August 22, 1988

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HEADLINE NEWS

Senate Girds for Fight With USAF Over Close Air Support Aircraft

WASHINGTON The U. S. Senate has laid the groundwork for a flyoff among at least four close air support aircraft, ordering a plan to be ready by Mar. 31. The Senate’s action is intended to prevent the Air Force from truncating the selection process with a modified F-16 fighter, the A-16.

By PAUL MANNI6 min

HEADLINE NEWS

NASA Investigates Research Grant To Set Up Industry Association

WASHINGTON NASA’S inspector general has begun investigating the award last year of a $360,000 research grant to the Lew Evans Foundation to establish a national industry association for commercial space firms. The NASA general counsel’s office also is reviewing the grant to determine whether additional funds should be given to the Evans Foundation next year.

By THERESA M. FOLEY5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Shuttle Engine Pump Issue Develops After Firing Test

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Rocketdyne engineers late last week were assessing the impact of an unexpected shaft travel distance on a pump that was discovered following the Aug. 10 flight readiness firing of the main engines on the orbiter Discovery.

By EDWARD H. KOLCUMI5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Six Payloads Committed To Ariane Piggyback Launch

EVRY, FRANCE Arianespace has signed six European and U. S. satellites as piggyback payloads for a new deployment system that is to be used on Ariane launchers beginning in 1989. The deployment system will enable Ariane to carry multiple small satellites with a combined mass of up to 200 kg. (440 lb.) as auxiliary payloads along with the launcher’s primary payloads of large Earth observation, telecommunications or scientific satellites.

HEADLINE NEWS

A-6E Composite Wing Delivery Delays Force Navy to Turn to Grumman

WASHINGTON A Boeing Military Airplane program to produce composite replacement wings for the Navy’s A-6E fleet has fallen almost a year behind schedule, and the service now plans to buy more metal wings from Grumman. Boeing was awarded the composite wing contract in May, 1985, and experienced production start-up problems with numerically controlled drilling machines. Later, the company ran into delamination problems with the wing spar’s composite material during attachment of the wing skin.

By BRENDAN M. GREELEY,3 min

HEADLINE NEWS

USAF Selects Three Contractor Teams To Design Advanced Launch Systems

LANCASTER, CALIF. The Air Force has selected three contractor teams to produce Advanced Launch System designs and conduct technology demonstrations under Phase 2 contracts over the next 25 months. Winners of the competitive source selection are: ■ Boeing Aerospace Co. ■ General Dynamics’ Space Systems Div. ■ Martin Marietta’s Denver Aerospace unit and its team member, McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co.

By WILLIAM B. SCOTT3 min

HEADLINE NEWS

First Flight of V-22 Misses Mid-August Target Date

DALLAS First flight of the Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey prototype, targeted for mid-August, has been postponed for up to 90 days because of delays in completing pre-flight tests and integrating some flight systems. Still to be completed are safety-of-flight tests on the ground test article, fatigue tests of rotor system components, bench qualification of the drive systems, the ground functional test and check-out of all aircraft systems.

By CAROLE A. SHIFRIN3 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Pakistani Leader Killed in Explosion Of Lockheed C-130

LONDON Pakistani and U. S. investigators last week were seeking the cause of an explosion that destroyed a Lockheed C-130 with Pakistani President Gen. Mohammad Zia ul-Haq, U. S. Ambassador Arnold Raphel and senior Pakistani and U. S. military officials on board.

August 151988

August 291988

August 22, 1988

August 22, 1988