June 28, 1993

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HEADLINE NEWS

NASA's Space Station Dodges Another Bullet

WASHINGTON The latest bid in Congress to kill the U. S./international space station failed by the thinnest of margins, setting the stage for another tough fight this week. A floor amendment offered by Rep. Tim Roemer (D.-lnd.) and aimed at shutting down the project was rejected in the House 216-215.

By JAMES R. ASKER5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Navy Shifting Depot Work to Private Industry

WASHINGTON The U. S. Navy has instituted a new strategy that would shift more of its aircraft maintenance and virtually all major modification work to private industry, while retaining only a minimal, core level of such work for its aviation depots.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Spacelifter's Support in Military Wanes

WASHINGTON Military and industry support for developing the U. S. Spacelifter launch vehicle is waning, raising the possibility that the multibillion dollar program will be canceled. Growing concerns over the Spacelifter's fate were fueled by comments from USAF Gen. Charles A. Horner— the U. S. Space Command's commander-in-chief (CINC)—indicating his earlier favoritism for the new launcher may be wavering.

By JEFFREY M. LENOROVITZ4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Endeavour Snares European Satellite

The space shuttle Endeavour and a crew of six retrieved a European microgravity experiment satellite and were preparing for a spacewalk late last week. As the two spacecraft flew 257 naut. mi. over the Pacific Ocean northeast of Australia, mission specialist G. David Low used Endeavour's remote manipulator arm to snare Eureca, the European Retrievable Carrier, just before 10 a.m. EDT on June 24.

By JAMES R. ASKER4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Asteroid Flyby Proposed Using Leap Penetrators

WASHINGTON An asteroid mission using advanced antiballistic missile projectiles as penetrators has been proposed by the U. S. military amid growing international concern over the potential threat of asteroids to Earth. The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) mission would fire LEAPs (light exoatmospheric projectiles) into two asteroids to study their mineral content.

By JEFFREY M. LENOROVITZ4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Cessna Redesigns JPATS Tail to Avoid Deep Stall Problems

WASHINGTON Cessna has redesigned the tail of its Air Force/Navy primary trainer candidate to avoid the potential for deep stall problems, but company officials contend the changes will not affect the aircraft's scheduled first flight in September.

June 211993

July 51993

June 28, 1993

June 28, 1993