WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War! 001167. Edwards office strives to expand space access by Ray Johnson Air Force Flight Test Center Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) -- Since the Roman Empire, military commanders have desired owning the high ground needed to dominate the battlefield. With today's ever-advancing technology, that ancient philosophy remains even more applicable. But instead of rocky slopes, the modern high ground is space. And instead of foot soldiers serving as lookouts, it's satellites sailing quietly thousands of miles overhead. Launching a satellite into space, however, is a little more difficult -- and expensive -- than ordering a legionnaire up a hill. Currently, it costs $10,000 per pound to put satellites into space. The Air Force and it's space partner, NASA, would like to see this bill lowered to $1,000 per pound since reaching and keeping the spatial high ground is becoming an increasingly significant and frequent endeavor. And corporations, who are moving more and more into space, also would like to see a price tag with fewer zeroes Consequently, there's going to be tremendous research focused on reducing today's high cost of space travel, said Lt. Col. Don Thompson, director of the Air Force Flight Test Center's Access to Space Office. Thompson's 15-man unit, also known as ATSO, provides Air Force support to NASA and commercial access-to-space flight test activities, plus it assesses leading-edge space technology for potential military use. One such endeavor is the X-33 technology demonstrator. A wedge-shaped, unmanned vehicle, the X-33 is a half-scale version of a planned single-stage-to-orbit reusable launch vehicle, or RLV, called VentureStar -- a possible replacement for an aging space shuttle system. Unlike the shuttle, which piggybacks on booster rockets and fuel tanks, VentureStar would be self-contained and wouldn't need external power. The aim of any RLV program is "to build a vehicle that takes days, not months to turn around; dozens, not thousands, of people to operate; with launch costs that are a tenth of what they are now," said Dan Goldin, NASA administrator. Hopefully, developing this technology will result in the United States "recapturing lost space business and providing an operational advantage to the military mission," added Johnny Armstrong, deputy director of ATSO. Obviously, maintaining a celestial high-ground edge with fewer resources would be one such benefit. Another member of RLV family being tested at Edwards is the X-34. Also an unmanned vehicle, X-34 is undergoing ground taxi tests now and will be conducting glide flight tests from an L-1011 aircraft. The X-33 and X-34 are just two of several experimental vehicles that the Access to Space Office and NASA are working together on during developmental stages. Working in close alliance with NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, which is located at Edwards, and various contractors, ATSO also supports X-34, X-37, X-38, X-40 and X-43 programs. Not since the 1950's have there been so many X-planes here, Thompson noted. One of the more prominent is the X-38, which NASA hopes to deploy by 2005 as a lifeboat for the International Space Station, replacing a Russian Soyuz capsule. Ongoing flight tests are underway to develop the X-38's parafoil landing system. Follow-on flights will include reentry and landing after the spacecraft is deployed from the shuttle during an actual orbiter mission. X-38 program officials say the project has two purposes. First is to prove that a low-cost return vehicle for the space station can, indeed, be built. Second is to show that a human spacecraft can be developed for a price much lower than expected. Originally, the crew-return vehicle project was estimated to cost $2 billion in the late 1980's. But under the current plans, NASA hopes to build one and test-fly it in space for a tenth of that. One reason why: The X-38 uses a lifting body design already proven and tested more than 30 years ago. The Air Force carried out some of that testing here with the X-23 in 1967 and the X-24A from 1969 to 1971. In fact, with flight tests done here in the 1950's and the 1960's on hypersonic aircraft such as the X-20 Dynasoar and the X-15, one could say Edwards is where much of RLV research began. "Someone at the AFFTC has been involved -- hands-on, not looking over someone's shoulder -- from the early hypersonic days to the space shuttle and now to a new generation of X vehicles," said Armstrong, who has served as an engineer on every X-vehicle for the past 40 years. "We have partnered with NASA for decades in exploring the unknowns of the hypersonic flight regime." There is one big difference, though, between the '50s and today: who's flying these experimental craft -- or actually, who isn't. "The current series of X-vehicles are extremely advanced," Armstrong explained. "Unlike their predecessors that had pilots in the cockpit who I could talk to, these vehicles are all unmanned, which adds a new dimension and complexity to flight testing." Contributing to these modern experimental programs are ATSO engineers who all have extensive backgrounds and "irreplaceable" experience in the design and testing of hypersonic vehicles and rockets, said Thompson, who holds a doctorate in aeronautical/astronautical engineering and also pilots B-52 bombers. That experience includes working on the X-15, on the lifting body series, space shuttle entry and landing, expendable launch vehicles, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and fighter, bomber and cargo aircraft. Today, ATSO members also help manage rocket engine testing for and by commercial customers at facilities run by the Air Force Research Lab Propulsion Directorate here. As for tomorrow, Thompson believes ATSO "will be around for a while." "If you look at the Air Force's newest vision statement," he said, "we are merging air and space into an aerospace force, and we are moving out into space. Currently, we are an office, but I can see us one day growing into a combined test force." 