 for the first two transponders of a satellite-based navigation system. Users on land, at sea, and in the air will use the transponders to navigate more accurately in Europe, Africa, South America and most of Asia. ESA said the transponders are carried by two Intelsat III satellites, and are part of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS).
FAA TYPE AND PRODUCTION certificates have been awarded to Pratt&Whitney's PW4090 engine, the company said Friday. Certification of P&W's most powerful engine, rated at 90,000 pounds thrust, clears the way for flight testing on the Boeing 777 later this summer and entry into service on increased gross weight versions of the 777 next March. The PW4084 already powers the 777.
Texas Instruments, Incorporated, Lewisville, Texas, is being awarded a $8,987,574 modification to previously awarded contract N00019-95-C-0092 to exercise an option for the procurement of 160 High-speed Anti-radiation Missile (HARM) Command Launch Computers (CLC) for the F/A-18 aircraft. Work will be performed in Lewisville, Texas, and is expected to be completed by March 1998. Contract funds would not have expired at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured.
The Senate, during consideration of its fiscal year 1997 defense authorization bill Thursday, passed a provision designed to increase U.S. defense companies' competitive edge in international arms sales. Sen. William Cohen (R-Maine) offered the amendment to expand the president's ability to waive a recoupment charge that other governments must pay when buying U.S. military equipment under the Foreign Military Sales program.
The Senate passed an amendment to the fiscal year 1997 defense authorization bill calling for a report comparing current F-22 program cost estimates with those established five years ago. The amendment, offered last Thursday night by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), says the report must compare today's estimates with those of the last independent review of F-22 production costs, conducted in July 1991 by the Cost Analysis Improvement Group (CAIG).
LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP. said Vance D. Coffman has been elected president and chief operating officer. It said the six operating sectors will report directly to Norman R. Augustine, vice chairman and CEO, and Coffman, both of the executive office. Frank C. Lanza, a member of the board, will remain as executive VP and a member of the executive office. He will also continue as president and chief operating officer of the Tactical Systems sector.
Eclectic Computing Concepts Incorporated, Plano, Texas, is being awarded a $6,000,000 cost plus fixed fee contract to provide enhancement to the functionality of the Rapid Application of Air Power (RAAP) software and the production functionality of the target material/mission planning material support systems to support the evolution of the Joint Targeting Module. Contract is expected to be completed December 1999. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were 25 bids solicited and one proposal received.
BOEING, LOCKHEED MARTIN AND RAYTHEON were slated yesterday to submit cost proposals for FAA's $1.5 billion Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) program. The system is planned for deployment at 156 TRACONs, nine Metroplex Control Facilities, and about 40 Dept. of Defense (DOD) facilities, with some additional options. FAA is expected to award a contract in late September.
The French government said yesterday that Aerospatiale and Dassault Aviation will merge to form a $12 billion entity, but will do so a year earlier than the timetable it announced in February. It said details are to be worked out before January 1997, well ahead of the early 1998 date that was the goal when Prime Minister Alain Juppe outlined the government's merger plan (DAILY, Feb. 22). French President Jacques Chirac has pressed for the merger to help streamline France's defense sector, but Dassault has strongly opposed it.
Lockheed Martin Vought, Grand Prairie, Texas, is being awarded a $16,203,348 firm fixed price contract with a cumulative total of $48,218,064 which includes four options, for Multiple Launch Rocket System launcher improvements, 69 improved positioning device systems and 19 meteorological sensors with CY 96-97 options. Work will be performed in Teterboro, New Jersey (54%), Dallas, Texas (31%), Fort Sill, Oklahoma (7%), Lewinsburg, Tennessee (6%), and Stillwell, Oklahoma (2%), and is expected to be completed by January 31, 1998.
Orbital Sciences Corporation, Chandler, Arizona, is being awarded a $1,079,000 increment of a $12,350,992 cost plus incentive fee contract with a cumulative total of $30,667,375 (includes basic plus four options), for the Theater Missile Defense Critical Measurements Program (TCMP) Campaigns III and IV Booster Services. The objective of this program is to provide the design and development, modification, testing, fabrication, integration, and launch services for TCMP Campaigns III and IV.
DC-XA program mangers are considering flying the vehicle's fourth test flight without its auxiliary power system (APS) following discovery of a turbine problem that scotched plans for a June 28 flight. McDonnell Douglas' Dave Schweikle told attendees during a Joint Propulsion Conference panel session on reusable launch vehicles here that metallic particles found in the APS' first turbopump spool prevented the spool from turning a checkout session, forcing removal of the unit for return to APS contractor Aerojet.
Electric Boat Corporation, Groton, Connecticut, is being awarded a $1,076,500,000 fixed-price-incentive contract for one Seawolf Class Nuclear Attack Submarine (SSN 23). Work will be performed in Quonset Point, Rhode Island (36%), and Groton, Connecticut (64%), and is expected to be completed by December 2001. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00024-96-C-2108).
Interstate Electronics Corporation, Anaheim, California, is being awarded a $6,909,038 Cost-Plus-Award-Fee contract to provide for developmental funding for a Translated Global Positioning System (GPS) Range system (TGRS) with an over-the-horizon and ten-track capacity. Contract is expected to be completed March 1998. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. There were sixteen bids solicited and there were two proposals received. Solicitation began January 1996 and negations in June 1996.
