Russia is muttering about the possibility of moving its launch operations entirely to Plesetsk, but this is thought to be mostly a bargaining position in hopes of getting a better deal out of Kazakhstan for use of Tyuratam (nee Baikonur) -- the move would be expensive and the higher latitude would be awkward.
Japan to build a new test site for aircraft and rocket engines at Chitose military base.
Article on sightings of a large aircraft somewhat resembling the old XB-70; some features suggest it might be suitable as a launch aircraft for space missions. AW&ST speculates that this is the first stage of a two-stage launch system with a small payload to orbit, noting that (a) a fast-track development of such a system could have been attractive to DoD after the Challenger disaster and the other launch failures around that time, (b) it would be particularly attractive if it were a flexible system capable of launching something on very short notice, (c) this could explain why SR-71 operations were shut down in favor of satellites despite the relative inflexibility of known satellite systems [although I think an adequate explanation for *that* episode can be found in a more mundane fact: the USAF was paying for SR-71 operations while the CIA was the major user of the data], (d) several satellite manufacturers have announced availability of small-satellite buses even though none of them will admit to having built any, (e) even the NASP people will admit (quietly) that a two-stage system is easier and probably cheaper, (f) the USAF is known to have studied such concepts, and (g) both employment and income at the Lockheed "Skunk Works" are a lot higher than known programs will account for, Lockheed classified programs now being worth nearly half a billion a year to the company. [It's an interesting theory, although I would classify most of this evidence as rather thin, indicating that such a program is possible rather than indicating that it is likely.]
United Airlines 747 reports a near-encounter with a wingless aircraft about the size of an F-16, probably supersonic, which apparently was not visible to LA center's radar. DoD and USAF say it's not one of theirs, but "we're not the only ones with strange projects". It was described as resembling the forward fuselage of an SR-71, which does match up with an object seen being moved on the ground at Lockheed's Skunk Works some months ago.
The security fuss at Ames has taken on a new twist: it appears that Americans of Asian descent were disproportionately selected as targets. Of the five Ames employees sent home on leave pending investigation, all are US citizens... but three are "Korean-Americans", one a "Chinese- American", and the fifth is married to a "Japanese-American". [These fuzzy terms give no hint whether these people are naturalized citizens born in those countries, or native-born USAnians with ancestors from those countries.] "Asian-Americans" appear to have been prominent among those whose offices were searched as well. It's particularly odd because some of these people are doing completely unclassified basic research of no commercial relevance. Goldin has met with representatives of the "Asian-American" community at Ames and has promised an investigation into these oddities. Nothing has yet been said about the reason for the security raid.
Formation of a new "red team" within NASA to investigate ways of reducing space-transport costs associated with Fred. (This grew out of the observation that the access-to-space red team and the human-presence-in- space [I do wish they would just say "manned spaceflight" -- it seems to be Cutesy Euphemism Week] red team had a lot of overlap.) Goldin says the new team is looking at transport options, notably unmanned heavylift vehicles, and is *not* going to look at redesigning Fred yet again. The panel is chaired by Griffin and is composed mostly of non-station non- shuttle NASA people, with notable exceptions of John Cox (station deputy manager) and Max Faget and Caldwell Johnson (prominent manned-spacecraft designers no longer with NASA).
Russia's Raduga Machine-Building Design Bureau announces a reworking of its Burlak air-launched booster, eliminating the wing and increasing both cargo volume and cargo mass (e.g. to 1100kg in low equatorial orbit). Raduga says some prototype hardware has been built and the goal is commercial launches in 1995.
There is nothing wrong with making | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology mistakes, but... make *new* ones. -D.Sim| henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry