Jeff has been involved in aerospace journalism since the mid 1990s. Prior to joining Aviation Week, Jeff served as managing editor of Launchspace magazine and the International Space Industry Report. He has been the editor and chief of Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report since 2007 and has been a regular contributor to Aviation Week magazine. He received his B.A. from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
FIRM COMMITMENT: Arianespace announced Oct. 17 that SES has committed to three new launches with the European launch provider under the Multi Launch Agreement signed in June 2007. The commitment covers three new satellites for the SES group, including Astra 3B for SES Astra plus two other satellites that have not yet been identified. The spacecraft are slated for launch between 2009 and 2012 using Ariane 5 rockets from the company’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
NASA AUTHORIZED: President Bush signed new authorizing legislation for NASA Oct. 15. The policy bill (H.R. 6063) requires NASA to add two space shuttle logisticts flights to the International Space Station to its baseline flight manifest and “take all necessary steps to fly a third” mission. It also requires the agency to take steps to ensure that the station remains viable through at least 2020.
NUCLEAR NAVY: U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. a $349 million cost plus fixed fee contract for Naval nuclear propulsion components. Work will be performed in Pittsburgh, Pa., (77 percent) and Schenectady, N.Y., (23 percent). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The service is mum on completion dates or any other info concerning nuclear propulsion contracts.
