The U.S./Russian crew on board Mir will over the next two weeks undertake the most intensive period of reconfiguration in the space station's nine-year history. Russian launch of the 20-ton Spektr station module and the successful repositioning of a key Mir solar array have placed the initial reconfiguration on schedule after earlier setbacks this month.
A SPLIT HAS SURFACED between the Pentagon and the Air Force over the number of F-22s to be purchased. The service is planning 442, but Pentagon acquisition chief Paul Kaminski cautions, ``I'm not committed to a particular number. [Buying 442 ] is not a fait accompli.'' Part of Kaminski's problem is a long-term budget plan that includes a 47% increase in modernization funds by Fiscal 2001. Reaching that number would require another 12% cut in defense infrastructure.
CAE ELECTRONICS WILL SUPPLY its first military simulator in the Far East to the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The $48-million contract includes software and training support for the MiG-29N aircraft. CAE attributes its successful bid to its German company, CAE Electronics GmbH., which had built a MiG-29 simulator after the East and West German air forces merged in 1990.
Kate Bass (see photo) has been named controller of Honeywell Space Systems, Clearwater, Fla. She was director of planning and reporting and business analysis for Honeywell Home and Building Control. Bass succeeds Betty Beaty, who was promoted to vice president-finance for Honeywell Space and Aviation Control.
International airlines are poised to earn record profits in 1995 if they avoid overcapacity and impose more stringent cost controls, and fuel prices do not rise significantly. To be successful during the remainder of this decade and into the next century, the world's airlines will be forced to ``earn the future'' if they expect to gain access to the vital capital they require to ``satisfy the steadily growing demand'' that lies ahead, Pierre J. Jeanniot said. He is director general of the International Air Transport Assn. (IATA).
The FAA plans to begin installing electronic equipment next month in the new control tower at Los Angeles International Airport, which is scheduled to become operational in March, 1996. The 277-ft. tall tower will have 12 controller workstations in a cab floor space of 850 sq. ft., compared with 300 sq. ft. in the current 172-ft. high control tower. The new tower is more centrally-located for improved observing of aircraft ground operations.
The U.S. Air Force expects Hughes Aircraft to complete the Peace Shield air defense/C3I system in Saudi Arabia this summer following a final test that will begin next month.
ASTROPOWER, NEWARK, DEL., is seeking an industrial partner to help commercialize a new, low-cost, fabric-based solar cell technology. The cells, which have an energy conversion efficiency of over 13%, could be used to help power lightweight, unmanned aircraft or mobile, ground-based military telecommunications equipment. The cells consist of thin films of polycrystalline silicon deposited on graphite cloth, which can be pre-formed to size, according to James Rand, AstroPower manager of product technology.
ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP. and Rockwell International will establish a 50-50 joint venture to develop, operate and market the X-34 small reusable launch system. NASA laboratories will serve as subcontractors to the Orbital/Rockwell team. Orbital will be the managing partner. The companies expect to invest $100 million to launch the new enterprise. NASA will contribute $70 million to develop and test X-34 technologies.
Jacob Matijevic has been named manager of microrover development in the Mars exploration program at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Richard Doyle has been appointed manager of information systems, Stephen Townes manager of space communications, Michael Devirian manager of the Confined Helium Experiment Project, Mark Herring manager of the Mars Surface Experiments Project and Fuk Li manager of the Earth Science Missions Program and acting manager of the radar science and engineering.
MUNIZ DEUSDARA AND ASSOCIATES HAS WON THE BIDDING to design a new airport complex at Fortaleza, a popular Brazilian tourist spot. The airport currently handles 1 million passengers/year, one-quarter of them originating internationally. The design phase, scheduled to begin this year at an as yet unannounced date, is to run about 18 months, at which time Infraero, the Brazilian airport authority, will open competition for the building of the complex. The new Fortaleza terminal is to be two-storied, have six gates and cover 22,000 sq. meters (236,720 sq. ft.).
Donald R. Beall, chairman/chief executive officer of Rockwell International Corp., Seal Beach, Calif., has received the Navy League's 1995 Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz Award for contributions to the enhancement of U.S. maritime strength and national security. Thomas G. Giallorenzi, superintendent of optical sciences at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, has won the league's Albert A. Michelson Award for Outstanding Scientific or Technical Achievement.
Walter Boyne has been appointed chairman of Wingspan, the Aviation Channel based in Rockville, Md. He is a former director of the Smithsonian Institution Air and Space Museum in Washington.
BFGOODRICH AEROSPACE has purchased Technology Integration, Inc. (TII) of Bedford, Mass., which has expertise in developing aircraft mechanical diagnostic systems. TII is a small company whose ideas were developed into products, partly funded by the U.S. Government Small Business Innovative Research program. TII is developing the Helicopter Integrated Diagnostic System for the U.S. Navy's SH-60B helicopter and the light helicopter KT-1 monitoring system for Rega-Swiss Air Ambulance's Agusta A-109-K2s.
An Air Force Titan 4 lifted off May 14 with a classified payload that could supplement the U.S. geosynchronous electronic-intelligence satellite constellation. The Lockheed Martin booster, equipped with a powerful Centaur upper stage and an 86-ft. payload fairing, lifted off at 1345 GMT May 14 on an easterly path from Kennedy Space Center, which is at approximately 28.5 deg. N. Lat.
Australia's anti-monopoly commission has reversed its decision and given Qantas Airways and British Airways approval to cease price competition on the ``kangaroo route'' from Australia to Britain. Qantas Managing Director James Strong said the decision by the Trade Practices Commission (TPC) would help reverse losses on the route, which is traditionally flown via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok. He said the route suffered from excessive seating capacity that led to heavy fare discounting by more than 30 airlines flying it.
U.S. BUREAU OF MINES is opening its Strategic Structures Testing Laboratory to industry on a cost-reimbursable basis. The Pittsburgh-based facility includes a massive hydraulic press that can simulate extreme loads on large structures. The press has a 20 X 20-ft. base and can accommodate items up to 16 ft. high. Compressive loads up to 3 million lb., tension loads of 1.6 million lb. and shear loads up to 1.3 million lb. can be applied. The press also can conduct static and cyclic testing with rates of load application up to 6 million lb./min.
The FAA is intensifying its probe of 29 pilots, including at least four FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors and 12 Designated Pilot Examiners, for allegedly falsifying flight records and issuing invalid type ratings for vintage World War 2 aircraft as well as business jets.
Bill Hoolhorst has been named vice president-marketing and sales of Pendulum Design, Inc., Waltham, Mass. He was vice president-sales and marketing at Exemplar Logic, Berkeley, Calif.
KEY HOUSE REPUBLICANS have told NASA chief Daniel S. Goldin to forget the $146-million Topex/Poseidon Follow-On satellite proposed in the Administration's Fiscal 1996 budget. The House Science Committee Chairman, Rep. Robert S.Walker (R.-Pa.), and the Space subcommittee chairman, Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.
THE DUTCH PARLIAMENT has delayed action on approval of the selection of the McDonnell Douglas Apache AH-64 helicopter by the Royal Netherlands Air Force over the Eurocopter Tiger. Dutch parliamentarians are delaying approval to obtain additional procurement information.
The next transaction of significance in the U.S. aerospace/defense industry's on-going consolidation almost certainly will be Varian Associates' sale of its Electron Device Group, minus the Tempe (Ariz.) printed circuit board operation. Bidding has been furious, with such acquisition-oriented competitors as Litton Industries, Inc., and Tracor, Inc., vying for the $280-million business.
