Background The AIAA convened a workshop to identify and quantify the key environmental issues that relate to the effects on the atmosphere of rocket testing and use, and to recommend actions to resolve the issues. Communities represented at the workshop included rocket propulsion engineers, environmental scientists, environmental regulatory agencies, and environmental action groups. Based on careful evaluation of scientific studies performed in the U.S., Europe, and the Soviet Union, the workshop concluded that the effects of rocket propulsion on stratospheric ozone depletion, acid rain, toxicity, air quality, and global warming were minuscule compared to other anthropogenic impacts. Nevertheless it was agreed that environmental concerns should become a major consideration in the…
Author: John Greenewald
Background According to Wikipedia: The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is a heavy bomber aircraft under development by Northrop Grumman. As part of the Long Range Strike Bomber program (LRS-B), it is to be a long-range, stealth strategic bomber for the United States Air Force capable of delivering thermonuclear weapons. A request for proposal to develop the aircraft was issued in July 2014. The Air Force plans to purchase 80–100 LRS-B aircraft at a cost of $550 million each (2010 dollars). A development contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman in October 2015. A media report states that the bomber could also…
Executive Summary On December 18, 2006, [REDACTED] submitted an Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act complaint that contained allegations about a lack of intelligence oversight procedures at research and development facilities performing work for DoD intelligence components. The employee specifically raised concerns about the perceived mishandling of U.S. persons information by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, a research and development facility [REDACTED]. The employee also raised concerns that [REDACTED] was not responsive to his request to investigate and correct the deficiencies associated with the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego and other DoD research and…
Background Defense Collaboration Services (DCS) enables synchronous communication among the Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet) and Secure Internet Protocol Routing Network (SIPRNet). The capability includes Web Conferencing (session management, text messaging, application sharing/broadcasting, audio, presence and awareness, voting/polling, video, multiple sessions, and recording) and Instant Messaging (IM). DCS supports Common Access Card (CAC) and select hard token holders and unanticipated (select DOD mission partners) users. Anticipated users are issued accounts which authorize privileges to manage/control collaboration sessions, whereas unanticipated users are provided ad hoc guest access without pre-specified roles/permissions. Capacity DCS can scale to handle 10,000 concurrent users with…
Background In a letter dated August 9, 2011, the Honorable Peter King, Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives, cited concerns involving “ongoing leaks of classified information regarding sensitive military operations.” Chairman King referenced an August 6, 2011, New York Times op-ed column that claims, “Administration officials may have provided filmmakers with details of the raid that successfully killed Usama Bin Laden (UBL).” According to this article, filmmakers Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal received “top-level access to the most classified mission in history.” Chairman King requested that Department of Defense (DoD) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Inspectors General explore related matters and respond to…