Space


2002 Space News

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    December

  • CHINA SPACE LAUNCH VOA 30 Dec 2002-- China has successfully launched its fourth unmanned spacecraft
  • International Space Station to Expand in Power and Size in 2003 Washington File 28 Dec 2002-- The International Space Station will triple its power output and expand in both size and research capacity during 2003, according to NASA statement released on December 20.
  • NASA Cites 2002 Accomplishments in Space and on Earth Washington File 28 Dec 2002-- In a summary of its 2002 accomplishments, NASA says that it maintained an ambitious set of programs to study the earth, explore the universe, and "inspire the next generation of explorers."
  • Chinese manned vehicle progress status 2002-12-27 Beijing space science and technology information research institute The Shenzhou manned vehicle not only can cause China to become in the world 3rd to grasp the man-in-space flight technology the country, moreover can cause Chinese the manned vehicle technology to achieve or to surpass the Soviet Russian 3rd generation of manned vehicle the level.
  • Chinese development manned vehicle 2002-12-27 Beijing space science and technology information research institute Premier Zhou Enlai realistically specially spoke several principles on the Chinese development, its general idea was: Does not carry out the outer space competition with the Soviet Union and American great nation, must first do well Earth's on matter.
  • " The god boat " carries the person is just round the corner 2002-12-27 Beijing space science and technology information research institute According to the Chinese spatial technology research institute's expert introduces, started in 1992 to develop before the manned vehicle, " 863 " the high-tech astronautics domain experts once conducted several years research for this question.
  • Party's third generation leads the collective concern 2002-12-27 Beijing space science and technology information research institute General Secretary Jiang many times makes the important instruction to the project, proposed " was scrupulous about every detail, the minutes and seconds was not bad " Comrade Li Ruihuan, Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing, Li Lanqing also makes clear instructs.
  • MISSILE DEFENSE: 'SON OF STAR WARS' RANKLES MANY Foreign Media Reactions 27 Dec 2002-- Some worried that the U.S. MD program would spark a "destabilizing arms race." / Critics claimed deployment was aimed at "placating the defense industry and reassuring public opinion" rather than eliminating a credible ICBM threat. / Others asserted MD funds could be more efficiently used against low-tech terror threats.
  • Laser aircraft arrives for test work AFPN 23 Dec 2002-- A first-of-its-kind aircraft joined the cadre of weapon systems getting tested at the Air Force Flight Test Center when the YAL-1A, or Airborne Laser, touched down here Dec. 19.
  • EDITORIAL: MISSILE DEFENSE DEPLOYMENT VOA 20 Dec 2002 -- The United States is moving to deploy defensive missiles that could intercept and destroy ballistic missiles launched against the U.S. and its friends and allies. Although this deployment will be modest at first, said President George W. Bush, it "will add to America's security and serve as a starting point for improved and expanded capabilities later, as further progress is made in researching and developing missile defense technologies."
  • CHINA U-S MISSILES VOA 19 Dec 2002-- China voices concern over the U-S decision to deploy a missile defense system.
  • Missile Defense Deployment Called Response to 21st Century Threats Washington File 18 Dec 2002-- Kadish: It will have an effect. I mean, we can't use an interceptor that doesn't fly right.
  • RUSSIA / U-S MISSILE DEFENSE VOA 18 Dec 2002 -- Russian officials have expressed concern over a U-S announcement of plans to build a limited missile defense system
  • Daily Press Briefing State Department 17 Dec 2002 -- Missile Defense
  • Transcript: Missile Defense Deployment Announcement Briefing 17 Dec 2002 -- Traditional approaches to deterrence in fact may not be adequate against these new kinds of threats, and we need a balance, a balance between offensive capabilities and defensive capabilities. And this new threat environment also requires -- or also, I think, extents to ballistic missiles and the threats from ballistic missiles that we see not only to the United State but also to our friends, to our allies and to our deployed forces abroad. So in some ways, this broader context, I think it's important to understand -- the decision today ought to be put in that context, that there are in fact a number of threats we're trying to deal with here, and missile defense is a potential and partial solution to one of those.
  • Pentagon Outlines Missile Defense Program AFPS 17 Dec 2002-- Despite a few misfires and a ground-based booster system that's back on the drawing board, the head of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency says he is confident the system "will work."
