Aerospace News

Launch: Nov. 14, 2008, 6:55 p.m. CST Landing: Nov. 30, 2008, 3:25 p.m. CST

You can own rare piece of aviation history if you make the winning bid for it on eBay. Aerocar serial number 2, registration N103D, is for sale.

A small group of Airmen helped transform a once empty building into a fully functional hospital at Camp Hero in Kandahar Province that is now staffed by Afghan national army personnel and capable of caring for ANA soldiers, Afghan national police members, and their families.

The Kandahar Regional Military Hospital is a $10 million facility featuring 50-beds, two operating rooms and an intensive care unit. 

In addition, there is ongoing construction for a 50-bed expansion. Since opening its doors in January 2008, the hospital staff has treated more than 12,000 outpatients and 600 inpatients.
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Verne Orr, the fourteenth secretary of the Air Force, died Nov. 27 at age 92 in his home in Pasadena, Calif.  He served under President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1985.

"Former Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr was a leader and a professional committed to the United States Air Force and our nation during a crucial period of change," said current Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. "Although he served during a time of increased defense spending and modernization, he will be remembered most for his deep commitment to our Airmen and their families. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends as they mourn the loss of their loved one."
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A Bloomberg News item dated Nov. 26 said that General Motors Corporation, much-criticized by lawmakers for its use of corporate jets, has asked the FAA to block the public's ability to track a leased corporate jet it uses.

DayJet, a pioneering per-seat, on-demand very light jet air-taxi firm, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which is liquidation, Nov. 28.

Build A Plane has just started its annual fundraising auction on eBay. "The on-line auction is a great place to find unusual gifts for pilots and aviation enthusiasts everywhere," said Build A Plane's Executive Director, Katrina Bradshaw. "We get lots of wonderful support for our eBay auction."

A completely restored 1929 Ford 4-AT-E Tri-Motor will be auctioned on January 17 during - of all things - the 38th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.

With the global financial markets extending their record-level volatility and generally downward spirals, at least one industry is making a case for space exploration investing. For financial advisers, the key is to recognize that 71% of the $251 billion "space economy" is spent on commercial applications such as satellite broadcasting and global positioning systems, and not traditional Department of Defense and NASA spending. "An awful lot of what works on the surface of the earth is because of what's going on in space," said Elliot Pulham, president and chief executive of the Space Foundation, a Colorado Springs, Colo.-based trade association. "The space industry has evolved over the past 10 years or so from one that was driven by government to one that is now driven by the commercial sector," he added. That point will be emphasized in New York in June when the 25-year-old association will host its second annual Space Business Forum, which is designed to bring together industry representatives and Wall Street investment professionals.

Space shuttle Endeavour landed safely Sunday afternoon at California's Edwards Air Force Base after NASA waved off two opportunities for a Florida landing because of poor weather. The shuttle, steered by commander Christopher Ferguson, landed at 1:25 p.m., ending a mission that lasted more than two weeks. Wind, rain and reports of thunderstorms within 30 miles of the shuttle landing facility at Florida's Kennedy Space Center prompted NASA to cancel the landing attempts there. Those had been scheduled for 1:19 p.m. and 2:54 p.m. ET.

Re "NASA's Black Hole Budgets," by Alan Stern (Op-Ed, Nov. 24): Many of the points that Dr. Stern makes have some validity, but he doesn't sufficiently acknowledge the huge political constraints imposed on NASA. The overruns Dr. Stern rails against result primarily from very poor cost estimates when a start-up is first approved. The NASA Advisory Council and Michael D. Griffin, NASA's administrator, have worked together to force program offices in the Science Missions Directorate and the centers that carry out its projects to produce far more realistic start-up cost estimates.

A Russian cosmonaut used a joystick to guide a modernized cargo ship to the international space station Sunday after problems with an automated system prompted a last-minute switch to a manual docking. The Progress M-01M craft docked safely with the station on schedule, Russian Mission Control spokesman Valery Lyndin said. It delivered thousands of pounds of propellant, oxygen and water as well as equipment, hardware and holiday gifts for cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov and his two American crew mates. But the docking was the first for a new model of Russia's the long-serving Progress line of cargo ships--equipped with a fully digital telemetric system--and Lyndin said problems with the automatic docking procedure prompted the switch to manual docking.

