Sep 9 2002
From The Space Library
The FAA announced plans to establish public use of a new method of air navigation that would significantly increase the capacity and efficiency of airways in the United States. The Required Navigation Performance (RNP) method would rely upon aircraft's use of advanced, automated guidance technologies, both in terminal areas and en route. Specifically, RNP would incorporate advanced technologies in areas within a 40-mile (64-kilometer) radius of an airport, as well as in high-altitude areas. The use of RNP would have several potential benefits, including precise approach and departure paths at airports, accurate vertical and lateral guidance, and increased airspace capacity. In the United States, Alaska Airlines had pioneered the use of RNP in air carrier operations. The FAA stated that it was committed to establishing public RNP airspace and procedures over the United States. (FAA, “FAA To Establish New Air Navigation Concept Within a Year,” news release APA 3 9-02, 9 September 2002.)
The Russian Space Agency notified NASA that it had abandoned its plan to transport singer Lance Bass of the popular music group 'N Sync to the ISS. Television producers had intended to sponsor Bass, featuring him in a television documentary about his trip to the ISS. However, the sponsors had failed to raise the estimated US$20 million needed to cover the singer's fare. Therefore, Russian officials had decided to withdraw Bass as a member of the Soyuz crew scheduled to leave for the ISS on 28 October 2002. If the 23-year-old Bass had gone on the Soyuz mission, he would have become the youngest person ever to travel in space, as well as the third space tourist. (Marcia Dunn, “It's Official: Russia Faxes NASA To Confirm Bass off Space Flight,” Houston Chronicle, 10 September 2002.)
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