  • Defense Department Briefing Transcript Washington File 17 Dec 2002-- Rumsfeld: Sure. I'd be happy to comment on both. First, I have not gone back to look at the records of other advanced development testing programs, but if one goes back and looks at things like Polaris and various others, the early days of the NRO, where there were failure after failure after failure, I think that anyone who thinks about it understands that when you're at the leading edge of technology, you expect that there are going to be -- you're going to learn and gain knowledge both by your successes and also by your failures. It's just something that's a reality in research and development and in science and technological programs. So this, as I understand it, the most recent one, J.D., was a separation issue.
  • Rumsfeld Says Missile Defense Deployment Will be "Evolutionary" Washington File 17 Dec 2002-- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the limited U.S. missile defense deployment announced by President Bush on December 17 will be "evolutionary" and its capabilities will improve over time.
  • MISSILE DEFENSE OPERATIONS ANNOUNCEMENT 17 Dec 2002 -- In light of the new security environment and progress made to date in missile defense development efforts, the President has directed the Department of Defense to begin fielding initial missile defense capabilities in 2004-2005 to meet the near-term ballistic missile threat to our homeland, our deployed forces, and our friends and allies. This initial capability will build on the planned Pacific Missile Defense Testbed and serve as a starting point for fielding improved, layered missile defense capabilities later.
  • Government receives Missile Defence request from US United Kingdom Ministry of Defence 17 Dec 2002 -- Geoff Hoon: "As set out in the discussion paper published on 9 December, the Government believes that the developing ballistic missile threat is one we must take seriously. We assess that at present there is no immediate significant threat to the territory of the UK from ballistic missiles. However, intentions can change quickly, and the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles is continuing. We could not wait until a specific threat became clear before determining how to defend against it."
  • President Announces Progress in Missile Defense Capabilities - Statement by President George W. Bush 17 Dec 2002 -- "Today, I am pleased to announce that we will take another important step in countering these threats by beginning to field missile defense capabilities to protect the United States, as well as our friends and allies. These initial capabilities emerge from our research and development program and build on the test bed that we have been constructing. While modest, these capabilities will add to America's security and serve as a starting point for improved and expanded capabilities later, as further progress is made in researching and developing missile defense technologies and in light of changes in the threat"
  • BUSH / MISSILE DEFENSE VOA 17 Dec 2002-- President Bush has ordered deployment of a limited missile defense system.
  • Satellites help rescue man at sea AF Space News Service 16 Dec 2002-- A medical emergency at sea turned into a dramatic humanitarian mission for the 920th Rescue Group; providing the unit its first chance to use a new satellite-based tracking and communications system during a rescue.
  • MISSILE DEFENSE TEST CONDUCTED December 11, 2002 -- The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced today it was not able to complete a test involving the planned intercept of a long-range ballistic missile target over the central Pacific Ocean when the exoatmospheric kill vehicle (EKV) interceptor and the booster rocket failed to separate, preventing the EKV from engaging the target warhead in space
  • Integrated Flight Test 10 Scheduled 09 Dec 2002 -- The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) will conduct a developmental flight test to include the planned intercept of a long-range ballistic missile target in support of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system developmental test program on Dec. 11, 2002. The planned flight test launch window is scheduled for 3:01 a.m. to 7:01 a.m. EST. This will be the first GMD intercept test that will involve the launch of the interceptor missile at night. The preceding four flight tests were successes, which has allowed MDA to assume greater risk by accelerating flight test objectives by as much as two years while flying against a more difficult target complex
  • SHUTTLE LANDING VOA 07 Dec 2002 -- The U-S space shuttle Endeavour has finally returned to Earth, after an unprecedented three-day landing delay. It has brought back U-S and Russian space station crew members, who had spent six months in orbit

