May 11, 1998

May 11, 1998

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HEADLINE NEWS

Global Commercial Space Business Sought for ISS

By CRAIG COVAULT

HEADLINE NEWS

White House, Congress Debate Station Funding

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO

HEADLINE NEWS

Russian Engine Hitting Performance Targets

By WILLIAM B. SCOTT

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HEADLINE NEWS

Global Commercial Space Business Sought for ISS

Boeing is building support for worldwide commercial ISS ventures, as annual space revenues near $ 120 billion

By CRAIG COVAULT

2829
HEADLINE NEWS

White House, Congress Debate Station Funding

WASHINGTON The Clinton Administration’s budget office and leading members of Congress are at odds over where to find the billions of dollars needed to pay for overruns on the International Space Station project. The chairman and the ranking Democrat on the House Science Committee, citing an independent assessment that found the station will likely cost $7.3 billion more than originally estimated and reach completion up to three years behind schedule, are calling on the Administration to help cover the shortfall.

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO

3031
HEADLINE NEWS

Russian Engine Hitting Performance Targets

DENVER With more than 10,000 Russof test-run time completed, Russian RD-180 rocket engines are delivering slightly more ISP than expected, and proving to be extremely robust, according to Lockheed Martin Astronautics officials. The engine’s high thrust also has allowed reliability-enhancing design features to be incorporated into Lockheed Martin’s new Atlas 3 and the company’s version of the U.S. Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV).

By WILLIAM B. SCOTT

3435
HEADLINE NEWS

Boeing Wins Ellipso In Satcom Shuffle

WASHINGTON In a twisted turn of events, Mobile Communication Holdings Inc. (MCHI) announced plans last week to award a contract to build its Ellipso satellite telephone system to Boeing instead of Orbital Sciences Corp., the company originally selected for the job.

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO

3637
HEADLINE NEWS

Ariane 5 Upgrades Face Schedule Snags

PARIS European space officials are fighting to obtain a quick go-ahead for a package of Ariane 5 improvements so that the critical European launch vehicle is not left behind by U.S. and Russian booster programs seeking the same share of the launch services market.

By MICHAEL A. TAVERNA

3839
HEADLINE NEWS

New Upper Stage Stresses Commonality

PARIS Initial details of the new upper cryogenic stage proposed for the Ariane 5 heavy-lift booster were revealed here last week. Known as the ESC, the stage would be offered alongside a new reignitable version of the present storable propellant stage to make the launcher suitable for emerging market requirements.

By MICHAEL A. TAVERNA

4041
HEADLINE NEWS

Third Flight of Ariane 5 Set for Mid-September

Paris The third and final qualification flight for the Ariane 5 booster is now slated for mid-September, provided a paying customer is found for the mission’s second payload. Europe’s ARD atmospheric reentry demonstrator, weighing 2,716 kg.
4041
HEADLINE NEWS

Neurolab Mission Ends

Kennedy Space Center The orbiter Columbia approaches Runway 33 here May 3 to complete the Neurolab mission, which ends 15 years of Spacelab flights using European Space Agency hardware. NASA has decided against reflying Neurolab to save costs and retain flexibility to accommodate delays in initial flights to assemble the International Space Station.
4041
HEADLINE NEWS

Japanese Watchdog Agency Questions Need for J-l

TOKYO After completing its first extensive review of Japan's space activities, a national watchdog agency has said it is time for a thorough cost-scrubbing, starting with the National Space Development Agency’s little-used Nissan J-l launcher.

By EIICHIRO SEKIGAWA

4041
HEADLINE NEWS

AlliedSignal Buys Major Stake In Two GKN Subsidiaries

London AlliedSignal is buying a controlling interest in two subsidiaries of GKN Pic. U.K.-based Normalair-Garrett Ltd. (NGL) and U.S-based Hermetic Aircraft International Corp.-which both specialize in environmental control systems. GKN has agreed to sell a 4% interest in NGL to AlliedSignal, which already owns 48% of the 30-year-old joint venture enterprise, for 13.7 million pounds ($22.7 million).
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