April 20, 1998

April 20, 1998

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HEADLINE NEWS

Shuttle/Spartan Verdict Sparks Station Concerns

By CRAIG COVAULT

HEADLINE NEWS

Software Snag Forces EOS Launch Delay

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO

HEADLINE NEWS

Mir Crew Installs New Attitude System

By CRAIG COVAULT

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HEADLINE NEWS

Shuttle/Spartan Verdict Sparks Station Concerns

In a departure from tradition, a NASA review board is criticizing the performance of both a shuttle astronaut crew and its ground training team for a mismanaged Spartan satellite deployment from Columbia last November—findings that could have even greater implications for the International Space Station.

By CRAIG COVAULT

2627

HEADLINE NEWS

Software Snag Forces EOS Launch Delay

WASHINGTON A new spate of ground software development problems has forced NASA to delay the launch of its first Earth Observing System spacecraft, EOS AM-1, until at least the end of this year. The troubles have taken NASA by surprise because they do not involve the oftcriticized EOS science and data processing software that is more than two years behind schedule.

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO

2829

HEADLINE NEWS

Mir Crew Installs New Attitude System

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER The Russian/U.S. crew on board Mir are to conclude a series of five extravehicular activities this week to install a large new attitude control system on the exterior of the station. They earlier stabilized a solar array damaged nearly a year ago by a colliding Progress transport.

By CRAIG COVAULT

2829

HEADLINE NEWS

Plan Strengthens Space Warfighter's Roles

COLORADO SPRINGS A new presidential National Security Strategy report, due for release in the next few weeks, will reaffirm a U.S. commitment to space control. According to White House officials, the report will strengthen broadened responsibilities given to U.S.

By WILLIAM B. SCOTT

3033

HEADLINE NEWS

Clinton Team Defends Killing Milspace Programs

COLORADO SPRINGS The Clinton Administration is scrambling to dispel perceptions that a presidential line-item veto of three military space programs last year derailed critical U.S. space control developments at a time when the control mission is becoming increasingly important.

By WILLIAM B. SCOTT

6263

HEADLINE NEWS

France Cancels Horus Radar Satellite

PARIS France will terminate the Horus military imaging radar satellite and several missile programs in an effort to further tighten military procurement spending and contain public deficits. In the wake of the governments recently completed top-to-bottom defense review, procurement spending in 1999-2002 will remain flat at FF85 billion ($14 billion) per year.

By PIERRE SPARACO

6263

HEADLINE NEWS

U.S. Navy S-3B To Test Upgraded Radar

LEWISVILLE, TEX. Early next year, Raytheon Systems Co. is scheduled to install its upgraded AN/APS-137B(V)5 inverse synthetic aperture radar in a U.S. Navy S-3B to demonstrate the system's improved imaging, multiple-threat tracking and precision targeting capabilities.

By EDWARD H. PHILLIPS

6467

HEADLINE NEWS

Pentagon Delays F-22 Production

WASHINGTON With some bookkeeping sleightof-hand, the Pentagon is putting off for a year beginning production of the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 stealth fighter. Defense Dept. officials want greater confidence in cost and performance predictions for the aircraft while averting congressional criticism of the program.

By ROBERT WALL

6467

HEADLINE NEWS

V-22 To Begin Fatigue Tests

FORT WORTH Later this month, Bell Helicopter Textron and the U.S. Navy will initiate a stringent, two-year test of the V-22 to determine if the aircraft’s structure can achieve a design life of 10,000 hr., the equivalent of 20 years of flying. The tests are unique because the airframe must demonstrate it can withstand loads in both airplane and helicopter modes, as well as forces experienced in transitional regions such as takeoff and landing.

By EDWARD H. PHILLIPS

6869

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AWARDS

Need For Greater Value Drives Innovation

IPN International Product News NEW YORK Price is edging out performance as the primary driver of technological innovation, but companies are still developing new products and processes by focusing on increasing their value.

By MICHAEL O. LAVITT

April 131998 April 271998