 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
 by Staff Writers Washington DC (Sputnik) Apr 29, 2019
The Department of Defence has decided to end its contract with a mysterious group of scientists who had worked with the DoD since early Cold War, Gizmodo reports. With their funding cut abruptly, the group will now scramble to find a new government sponsor, according to National Public Radio. Known only as JASON or The Jasons, the group enjoyed the highest level of security clearance and had worked on top secret projects since 1960, the report says. "By day, they're normal academics, working at colleges and universities and in private industry. But each summer, they come together to study tough problems for the military, intelligence agencies and other parts of the government," NPR reports. There are approximately 30 to 60 members in the group, but their exact number remains a mystery, and their annual summits cost the DoD several million dollars every year, according to NPR. "The department has determined that the requirements previously supported through JASON National Security Research Studies have changed and that the Office of the Undersecretary of Defence, Research and Engineering will require only one study, rather than multiple studies, as projected under the previous solicitation," Pentagon spokeswoman Heather Babb told Gizmodo. "Because our requirements have changed, the DoD does not anticipate issuing a follow-on Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)." The group is managed by the US non-profit MITRE Corporation, which manages federally funded research and development centers for several US government agencies. After the Pentagon cut the contract, the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration reportedly posted a solicitation, saying it wishes to take the Jasons group under its aegis. The transition will take months, however, and it's unclear whether MITRE will pay the scientists in the interim. Over the years, the Jasons invented technologies for communication with submerged submarines using ultra-long radio waves, a technique to overcome atmospheric distortion for astronomical purposes and nuclear test ban treaty compliance test technologies, as well as a system of electronic sensors that was used during the Vietnam War in order to provide intelligence regarding Vietnamese movements, according to NPR. In 1979, the group also issued a report describing carbon dioxide-driven global warming effects and possible solutions to mitigate them. Steven Aftergood of the Federation of American Scientists lamented the Pentagon's decision to cut the group loose. "The idea that they're going to cut back on the kind of advice that the Jasons provide is not good for the Department of Defence," he said in an interview. "It's not good for the nation." He explained that the Pentagon is embarking on ambitious research into artificial intelligence, quantum computing and advanced hypersonic missiles, and the group has expertise on these topics that would likely be useful, NPR reports. Source: RIA Novosti
China uses US-made satellites for internal security: report Washington (AFP) April 23, 2019 A fleet of US-made satellites helps China's government police its people and supports its military despite growing wariness in Washington over Beijing's power, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. While the United States will not let China buy US-made satellites for national security reasons, it sells them to partly Chinese-controlled, Hong Kong-based Asia Satellite Communications, which then leases out capacity to Chinese and other customers. Under that arrangement China's Ministry of Stat ... read more
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Google
