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 Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) "easily" could be available in a human-rated form capable of launching passengers by 2010 or 2011, according to George Sowers, vice president for advanced programs at United Launch Alliance (ULA).
NASA hopes to keep adding partners to its Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program beyond the four companies signed up so far, according to Dennis Stone, assistant manager for commercial space development in the Commercial Crew and Cargo Program Office at Johnson Space Center.
The worldwide commercial geostationary satellite market is projected to stay at 20-25 satellite orders annually for the next few years, according to Clay Mowry, president of Arianespace Inc. The market is continuing to recover after having a rough period from 2002 to 2005, Mowry said during FAA's Tenth Annual Commercial Space Transportation Conference in Arlington, Va., Feb. 6. Over that time, annual orders slipped from the high 20s to less than 10, he said. Launches typically follow two years behind satellite orders.
