Ten federal agencies are participating in the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), which funds long-term, fundamental research into the field of building structures on the molecular level. NNI funds research aimed at discovering new phenomena, processes and tools, supporting new interdisciplinary centers, support the research infrastructure and addressing the implications of nanotechnology and nanoscience (DAILY, May 1). (Dollars are in millions.)
SPACEHAB INC.'s Johnson Engineering subsidiary of Houston has signed a $14.2 million, five-month extension with NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) for the company's Flight Crew Systems Development contract. JSC also approved three one-month extensions to the contract, which, if exercised, would stretch it through the end of the year and increase the value to $23.2 million. The extension will allow JSC to restructure and recompete the contract, according to Spacehab.
SPACEDEV of Poway, Calif., has been awarded phase one of a contract to develop a shuttle-compatible propulsion module for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the company announced. The company also expects to receive a phase two contract for the work, which would bring the total value of the two contracts to $1.6 million. The contract is to develop a low-cost propulsion capability to allow Air Force payloads to be boosted to higher orbits after being deployed from NASA's Shuttle Hitchhiker Experiment Launch System (SHELS).
China and Russia recently agreed to develop a new generation of civil aircraft. This is the first agreement in a decade between China's Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and the Russian Aviation and Space Agency. The two sides agreed to work out a cooperative program, to be signed in six months. A joint commission has been set up to draft the program.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz strongly criticized the Czech Republic's proposed purchase of 24 Jas-39 Gripen fighters from BAE Systems/Saab, according to a senior Czech politician who met with Wolfowitz April 30. Michael Zantovsky, chairman of the Czech senate's foreign affairs, defense and security committee, said Wolfowitz told him at a Washington meeting that the purchase was unnecessary and that the Czech Republic should focus on restructuring its armed forces.
DIRECTV INC. of El Segundo, Calif., will launch its DIRECTV 5 satellite from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome on May 6. International Launch Services will launch the satellite. DIRECTV 5 is a Space Systems/Loral 1300 series satellite, and will be positioned at 119 degrees West longitude. It will take over broadcast services being handled by DIRECTV 6, which will become an in-orbit spare once the new satellite becomes operational in July.
PRAGUE - U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz strongly criticized the Czech Republic's proposed purchase of 24 Jas-39 Gripen fighters from BAE Systems/Saab, according to a senior Czech politician who met with Wolfowitz April 30. Michael Zantovsky, chairman of the Czech senate's foreign affairs, defense and security committee, said Wolfowitz told him at a Washington meeting that the purchase was unnecessary and that the Czech Republic should focus on restructuring its armed forces.
The Boeing Co. and CargoLifter AG of Germany have signed a letter of intent to pursue development of lighter-than-air vehicles for a variety of tasks, including homeland defense. The German company said May 2 that the LOI "provides the basis for a more detailed joint study of possible business opportunities beyond CargoLifter's current business focus of using LTA vehicles for transporting heavy and outsized cargoes. Such opportunities could include the development of a stratospheric airship for commercial and military applications."
Beginning next year, NASA plans to quadruple the amount of research it performs on the effects of space radiation on biological systems, in an effort to better understand and prepare for future manned space missions. Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston is leading the radiation initiative, which is receiving a funding boost of roughly $25 million on top of a $15 million baseline program, according to Frank Cucinotta, manager for radiation health at JSC.
UPGRADE: FLIR Systems Inc. will complete the upgrade of infrared imaging systems used on U.S. Marine UH-1N Huey helicopters to improve detection, resolution and performance. The work will be done under a $7.3 million contract from the Naval Surface Warfare Center and deliveries are expected to be complete by Dec. 31.
One of the first tasks of the new Air Force deputy chief of staff for warfighting integration will be to try to influence the next six-year funding cycle, according to the office's new head.
Northrop Grumman Corp. has moved a Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicle to the Navy's China Lake, Calif., site for a flight this spring. The vertical takeoff UAV had been undergoing tests at the company's engineering facility in San Diego. The Navy, concerned about the Fire Scout's survivability and operability, will terminate the program upon completion of the current phase, low-rate initial production, in fiscal 2003.
One of the first tasks of the new Air Force deputy chief of staff for warfighting integration will be to try to influence the next six-year funding cycle, according to the office's new head.
LOCKHEED MARTIN, Bethesda, Md. Nolan D. Archibald has been elected to its board of directors. Archibald is chairman, CEO and president of Black&Decker Corp.
Northrop Grumman officials have urged TRW shareholders to waive Ohio law restricting out-of-state buyouts at a special May 3 shareholder's meeting, opening the door for its proposed takeover the company. The Northrop Grumman statement follows the release of an April 29 letter by TRW Chairman Philip Odeen, which urged shareholders to reject Northrop Grumman's share-control proposal (DAILY, April 30).
The number of spare aviation parts ordered from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) by the services declined 28 percent from fiscal 1996 to fiscal 2000, while the total dollar value of the sales rose by 54 percent, according to a General Accounting Office (GAO) report. According to the April 30 report, the total number of active duty Navy fighter and attack aircraft declined from 504 in FY '96 to 432 in FY '00. However, the number of Air Force fighter and attack aircraft remained steady at 963 during that same period.
GOODRICH CORP., Charlotte, N.C. Cindy Egnotovich has been appointed president, Engine and Safety Systems group. Harry Arnold has been appointed vice president and general manager, commercial programs, for its aerostructures business.
The House Armed Services Committee was expected to consider a proposal late May 1 to alter the Bush Administration's fiscal 2003 missile defense budget by adding $135 million for the Arrow and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) systems and cutting the same amount from the Space Based Laser (SBL), space-based kinetic energy and sea-based boost programs.
As negotiations continue between the United States and Russia on the subject of nuclear arms reductions, the U.S. is holding firm to its position that it will not destroy nuclear warheads, according to a senior Defense Department official. Russia has continued to press the U.S. for an agreement that would make nuclear reductions irreversible, according to J.D. Crouch, the assistant secretary of defense for international security policy, who has been extensively involved in the bilateral negotiations.
COMMANDER CONFIRMED: The Senate April 29 confirmed Navy Adm. Thomas Fargo to be the head of U.S. Pacific Command and Army Gen. Leon LaPorte to lead the United Nations Command in South Korea. Fargo, who has been commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, and LaPorte, who has been deputy commanding general and chief of staff of U.S. Army Forces Command, had their confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee April 26.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN, El Segundo, Calif. Robert A. K. Mitchell, vice president, Advanced Systems Development for the company's Integrated Systems sector, has received the Reed Aeronautics Award for 2002 from AIAA.
The four-year, $2.9 billion contract awarded to "Gold Team" companies to design and build several DD(X) model destroyers likely won't have a substantial financial impact on them in the short term, according to company officials and financial analysts. The Navy awarded "Gold Team" companies Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and United Defense a $2.9 billion contract on April 29 to design, build and test 13 "engineering development models" (EDMs), or prototypes, by 2005.
