A $145 million NASA mission scheduled for launch at the end of this month could help scientists determine the content, shape and history of the universe - and even its ultimate fate. The Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP) is designed to capture the afterglow of the "Big Bang," the universe's fiery beginning - or, in the words of NASA scientist Alan Bunner, to "take the ultimate baby picture, an image of the infant universe."
While Geoff Hoon continues in his pre-election post as United Kingdom defense secretary, Prime Minister Tony Blair announced Adam Ingram has been appointed minister of state for the armed services. He replaces John Spillar, who has taken over as minister for transport. The parliamentary under secretary of state and minister for defense procurement is now Lord Bach, who replaces Baroness Elizabeth Symons, now minister for trade.
Legislation authorizing $338 million to begin implementing the Coast Guard's Deepwater aircraft and ship modernization program has received House approval. The funding is contained in the fiscal 2002 Coast Guard authorization bill, passed by the House June 7. The Senate has not yet considered its version of the Coast Guard bill. The Deepwater project is expected to cost about $10 billion over 20 years. Three industry teams are competing for the contract to carry out the program. The Coast Guard plans to award the contract in March 2002.
The House Appropriations Committee has rejected a $30 million cut for unspecified B-52 bomber modifications that the Bush Administration had proposed in the fiscal 2001 supplemental appropriations bill, a committee spokesman said June 12. The committee has been drafting its version of the bill in preparation for a June 14 markup. The $6.5 billion bill includes $5.6 billion in new defense spending.
Alliant Techsystems (ATK) and General Dynamics have formed a joint venture company, called American Powder Co., to jointly develop and produce munitions propellant for the U.S. Department of Defense. The company will operate the Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Radford, Va., the U.S. Army's only munitions propellant manufacturing facility, the companies announced June 12. American Powder Co. will be co-managed by ATK Ammunition and Powder Co., of Radford, and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, of St. Petersburg, Fla.
Congress should charter a blue-ribbon commission to study the national security impact of overhauling export controls for dual-use goods and technology, Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) said June 12. Thompson testified before the House International Relations Committee that no such objective analysis has been done and that one is needed before Congress revises the Export Administration Act (EAA), which regulates the export of items that can have both military and civilian uses.
The Indian Defence ministry has approved the upgrading of the Indian Air Force's Russian-built Mi-35 helicopter gunships by equipping them with night vision capability to allow around-the-clock flying. The upgrading is a part of an IAF campaign to modernize its entire helicopter fleet, which includes introducing the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and its low-cost attack variant, Lancer. The AF also wants to buy more of the improved Mi-17 v-1 medium lift helicopters, according to the latest report from the ministry.
The $256 million Mercury orbiter mission NASA announced last week (DAILY, June 11) is the seventh mission in NASA's Discovery program, which focuses on lower-cost science missions - and it's the most difficult one to date.
On the eve of the launch of the joint Russia-Ukraine Koronas research satellite, slated for July, Ukraine has announced new developments in its domestic space program, including a new launcher. Rocket builders at the Yuzhnoe design bureau have announced some details of their new Mayak ("beacon") launch family. Mayak-12 and Mayak-23 vehicles are scheduled to launch their first payloads in four to five years.
Elbit Systems Ltd. of Haifa, Israel, announced its contracts to upgrade the Brazilian Air Force's F-5 fleet have become effective after an initial downpayment was received on June 8. The contracts from Brazilian aircraft company Embraer and the Brazilian Aeronautics Command are worth up to $230 million over six years, Elbit announced June 11. The modernization program for the F-5 aircraft will be jointly developed by Embraer and Elbit Systems.
Computer Sciences Corp. has won a contract from the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, to support the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization's research program at NASA's Kennedy Space Center's Innovative Science and Technology Experimentation Facility.
Half a dozen senators are urging President George W. Bush to support NATO admission for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, saying the Baltic states will have met the alliance's membership requirements by the 2002 NATO summit.
