November 29, 1993

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HEADLINE NEWS

U.S. DEFENSE FIRMS FIGHT PROGRESS PAYMENT CUTS

NEW YORK The U. S. defense industry is marshalling its forces to overturn or at least amend Congress' recent decision to substantially reduce progress payments paid to military contractors—a move some industry officials believe could cost $3.5-4 billion over the next five years.

By ANTHONY L. VELOCCI

HEADLINE NEWS

THAAD MISSILE PASSES KEY REVIEW

LOS ANGELES The final design review has been completed on the Theater High-Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) missile system, clearing the way for the start of initial production and flight testing next year at White Sands Missile Range, N. M.

By BRUCE A. SMITH

HEADLINE NEWS

RESHAPED BERLIN AIR SHOW TO FOCUS ON BUSINESS

DRESDEN, GERMANY The biennial Berlin aerospace show will be reshaped to become “resolutely business oriented" and also to improve marketing contacts between western visitors and potential customers and industrial partners located in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), according to the show's organizers.

AVIATION WEEK SPECIAL REPORT

RADICAL UPGRADES URGED TO CUT SHUTTLE COSTS

WASHINGTON As the U. S. space shuttle prepares for its 59th flight and NASA's most important manned mission in years, opinions remain sharply divided on the vehicle, even within the space agency. Few knowledgeable observers would argue that the reusable spacecraft is less than amazing.

By JAMES R. ASKER

AVIATION WEEK SPECIAL REPORT

REHEARSAL INTENSE FOR HUBBLE FLIGHT

JOHNSON SPACE CENTER The complex activities of seven astronauts who will service the Hubble Space Telescope are the most extensively rehearsed of any shuttle mission yet. Endeavour's tools and payloads—especially the corrective optics—may be the most thoroughly inspected cargo ever bound for space.

By JAMES R. ASKER

AVIATION WEEK SPECIAL REPORT

FACING CHANGE ON A BUDGET

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Contractors and NASA managers are searching for means of containing the operating costs of a space shuttle system whose design continues to change. Nearly eight years after the Challenger disaster forced a reexamination of the system and its operations, managers are still refining the shuttle's major elements— the solid rocket boosters and their motors, the external tank, the main engines and the orbiter.

By JAMES T. MCKENNA

AIR TRANSPORT

CLINTON STRIKE ACTION MAY OPEN NEW ERA

President's move could strengthen unions' hands in upcoming contract talks aimed at lowering operating costs at American, Delta and United

By JAMES T. MCKENNA

November 221993

December 61993

November 29, 1993

November 29, 1993

COLUMBUS AT RISK IN STATION PLAN

By CRAIG COVAULT