001172a.gif and 001172a.jpg An artist's concept drawing shows the X-33 in flight. The X-33, a half-scale version of a planned reusable launch vehicle, is just one of several experimental-vehicle programs that the Access to Space Office is working on with NASA. (NASA graphic) 001172b.gif and 001172b.jpg The second X-38 prototype glides to a landing over an Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., lake bed during flight testing earlier this year. Besides the Access to Space Office, other base units that support NASA experimental vehicle programs include range safety, weather, data acquisition, emergency services and communications. (NASA photo by Tom Tschida) 001165. Air Force researchers develop holographic material by Sue Baker Aeronautical Systems Center Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- Sometime in the future, an Air Force fighter pilot scouting potential "kills" will be able to strap on special eyeglasses that help him focus on external targets and the inner workings of his machine. The eyeglasses will project this data on his retina. Scientists at Air Force Research Laboratory's Materials and Manufacturing Technology Directorate here have worked with Science Applications International Corp. since 1991 to perfect holographic, polymer-dispersed, liquid crystal technology, or H-PDLC. "These lightweight (2-3 oz.) eyeglasses will allow pilots to keep their eyes on the action, while watching fuel, airspeed and other data, plus related color images," said Tim Bunning, aerospace materials engineer in the directorate's hardened materials research section. "Besides giving Air Force war fighters an added critical advantage in combat situations, we predict this technology will result in tremendous improvements in a wide range of visual communications products, including next-generation cellular telephone displays for the Internet; wearable displays for videos, game devices and personal computers; and projectors for business and rear-projection, high-definition TV, for example. "The bottom line: H-PDLCs the Air Force and SAIC developed offer unique features that could save pilots' lives in combat, when decisions are made in split seconds," Bunning said. "And they will contribute greatly to eventual development and application of commercial products in a worldwide research market that today is fast approaching the $3 billion mark." In a press conference recently at SAIC in Dayton, Ohio, the Air Force announced that SAIC had been granted an exclusive license to commercialize this polymer-based, liquid crystal material originally developed for military applications. The Air Force and SAIC jointly received a U.S. patent on the material in August. (Courtesy of AFMC News Service) 001163. Leadership program gives Strat Command civilian taste of military life by Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Michael J. Meridith United States Strategic Command Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AFPN) -- U.S. Strategic Command's Marilyn K. Bombac has ridden in Marine amphibious assault craft, fired weapons and run obstacle courses with Army Rangers, and been aboard nearly a dozen Navy ships and Air Force aircraft. Surprisingly, this mother of three is not a member of the armed forces. Instead, this civilian employee is a graduate of the Department of Defense's Executive Leadership Development Program. ELDP was established by Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger in 1985 to create a capable pool of future civilian leaders who understand the civilian community, DOD policies, and the problems and challenges confronted by senior leaders at the strategic level. It's is DOD's only hands-on joint education and development program for civilians. "ELDP provides hands-on field experience with the warfighter, on land, at sea, and in the air," explained Bombac, who completed the program in June. "During the last ten months, we rode it, wore it, armed it, flew in it, jumped out of it, slept in it, shot it, and tasted it, so that we could better understand the problems and challenges of uniformed service members." Bombac's ELDP experience began last September with a brief orientation outlining DOD leadership principles. The following month, she attended a self-described "physically and mentally challenging two-week boot camp" at the Department of Labor's U.S. Mine Health and Safety Academy at Beckley, W.Va. "It was a first for many of us -- black uniforms, very long days, physical training, and a choice of sleep, homework, personal hygiene or more exercise," said Bombac. "Our minds and bodies were transformed during those rigorous two weeks. Our master trainer constantly pushed us by asking, 'is that the best you can do?'" In January, Bombac began her immersion into military culture at the Marine Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif. Nervously standing at attention, her feet planted on the same painted yellow footprints used by Marine recruits, Bombac got what she laughingly referred to as a "warm" greeting from a drill instructor. "With our chins up, chests out, eyes ahead, and hands at our sides, the instructors drilled us through the first few minutes of a Marine recruit's life -- only it seemed longer!" Following a day-long look at the training that makes Marines, Bombac spent the next few days aboard several Navy and Coast Guard vessels; including hospital ships, merchant marines and amphibious vessels, and aircraft carriers. While aboard, she spoke with officers and crewmen alike, learning about the variety of missions each ship is tasked with. In February, Bombac got a taste of Air Force life. During a whirlwind five-day tour, she visited four Air Force bases and toured a variety of aircraft