June 1, 1998

June 1, 1998

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HEADLINE NEWS

Chinese Army May Use Next U.S. Satellite

By CRAIG COVAULT

HEADLINE NEWS

China Controversy Has Complex Roots

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO

HEADLINE NEWS

Motorola Begins To Work On Teledesic Design Requirements

By Bruce A. Smith

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2223
HEADLINE NEWS

Chinese Army May Use Next U.S. Satellite

CAPE CANAVERAL A Chinese Long March booster set for liftoff late last week from Xichang is to carry a new $100-million U.S.-built communications spacecraft that will be operated by a Chinese telecommunications firm with corporate ties extending to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

By CRAIG COVAULT

2223
HEADLINE NEWS

China Controversy Has Complex Roots

WASHINGTON Commercial satellite executives are dismayed by the furor in Congress over the alleged transfer of missile-related technology to China, and fret that the highly charged political climate in Washington could have a severe impact on the industry.

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO

2425
HEADLINE NEWS

Motorola Begins To Work On Teledesic Design Requirements

Los Angeles Motorola is planning to build another spacecraft manufacturing facility that will be used to support production of the currently planned 288-satellite constellation for the Teledesic global broadband communications system.

By Bruce A. Smith

2627
HEADLINE NEWS

U.S. Army Ponders Comanche Restructure

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. The U.S. Army and Boeing Sikorsky are considering plans that would lead to accelerated integration of the Longbow attack system into the RAH-66 Comanche. Plans now being weighed would place the Longbow system on the first production Comanches when they are fielded in 2006.

By STANLEY W. KANDEBO

2627
HEADLINE NEWS

House Shakes Up Bungled Missile

WASHINGTON The House of Representatives has ordered selection of an additional contractor and a major funding shift in a bid to fix an Army/Lockheed Martin antimissile interceptor that has failed five times in five flight tests and is four years behind schedule.

By PAUL MANN

3031
HEADLINE NEWS

Clinton, Congress Act Against Terrorism

WASHINGTON Teaming with the White House, lawmakers have authorized a pilot program that would enable the FBI to help federal, state and local agencies obtain the appropriate equipment and training to shore up domestic preparedness against terrorist attacks with nuclear, biological or chemical weapons of mass destruction.

By PAUL MANN

3031
HEADLINE NEWS

Station Partners Affirm ISS Delay to Late 1998

Kennedy Space Center Launch of initial elements for the International Space Station will be delayed until at least November and December and later station assembly milestones pushed 5-6 months downstream under a plan being approved late last week by the program’s international partners.

By Craig Covault

3233
HEADLINE NEWS

Turkey, Russia at Crossroads Over Missile Transfer to Cyprus

MOSCOW During a rare but critical visit to Russia, Turkey’s top military official, Gen. Ismail Hakki Karadayi, conveyed his country’s concerns over Moscow’s support to Iran on missile technologies and the proposed sale of surface-to-air S-300 PMU-01 missiles to Cyprus.

By METEHAN DEMIR,NICOLAY NOVICHKOV

3233
HEADLINE NEWS

DASA Chief Urges Fast Track On European Consolidation

BERLIN Manfred Bischoff, chairman and CEO of Daimler-Benz Aerospace, while optimistic that agreement can be reached on consolidation of European aerospace and defense industries, warned that time is running out. In an interview with Aviation Week & Space Technology during the closing days of the Berlin air show, Bischoff said European consolidation is a prerequisite for true transatlantic partnerships.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO

3637
AIR TRANSPORT

Boeing Starts Work On 747-400X

SEATTLE Boeing has begun detailed design of an increased gross weight, longer-range 747-400 transport, chipping away at the potential market for the planned 550-seat Airbus A3XX family. Although Seattle-based Boeing usually waits for a launch customer before beginning detailed design, it is confident this new version, designated the -400X, will sell, according to Brian Norwood, product strategy manager.

By PAUL PROCTOR,GEOFFREY THOMAS

May 251998 June 81998