July 6, 1998

July 6, 1998

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HEADLINE NEWS

Improved Air Defenses Prompt Pentagon Fears

By DAVID A. FULGHUM8 min

HEADLINE NEWS

ESA, NASA Struggle To Save Soho

By MICHAEL A. TAVERNA,JAMES R. ASKER6 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Many Changes Made to DarkStar

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM5 min

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HEADLINE NEWS

Improved Air Defenses Prompt Pentagon Fears

The mix of upgraded SAMs and a breakdown in U.S. ability to counter threats has shaken the military

By DAVID A. FULGHUM8 min

3233
HEADLINE NEWS

ESA, NASA Struggle To Save Soho

PARIS WASHINGTON Scientists are battling to reestablish contact with the joint European Space Agency/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (Soho), a $1-billion mission that is the keystone of a vast international program to explore the Sun and its surrounding region, the magnetosphere and the solar winds.

By MICHAEL A. TAVERNA,JAMES R. ASKER6 min

2629
HEADLINE NEWS

Many Changes Made to DarkStar

LOS ANGELES The Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and Boeing have made major changes to DarkStar since the first aircraft crashed, focusing on ground handling, transition between flight modes, abort techniques and reliability. However, the drone retains its autonomous flight philosophy, with no provision for pilot control of vehicle attitude.

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM5 min

3435
HEADLINE NEWS

Hughes Defends China Security

WASHINGTON Hughes Space & Communications Co. officials say they have strong security procedures in place to guard their satellites 24 hr. a day when they are in China, and maintain that their safeguards are adequate to protect against technology transfer—even when Defense Dept, monitors are absent.

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO4 min

2425
HEADLINE NEWS

DarkStar Beats Problems, Scores Successful Flight

WASHINGTON Lockheed Martin’s redesigned, stealthy unmanned aerial vehicle flew successfully last week, two years after a stall and crash at takeoff destroyed the first DarkStar airframe. The radar-deflecting UAV took off at 6:14 a.m., June 29 from the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB, Calif., for what was ultimately a 44-min. flight.

By DAVID A. FULGHUM4 min

2223
HEADLINE NEWS

Search Widens For New Radars

By David A. Fulghum3 min

3233
HEADLINE NEWS

CNES To Cut Share In Arianespace

Paris The French space agency CNES has confirmed that it intends to reduce its holdings in Arianespace. Industry has long been urging CNES to sell some or all of its 32.2% stake in the European launch company, but until now CNES management had been reticent about revealing its plans.

By Michael A. Taverna2 min

2629
HEADLINE NEWS

Shuttle Panels Being Modified

NASA is modifying heat rejection radiator panels on five sets of space shuttle orbiter payload bay doors to protect against increased particle strikes anticipated during future flights. According to NASA’s analysis, the number and frequency of multiple impacts in orbit are projected to increase during the next several years.

By Fort Worth2 min

4849
HONG KONG'S NEW AIRPORT

A First-Class Facility For Asia’s Busiest Hub

Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok is state-of-the-art, but a gloomy economy mars its July 6 opening

By MICHAEL MECHAM7 min

3637
AIR TRANSPORT

Europe Begins Retreat From State Subsidization

Court of Justice's decision on Air France furthers free trade, undercuts governmental interference

By PIERRE SPARACO5 min

June 291998 July 131998