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.
NASA has unveiled early plans for establishing a lunar base at either the south or north poles of the moon that would be home to future astronauts staying up to 180 days following NASA's return to the moon before the end of the next decade. The polar regions are considered desirable because of the large amount of sunlight they receive, their relative lack of temperature variation, and the fact that little is known about them scientifically. Right now the agency is leaning toward the south pole.
France's national space agency CNES and Ifremer, a French supplier of in-situ oceanography data, have agreed to reinforce efforts to develop operational oceanography services.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) formally opened for business Dec. 1, embarking on a two-year plan to consolidate Atlas and Delta rocket operations primarily in Denver, Colo., and Decatur, Ala. ULA is a 50-50 joint venture between Atlas builder Lockheed Martin and Delta manufacturer Boeing that will have just under $2 billion in annual sales at startup. The company begins life with 3,800 employees total - 1,500 from the Atlas program and 2,300 from Delta.
