NASA to pick new space telescope design

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Sept. 3 (UPI) -- NASA this week is expected to choose the design and announce the builder for its Next Generation Space Telescope. Lockheed Martin and a TRW-Ball Aerospace team are competing for the contract. Plans for the new orbiting observatory, based largely on de-classified spy satellite technology, will push the state of the art in electronic and mechanical systems engineering.