NASA's Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate faces an integration challenge as it attempts to develop a mobile launch support structure for an evolving Space Launch System (SLS), the agency's inspector general concluded in a Sept. 25 audit. Nonetheless, the IG endorses the agency's plans to modify Constellation program Ares I hardware as the most cost-effective approach. NASA already has invested $234 million in the Ares I mobile launcher at the Kennedy Space Center.
India's ambitious human spaceflight programs are moving in a skewed phase for want of requisite technologies and capabilities. The country has shelved plans to undertake a manned mission to the Moon in the near future, and the launch program of the first manned mission in space is delayed. As a result, any chance of India becoming the fourth nation with an indigenous human spaceflight is also slipping into the future.
In the future, please refrain from publishing such obviously partisan political rhetoric as “Face to Face: Pilot Defender,” an interview with Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) (AW&ST Aug. 27, p. 32). I know politics plays a role in virtually every aspect of commercial, military and space technology development today, but if I want to read such vile drivel from one of our senators, I'll read the transcript from last night's Fox News. Gilbert, Ariz.
Close-up imagery from three sites on the floor of the Gale Crater on Mars, collected by NASA's Curiosity rover, confirmed rounded pebbles were deposited there by water flowing in a “vigorous stream” down from the crater wall, conclude scientists examining data from the new robotic geologist.
Ginger Wierzbanowski (see photo) has been named VP-space, missile defense, advanced technology and ground programs at Northrop Grumman Corp., Falls Church, Va., succeeding John R. Landon, who is scheduled to retire at year-end. Wierzbanowski has been VP-government relations and was legislative assistant to the vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Airlines waiting for a reason to spend millions of dollars to equip their fleets with next-generation communications, navigation and surveillance (CNS) may see more convincing arguments from the FAA in the very near future. Along with the awarding a contract to establish and operate a domestic data-link system that includes $80 million in financial help for equipage, the agency is also nearing completion of a public-private partnership that may provide more than $1 billion to help cover buying and installing NextGen CNS avionics.
In the On Space blog, Senior Editor Guy Norris writes that though Neil Armstrong remained a deeply private man, one of the few arenas in which he seemed happy to speak was the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. In a talk at SETP's annual symposium in 2007, he covered the development and testing of the lunar landing research/training vehicle. Redstone says:
SpaceX's Falcon 9 vehicle has far graver problems than merely being unflown. First, its aerodynamically unstable configuration makes it a dangerous vehicle to fly. Second, its inefficient rocket engines pollute the atmosphere with thousands of pounds of unused kerosene. We do not allow gasoline, a hydrocarbon, to be spilled into the atmosphere, yet there are no restrictions on kerosene, also a hydrocarbon.
Nearly everyone knows that the U.S. is the largest arms exporter in history, selling or donating more weapons and defense services abroad than any other nation. But did you know that the U.S. also is the world's single-largest financial supporter of conventional weapons destruction? Since 1993, the State and Defense departments, the U.S.
Harris Corp., winner of the FAA's $331 million Data Communications Integrated Services (DCIS) contract in September, would like to accelerate the disbursement of $80 million in avionics aid for select airlines to begin demonstrating benefits of the data communications (datacomm) technology to the broader community by 2015.
In a move that took a lot of people within the business aviation community by surprise, the Carlyle Group recently announced that it planned to acquire Landmark Aviation, which with locations in the U.S., Canada and France, is among the world's largest chains of fixed base operations (FBO).
David Davenport (see photo) has been promoted to VP and regional operations manager of New York LaGuardia Airport-based FlightSafety International from manager of the Savannah (Ga.) Learning Center. Fabio Miguez was promoted to manager of the Columbus (Ohio) Learning Center from manager of the Detroit Metro/Toledo Center. He succeeds Chip White, who moved to the Gulfstream Learning Center. Daniel MacLellan has been promoted to regional operations manager and will continue as manager of the Dallas/Fort Worth Learning Center.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) battle over subsidies to Airbus and Boeing drags on. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) office maintains in a Sept. 23 filing that NASA and U.S. Defense Department funding to Boeing that the WTO found to be illegal subsidies has been removed. The USTR added that the State of Washington is modifying tax credits to Boeing to bring them into line with the WTO ruling and that the City of Wichita is also changing industrial bond rates to comply.
Mark C. Cherry has joined Aurora Flight Services, Manassas, Va., as president and chief operating officer. He succeeds Aurora founder John S. Langford, who will continue as chairman and CEO. Cherry was VP-corporate strategy and synergy at Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
Roger Sherrard (see photo) has been promoted to president of Irvine, Calif.-based Parker Aerospace, succeeding Bob Barker, who is scheduled to retire at year-end after 39 years with the company. Sherrard has been president of Parker Hannifin's automation and instrumentation groups. Greg Crowe has been promoted to VP-operations from VP and general manager of the Fluid Systems Div. He has been succeeded by Guy Martin, who was general manager of the Seal Group's Engineered Polymer Systems Div. Frank Dubey has become VP and general manager of the Control Systems Div.
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is advancing development of a reusable first stage for its Falcon 9 launch vehicle with the first “hop” of its Grasshopper vertical-takeoff-and-landing test vehicle. The modified Falcon 9 first stage is validating plans to fly that stage back to the launch site for an autonomous vertical landing, using the more powerful Merlin 1D engine still in development. In the Sept.
Orbital Technologies Corp. (Orbitec) tested a lightweight rocket-engine nozzle extension Sept. 20 as part of a series of technology demonstrations for the 30,000-lb.-thrust VR-3A Vision engine it is developing under the U.S. Air Force Advanced Upper Stage Engine Program. The company also has demonstrated vortex/cold-wall combustion chamber cooling and an acoustic igniter in preparation for a subscale sounding-rocket flight demonstration Oct. 20 in Mojave, Calif.
Sir Martin Sweeting, executive chairman of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. and director of the Surrey Space Center at the University of Surrey, England, has received the International von Karman Wings Award for his contributions to aerospace, presented by the Aerospace Historical Society and the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
As concerns about privacy and security begin to weigh on the launch of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in civilian airspace, the Senate is forming a bipartisan UAS Caucus to help smooth the industry's takeoff. Aviation enthusiast Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) are heading the push to move the industry out of the civilian world and into the hands of businesses and state and local governments.
Women in Aerospace has recognized nine women for their contributions to the aerospace industry and the advancement of women in the field with its 2012 awards. The Outstanding Achievement Award went to Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX; Aerospace Awareness Award to Susan Anderson, public affairs specialist at NASA's Johnson Space Center; Aerospace Educator Award to Shella Condino, advanced-placement physics and chemistry teacher; Leadership Awards to Simonetta Di Pippo, ASI European Space Policy Observatory, and to U.S. Sen.
EU carbon dioxide allowances declined in September, in line with German power prices for 2013 delivery and on jitters over the extent of possible opposition to the European Commission's proposals to delay future carbon auction volumes. December 2012 EU Allowances (EUA) hit a six-month peak of €8.37 per metric ton ($10.80/mt) on Sept. 7, according to Platts' assessments, taking support from bullish sentiment in the wider financial markets after the European Central Bank announced new economic stimulus measures.
Lockheed Martin Chairman and CEO Robert J. Stevens is the recipient of the 2012 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, an award established in 1948 by the National Aeronautics Association to honor the memories of Orville and Wilbur Wright. Stevens, a Marine Corps veteran, was selected for his “dedication, leadership and major contributions to the security of the U.S.” Past winners include former astronaut Neil Armstrong, Charles Lindbergh and Southwest Airlines founder Herb Kelleher.
