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's Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV) is meeting its performance targets, contrary to rumors that its current design is overweight, according to Exploration Launch Manager Steve Cook. Last week at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, NASA kicked off the integrated system requirements review (SRR) for the Ares I, the shuttle-derived rocket that will boost the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) to orbit.
NASA may have the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) try to photograph the silent Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft later this week to determine what configuration it's in and give mission controllers a better idea of how to regain contact.
Boeing Space Shuttle Program Manager Steve Oswald says he's not concerned about the "Y2K-ish" problem with the orbiter's computer clocks that might occur during any mission that extended over New Year's Day. Shuttle Discovery is scheduled to launch on the 11-day STS-116 mission some time between Dec. 6 and Dec. 17, which means it should be returning before Jan. 1. However, if the mission launches toward the end of its window and then experiences a delay in orbit, it could be in space for New Year's.
