November 28, 1988

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HEADLINE NEWS

Crash of Third Operational B-1B Could Raise Mission, Funding Issues

WASHINGTON The B-1B bomber crash Nov. 17 at Ellsworth AFB, S. D., marked the third such loss in 14 months, but while a pattern linking the accidents has not been established, the crashes could raise larger issues. Controversy surrounds the questions of the B-1B’s mission today and where to allocate scarce funds.

By BRENDAN M. GREELEY

HEADLINE NEWS

GAO Study Asserts Deficit Could Spur Defense Funding Cuts Into Next Decade

WASHINGTON A federal study submitted to Presidentelect George Bush says the federal deficit is “substantially worse than appears on the surface.” The impact on defense could be net funding cuts well into the 1990s. The General Accounting Office cites an “explosion” of unfunded costs that will confront the Bush Administration, including such nonproductive expenses for the Defense Dept, as cleaning up about 5,000 hazardous waste sites at an estimated $1114-billion cost.

By MICHAEL MECHAM

HEADLINE NEWS

French Firms to Develop Expert Space Systems

PARIS Three French companies have agreed to collaborate on the development, production and commercialization of expert systems for use on satellites or in ground control centers. The first project agreed upon by Aerospatiale, Electronique Serge Dassault and Framentec is the development of an expert system for satellite mission planning, functional control and failure diagnostics.

HEADLINE NEWS

Honeywell Protests $1-Billion USAF Contract Award to AT&T

BOSTON Honeywell Federal Systems, Inc., has filed a protest against the award of an Air Force computer contract with a potential value of more than $1 billion to American Telephone & Telegraph. Honeywell Federal Systems officials said the firm’s best and final offer of $744 million was more than $100 million less than the AT&T bid.

HEADLINE NEWS

Clashes Among Airbus Partner Nations Hinder Restructuring

LONDON Inability of the four partner nations in the Airbus Industrie consortium to agree earlier this month on a new management structure has given rise to doubts that the changes recommended by an independent committee will be implemented by year-end, as originally planned.

UNLOCKING THE SUN’S SECRETS

NASA Pressed to Attempt Second Solar Satellite Rescue

BOULDER, COLO. Solar scientists are pressing NASA for a second Solar Maximum satellite repair mission, citing the value of data obtained over the last eight years of operation as justification for continuation of the satellite’s useful life.

By WILLIAM B. SCOTT

November 211988

December 51988

November 28, 1988

November 28, 1988