September 23, 1996

September 23, 1996

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HEADLINE NEWS

Russian Service Module Threatens Station Plan

By CRAIG COVAULT5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Atlantis, Mir Advance Space Operations

By CRAIG COVAULT4 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Congress Orders Outside Review of Missile Threat

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO4 min

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2021
HEADLINE NEWS

Russian Service Module Threatens Station Plan

The U.S. may be forced to develop a replacement for the $200-million Russian Service Module to keep the station program on track

By CRAIG COVAULT5 min

2223
HEADLINE NEWS

Atlantis, Mir Advance Space Operations

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER The demonstration of new technology and capabilities applicable to future station and shuttle operations continues to be a focal point of the Adantis mission to Mir, in parallel with the completion of station resupply and the first changeout of a U.S. long-duration crew in orbit.

By CRAIG COVAULT4 min

2627
HEADLINE NEWS

Congress Orders Outside Review of Missile Threat

WASHINGTON With Republican-sponsored legislation to speed up deployment of a national missile defense system stalled in Congress, lawmakers have ordered the formation of two independent panels to reassess the threat of a ballistic missile attack on the U.S.

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO4 min

3031
HEADLINE NEWS

Navy Design May Trigger Jsf Export Derivative

WASHINGTON The Navy's version of the Joint Strike Fighter—with an expandable weapons bay—may provide the basis for an export version of the next-generation, multirole aircraft, according to McDonnell Douglas officials. There is a need emerging for a JSF export derivative that duplicates much of U.S. aircraft’s performance without violating a host of technology transfer prohibitions.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM4 min

2829
HEADLINE NEWS

Brassboard Demos Abl Beam Control

LOS ANGELES Lockheed Martin says hardware tests show that its control system for an airborne anti-missile laser can overcome aircraft jitter, optical component distortion and atmospheric turbulence to place the required lethal dose of energy on a target.

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM3 min

3031
HEADLINE NEWS

Eurocopter Seeks Recovery in a Weak Market

PARIS Eurocopter, reeling from slashed military procurement spending in its "home countries," France and Germany, is completing a downsizing effort scheduled to restore profitability in 1997. Today, after eliminating excess production capacity and implementing a job cut program, Eurocopter is geared to operate profitably while producing 150-200 light helicopters per year.

By PIERRE SPARACO3 min

3233
HEADLINE NEWS

General Electric Tests Forward Swept Fan Technology

NEW YORK Recent tests of a General Electric-designed forward swept engine fan indicate that the component offers significant advantages in the areas of aerodynamic performance and stability. Compared with conventional radial fans available on current fighter engines, the high-speed, low-aspect ratio swept fan has a greater ability to tolerate engine inlet flow distortions—about 80% greater, GE engineers said.

By STANLEY W. KANDEBO3 min

2627
HEADLINE NEWS

Instruments Coming Alive on Adeos-1 Earth-scanner

HONG KONG The eight international instruments on board Japan's Advanced Earth Observation Satellite have begun returning their first images and data for land, ocean and atmospheric studies as the 7,800-lb. spacecraft continues its checkout period.

By MICHAEL MECHAM2 min

2021
HEADLINE NEWS

Shuttle Rescue Eyed for Chinese Satellite

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Some U.S. space officials are beginfling an informal and preliminary assessment on the possibility of using the space shuttle to retrieve and return to Earth a 1.5-ton Chinese communications satellite stranded in a useless orbit by the failure of its Long March booster Aug. 18.

By CRAIG COVAULT2 min

2223
HEADLINE NEWS

Ku Transponder Shortfall Prompts Asiasat Claim

Hong Kong Degraded performance of AsiaSat-2’s Ku-band transponders has prompted Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. to seek a claim for insurance that could be worth up to $58 million. The cause of the problem is unclear, AsiaSat CEO Peter Jackson said, but the spacecraft, a Lockheed Martin Series 7000, is producing a weak signal that has changed the shape of its Ku-band footprint over China.
September 161996 September 301996