The Aerospace Industries Association believes U.S. industry sales will exceed its previous forecast by about 10 percent in 2010, but government spending plans make up more of the current forecast than the old one.
MONA LISA: Germany may be going to the moon. The German aerospace center DLR and Bremen-based space contractor OHB-System will jointly undertake a preliminary definition study for a small German national lunar exploration mission. The 10-month, 500,000 euro ($635,000) study will determine the technological/economic feasibility and scientific interest of a mission around 2010 based on the OHB lunar lander concept, dubbed Mona Lisa, that was presented at the Berlin Air Show in May.
NEW DETECTOR: Sofradir will design a new detector for the visible/near infrared imaging spectrometer to be carried on the European Space Agency's BepiColombo Mercury mission. Designed with a 30 micron pitch and covering a spectrum from 0.4 to 2.3 microns, the 500 x 256 short wave detector will serve to capture surface mineralogy data. A sample detector is to be delivered next year for the mission's two orbiters, which are to be launched in 2013.
Concerned over the possible ramifications of Senate defense authorization language that would require fixed-price contracts for most Defense Department development programs, the Aerospace Industries Association is urging Congress to explore other methods to control costs. The Senate's fiscal 2007 defense authorization bill (S.2766) would mandate the used of fixed-price contracts for research and development (R&D) unless the secretary of defense determines that the program is too complex and risky.
North Korea's Fourth of July test firing of a barrage of missiles - including one long-range missile that could reach parts of the U.S. - has members of Congress calling for sanctions against the regime in Pyongyang and close monitoring of its missile activities. At least six missiles were fired July 4 - including a Taepodong-2 - over the Sea of Japan. All splashed down harmlessly. A seventh missile reportedly was launched July 5. Pyongyang's last long-range missile test was in 1998.
Zachary R. George, Maj. Gen. John J. Marcello (USA Ret.) and Charles S. Ream have been elected to the board of directors. Clifford C. Christ, Jay R. Sculley, and Harry H. Warner will resign from the board in October 2006.
Uzi Rubin, an Israeli missile defense expert and head of Rubincon Consulting in Israel, says that Iran's Shahab 3ER ballistic missile has been tested about 10 times since 1998 with a dismal success rate. The Shahab 3ER is based on North Korea's No Dong medium-range ballistic missile, according to the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, and Rubin said it can travel about 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) to Ankara, Turkey; Alexandria, Egypt, or Tel Aviv. Of the known Shahab 3ER tests, 50 percent appear to be successful.
SAFEGUARD SUBSYSTEMS: Alcatel Alenia Space will supply full safeguard subsystems for Soyuz Fregat medium-lift boosters to be launched from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Switching and power supply units will be included that are designed to shut down engines in the event of a mishap, along with a test and acceptance bench to be provided for the TsSKB Progress in Samara, Russia, where the Soyuz boosters are manufactured. Alcatel already supplies safeguard subsystems for the Ariane 5 heavy-lift booster.
Germany's Thomas Reiter installed his custom-made protective seat liner in the Russian Soyuz capsule that serves as the lifeboat for the International Space Station July 6, bringing the station crew size back to three for the first time since shortly after the Columbia accident grounded the space shuttle fleet in February 2003.
