Russia hopes to launch reusable spacecraft in 2012

Posted at: Mon Jan 30th, 2006

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Andrei Kislyakov) -- It does not sound likely that Russia will employ a reusable spacecraft in 2012 - but it is. On Friday, February 3, the Russian Space Agency is due to announce the developer of a new Russian reusable spacecraft.

NASA Eyeing Earlier Lunar Landing

Posted at: Mon Jan 30th, 2006

ATK Thiokol is preparing to begin work on a more powerful variant of the space shuttle solid-rocket motor it has long produced as part of a streamlined NASA exploration plan that would land astronauts on the Moon in early 2017, a year earlier than previously envisioned.

USAF tanker could cost $200B

Posted at: Mon Jan 30th, 2006

It will cost the U.S. Air Force between $109 billion and $200 billion to buy new planes to replace its fleet of 45-year-old refueling tankers, new analysis shows. But replacement may not need to begin for six to eight years, according to a long-awaited Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) drafted by the R...

NASA still hopeful of May launch

Posted at: Mon Jan 30th, 2006

Space agency veterans and outside space experts rarely agree on many issues surrounding NASA and the U.S. space program. But there is one constant piece of wisdom that comes out of their mouths often: Space flight is not like riding a bicycle. "It's just the very natu...

Missile defense in 2006: now more controversial than ever

Posted at: Mon Jan 30th, 2006

Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons, coupled with its existing missile development efforts, will bring more attention onto the state of missile defense efforts in the US. Taylor Dinerman examines the options the Defense Department faces given its decision not to...

Aviation majors queue up at IAF's doorsteps

Posted at: Mon Jan 30th, 2006

With the government about to issue global tenders for acquisition of 126 multi-role combat aircraft, more players, including Europe's new generation Eurofighter, are entering the bid for a contract estimated to be in the range of about $8-10 billion.

'MIGs to be replaced with MRCs gradually'

Posted at: Mon Jan 30th, 2006

JAMMU: The Indian Air Force would phase out the MIG aircraft in a gradual manner and replace these with Multi Roll Combat fighters, being purchased from the US and Russia, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Air Marshal AK Singh said in Jammu.

Budget to Call for Cuts In Military Reserves - $4 Billion Cut From Jet Programs

Posted at: Mon Jan 30th, 2006

President Bush will use his new budget to propose cutting the size of the Army Reserve to its lowest level in three decades and stripping as much as $4 billion from two fighter aircraft programs. The proposals, likely to face opposition on Capitol Hill, come as the Defense Department ...

NAS Pax River Facility to Test Lockheed Martin Stealth Fighters for the Navy and Marine Corps

Posted at: Mon Jan 30th, 2006

PATUXENT RIVER, Md., Jan. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Navy has dedicated a $24 million facility at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., for testing of the Navy and Marine Corps' newest jets: the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) F-35B and F-35C Joint ...

CIA beefs killer drone force

Posted at: Mon Jan 30th, 2006

Despite protests from other nations, the United States is expanding a top-secret effort to kill suspected terrorists with drone-fired missiles as it pursues an increasingly decentralized al-Qaeda. A failed January 13 bid to assassinate al-Qaeda second-in-command Ayman Zawahiri in Paki...