The House Armed Services procurement subcommittee approved a fiscal 2003 defense authorization bill April 30 that adds money for Predator unmanned aerial vehicles and H-60 helicopters, imposes spending constraints on the Comanche helicopter and conditionally endorses multiyear procurement plans for C-130J-based aircraft.
TRW Inc. executives released a letter April 29 urging company shareholders to reject Northrop Grumman Corp.'s buyout offer during a special shareholders meeting May 3. The letter is the latest in a series released by TRW management urging shareholders to reject Northrop Grumman's stock exchange offer. Northrop Grumman has offered to exchange each share of TRW stock with $53 of its stock, provided company officials are able to conduct due diligence on TRW.
Within a week, NASA will announce five winners in its Research, Engineering and Technology Institute (RETI) program, three of which will support the agency's goals in nanotechnology research. Each award will establish a university-based research institute that will partner with NASA on aerospace-related work. NASA plans to select one RETI in each of three nanotechnology-related areas: aerospace materials; electronics and computing; and bio-nanotechnology fusion.
Within a week, NASA will announce five winners in its Research, Engineering and Technology Institute (RETI) program, three of which will support the agency's goals in nanotechnology research. Each award will establish a university-based research institute that will partner with NASA on aerospace-related work. NASA plans to select one RETI in each of three nanotechnology-related areas: aerospace materials; electronics and computing; and bio-nanotechnology fusion.
NASA SAFETY: Bryan D. O'Connor has been named NASA associate administrator for the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance at agency headquarters in Washington. The former NASA space shuttle program director, astronaut and Marine Corps test pilot replaces Frederick D. Gregory, who has led the office since December. O'Connor will be responsible for the oversight of all agency safety issues and will report to NASA June 3.
NASA's Space Launch Initiative program has completed its first milestone, the Initial Architecture Technology Review, narrowing vehicle ideas to around a dozen candidates, aerospace agency and industry officials said April 30.
NASA SAFETY: Bryan D. O'Connor has been named NASA associate administrator for the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance at agency headquarters in Washington. The former NASA space shuttle program director, astronaut and Marine Corps test pilot replaces Frederick D. Gregory, who has led the office since December. O'Connor will be responsible for the oversight of all agency safety issues and will report to NASA June 3.
SMITHS SELECTED: Smiths Aerospace Actuation Systems will supply the trapeze actuator to Lockheed Martin Corp. for the F-22 Raptor under a contract that could be worth more than $10 million. The actuator extends and retracts the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile trapeze launcher located in the F-22's side weapons bay. The system will be jointly designed at company facilities in Yakima, Wash., and Cheltenham, United Kingdom.
Czech aircraft producer Aero Vodochody announced April 30 that it had successfully completed all necessary weapons tests for its L-159 at the Cazaux test range in France. The company said 14 bombs, including cluster bombs, were released at the range from L-159 prototype No. 5832. The testing ran from April 16 to April 26. Aero described the results as "very good" and said they complied with all certification requirements.
Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), whose congressional district is home to engine maker Pratt & Whitney, plans to introduce a bill to give the FAA and NASA "vigorous and robust increases" in aeronautics research and development funding, according to a letter urging other House members to co-sponsor the legislation.
Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), whose congressional district is home to engine maker Pratt&Whitney, plans to introduce a bill to give the FAA and NASA "vigorous and robust increases" in aeronautics research and development funding, according to a letter urging other House members to co-sponsor the legislation.
The four-year, $2.9 billion contract awarded to the "Gold Team" to design and develop the Navy's DD(X) family of ships could be worth $60 billion if the Navy buys the expected 50 ships, company officials said.
The four-year, $2.9 billion contract awarded to the "Gold Team" to design and develop the Navy's DD(X) family of ships could be worth $60 billion if the Navy buys the expected 50 ships, company officials said.
Nanotechnology will have a larger impact on warfighting than the invention of gunpowder, according to Dr. Cliff Lau of the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Laboratory and Research. "Nanotechnology is one of the top [research] priorities within DOD, and it will impact practically all areas of warfighting," Lau said during a nanotechnology symposium in Arlington, Va., April 30.
NASA Missions - Kennedy Space Center - Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida (NET indicates a tentative launch date) DATE/2002 VEHICLE PAD MISSION May 30 OV-105 (Endeavour) 39-A KSC STS-111/International Space Station (UF2) T0: TBD July 1 Delta 7425 17-A CCAFS CONTOUR (NASA-Applied
(Editor's note: The following is excerpted from the written responses by Army Lt. Gen. Leon LaPorte, nominated to head the United Nations Command in South Korea, to written questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee. LaPorte testified April 26 (DAILY, April 29). Q: Do you believe that our current forward presence on the Korean peninsula is appropriate? What, if any, changes would you recommend?
PRAGUE - Czech aircraft producer Aero Vodochody announced April 30 that it had successfully completed all necessary weapons tests for its L-159 at the Cazaux test range in France. The company said 14 bombs, including cluster bombs, were released at the range from L-159 prototype No. 5832. The testing ran from April 16 to April 26. Aero described the results as "very good" and said they complied with all certification requirements.
NASA's Space Launch Initiative program has completed its first milestone, the Initial Architecture Technology Review, narrowing vehicle ideas to around a dozen candidates, aerospace agency and industry officials said April 30.
HUBBLE PICTURES: The Hubble Space Telescope provided astronomers with a "stunning" view of two colliding galaxies, along with other high-resolution pictures from its new Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), according to NASA. The ACS was installed in March.
SMITHS SELECTED: Smiths Aerospace Actuation Systems will supply the trapeze actuator to Lockheed Martin Corp. for the F-22 Raptor under a contract that could be worth more than $10 million. The actuator extends and retracts the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile trapeze launcher located in the F-22's side weapons bay. The system will be jointly designed at company facilities in Yakima, Wash., and Cheltenham, United Kingdom.
Nanotechnology will have a larger impact on warfighting than the invention of gunpowder, according to Dr. Cliff Lau of the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Laboratory and Research. "Nanotechnology is one of the top [research] priorities within DOD, and it will impact practically all areas of warfighting," Lau said during a nanotechnology symposium in Arlington, Va., April 30.