    November

  • NORAD INVESTIGATES REPORTS OF CONTRAIL 28 Nov 2002 -- Yesterday at approximately 4 p.m. (EST) North American Aerospace Defense Command received unverified reports of what appeared to be a contrail of unknown origin in the vicinity of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean
  • Vandenberg launches Scuds on data-seeking mission 30th Space Wing Public Affairs 27 Nov 2002 -- The Missile Defense Agency launched two Scud missiles from here to learn more about the infamous Persian Gulf killer
  • SPACE SHUTTLE VOA 25 Nov 2002 -- The U-S space shuttle Endeavour has docked with the International Space Station, delivering a replacement crew and a massive piece of equipment to enlarge the orbital complex
  • Text: Shuttle Endeavour Prepares for Space Station Docking Washington File 24 Nov 2002-- After a successful launch from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on November 23, the Shuttle Endeavour is rapidly closing on the orbiting International Space Stations, with docking scheduled for Monday evening, according to the latest NASA reports.
  • SHUTTLE LAUNCH VOA 24 Nov 2002 -- The U-S space shuttle Endeavour has blasted off from Florida after weeks of delay due to technical problems. It is carrying a new crew to the international space station and more new hardware for the research outpost
  • Successful Aegis Missile Defense Intercept Occurs in Pacific Test Washington File 22 Nov 2002-- Russians invited to observe upcoming December test, Bolton says
  • FLIGHT MISSION 4 MISSILE TEST SUCCESSFUL 21 Nov 2002-- The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the U.S. Navy announced today a successful flight test in the continuing development of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. Flight Mission-4 (FM-4) involved the firing of a developmental Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) from the Aegis ballistic missile defense cruiser USS Lake Erie to engage a ballistic missile target launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on the island of Kauai, Hawaii.
  • Delta IV roars to successful first launch AFPN 21 Nov 2002-- America's newest space launch vehicle got off to a rip-roaring start Nov. 20 with a lift-off that lit up the skies over Central Florida and beyond.
  • Space warning squadron teamwork creates history USAF Space Command 21 Nov 2002-- For the first time in the history of space-based missile warning, a space operations center here was fully manned by Reservists. Members of the 8th Space Warning Squadron, a Reserve unit, made up an entire shift Nov. 3 at the Space-Based Infrared System Mission Control Station, normally mixed with active-duty members of the 2nd Space Warning Squadron.
  • Transcript: NATO Summit Document to Address Missile Defense Threats Washington File 18 Nov 2002-- A key State Department official says the final declaration of the NATO Summit in Prague November 21-22 is expected to express "the need to examine options to protect allied forces, territory, and population centers against the full range of missile threats."
  • Incident underscores need for space access AFPN 12 Nov 2002-- The Air Force's senior space official said a rocket test failure has sounded a warning and underscores the need to apply the resources necessary for assure access to space.
  • SHUTTLE / STATION OVERVIEW VOA 08 Nov 2002 -- It has been two years since the international space station was first occupied, and the research outpost is getting [will soon get] [has gotten] its sixth crew. The U-S space shuttle Endeavour is ferrying [will ferry] [has ferried] the team and more new hardware as station construction continues
  • NASA develops new tool to improve accident investigations AFPN 05 Nov 2002-- Scientists and engineers investigating accidents are working much more effectively and efficiently, thanks to a new software tool developed by NASA called the InvestigationOrganizer.
  • International Space Station Marks Second Anniversary Washington File 02 Nov 2002-- The International Space Station marks two years of continuous human presence in space on November 2, 2002.

