June 2006 Space News |
- NASA Names New Rockets NASA 30 Jun 2006 -- NASA announced on Friday the names of the next generation of launch vehicles that will return humans to the moon and later take them to Mars and other destinations.
- NASA Tries to Revive Hubble Space Telescope's Main Camera VOA 30 Jun 2006 -- The U.S. space agency, NASA, says it hopes to restore the main camera aboard the Hubble Space Telescope by Sunday evening, Washington time
- A difficult road ahead for Russian space navigation RIA Novosti 29 Jun 2006 -- The Russian satellite navigation system, which, as the name suggests, monitors ship and air traffic, is itself in need of effective state monitoring
- SCUTTLE THE SHUTTLE! Space Frontier Foundation 29 Jun 2006 -- Scuttle the Shuttle! This phrase, first used years ago by the Space Frontier Foundation, is being heard again, as the Foundation calls for NASA to end the expensive, dead-end Space Shuttle program immediately.
- NASA Satellite Positioning Software May Aid in Tsunami Warnings NASA 28 Jun 2006 -- University scientists using Global Positioning System software have shown GPS can determine whether an earthquake is big enough to generate an ocean-wide tsunami.
- Delta IV launch successful AFPN 28 Jun 2006 -- The first West Coast launch of Boeing's Delta IV evolved expendable launch vehicle was conducted here June 27. The rocket took off from Space Launch Complex-6 carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
- NASA Cassini Spacecraft Marks Mission Halfway Point Washington File 28 Jun 2006 -- As the Cassini spacecraft reaches the halfway mark in its four-year tour of the Saturn system, discoveries made during the first half of the mission have scientists eager to find out what is in store for the second act.
- NASA Engineers Studying Problem with Hubble Telescope Washington File 28 Jun 2006 -- NASA engineers continue to examine the issues surrounding a problem related to the advanced camera for surveys, the main instrument for gathering images aboard the Hubble Space Telescope, a joint project with the European Space Agency.
- Boeing Completes First Delta IV West Coast Launch BOEING News Release 27 Jun 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] completed the first flight of a Delta IV rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., today with the successful launch of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellite, NROL-22.
- NASA's Hubble Reveals Two Dust Disks Around Nearby Star NASA 27 Jun 2006 -- NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has revealed two dust disks circling the nearby star Beta Pictoris.
- Boeing-led Team Fires Surrogate Lasers from Airborne Laser Aircraft BOEING News Release 26 Jun 2006 -- A Boeing-led [NYSE: BA] industry team and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) took a major step toward demonstrating the capability of the Airborne Laser (ABL) by successfully firing surrogate lasers from inside the aircraft.
- NASA and NSF Computers Simulate Sun's Corona NASA 26 Jun 2006 -- Researchers have developed a computer simulation that can accurately create a model of the sun's outer atmosphere.
- First Belarusian space satellite to lift off soon RIA Novosti 26 Jun 2006 -- The first Belarusian remote-sensing satellite BelKA (Belarusian Spacecraft), due to lift off on June 28, will relay high-resolution photos of the earth's surface to be used for economic, social and commercial needs.
- Controversial Shuttle Mission to Launch Saturday VOA 26 Jun 2006 -- The U.S. space shuttle Discovery is set to launch to the International Space Station July 1, a decision that has caused controversy
- US, Japan Move to Bolster Japan's Missile Defense VOA 26 Jun 2006 -- The United States and Japan have taken steps in recent days to move forward with plans to bolster Japan's missile defense, amid growing concern North Korea may launch a long-range test missile
- Russian carrier rocket delivers military satellite into orbit RIA Novosti 25 Jun 2006 -- A Russian carrier rocket has delivered a military satellite into orbit, Russia's federal space agency said Sunday.
- Soyuz with Progress M-57 freighter launched from Baikonur - mission control RIA Novosti 25 Jun 2006 -- A Soyuz carrier rocket with the Progress M-57 space freighter was successfully launched from the Baikonur space center Russia leases from Kazakhstan to the International Space Station at 3.08 p.m. GMT, Mission Control said Saturday.
- Missile Defense Test Results in Successful “Hit To Kill” Intercept Missile Defense Agency 22 Jun 2006 -- Air Force Lieutenant General Henry “Trey” Obering, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) director, announced the successful completion today of an important missile defense “hit to kill” intercept test conducted jointly with the U.S. Navy off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii.
- NASA Gives Final "Go" for Space Shuttle Discovery July 1 Launch Washington File 21 Jun 2006 -- NASA senior managers have cleared the space shuttle Discovery for a July 1 flight to the International Space Station, even though engineers still expect small pieces of insulating foam to come off the external tank during launch.