If only cars could last so long. This month, a satellite resembling a shiny spinning drum and orbiting 21,156 miles above Earth celebrated its 41st birthday, astounding engineers and scientists, some of them the children of those who built it. For years, the satellite has served as an emergency communications link for rescue operations, including the 1985 Mexico City earthquake and the 1980 Mt. St. Helens volcanic eruption. It was supposed to live for only three years when it was launched in 1967. That's when Lyndon B. Johnson was president and bell-bottom pants were the rage. But the spacecraft, known as ATS 3, isn't alone. Many satellites are operating well past their life expectancy, so much so that manufacturers are hurting from lack of demand for new, replacement satellites.

The labs at San Antonio Military Medical Center-South recently received a two-year accreditation from the AABB, an organization recognized by the industry for monitoring and advancing transfusion and cellular therapies worldwide.

The accreditation involved an intensive on-site assessment by AABB evaluators Nov. 18 and 19. 

Their findings proved that the labs at SAMMC-South, formerly known as the Wilford Hall Medical Center, met or exceeded their stringent standards. The AABB inspects approximately 1,800 facilities across the United States and abroad.
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Thousands of U.S. military men and women are deployed across the globe promoting democracy, guarding freedom and fighting terrorism. They are the fingers of the nation's military, extending its reach and capabilities on an international scope. 

But as the events of Sept. 11, 2001, demonstrated, the United States is not impervious to attack. In the aftermath of these tragic actions, Department of Defense officials began to look at homeland defense in a whole new light. 
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Reports prompt U.S. Air Force to ask industry to explore options for quick delivery of a space-based missile warning system.

"This is the White House switchboard, can you hear me OK?"

With that, Senior Airman Victoria Drefs was finally convinced that her fellow Airmen in the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron's petroleum oil and lubricants shop were not playing another prank on her.

Airman Drefs, a native of Armour, S.D., and three-year Air Force veteran, was one of two deployed Air Force members selected to receive a Thanksgiving Day morale call from President George W. Bush.
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A team of 48 U.S. servicemembers and seven helicopters from the Honduras-based Joint Task Force-Bravo deployed to Panama and Costa Rica the last week of November to help communities impacted by heavy rains and flooding.

The team, composed of aviation and medical personnel, is supporting rescue and recovery efforts in coordination with national disaster response organizations from each country.

Authorities in both countries declared a state of emergency and submitted requests for assistance through their respective U.S. embassies after persistent rains resulted in several deaths and endangered thousands of residents near Limon, Costa Rica, as well as western Panama and other areas along the Caribbean coast.
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The GroundBot is a spherical sentry designed to roll up to 6 mph through just about anything—mud, sand, snow and even water. Two gyroscopically steadied wide-angle cameras and a suite of sensors give remote operators a real-time, 360-degree view of the landscape, letting them zoom in on prowlers or detect gas leaks, radioactivity and biohazards.

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Kenneth Dandy, long-time vice president and general manager of the Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group, has retired after 44 years with the company.

Recently elected officers for Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA)'s World Business Partner (WBP)/Associates Board of Directors include Robert Hazel, a partner with consulting firm Oliver Wyman, as chairman, and Laddie E. Irion, vice president and director of air transportation at URS Corp., as vice chair. Both are elected for one-year terms.

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 30, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets dropped a guided bomb unit-12 and GBU-38s and coalition aircraft fired cannon rounds against anti-coalition members who were hiding in a compound in the vicinity of Shurakian. The missions were confirmed a success by on-scene joint terminal attack controllers.
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Chicago residents are just beginning to come to grips with what it means to them to have the President of the United States living in their hometown. Local reporters are exploring the impact of presidential security arrangements.

New flight and passenger information requirements for international GA flights will go into effect Dec. 18. AOPA created a guide to help you navigate the new Customs and Border Protection rule.

AOPA filed formal comments in response to an Environmental Protection Agency notice concerning greenhouse gas emissions, pointing out that piston powered aircraft account for about one-tenth of 1 percent of total emissions.

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the first construction flight for the International Space Station, NASA Television will provide sound bites and video b-roll featuring the commander of that space shuttle mission.

NASA will recognize Armadillo Aerospace, the winner of the 2008 Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge, during a ceremony at 10 a.m. on Dec. 5 at NASA Headquarters, 300 E Street, SW, Washington.

Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew landed at 1:25 p.m. PST Sunday at Edwards Air Force Base in California, completing a 16-day journey of more than 6.6 million miles.

The space shuttle Endeavour crew is expected to complete its mission with a landing at 1:19 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 30

The residents of the International Space Station will receive a new shipment of fuel, food, supplies and holiday gifts on Sunday, Nov. 30.

The combined crews of shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station have sent a special greeting to members of the American military in time for the upcoming holiday season.

"Being here really makes you appreciate the sacrifices these wounded warriors have made and when you put them on a plane after they recovered from their injuries you know they're going back out there to put their lives on the line all over again," says a nurse as she wipes away a tear from her eye. "I get choked up just thinking about it."

The men and women working in the Wounded Warrior Center of Excellence, members of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group at an air base in Southwest Asia, provide health care and comfort to ambulatory patients with injuries sustained in a combat zone. Their goal: nursing them back to fighting form.
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Overhead turns of the magnitude executed upon the return of the unpowered, 100-ton glider are relatively rare.

After 13 straight wins, No. 11 Air Force fell to No. 9 Denver, 4-1, in a non-conference college hockey game at a sold out Magness Arena in Denver, Colo. Air Force fell to 13-1 on the season while Denver improved to 9-5-1 overall.

Air Force was the last undefeated and untied team in the nation and has only trailed in two of the 14 games this season.

Falcon goaltender Andrew Volkening made 12 saves in the first period as the game was scoreless in the opening period. Denver opened the scoring in the second period with a power-play goal by Rhett Rakhshani. Jesse Martin and Joe Colborne assisted on the play as Volkening was down on the ice and Rakhshani shot into an open net on the right side of the crease.
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Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 29, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. 

In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II fired cannon rounds against anti-coalition members who were emplacing improvised explosive devices on the side of a known travel route in the vicinity of Gardez. The mission was confirmed a success by the on-scene joint terminal attack controller. 
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Endeavour astronauts are beginning what is scheduled to be their flight's landing day.

The seven member crew of Endeavour returned to Earth today, landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 28, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, an Air Force MQ-9 Reaper used Hellfire missiles against anti-Afghan forces carrying weapons and moving away from a compound in the vicinity of Bolocan. Furthermore, coalition aircraft performed shows of force to deter enemy activities in the same area. The missions were confirmed a success by the on-scene joint terminal attack controllers.
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Air Force goaltender Andrew Volkening made 28 saves and the Falcons killed all nine Colorado College power plays as the 11th-ranked Falcons defeated the third-ranked Tigers, 4-1, in front of a sellout crowd of 3,063 at the Cadet Ice Arena.

The Falcons remain the only undefeated and untied team in the nation, improving to 13-0-0 on the season. Colorado College fell to 8-4-3.

Three of Air Force's lines scored in the game and the Falcons scored a power-play goal, a short-handed goal, a four-on-four goal and a five-on-five goal.
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As Endeavour?s crew prepares for landing, mission managers are closely monitoring a cold front that could affect Sunday?s entry and landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Endeavour astronauts are beginning a day of preparations to return home.

Now that the space shuttle has undocked, crew has two landing opportunities on Nov. 30, at 1:18 p.m. and 3:54 p.m. EST

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 27, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. 

In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs fired cannon rounds, and a Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet dropped a guided bomb unit-38 onto anti-Afghan forces in the vicinity of Morghab. The missions were confirmed a success by on-scene joint terminal attack controllers. 
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The November 28, 2008, issue of AOPA's weekly e-mail newsletter.

The November 28, 2008, issue of AOPA's weekly e-mail newsletter.

It?s undocking day. The space shuttle Endeavour and its seven-astronaut crew are scheduled to leave the International Space Station at 8:47 a.m. CST.

The space shuttle Endeavour and International Space Station parted ways at 8:47 a.m. CST. The shuttle crew then turned its attention to inspecting Endeavour?s heat shield to prepare for landing Sunday.

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 26, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II fired cannon rounds onto anti-Afghan forces who were firing rocket propelled grenades and mortars at coalition forces from behind a ridgeline in the vicinity of Nangalam. The mission was confirmed a success by the on-scene joint terminal attack controller. 
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After Thanksgiving dinner with their hosts on the International Space Station, the seven members of the space shuttle Endeavour crew will board their spacecraft, close its hatches and make final preparations for Friday?s undocking.

