February 12, 2001

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WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Destiny Laboratory Faces ISS Science, Software Challenges

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER The $1.4-billion U.S. Destiny laboratory, the single most expensive element of the International Space Station, is to be integrated with the ISS by the shuttle Atlantis crew this week during a flight that will also mark the largest block increase in station software and computer capability planned for the life of the 20-year program.

By CRAIG COVAULT6 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Twin Milsats Enhance Europe’s Telecom Net

KOUROU, FRENCH GUIANA The successful launch of a twin military telecommunications payload will reinforce Europe's defense and forward deployment capability, while highlighting continued difficulties in adopting a common approach to military space.

By MICHAEL A. TAVERNA5 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

U.K. Seeks To Bridge U.S.-Europe Divide

LONDON The U.K.’s latest strategic review sees the need for greater emphasis on defense cooperation within Europe, while seeking to ensure that such moves do not undermine transatlantic links with the U.S. Indeed, the U.K. is seeking to play the role of political bridge between Washington and its European allies, as initiatives on both sides of the Atlantic threaten to split the NATO alliance.

By JOHN D. MORROCCO5 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

CIA Details Proliferation Concerns, Other Threats

WASHINGTON Intelligence officials are witnessing a disturbing new trend in proliferation in which countries that obtained weapons through outside assistance are turning around and now reselling that capability to other states. The threat of what is being called “secondary proliferation” emanates largely from “maturing state-sponsored programs such as those in Pakistan, Iran and India,” Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet said in his wide-ranging, annual “world-wide threat” testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

By ROBERT WALL5 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

F-22 Production Faces Yet More Hurdles

BALTIMORE Having completed key requirements in the F-22 test program, Air Force officials are encountering a new obstacle in initiating production of the stealth fighter, a move by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to conduct a major review of Pentagon policy and programs.

By ROBERT WALL3 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

X-32A Ends Test Series

Los Angeles Boeing has finished flight testing the X-32A conventional version of its two Joint Strike Fighter prototypes, which was gathering data for the U.S. Air Force and Navy, and is readying the X-32B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) version for a first flight in March.

By Michael A. Dornheim3 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Airline-Sponsored Site Scrutinized in Congress

Washington A key member of Congress and the world’s largest association of travel agents want federal regulators to scrutinize or block the debut of Orbitz—an online ticket service that five major U.S. airlines hope to open in June.

By John Croft2 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Airlines Get Mediocre Report Card on Service

Washington U.S. airlines have improved their passenger service in the last six months, but fall short of what was promised a year ago when the carriers’ voluntary 12-point program was launched. Such is the blunt message contained in the highly anticipated Airline Customer Service Report to be released this week by the Transportation Dept.’s Office of Inspector General (IG), according to sources who have read the 100-plus-page document.

By Robert W. Moorman2 min

WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS

Nearly Projects Vying for ISS Research

Kennedy Space Center There are about 875 NASA-funded ground-based research efforts in the microgravity and life sciences fields advancing toward selection as flight research projects for the Destiny lab and other facilities on the ISS, according to ISS chief scientist Roger Crouch.

February 52001

February 192001

February 12, 2001

February 12, 2001

Airline Daggers Drawn In Merger Convulsion

By PAUL MANN8 min