NAME CHANGE. The Space Based Infrared System High (SBIRS-High) program soon could be the Pentagon's only SBIRS program. The lower-altitude SBIRS system, known as SBIRS-Low, soon may get a new name, says the Pentagon's acquisition czar. "To avoid a lot of confusion between SBIRS-Low and SBIRS-High, I'm going to ask [Missile Defense Agency Director] Lt. Gen. [Ronald] Kadish to give me another name for SBIRS-Low," says Pete Aldridge, the undersecretary of the defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.
SHUTTLE AWARD: NASA has awarded Boeing's Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power unit a $1.14 billion, five-year contract for maintenance and support of the Space Shuttle Main Engine. The contract includes the manufacture, assembly, test and delivery of three additional main engines, flight and test engineering and engine refurbishment.
SPACEHAB INC.'s Johnson Engineering subsidiary of Houston has signed a $14.2 million, five-month extension with NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) for the company's Flight Crew Systems Development contract. JSC also approved three one-month extensions to the contract, which, if exercised, would stretch it through the end of the year and increase the value to $23.2 million. The extension will allow JSC to restructure and recompete the contract, according to Spacehab.
The House Armed Services Committee late May 1 defeated an amendment to the fiscal 2003 defense authorization bill that would have shifted $135 million in missile defense funds from the Space Based Laser and two other programs to the Arrow and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) systems.
Ten federal agencies are participating in the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), which funds long-term, fundamental research into the field of building structures on the molecular level. NNI funds research aimed at discovering new phenomena, processes and tools, supporting new interdisciplinary centers, support the research infrastructure and addressing the implications of nanotechnology and nanoscience (DAILY, May 1). (Dollars are in millions.)
The House Armed Services Committee late May 1 defeated an amendment to the fiscal 2003 defense authorization bill that would have shifted $135 million in missile defense funds from the Space Based Laser and two other programs to the Arrow and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) systems.
Beginning next year, NASA plans to quadruple the amount of research it performs on the effects of space radiation on biological systems, in an effort to better understand and prepare for future manned space missions. Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston is leading the radiation initiative, which is receiving a funding boost of roughly $25 million on top of a $15 million baseline program, according to Frank Cucinotta, manager for radiation health at JSC.
COMPASS CALL: BAE Systems will provide equipment upgrades for U.S. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call aircraft under a $53 million contract, the company announced May 2. The equipment will support the Block 35 upgrade for the aircraft, which are C-130 Hercules modified for communications jamming and information warfare.
None of the six defense acquisition programs in breach of the Nunn-McCurdy amendment will be canceled now, the Pentagon's top acquisition official announced May 2, but he warned the programs will remain in the "spotlight" and could be terminated if problems continue. Six of the Defense Department's major defense acquisition programs recently reported cost growth over 25 percent, which put them in violation of Nunn-McCurdy. That amendment requires Pete Aldridge, the undersecretary of defe
With rumors growing of possible cuts to the F-22 fighter program, a senior Air Force official defended the aircraft, saying recent reports of a tail problem are not serious and should be easy to fix.
China and Russia recently agreed to develop a new generation of civil aircraft. This is the first agreement in a decade between China's Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and the Russian Aviation and Space Agency. The two sides agreed to work out a cooperative program, to be signed in six months. A joint commission has been set up to draft the program.
The Boeing Co. and CargoLifter AG of Germany have signed a letter of intent to pursue development of lighter-than-air vehicles for a variety of tasks, including homeland defense. The German company said May 2 that the LOI "provides the basis for a more detailed joint study of possible business opportunities beyond CargoLifter's current business focus of using LTA vehicles for transporting heavy and outsized cargoes. Such opportunities could include the development of a stratospheric airship for commercial and military applications."
Ten federal agencies are participating in the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), which funds long-term, fundamental research into the field of building structures on the molecular level. NNI funds research aimed at discovering new phenomena, processes and tools, supporting new interdisciplinary centers, support the research infrastructure and addressing the implications of nanotechnology and nanoscience (DAILY, May 1). FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003
THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY, the Russian Aviation and Space Agency and the Korolev Rocket Space Corp. have agreed to fly ESA astronaut Frank De Winne of Belgium to the International Space Station in October. De Winne will be a flight engineer on a Soyuz "taxi" flight, and his mission will be funded by the Belgian Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs.
SPACEDEV of Poway, Calif., has been awarded phase one of a contract to develop a shuttle-compatible propulsion module for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the company announced. The company also expects to receive a phase two contract for the work, which would bring the total value of the two contracts to $1.6 million. The contract is to develop a low-cost propulsion capability to allow Air Force payloads to be boosted to higher orbits after being deployed from NASA's Shuttle Hitchhiker Experiment Launch System (SHELS).
The current satellite export control regime is stifling U.S. competitiveness in the global satellite marketplace and weakening national security as well, according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
None of the six defense acquisition programs in breach of the Nunn-McCurdy amendment will be canceled now, the Pentagon's top acquisition official announced May 2, but he warned the programs will remain in the "spotlight" and could be terminated if problems continue. Six of the Defense Department's major defense acquisition programs recently reported cost growth over 25 percent, which put them in violation of Nunn-McCurdy.
COMPASS CALL: BAE Systems will provide equipment upgrades for U.S. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call aircraft under a $53 million contract, the company announced May 2. The equipment will support the Block 35 upgrade for the aircraft, which are C-130 Hercules modified for communications jamming and information warfare.
The Boeing Co. and CargoLifter AG of Germany have signed a letter of intent to pursue development of lighter-than-air vehicles for a variety of tasks, including homeland defense. The German company said May 2 that the LOI "provides the basis for a more detailed joint study of possible business opportunities beyond CargoLifter's current business focus of using LTA vehicles for transporting heavy and outsized cargoes. Such opportunities could include the development of a stratospheric airship for commercial and military applications."
The current satellite export control regime is stifling U.S. competitiveness in the global satellite marketplace and weakening national security as well, according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
NASA's Aqua satellite, built by TRW Inc., is scheduled for launch May 4 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. TRW's T-330 spacecraft will provide a low-jitter, precision-pointing platform for Aqua to perform its six-year remote-sensing mission, the company said. Aqua eventually could help weather forecasters extend their forecasts out to seven to 10 days, according to NASA (DAILY, April 24).
DIRECTV INC. of El Segundo, Calif., will launch its DIRECTV 5 satellite from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome on May 6. International Launch Services will launch the satellite. DIRECTV 5 is a Space Systems/Loral 1300 series satellite, and will be positioned at 119 degrees West longitude. It will take over broadcast services being handled by DIRECTV 6, which will become an in-orbit spare once the new satellite becomes operational in July.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz strongly criticized the Czech Republic's proposed purchase of 24 Jas-39 Gripen fighters from BAE Systems/Saab, according to a senior Czech politician who met with Wolfowitz April 30. Michael Zantovsky, chairman of the Czech senate's foreign affairs, defense and security committee, said Wolfowitz told him at a Washington meeting that the purchase was unnecessary and that the Czech Republic should focus on restructuring its armed forces.
SPACEDEV of Poway, Calif., has been awarded phase one of a contract to develop a shuttle-compatible propulsion module for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the company announced. The company also expects to receive a phase two contract for the work, which would bring the total value of the two contracts to $1.6 million. The contract is to develop a low-cost propulsion capability to allow Air Force payloads to be boosted to higher orbits after being deployed from NASA's Shuttle Hitchhiker Experiment Launch System (SHELS).
