May 4, 1998

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HEADLINE NEWS

Airborne Laser Passes Key Technical Hurdle

SEATTLE The U.S. Air Force’s Airborne Laser program passed a key laboratory test last month when a scaled beam control system demonstrated the laser pointing and focusing performance needed for planned ABL missions. The brassboard demonstrator replicated all the elements of the specially modified 747-400F’s full-up laser system from the point of laser generation through beam pointing and focusing on a target.

By PAUL PROCTOR

HEADLINE NEWS

French Navy Takes Delivery Of U.S. E-2C Hawkeye

Cape Canaveral The first of two Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye carrier-based early warning aircraft: for the French navy is rolled out at company facilities in St. Augustine, Fla. The two aircraft eventually will be based on the French carrier Charles de Gaulle when the new ship becomes operational in 1999.

HEADLINE NEWS

White House Sheds Inertia on Germ War

WASHINGTON President Clinton and National Security Council are taking belated action to harmonize the scores of federal agencies responsible for combating the terrorist use of biological, chemical or nuclear weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

By PAUL MANN

HEADLINE NEWS

Prospects Brighten Abruptly For Strategic Nuclear Cuts

Washington Prospects have improved for major U.S./Russian nuclear arms reductions now that the latest leadership crisis in Moscow has abated, high-ranking Russian officials and U.S. nuclear experts say. With a new Russian prime minister in place, the second American/Russian Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START 2) is more likely to be taken up by Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, Russian officials predict.

By Paul Mann

HEADLINE NEWS

Hughes Using Moon For Orbit Change

LOS ANGELES Hughes Global Services (HGS) is gradually moving a previouslystranded commercial communications satellite into position near the Moon so that lunar gravity can be used to sling the spacecraft back to Earth and into at least a partially usable orbit.

HEADLINE NEWS

Nilesat Launch Presages African Market Boom

PARIS The entry into service of Nilesat 101 this spring promises to be the first shot in a looming battle for supremacy in the world’s least developed satellite telecommunications market. Nilesat, a $ 158-million direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting satellite built by Matra Marconi Space, was launched last week from Kourou, French Guiana, by an Ariane 4 booster.

By MICHAEL A. TAVERNA

HEADLINE NEWS

Technology Initiative To Advance Exploration

CAPE CANAVERAL NASA is embarking on a major effort to reinvigorate the development of space technology needed for five new missions to the Sun, planets and a comet. But a review of the agency’s overall technology capability by the National Research Council has found that NASA needs even more emphasis on technology development if it is to fully exploit the nation’s potential for low-cost deep space exploration.

By CRAIG COVAULT

HEADLINE NEWS

Cassini Gets First Boost From Venus

Los Angeles The Cassini spacecraft flew by Venus on Apr. 26, gaining a gravitational assist of 16,330 mph. in the first of several boosts on its way to Saturn. Cassini was targeted to fly 284 km. (176 mi.) above Venus, and tracking data indicate that it was within 1 km. of that altitude.

By Michael A. Dornheim

HEADLINE NEWS

ISS Delay to Late 1998 Raised by Russians

CAPE CANAVERAL At a critical International Space tion meeting in Moscow, Russian managers raised to their U.S. counterparts the possibility of delaying launch of the Russian FGB spacecraft the first station element until October or November.

By CRAIG COVAULT

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HEADLINE NEWS

Quick Ground-Team Work Extends Neurolab Flight

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER The Columbia Neurolab Spacelab mission was set to land here May 3, completing a 16-day research flight saved from early termination by quick ground-team work to diagnose a serious environmental control system problem.

By CRAIG COVAULT

April 271998

May 111998

May 4, 1998

May 4, 1998