The crews of Endeavour and the International Space Station bid one another farewell on Thanksgiving Day, closing the hatches between the two spacecraft at 6:31 p.m. CST. The two crews conducted joint operations for 11 days, 15 minutes.

A sometimes difficult logistics and repair flight results in more robust water reclamation and power system for station

Lufthansa Technik's restoration of a Lockheed L-1649A Super Star (Super Constellation Starliner) took a major step forward when the airplane was moved on November 20 into a new hangar at Auburn-Lewiston Airport in Maine, according to an Aviation International News report.

When her husband deployed to Iraq in January of 2006, Sonja McDonald decided to spend her time waiting for his return home, raising money to help wounded warriors and their families.

Mrs. McDonald is married to Capt. Jim McDonald, a nurse at San Antonio Military Medical Center-North, formally known as Brooke Army Medical Center. Mrs. McDonald and her husband are working to help make the war-torn lives of those who are in Iraq and Afghanistan and returning from there a little bit better. 
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NASA is investigating the best methods for monitoring brain activity as part of a study designed to help airplane pilots realize when they are operating under dangerous levels of stress, fatigue and distraction.

Amin Khoury, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of B/E Aerospace, Inc. has been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2008 national award winner in the distribution and manufacturing category.

Beyond the wire of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing spans an area covered not only in sand but potential explosive hazards, aging from as far back as the Gulf War fighting that took place here in the early 90s. 

This time of year, the same area is inhabited by host-nation locals who follow a tradition of setting up camps, often with their families and livestock, during the winter months.

Airmen of the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight are clearing the way for these local campers to enjoy the area in safety. 
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The "coffee machine" is perking along. The machine that is designed to recycle astronauts' sweat, urine and waste water into drinking water aboard the International Space Station seems to have gotten over its initial balkiness, thanks to round-the-clock analysis by engineers on the ground and a great deal of tinkering by astronaut handymen. Astronaut Donald R. Pettit calls the system the "coffee machine" because, as he put it, "it's going to take yesterday's coffee and make it into today's coffee."

As a candidate for President, Barack Obama made a splash by answering a question about whether he would be willing to meet with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea. The episode started as a gaffe, but became a compelling anecdote in Obama's narrative about change. The story has become part of the hagiography, serving as a turning point in Ryan Lizza's profile of Obama's campaign. When worried staffers are preparing to do damage control during the primaries, Obama tells them that not to run from the debate. Yet the most surprising conversation that Obama is willing to have doesn't concern Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, or North Korea. It concerns outer space. In a little remarked survey for the Arms Control Association, then-candidate Obama said something surprising: "In addition to unilateral steps needed to protect our interests in space, I will pursue negotiations of an agreement that would ban testing anti-satellite weapons."

In their cocoons of leather upholstery, soothing high-tech sound systems and automatically activated personal seat settings, drivers have come to regard their car interiors as mobile extensions of the homes that are their private refuges. The courts have tended to disagree. Global positioning systems and factory-installed "black box" event data recorders effectively keep late-model vehicles under 24/7 surveillance, providing evidence that can place a suspect at a crime scene, undermine an alibi, expose a cheating spouse or prove liability in an accident.

Europe's space agency on Tuesday began mapping out how to share the cost of an ambitious slate of future missions, including a robotic Mars rover and satellites for monitoring climate change. On Wednesday, ministers from the 18 nations that make up the European Space Agency were to conclude two days of talks on footing the bill for euro10.4 billion ($13.28 billion) worth of projects the agency is planning for the coming years.

Indian scientists are exploring various options to cool down a sudden surge of temperature inside the country's first unmanned lunar craft, Chandrayaan 1. The temperature inside the satellite has gone over 50C, prompting scientists to take drastic measures. They say that the problem arose because of very hot temperatures during the lunar orbit. The mission is regarded as a major step for India as it seeks to keep pace with other space-faring nations in Asia.

The Air Force chief of staff visited Barksdale Air Force Base Nov. 25 to familiarize himself with the base's mission.

Gen. Norton Schwartz and his wife, Suzie, came to Barksdale AFB and the senior Air Force military member met base and community leaders, visited several squadrons on base and answered Airmen's questions. 