    October

  • CONGRESS / ABM LAWSUIT VOA 31 Oct 2002-- A federal judge has heard opening arguments in a lawsuit filed by some members of Congress, challenging President Bush's withdrawal of the United States last year from the Anti Ballistic Missile (A-B-M) Treaty. Lawyers for the plaintiffs in the case want the court to rule on the constitutionality of the decision to withdraw from the treaty which formally expired last June.
  • U.S. Cannot Ignore Ballistic Missile Threat AFPS 25 Oct 2002-- The United States cannot afford to ignore the threat posed by ballistic missiles, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said during a speech to the Frontiers of Freedom Institute here Oct. 24.
  • On Missile Defense 24 Oct 2002-- Wolfowitz: Moving forward on missile defense, particularly by taking advantage of new technological opportunities, is an essential part of a strategy to provide the range of capabilities necessary to defend against the broad spectrum of new threats and challenges that we will confront in the 21st Century.
  • MISSILE INTERCEPT TEST SUCCESSFUL 14 Oct 2002-- The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced today it has successfully completed a flight test of the ground-based midcourse defense (GMD) development program, intercepting an intercontinental ballistic missile target. The test took place over the central Pacific Ocean in the Western Test Range. A modified Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile target vehicle was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., at 10 p.m. EDT, and a prototype interceptor was launched 22 minutes later and 4,800 miles away from the Ronald Reagan Missile Site Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The intercept took place approximately six minutes after the interceptor was launched, at an altitude in excess of 140 miles above the earth, and during the midcourse phase of the target warhead's flight. This was the fifth successful intercept--and the fourth consecutive--in seven flight tests since October 1999 for the GMD program.
  • Army Space Command gets new 'home' Army News Service 08 Oct 2002-- A four-star admiral and a three-star general will cut the ribbon Oct. 9 to ceremoniously open a new Army Space Command building.
  • SHUTTLE-SPACE STATION VOA 10 Oct 2002-- This is the first shuttle mission since June, when engineers discovered microscopic cracks in hydrogen fuel lines in all four orbiters. Technicians developed a special polishing and welding technique to seal the fissures.

    September

  • SECAF: Space forces have become indispensable AFPN 24 Sep 2002-- Even as the Air Force strives to meet the conventional demands of a new era driven by transformation and the war on terrorism, the service's secretary remains focused on national security space management.
  • JAPAN / ROCKET VOA 10 Sep 2002-- Japan's latest space rocket lifted off Tuesday on its first full-scale mission
  • Launch marks new era of space vehicles AFPN 23 Aug 2002-- A new era of space launch vehicles began when the first Lockheed-Martin Atlas V lifted off the pad at Cape Canaveral Aug. 21.

    August

  • SATCOM delivers critical info for war on terrorism AFPN 16 Aug 2002-- In today's information age, satellites are a vital link for global communication. Commanders and troops rely on them to ensure information is at least one step ahead of the enemy in the war on terrorism. At this forward deployed location, that job falls to a satellite communications team from the 114th Combat Communications Squadron of the Florida Air National Guard.

    July

  • Myers: Move to Omaha good for space AFPN 26 Jul 2002-- "If September 11 taught us anything, [it taught us] we ought to be flexible enough to change to do what's right. That's what we think we're doing," said Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at a recent press conference here.
  • Airborne Laser completes first flight AFPN 23 Jul 2002-- An extensively modified Boeing 747-400F known as the Airborne Laser circled over western Kansas for an hour and 22 minutes during its maiden flight July 21, taking the first steps in becoming the world's first directed-energy combat aircraft.
  • EXPLORATIONS#2014-Space Digest VOA 23 Jul 2002-- Today, we tell about plans to build a new international space research center at Cape Kennedy. We tell about new pictures of a star that exploded ten-thousand years ago. And we begin with a report about a new space communications system that is being built in Spain.

