July 2, 1990

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HEADLINE NEWS

Hubble Team Makes Emergency Plans As Space Telescope Fails Focus Testing

WASHINGTON NASA Hubble Space Telescope scientists this week are beginning an emergency replanning operation to salvage as much scientific capability as possible from the $2-billion observatory, which engineers have found cannot be properly focused on deep space objects.

By CRAIG COVAULT

HEADLINE NEWS

Tests Begin Soon for New Weapon To Blend Into Stealth Aircraft Skin

WASHINGTON Flight tests are set to begin this month on the composite-skinned Have Slick missile, a U. S. Air Force stand-off weapon expressly designed to blend into the shape of stealth aircraft. The missile may prove to be the forerunner of a new class of air-to-ground weapons conceived to supplement the relatively small, internal weapon loads of such aircraft as the F-117, A-12, B-2 and advanced tactical fighter (as the ATF evolves an attack mission).

By DAVID A. FULGHUM

HEADLINE NEWS

Motorola Proposes 77 Líghtsats For Global Mobile Phone Service

NEW YORK Motorola, Inc., is leading an effort to build a $2.3-billion light satellite network to relay radio-telephone calls to and from remote and mobile users anywhere on Earth. The heart of the network—dubbed Iridium, for the 77th natural element—would be a constellation of 77 satellites.

By JAMES R. ASKER

HEADLINE NEWS

Tests Fail to Pinpoint Fuel Leak That Forced Rollback of Mission 35

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Extensive tests here and at Rockwell International’s Downey, Calif., facility have failed to pinpoint the hydrogen fuel leak that caused a scrub in space shuttle Mission 35 6 hr. before its scheduled launch on May 30 (AW&ST June 4, p. 29).

TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT CORROSION CONTROL

Higher Maintenance Standards Sought for World’s Aging Fleet

NEW YORK International airline and manufacturing officials are striving to set worldwide standards for maintaining the airworthiness of the world’s aging fleet. If they overcome the huge obstacles in their path, these officials—members of the Airworthiness Assurance Task Force—could help the world’s airlines avoid repeating the catastrophe of Aloha Airlines Flight 243 (AW&ST Sept. 25, 1989, p. 117).

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SWEDISH ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

Sweden Develops New Radar, Computer For Gripen and Airborne Early Warning

MOLNDAL, SWEDEN Ericsson Radar Electronics AB has developed new radars for the Gripen aircraft and for airborne early warning that reflect the advanced state of Swedish avionics technology. The new PS-05 multimode pulse-Doppler radar for the Saab-Scania JAS 39 Gripen is capable of performing three missions—fighter, attack and reconnaissance—according to Ulf H. Johansson, senior vice president for Ericsson defense systems.

By BRUCE D. NORDWALL

ATF: NEXT GENERATION OF U. S. FIGHTERS EMERGING

YF-23A Previews Design Features of Future Fighters

EDWARDS AFB, CALIF. The Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23A Advanced Tactical Fighter offers a preview of design features that will characterize the U. S. Air Force’s next generation of air combat aircraft. The YF-23A demonstrator, unveiled here at a relatively low-key ceremony on June 22, is a distinct departure from earlier fighters, blending low-observable and aerodynamic features into a complex, yet balanced design.

By WILLIAM B. SCOTT

TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT CORROSION CONTROL

Task Force Recommends Easing Proposed ADs to Increase Flexibility

NEW YORK The Airworthiness Assurance Task Force Subcommittee on Corrosion has recommended softening proposed corrosion control airworthiness directives, an action the group believes will increase the flexibility of manufacturers and operators to respond to a problem while reducing the possibility of unnecessary fleet groundings and service disruptions.

June 251990

July 91990

July 2, 1990

July 2, 1990