At an Airmen's Call at Hoban Hall on base, General Schwartz lauded base members for their recent no-notice Nuclear Surety Inspection. 
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This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on easing deployment stress through personal and family readiness.

Airmen with financial, family or other personal concerns may struggle to perform their duties at 100 percent efficiency at home station or abroad.

The Airman and Family Readiness Center helps equip Airmen and their families with the skills they need to deal with the unique demands of military lifeby offering education and support programs for both military and family members during deployments. 
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Hundreds of Airmen from the Air Force Personnel Center here ran through the streets around Airmen's Heritage Park here Nov. 25 in honor of Air Force wounded warriors.

AFPC officials hosted the run as part of Warrior Care Month to honor the sacrifices of Air Force wounded warriors and to increase awareness and support for them.

Maj. Gen. K.C. McClain, the AFPC commander, introduced the event acknowledging Warrior Care Month and AFPC's role in supporting wounded warriors.
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A Department of Defense's Voluntary Protection Program initial site assessment team visited Cannon AFB Nov. 3 - 7. 

The team visited various work areas on base to give commanders and other personnel some guidance on going above and beyond complying with safety standards and be awarded the program's "star" status for their installation. 

Star status is designed for installations demonstrating a detailed and successful safety and health management programs. 
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The Plasma Science and Applications Committee of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers selected an Air Force Office of Scientific Research program manager for the 2009 Plasma Science and Applications award.

The committee chose Dr. Robert Barker for his "outstanding contributions to the field of plasma science in research or new applications."

The Air Force is interested in research supported by Dr. Barker in the area of cold air plasmas in which air molecules are broken down into ions and electrons. The resulting nonburning cold air plasma is very efficient at absorbing or bending microwave signals.
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Andersen Air Force Base Airmen sharpened their expeditionary skills during Exercise Dragon Thunder Nov. 17 through 21 here.

Members of the from the 644th Combat Communications Squadron set up camp under a sea of camouflage netting in tents filled with towers of electronic equipment for the field training exercise set in the fictional location, "Guamania."

The 644th CBCS Airmen come from a diverse array of career fields ranging from network control center operators to electrical power production technicians.
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With the wingspan of a B-29 bomber, the WhiteKnightTwo is the largest all-carbon-fiber aircraft ever built. Its mission is to carry a smaller craft, SpaceShipTwo, and drop it at 48,000 feet, where it will blast off into suborbital space with paying passengers—in 2010, if all goes well.

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In the first video we see footage of a fireball generated by a large meteor recently sighted careening over the skies of western Canada. Impressively bright! Since we get only a brief glimpse of the action we've also included another amazing video, below, of a meteor streaking over Guadalajara. It's a common misconception that the heat generated from meteors impacting the atmosphere is due to friction. In fact it's due to a thermodynamic process known as adiabatic compression. Let's see how this works.

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There is already an informal agreement to increase the science budget by 3.5 percent per year, France's space minister says.

Air Force researchers working with industry here have developed and effectively demonstrated a portable, nondestructive evaluation technology that measures in real time the electrical properties of specialty materials underneath the exterior coating of advanced military aircraft.

The new technology, referred to as the R-Card Characterization too, or RCC, is a handheld maintenance and support device that enables maintainers to verify the characteristics of specialty materials beneath the aircraft's protective topcoat, where they are not readily accessible for inspection. 
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If you're looking to attack a pirate ship, forget cutlasses and cannon balls. Go full speed ahead with an MP3 sonic blast. At least that's the latest method being used in sea warfare, as highlighted last week when a sonic blast was used to scare away Somali pirates from attacking a chemical tanker close to the Horn of Africa.

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Learn more about the plane, after the jump.

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Incirlik Air Base members reached out to help citizens of Incirlik by renovating a village park with fresh paint, landscaping and equipment Nov. 15 in the village just outside the base. 

About 75 base volunteers ventured out to the nearby Incirlik Village park to give Turkish children a nicer place to play and a renovated area for the community to gather.

Master Sgt. Edward Gunter of the 39th Operations Squadron and his wife, Darcy, worked with Chaplain (Lt. Col.) James Tims, the 39th Air Base Wing chapel, to get this project underway. They researched the different aspects of the project and then compiled a team to take on the project.
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Rotax aircraft engine expert Phillip Lockwood will hold a seminar at the FAA Production Studio on the campus of Sun 'n Fun Inc., January 3. His presentation is an introduction to operating and maintaining the Rotax 912 series engines for pilots and mechanics.