    June

  • Transcript: Wolfowitz Says Missile Defense Easier Without ABM Treaty Washington File 28 Jun 2002-- The end of the 1972 ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) Treaty now frees the United States "to develop, test and deploy effective defenses against missile attacks from rogue states like North Korea, Iraq, and Iran -- states that are investing a large percentage of their resources to develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and offensive ballistic missiles," says Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz.
  • DOD ANNOUNCES MERGER OF U.S. SPACE AND STRATEGIC COMMANDS 26 Jun 2002 -- As part of the ongoing initiative to transform the U.S. military into a 21st century fighting force, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld today announced the intention to merge two unified commands whose missions include control of America's nuclear forces, military space operations, computer network operations, strategic warning and global planning.
  • Byliner: Aldridge on Tight Security for Missile Defense Washington File 26 Jun 2002-- Recent articles and columns in some of America's major newspapers have focused on Defense Department policy concerning the secrecy of our ballistic missile defense (BMD) program. They report that the Missile Defense Agency (a department overseen by my office of Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) will now classify certain aspects of that program. With varying degrees of directness, they imply sinister motives for these new precautions. Though the underlying reports are accurate, the consequent charges are groundless.
  • NATO'S Bell Discusses GPS and Galileo Security Issues Washington File 26 Jun 2002-- Robert G. Bell, NATO assistant secretary general for defense support, told the European Satellites for Security Conference in Brussels on June 19 that NATO had not taken a position for or against Galileo, the European Union's planned satellite navigation system.
  • Lt. Gen Kadish Special Briefing on Missile Defense, June 25, 2002 -- "And so I thought it would be good to start with a presentation; to go back to basics, explain where we are, and then show some of the results of our test program and explain some of the problems we're going to face in the coming weeks and months. Some of you may be familiar with this in some detail; others will probably need a refresher"
  • Kadish Describes Missile Defense Progress AFPS 25 Jun 2002-- The United States is as vulnerable to ballistic missile attacks today as it was in the early 1950s, said Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronald Kadish.
  • Byliner: Deputy Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz: Beyond the ABM Treaty Washington File 14 Jun 2002-- Last year the president announced our intention to withdraw from the 1972 ABM treaty. Yesterday, that withdrawal formally took effect.
  • Bush Pledges Greater Dialogue, Cooperation on Missile Defense Washington File 13 Jun 2002-- President Bush pledged to deepen U.S. dialogue and cooperation with other nations on missile defense now that the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty is no longer in effect.
  • "In Self Defense," by Senator Jon Kyl Washington File 13 Jun 2002-- There is a strange disconnect between recent developments in the Middle East and here in the U.S. Senate. In early May, Iran - newly dubbed by the State Department as the number one terrorist nation - conducted a successful test of its 800-mile-range Shahab-3 missile. There are reports that Iran is now set to begin domestic production of the missile, which will be able to reach Israel, as well as U.S. troops deployed in the Middle East and South Asia.
  • U-S/A-B-M TREATY VOA 12 Jun 2002-- The A-B-M (Antiballistic Missile) Treaty, a relic of the cold war, officially expires on Thursday

    May

  • Defense Department Report: Missile Defense Test Results Washington File 31 May 2002-- The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Army conducted a missile defense test over the Pacific May 30 in which one advanced Patriot PAC-3 missile intercepted its target, but a second Patriot failed to launch.
  • U.S. Committed to Peaceful Use of Outer Space, Official Says Washington File 30 May 2002-- The United States remains committed to the peaceful exploration and use of outer space by all nations, as declared in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, "and we see no need for further outer space treaties," says Ambassador Eric Javits, U.S. representative to the Conference on Disarmament (CD).
  • Last Titan arrives at Cape Canaveral AFPN 03 May 2002-- The first and second stages of the last Titan IV-B to be launched from Cape Canaveral were rolled off of a C-5 Galaxy aircraft here May 1.
  • SON OF SHUTTLE VOA 02 May 2002-- The U-S space agency NASA is developing a successor to the space shuttle, which it wants to retire in 10 years. It killed an effort to design a revolutionary space rocket last year and is now examining more evolutionary concepts that it hopes can be ready by the year 2012

