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.
The U.S. Army has decided to halt the xBot ground robot program while it reassesses the ability of winning contractor Robotic FX to fulfill its responsibilities.
The NTSB is shining a spotlight on unmanned aircraft following its investigation of last year’s Predator crash in Arizona, and is calling for the FAA and Homeland Security Dept. to improve pilot training and procedures as they gear up to expand surveillance flights over U.S. borders. The NTSB’s investigation of the April 2006 crash of a Predator B near Nogales, Ariz., while flying a mission for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was the board’s first review of a UAV accident, and has yielded 22 safety recommendations for the FAA and CBP.
Among the objectives of the next scheduled test of the space shuttle's reusable solid rocket motor (RSRM) is gathering further data on vibration loads that will be experienced by the RSRM-derived Ares I rocket's first stage, according to ATK ATK is both the prime for the RSRM and the first stage of the Ares I, which NASA will use to boost the Orion crew exploration vehicle to orbit. The Ares I first stage will be a five-segment version of the four-segment RSRM. The test is scheduled for Nov. 1. The last test was held in May (DAILY, May 29).