The long-anticipated "Gathering of Mustangs & Legends Commemorative DVD" is available now for pre-order. The 90-minute long DVD commemorates the once-in-a-lifetime Gathering of Mustangs & Legends air show, held at Rickenbacker International Airport in Columbus, Ohio in September of 2007.

Cirrus Design Corporation told its work force on Nov. 25 that aircraft production for the month of December will be reduced "significantly." As a result, a number of employees will be subject to short-term furlough at its Duluth and Grand Forks facilities, the notice said. However, employees were assured that all will be returning to work on January 5.

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs fired cannon rounds onto anti-Afghan forces who were firing rocket-propelled grenades at coalition forces from multiple directions in the vicinity of Nangalam. The missions were confirmed a success by an on-scene joint terminal attack controllers.
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Five crew members from MTV came to Fairchild Air Force Base Nov. 17 for a firsthand glimpse of what the Air Force has to offer. 

MTV's "How to Show" has celebrities demonstrating how to do a variety of things through a step-by-step format, and the Air Force joined MTV to show how Airmen survive, evade, resist and escape behind enemy lines.

During the planning process, many different scenarios for the "How To Show" were discussed among officials from MTV, the Air Force Recruiting Service and GSD&M Idea City (a marketing company employed by the Air Force), as to what the Air Force could offer the show. 
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During a November 24 meeting with President-elect Barack Obama's Department of Transportation transition team, AOPA President-elect Craig Fuller wasted no time letting the incoming administration know that aviation needs to be a top priority.

In an effort to cut costs and make the National Aeronautical Charting Office's Chart Agent Network more efficient, the FAA has informed chart agents about its plan to raise the minimum sales threshold for chart agents.

The Air Force has proposed creating a military operations area (MOA) near Delta Junction, Alaska. This would make permanent what the Air Force has been using as a temporary MOA, or TMOA, periodically for the past three years.

The International Space Station?s moving van, Leonardo, is back in Endeavour?s payload bay, ready to return materials to Earth.

Video updates reporting progress made on NASA's newest family of exploration vehicles -- the Ares I crew launch vehicle and Ares V heavy cargo launch vehicle -- are now featured on iTunes.

NASA is investigating the best methods for monitoring brain activity as part of a study designed to help airplane pilots realize when they are operating under dangerous levels of stress, fatigue and distraction.

The Multi-purpose Logistics Module Leonardo will take the first small step in its lengthy journey back to Earth today as crews of Endeavour and the International Space Station finish its packing and move it from the station to the shuttle?s cargo bay.

One of the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers, retired Brig. Gen. Maurice A. Cristadoro Jr., 88, died Nov. 22. His wake and funeral will be held Nov. 28 in Pensacola, Fla.

Air Force Space Command officials inducted General Cristadoro to the Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2006 for his contributions to the Air Force space and missile program.

General Cristadoro was assigned to Western Development Division as deputy director of the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile program and later as its program director.  He was responsible for all aspects of Atlas acquisition, which had the highest national priority. 
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Tests of station joint spinning solar arrays suggest periodic follow-up lube jobs may be enough for smooth operation

Defense Department officials here completed more than 90 percent of the tasks they set out to accomplish in a language plan that launched four years ago.
 
Known as the Defense Language Transformation Roadmap, this broad strategy aims to address national shortfalls in foreign language skills in the United States. 

Current efforts are helping to equip the department and the military with improved language and cultural proficiency skills to better meet today's diverse security demands.
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The Pacific theater is large, diverse and complicated, but the Airmen of Pacific Air Forces are up to the challenge, according to a senior PACAF leader speaking in Los Angeles Nov. 20.

Lt. Gen. Chip Utterback, 13th Air Force commander, kicked off the Air Force Association Global Warfare Symposium with a briefing on how PACAF approaches the vast Pacific theater, home to 36 countries, nearly 60 percent of the world's population and six of the world's largest armed forces.

"We are first and foremost challenged in the Pacific by the tyranny of time and distance," General Utterback said. "That calculus drives virtually everything I do as a warfighter in the Pacific. It drives our planning (and) it drives our execution."
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