January 8, 1990

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HEADLINE NEWS

Japan Readies First Moon Mission Launch as Companies Seek Lunar Base Role

WASHINGTON Japan this month is set to launch its first spacecraft to the Moon, a mission indicative of both Japan’s interest in future lunar exploration and the maturing of space program capabilities in the Pacific Basin. The Japanese Muses-A spacecraft, scheduled for launch Jan. 23, will be the first lunar mission launched by any country since the Soviet Luna 24 vehicle landed on the Moon in August, 1976.

By CRAIG COVAULT6 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Teal Ruby Spacecraft to Be Put in Storage at Norton Afb

LOS ANGELES The Teal Ruby spacecraft—which represents a total investment of more than $500 million—is scheduled to be moved this month from Rockwell International in Seal Beach, Calif., where it has been mothballed since 1986 to a storage facility at Norton AFB, Calif.

By BRUCE A. SMITH5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Usaf Systems Command Reforms 'maze’ of Rfp Procedures

WASHINGTON Air Force Systems Command is trying to improve and expedite the way it prepares and issues requests for proposals in major weapon system acquisition programs. The new effort seeks to apply total quality management principles to Air Force and contractor activities from the time a new program is approved through the issuance of a request for proposals (RFP).

By DAVID F. BOND5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Industry Criticizes New Antilobbying Rule for Restricting Information Flow

WASHINGTON The Bush Administration has applied a “narrow” interpretation to an antilobbying law that will restrict needed technical exchanges between defense contractors and the military services and add to the costs of government contract work, according to industry officials.

HEADLINE NEWS

Snecma Begins Ground Tests of A340’s Cfm56 Turbofan Engine

PARIS Ground testing has begun with the CFM International CFM56-5C turbofan engine that is being developed by France and the U. S. for use on Airbus Industrie’s A340 long-range transport. The No. 1 development CFM56-5C was operated for the first time Dec. 27 and had accumulated more than 6 hr. of operating time as of late last week.

By JEFFREY M. LENOROVITZ3 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Md 530n Completes First Flight

Los ANGELES The McDonnell Douglas MD 530N notail-rotor (NOTAR) helicopter made its first flight Dec. 29. The flight consisted of about 15 min. of hovers and maneuvers under 15 kt. The MD 530N is a production version of the company’s experimental NOTAR helicopter that has been flying since 1981.

HEADLINE NEWS

Japanese Will Boost Defense Spending By 6.1% Over Fiscal 1989 Figure

TOKYO The Japanese government has approved a fiscal 1990 defense budget of approximately $29.3 billion, an increase of 6.1% over the fiscal 1989 spending plan. The 1990 fiscal year begins Apr. 1 and ends Mar. 31, 1991. The total fiscal 1990 budget for Japan is $466.1 billion.

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January 8, 1990

January 8, 1990