July 16, 1990

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HEADLINE NEWS

British Aerospace Begins Flight Tests Of BAe 1000 Mid-Sized Business Jet

British Aerospace has begun an 800-hr. flight test program aimed at certification of its BAe 1000 mid-sized business jet in the late summer of 1991. The BAe 1000, a follow-on development of the company’s successful 125-series business jets, made its first flight on June 16 and a second flight on June 28.

HEADLINE NEWS

Pentagon Leaders Move to Control Renegotiation of Fixed-Price Contracts

WASHINGTON The Defense Dept, is moving to control prospective renegotiation by the military services of fixed-price weapon development contracts that are causing serious business problems for aerospace companies. Under a memorandum issued July 6 by Deputy Defense Secretary Donald J. Atwood, each service will need Pentagon approval of its bargaining position at the start of such a renegotiation and of whatever agreement is reached.

By DAVID F. BOND/WASHINGTON

HEADLINE NEWS

NASA Banks on Pad, Lab Tests To Isolate Shuttle Fuel Leak

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER NASA has focused in on the primary seal of the 17-in. fuel line disconnect as the most likely source of the leaks that have grounded the space shuttle fleet since Mission 35 was scrubbed on May 29. Because of the extended standdown, NASA managers now believe it unlikely that they will resolve the leak problem and fix it in time to launch more than one shuttle flight before the Ulysses solar-polar mission window opens Oct. 5.

By EDWARD H. KOLCUM

HEADLINE NEWS

Gore Faults NASA Decision To Forgo Key Hubble Test

WASHINGTON NASA and industry officials conceded that a test of Hubble’s integrated optics would have detected flaws in the optical system—an admission certain to trigger tighter congressional scrutiny of space programs. Sen. Albert Gore (D.-Tenn.) revealed last week that Eastman Kodak Co., the losing bidder for the contract to build the Hubble mirrors, had proposed a final assembly test to detect flaws such as the one found on the Hubble telescope.

By PATRICIA A. GILMARTIN

HEADLINE NEWS

Veteran Astronauts Gibson and Walker Lose Spaceflight Assignments in Disciplinary Actions

NASA has grounded two veteran shuttle commanders, making them the first U. S. astronauts to lose spaceflight assignments for disciplinary reasons. Navy Cdr. Robert L. (Hoot) Gibson was removed as commander of shuttle Mission STS-46 and from T-38 flight status for one year following a race in a civilian air show July 7 in which the pilot of an aircraft that collided with his was killed.

HEADLINE NEWS

ESA Scrutinizes Science Missions for Possible Cut

PARIS The European Space Agency may need to cancel one of three new science missions because of severe budget constraints faced by its Space Science program. The three programs that are considered candidates for the mission cancellation are the Soho and Cluster solar-terrestrial science missions, and the Huygens probe to Saturn’s moon Titan, according to Roger Bonnet, ESA’s director of scientific programs.

July 91990

July 231990

July 16, 1990

July 16, 1990

Lycoming to Pay U. S. $17.9 Million In LTS-101 Performance Settlement

By STANLEY W. KANDEBO

Martin Marietta Asks Federal Court to Absolve It of Responsibility for Commercial Titan Failure

British Aerospace Begins Flight Tests Of BAe 1000 Mid-Sized Business Jet

Lycoming to Pay U. S. $17.9 Million In LTS-101 Performance Settlement

By STANLEY W. KANDEBO

Martin Marietta Asks Federal Court to Absolve It of Responsibility for Commercial Titan Failure

British Aerospace Begins Flight Tests Of BAe 1000 Mid-Sized Business Jet