After a one-day delay due to high-speed winds above the launch site, the first Intelsat IX series satellite was launched from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on June 9. The satellite, carried by the Ariane 44L space vehicle, reached its orbit 20 minutes after its 2:45 a.m. launch. The satellite will be deployed at 342 degrees east above the Atlantic Ocean. It will replace the Intelsat 705 satellite and will provide Internet, video, and telephone service for the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
PRATT&WHITNEY of East Hartford, Conn., has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to provide 10 engines to power F-15E fighter aircraft, the company announced June 11. The F100-PW-229 engines will be delivered to the U.S. Air Force in 2003 and 2004. More than 300 F100-PW-229 engines already power AF F-15 and F-16 fighters.
The Royal Navy is unable to meet its NATO commitments due to government-imposed budget cuts, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph here. Former RN Fleet Commander-in-Chief Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh, now First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, reportedly issued a Fleet Risk Register document last November.
McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems/The Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz., is being awarded a $1,125,844 delivery order amount as part of a $9,213,327 firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract, for various AH-64 Apache spares. Work will be performed in Mesa, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2004. This is a sole source contract initiated on Feb. 6, 2001. The U.S. Army Aviation&Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (DAAH23-01-D-0112).
An article in The DAILY on June 8 incorrectly said Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) chairs the Armed Services Committee's military procurement subcommittee. He now chairs the research and development subcommittee. Aerospace Daily regrets the error.
The Federal Aviation Administration awarded Lockheed Martin a $125 million contract on June 11 to develop the En Route Communications Gateway (ECG) and field it at 21 air route traffic control centers and the FAA Academy and Technical Center, Aerospace Daily affiliate Aviation Daily reported.
The Boeing Co., Long Beach, Calif., was awarded a $22,902,083 modification time and materials contract on June 6th, 2001, to provide for various upgrade bits and installation support Block XIII follow-on retrofit projects supporting the C-17 aircraft. This work is expected to be completed December 2002. This effort will be performed by the Boeing Co., Long Beach, Calif. (66%) and Boeing Aircraft Support Center, San Antonio, Texas (34%). Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (F33657-01-C-2002, P00017).
The House Appropriations Committee has rebuffed a request to provide up to $143.5 million in emergency funding to repair the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a committee source told The DAILY June 11. The aging assembly building is used to mate the Space Shuttle orbiter with the external tank and two solid rocket boosters. The funding would be used to repair the building's leaky roof, loose siding and corroded doors.
With the obsolescence rate of many technologies at 18 months, and a defense acquisition process that takes years, the services continue to work closely with industry to find innovative ways of technology insertion during development.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) hopes to pass the Bush Administration's fiscal 2001 supplemental spending bill without any changes, a spokesman told The DAILY late June 8. Byrd is pushing for a "clean bill" because "he doesn't want to see it become a Christmas tree for members," the spokesman said. "He will not be adding one thin dime." The $6.5 billion measure includes $5.6 billion for defense.
Rolls Royce Corp., Indianapolis, Ind., is being issued a $15,299,900 contract for seven AE2100D3 engines used on KC-130J aircraft. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Ind., and is expected to be completed by February 2003. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Inventory Control Point, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (N00383-01-C-005M). Software Technology Inc.
McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems/The Boeing Co., Mesa, Ariz., is being awarded a $254,319 delivery order amount as part of an $8,599,880 firm-fixed-price, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract, for various AH-64 Apache spares. Work will be performed in Mesa, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2004. This is a sole source contract initiated on Feb. 6, 2001. The U.S. Army Aviation&Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (DAAH23-01-D-0113).
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld should include a joint service assessment of antiarmor munitions capabilities, requirements and priorities in the Quadrennial Defense Review, according to the General Accounting Office. The Pentagon, in a response, said it will consider its requirements, plans and priorities for antiarmor munitions as part of the QDR.