including; transports, tankers, fighters, close air support, and the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. Two months later, Bombac was headed to Belize with the National Guard as part of their New Horizon 2000 mission. As part of New Horizon, Guard units work with their Belizian counterparts to sharpen wartime engineering skills while helping to spread America's economic and democratic principles by building schools, digging wells, and other community improvement projects. According to Bombac, one of the most challenging immersions was her visit to Ft. Benning, Ga. in May to learn about the Army mission. "We discovered that the Army infantry motto, "follow me" meant anything less than five miles was within walking distance," Bombac explained. "But having built our confidence on the obstacle course, we coerced mind over logic, and walked off a very solid 34-foot tower using parachute harnesses." During the immersion training, Bombac also took time to join Army Rangers for a live-fire practice. Although she left training physically bruised, she said the opportunity to train alongside some of "the nation's best" made the experience worthwhile. "Through our experience in ELDP, we better understand the military culture and will be better prepared to strengthen the link between the civilian workforce and the military," she explained. "Whether our jobs take us to administrative, operational, or senior leadership positions, we will respond with confidence and commitment to the total force." ELDP is open to all civilians in grades GS-12 and 13 with a bachelor's degree, three years experience as a career employee, and a security clearance. Each year, 48 employees are selected for the program, worldwide. 001168. Hospital officials discuss sports bars and nutritional supplements by Maj. Craig A. Olson 60th Medical Group Nutritional Medicine Flight TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) -- Like many Americans, Air Force members are constantly on the go and constantly trying to stay in shape. It's no wonder the market for nutritional supplements, including sports bars, has skyrocketed in recent years. This high demand breeds competition among businesses looking for new ways to get their products noticed. Competition may be healthy for the market, but it can lead to trouble for an unsuspecting consumer. The use of exotic ingredients and unsubstantiated health claims make the nutritional supplement industry a very confusing arena. Air Force personnel have to be especially careful when shopping for nutritional supplements because some contain hemp seed oil. Ingestion of hemp seed oil is against Air Force policy because it may lead to a positive drug test result for marijuana. "Modifications are being considered for the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment Program to ban all hemp seed products, not just hemp seed oil," said Lt. Col. Susan Northrup, chief of operational medicine for the Office of the Surgeon General. This is an important clarification because all products made with hemp products may contain the same substances found in marijuana. >From a botanical standpoint, hemp and marijuana are the same plant species -- cannabis sativa. The different parts of the plant contain varying amounts of psychoactive substances, the highest concentrations of which are in the resin of the flowering tops of the plants. Industrial hemp plants are grown in countries around the world, and the seeds are sold commercially for use as birdseed, as ingredients in commercially prepared foods and even for cooking at home. Hemp seeds don't contain tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the euphoria-producing active ingredient in marijuana. So why the concern? Hemp seeds can pick up the chemical after coming into contact with leaves and stems during processing. Products that contain hemp seed oil or hemp seeds, like the Original Organic Hemp Seed Bar, manufactured by Nutiva, are off limits for some Air Force personnel. In a recent memorandum, Northrup said, "due to the potential of THC ingestion, this product is off limits for all aircrew, special duty, and PRP personnel per AFI (Air Force Instruction) 48-123 (Medical Examination And Standards) and AFI 36-2104 (Nuclear Weapons Personnel Reliability Program). All other Air Force members should seriously weigh the use of this product, with a known THC contaminant, against the legal ramifications of a positive urine drug screen." Why would anyone want to eat hemp seeds or hemp seed oil? According to Capt. Deborah Carlton, chief of clinical dietetics element at David Grant Medical Center here, the answer is simple. She said, "Hemp products are marketed by manufacturers as being a good source of essential fatty acids and protein." She went on to describe how informed consumers know that a well-balanced diet will meet their needs for protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals without the use of supplements. For more information about dietary herbs and supplements, visit the Brooks Air Force Base, Texas, Web site at http://www.brooks.af.mil/web/af/altmed/HOMEFRAME.htm. (Courtesy of AMC News Service) *COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] Want to be on our lists? Write at [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a menu of our lists! ****************************************************************************** ******************* A vote for Bush or Gore is a vote to continue Clinton policies! A vote for Buchanan is a vote to continue America! Therefore a vote for Gore or Bush is a wasted vote for America! Don't waste your vote! Vote for Patrick Buchanan! Today, candor compels us to admit that our vaunted two-party system is a snare and a delusion, a fraud upon the nation. Our two parties have become nothing but two wings of the same bird of prey... Patrick Buchanan <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
