News Summaries for November 27

The National Space Policy and Space Arms Control (Source: Space Review)
The administration's new national space policy, which does not rule out the deployment of weapons in space, is a counterpoint to international efforts to restrict or prohibit such weapons. Nader Elhefnawy examines whether that policy may actually be counterproductive to broader national interests. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/755/1 to view the article.

Mike Griffin: NASA's Playground Supervisor or Leading Visionary? (Source: Space Review)
NASA administrator Mike Griffin has the challenge of trying to overcome bureaucratic and institutional inertia to move the space agency in a new direction. Taylor Dinerman evaluates his progress to date and his chances of success. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/754/1 to view the article.

X Prize Cup 2006: An Appreciation (Source: Space Review)
Some people might consider last month's X Prize Cup something of a failure since none of the various competitors won any prizes. Alex Howerton believes that the event was just the first step towards inevitable success. Visit http://www.thespacereview.com/article/752/1 to view the article.

Scaled Composites' White Knight Doubles as Testbed (Source: Aviation Week)
It's one of the strangest-looking aircraft in recent aeronautical history, but Scaled Composites' "White Knight" was the ideal vehicle for carrying SpaceShipOne (SSO) to high altitude. Dropped there, SSO ignited its rocket and flew into space and the record books in 2004--twice. Now, the one-of-a-kind White Knight is serving as an ideal testbed for large, heavy payloads.

The gangly, gull-winged White Knight hardly looks the part of a heavylifter, but its wide stance and long "legs" provide at least 7 ft. of ground clearance for test articles mounted on the centerline pylon. An approximately 82-ft.-long wing and two General Electric J85-GE-5 afterburning engines combine to deliver the testbed's high performance. The capability to carry large, heavy payloads to high altitudes at a reasonable operating cost has brought a number of customers to Scaled's door.