    April

  • NASA FUTURE VOA 13 Apr 2002-- The U-S space agency NASA is planning to send another schoolteacher into space in 2004 18 years after one died in the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger.
  • UN-CHINA/DISARMAMENT VOA 04 Apr 2002-- China is calling for a global ban on weapons in space, and criticizes Washington for its approach to arms control here on Earth
  • SHUTTLE-SPACE STATION OVERVIEW VOA 01 Apr 2002-- The U-S space shuttle Atlantis is set to take off [has taken off] with a crew of seven and a supply of hardware to expand the international space station. Spacewalking astronauts are to install the first section of a long girder that will hold critical life support and power-generating equipment
  • CHINA SPACE RETURN VOA 01 Apr 2002-- A Chinese spacecraft, designed to carry people in orbit, returned safely to earth Monday, according to China's space officials

    March

  • CHINA/SPACE UPDATE VOA 26 Mar 2002-- China has launched its third unmanned spaceship into orbit as part of a quest to send astronauts into space before the end of the decade
  • Green Light Ahead for Missile Defense Program AFPS 22 Mar 2002-- The U.S. Missile Defense Agency and Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty constraints part company June 14, freeing the agency to do what President Bush decides about deployment, a senior defense official said here today.
  • U.S., Germany Launch Twin "Water-Sensing" Satellites Washington File 17 Mar 2002-- NASA and the German Center for Air and Space Flight today successfully launched the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, or "Grace," mission into Earth orbit on March 17 from a Russian launch facility.
  • MISSILE DEFENSE DEBATE VOA 13 Mar 2002-- New questions are being raised about the program to develop a system to defend the United States against missile attacks. President Bush has vowed to push ahead with the project, but members of Congress are concerned about controlling costs
  • U.S. Explains Position on EU Satellite Navigation System Washington File 07 Mar 2002-- Talks are underway between the United States and the European Union to ensure that if the EU builds its proposed navigation satellite system, called Galileo, it will operate with -- and not interfere with -- the existing U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS).

    February

  • Missile Agency Head Details Progress to Congress AFPS 28 Feb 2002-- The Defense Department's aggressive missile defense testing program will continue with a test launch March 15, Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronald Kadish told Congress Feb. 27.
  • Army tests PAC3 missile at White Sands Army News Service 21 Feb 2002-- The Missile Defense Agency and the 2/43rd Air Defense Artillery Battalion conducted a test of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 system Feb. 16 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
  • Under Secretary of the Air Force Peter Teets Briefs on Space Transformation AFPS 07 Feb 2002-- Teets: The mission that I've been tasked with is to bring together the military and national elements of space to assure that we're providing the nation with the best national security capabilities while still being good stewards of the American tax dollar. And I should say in terms of the military space equation, I've also enjoyed the support of not only the Air Force, but the Army and Navy as well. And as a matter of fact, we have here today with us Admiral Dick Mayo. And he'll be available for questions, if you like, afterward, as well as General Joe Cosumano from the Army Space and Missile Defense Command. So the support is widespread, and I think there's an evident need for bringing together national security space components.
  • Text: NOAA Satellites Help Save Lives Around the World Washington File 04 Feb 2002-- Using a constellation of environmental satellites to detect and locate emergency beacons, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Russian government saved 166 people last year from U.S. waters, the Alaska wilderness, and downed aircraft in states around the country.

    January

  • SATELLITE RE-ENTERS VOA 31 Jan 2002-- The U-S space agency NASA says a scientific satellite, launched a decade ago to study ultra-violet radiation, has fallen back to earth, breaking up into pieces as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere
  • SPACE STATION / SPACEWALK VOA 25 Jan 2002-- A Russian cosmonaut and U-S astronaut took a walk in space Thursday to perform maintenance on the international space station
  • Navy Will Test Anti-Missile Rocket Over Pacific Ocean Washington File 25 Jan 2002-- The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Navy will test an anti-missile rocket fired from a guided- missile cruiser over the Pacific Ocean January 25.