October 26, 1998

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HEADLINE NEWS

John Glenn Poised for Historic Scientific, Commercial Flight

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Shuttle Mission 95 is set for liftoff this week on a flight in which NASA hopes to bridge its historic past with its goals for the future by returning 77-year-old Project Mercury astronaut/Sen. John H. Glenn, Jr., to space 36 years after he became the first American to orbit the Earth.

By CRAIG COVAULT7 min

HEADLINE NEWS

Ariane 5 Booster Completes Qualification Program

KOUROU, FRENCH GUIANA Europe’s Ariane 5 booster has successfully finished its qualification test campaign on its third attempt, preparing the way for the new heavy-lift launcher to enter service. The Oct. 21 liftoff, at 1:37:21 p.m. (local time) eased the concerns of a European space community that was well aware of the consequences of another failure.

By MICHAEL A. TAVERNA5 min

HEADLINE NEWS

ARD Flies With GPS

KOUROU, FRENCH GUIANA Europe’s Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator completed a high-precision flight and splashdown last week in the first complete space mission, from launch to recovery, ever flown by a European spacecraft. The unmanned, 3-axis stabilized demonstrator, about 50% the size of an operational vehicle, is intended to help Europe acquire the reentry technology that will be necessary for future manned and unmanned reusable space transportation systems (AW&ST June 8, p. 38).

ELECTRONIC WARFARE

New F/A-18 EW Suite Encounters Large Cost Rise, But Small Delay

PATUXENT RIVER, MD. Lockheed Martin/Sanders and ITT Industries, which are jointly developing the ALQ-214 Radio Frequency Countermeasures (RFCM) subsystem for the Navy’s F/A-18E/F and the USAF’s B-1B, recently have delivered the first four prototype systems for laboratory tests.

By PHILIP J. KIASS8 min

SEOUL AIR SHOW PREVIEW

South Korea Adjusts To IMF-Driven Realities

HONG KONG Much has changed in the two years since South Korea sponsored its first air show, but the country’s resolve to be counted among the world’s leading aerospace manufacturing nations has not. As 155 exhibitors from 17 countries gather for the Oct. 26-Nov. 1 Seoul Air Show ’98, Korea’s debilitating financial crisis has the aerospace divisions of three major chaebols, or family-controlled corporations, jockeying for position to meet a government-ordered industry consolidation.

By BRUCE DORMINEY6 min

ELECTRONIC WARFARE

Miniature Air-Launched Decoy Confronts Cost, Jamming Options

WASHINGTON Flight testing is about to begin on the Miniature Air-Launched Decoy that could boost growing interest within the Defense Dept. in using the system for more than just spoofing enemy air defense radars. MALD carries an electronic emitter payload that makes the small, 91-in.-long vehicle look like a fighter or bomber to a radar, while the flight-control computer replicates the flight characteristics of those aircraft.

By ROBERT WALL6 min

NBAA '98 REPORT

Can Manufacturers Handle a Downturn?

LAS VEGAS Barring a dramatic deterioration in the U.S. economy in 1999, major business jet manufacturers believe they are well-positioned to weather a cyclical downturn or even a mild recession next year. That message came through loud and clear at the National Business Aviation Assn.’s 51st annual meeting and convention in Las Vegas last week.

By ANTHONY L. VELOCCI6 min

October 191998

November 21998

October 26, 1998

October 26, 1998