MCDONNELL DOUGLAS SETS LANDMARK SPACE VENTURE, AVIATION WEEK REPORTS.NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 12, 1995--Aviation Week & Space Technology reports in its May 15th edition that McDonnell-Douglas has won a commitment for ten launches of the world's largest communications satellites communications satellite artificial satellite that functions as part of a global radio-communications network. Echo 1, the first communications satellite, launched in 1960, was an instrumented inflatable sphere that passively reflected radio signals back to , triggering the company's go-ahead of the Delta 3 launcher that would be the largest space transportation system ever developed privately. The commitment from Hughes for 10 launches is a milestone in the maturation maturation /mat·u·ra·tion/ (mach-u-ra´shun) 1. the process of becoming mature. 2. attainment of emotional and intellectual maturity. 3. of the commercial space business and will intensify world launcher competition. McDonnell Douglas McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It merged with Boeing in 1997 to form The Boeing Company. stands to make up to $1.5 billion and keep the Delta 3 flying at least until 2005 if Hughes exercises additional options. The first round of launches is scheduled to begin in the first half of 1998 and last through 2002. McDonnell Douglas claims the services of the Delta 3 intermediate-lift vehicle will cost significantly less than what rivals in the West are currently charging. The commercial program got the green light from McDonnell Douglas management much the same way a new transport aircraft program would--by bringing in an anchor customer. (page 28) The current issue also details the following: Pentagon Study Calls For Terrorism Review: A Pentagon report on terrorism calls for the Vice President's task force on terrorism to be reestablished for a high level review of capabilities available to counter increasingly lethal attacks on targets such as civil transports. Transport aircraft will continue to be a prime target for terrorists as they focus on attacks aimed at inflicting mass casualties, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Peter S. Probst, one author of the Pentagon report. (page 33) FAA To Start Field Trials of Explosives Detector: The Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), component of the U.S. Department of Transportation that sets standards for the air-worthiness of all civilian aircraft, inspects and licenses them, and regulates civilian and military air traffic through its air traffic control is about to begin field trials with the first and only explosives detection system certified to date in laboratory tests. An announcement of where the trials will take place and which U.S. airlines will be involved is expected in a matter of days. In January, the InVision Technologies InVision Technologies, Inc. was a publicly traded company based in Newark, California, that manufactured and sold airport security screening devices to detect explosives in passenger baggage. One of its most well-known products is the CTX explosive-detection device. CTX-5000 became the first explosive detection system Noun 1. explosive detection system - a rapid automatic system to detect plastic explosives in passengers' luggage using X-ray technology and computers; designed for use in airports EDS certified by the FAA for use in screening luggage to be loaded on aircraft. CTX-5000s are currently being used at Gatwick, Tel Aviv Tel Aviv (tĕl əvēv`), city (1994 pop. 355,200), W central Israel, on the Mediterranean Sea. Oficially named Tel Aviv–Jaffa, it is Israel's commercial, financial, communications, and cultural center and the core of its largest and in Brussels and the company has received 14 additional orders from overseas airports. The machines cost about $1 million each. (page 34) Aviation Week & Space Technology, published by McGraw-Hill, is the world's leading journal for technology, business and operations in the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries. CONTACT: Eileen Gabriele, 212/512-3852 |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion