November 2, 1998

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HEADLINE NEWS

Discovery Rockets Glenn Back Into Earth Orbit

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER Space shuttle Mission 95, which roared into orbit Oct. 29 with former astronaut Sen. John H. Glenn, Jr., on one of the most anticipated flights in the history of the U. S. space program, will reach the peak of its commercial and scientific research activities by midweek before reentry and landing planned for Nov. 7.

By CRAIG COVAULT

HEADLINE NEWS

X-33 Flight Slips Half-Year To December 1999

LOS ANGELES A five-month delay in the first flight of the NASA/Lockheed Martin X-33 single-stage-to-orbit testbed has refocused attention on the basic question of whether its technologies can really provide an economical, reusable launcher.

By MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM

HEADLINE NEWS

Space Storms Threaten Commercial Satellites

WASHINGTON Scientists tracking space “weather” are warning that communications networks are more vulnerable than ever to an approaching peak in solar storms, thanks to a surging reliance on space-based communications. High levels of solar activity are expected in 1999 as the Sun heads toward the solar maximum—the peak of its 11-year cycle—in early 2000.

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO

HEADLINE NEWS

DS1 Outbound After Post-Launch Scare

CAPE CANAVERAL PASADENA, CALIF. Ground controllers at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory are preparing for an initial firing of the large ion electric propulsion system on the Deep Space 1 spacecraft launched Oct. 24 on NASA’s first Med-Lite version of the Boeing Delta 2 booster.

By CRAIG COVAULT,MICHAEL A. DORNHEIM

HEADLINE NEWS

EH-101s Begin Flight Trials In North Sea Environment

London Two preproduction EH-101 civil transport helicopters have begun operating from Aberdeen airport in Scotland. This second phase of an intensive flight operations program will include simulated commercial and military missions in the hostile North Sea environment.

HEADLINE NEWS

Europe Set To Advance Major Military Programs

LE BOURGET and MARIGNANE, FRANCE European defense procurement agencies are poised to launch the decisive phases of major new missile and military helicopter programs. Last month, the French government issued a contract for definition of the ANF, a long-range supersonic antiship missile intended to succeed the Exocet.

By MICHAEL A. TAVERNA

October 261998

November 91998

November 2, 1998

November 2, 1998