October 11, 1993

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HEADLINE NEWS

SLS MISSION TO PROBE ZERO-GRAVITY EFFECTS

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Columbia and its seven-member crew are poised for launch this week on the NASA shuttle program's longest planned mission, a 14-day analysis of how the human body adapts to zero gravity. NASA's oldest orbiter is scheduled to lift off from Pad 39B here Oct. 14 on Mission 58, carrying the 21,840-lb., European-built Spacelab module and its Spacelab Life Sciences 2 (SLS 2) payload to a direct-insertion orbit.

By JAMES T. MCKENNA7 min

HEADLINE NEWS

SRAM/LEAP CONCEPT STIRS INTERAGENCY CONFLICT

WASHINGTON A Pentagon battle has surfaced over a plan by acquisition chief John Deutch to invest $200 million over the next two years to develop an Air Force operated, aircraft-launched weapon to shoot down ballistic missiles during their ascent.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

LANDSAT 6 APPEARS LOST

Telemetry indicates launch was normal through payload separation from refurbished ICBM launcher. Loss means U. S. must rely on aging Landsat 4 and 5

By BRUCE A. SMITH4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

MANDATE SOUGHT FOR NEW LAUNCHER

WASHINGTON An influential, bipartisan group of congressional staff members is pressing lawmakers to seize the initiative on America's troubled launch industry by legislating action to develop a new medium-sized launcher. The congressional aides said they are frustrated by the inability of government and industry to move ahead with a new launcher program, and have pledged a coordinated effort to draft sweeping legislation in support of a new vehicle.

By JEFFREY M. LENOROVITZ4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

MARTIN SEEKS GD SPACE UNIT

WASHINGTON NEW YORK Martin Marietta is in final negotiations to buy General Dynamics' Space Systems Div. in a consolidation necessary for a long-overdue streamlining of the U. S. launch vehicle sector. The purchase would bring General Dynamics' Atlas launcher and its Centaur upper stage into Martin Marietta's space product line.

By JEFFREY M. LENOROVITZ,ANTHONY L. VELOCCI4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

U. S./RUSSIAN STATION PLAN RAISES DOUBTS IN CONGRESS

WASHINGTON Impatience with the Clinton Administration's unsettled space station plans is growing in Congress as NASA rushes to develop a detailed option by Nov. 1 to make Russia a full partner in the project. The siege of parliament that ended in shooting last week, even as top NASA officials were in Moscow to meet with the Russian Space Agency, only added to the concerns of lawmakers here.

By JAMES R. ASKER4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

RAPTOR/PATHFINDER TO TEST HIGH-EFFICIENCY PROPULSION

EDWARDS AFB, CALIF. The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and AeroVironment, Inc., unveiled the Raptor/Pathfinder electricpowered drone here on Oct. 5, and expect to make a first flight under partial solar power shortly. BMDO is interested in a solar-powered aircraft that could remain aloft indefinitely at high altitudes to spot theater ballistic missiles (AW&ST Oct. 4, p. 27).

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM3 min

October 41993

October 181993

October 11, 1993

October 11, 1993