- North Korean Threat Renews Interest in U.S. Missile Defense Washington File 21 Jun 2006 -- Reports that North Korea is preparing to test a new ballistic missile has renewed interest in U.S. progress towards an effective, integrated missile defense system, as well as the expanding umbrella of international partnerships that are contributing to the project’s success.
- NASA's Chandra Solves Black Hole Paradox NASA 21 Jun 2006 -- Black holes light up the universe and astronomers may finally know how.
- US Tests Missile Defense Amid North Korea Tension VOA 21 Jun 2006 -- The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is conducting a test in the Pacific Wednesday, but an official says the event was long-planned and is not related to tension over a possible North Korean missile launch
- NASA Assigns Crew for Shuttle Mission NASA 19 Jun 2006 -- NASA has assigned crew members to the space shuttle flight that will launch an Italian-built U.S. module for the International Space Station.
- Edwards team performs second test of small launch vehicle AFPN 19 Jun 2006 -- A 418th Flight Test Squadron team performed the second in a series of tests June 14 by airdropping a 65-foot, 65,000-pound mockup of a booster rocket from a C-17 Globemaster III over the Edwards precision impact range area.
- ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli assigned to STS-120 ESA 19 Jun 2006 -- ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli, of Italian nationality, was today assigned to the crew of the Space Shuttle.
- Russian spaceship set for fiery end in Pacific after leaving ISS RIA Novosti 19 Jun 2006 -- A Russian launch vehicle will be sunk in the Pacific Ocean Monday evening after being undocked from the world's sole orbital station earlier in the day, a Mission Control official said.
- First Kazakh Satellite Put Into Orbit RFE/RL 18 Jun 2006 -- A Russian Proton rocket has carried Kazakhstan’s first satellite into orbit around the Earth.
- Russian rocket delivers Kazakh satellite into orbit RIA Novosti 18 Jun 2006 -- A Russian carrier rocket has delivered Kazakhstan's first communications satellite into orbit, a spokesman for Russia's federal space agency said Sunday.
- Russian carrier rocket with U.S. satellite launched from Pacific RIA Novosti 18 Jun 2006 -- A Russian carrier rocket with a U.S. satellite has been launched from a floating platform in the Pacific, the press office of the Sea Launch international consortium said Sunday.
- First ESA long-duration mission given 1 July start ESA 17 Jun 2006 -- ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter is set to spend six to seven months in space as a member of the permanent crew of the International Space Station.
- NASA Gives 'Go' for Space Shuttle Discovery's Launch NASA 17 Jun 2006 -- NASA senior managers on Saturday cleared the Space Shuttle Discovery for a July 1 flight to the International Space Station.
- Sea Launch project delayed by one day RIA Novosti 17 Jun 2006 -- Sea Launch, the world's sole company to orbit satellites from a pad in equatorial waters, said Saturday it had postponed the launch of a U.S. satellite by one day, moving liftoff to June 18.
- U.S. Remains Committed to Peaceful Uses of Space, Official Says Washington File 16 Jun 2006 -- The United States does not have any weapons in space, a State Department arms control official says, nor does it have plans to build any.
- NASA Astronomical Observatory Passes Hurdle NASA 15 Jun 2006 -- The world's largest airborne astronomical observatory has passed a technical and programmatic review that could potentially lead to the continuation of the mission.
- Survey satellite launched from Baikonur RIA Novosti 15 Jun 2006 -- A Soyuz-U carrier rocket with a Resurs-DK Russian satellite for remote sensing of the Earth was launched Thursday from a base in Kazakhstan, mission control said.
- Control System Tests Begin for Vega’s Main Engine ESA 15 Jun 2006 -- Development of Vega, Europe’s new launcher for small payloads, continues at full speed.
- NASA Technology Aids Water Purification Effort in Iraq NASA 14 Jun 2006 -- NASA engineers recently had the chance to improve the lives of villagers in Iraq by using NASA technology.
- ISS Crew Prepares for Shuttle Mission NASA 09 Jun 2006 -- The International Space Station crew began to turn their focus toward preparations for Discovery's upcoming shuttle mission.
- Sea Launch program to orbit communications satellite June 17 RIA Novosti 09 Jun 2006 -- Sea Launch, the world's sole company to orbit satellites from a pad in equatorial waters, will send an American satellite into space on June 17, the international consortium said Friday.
- First Images From NASA's CloudSat Have Scientists Sky High NASA 06 Jun 2006 -- The first images from NASA's new CloudSat satellite are already revealing never-before-seen 3-D details about clouds.
- NASA Announces Engine Development Contract NASA 05 Jun 2006 -- NASA has awarded Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc. a letter contract with a maximum value of $50 million to initiate design, development, test and evaluation of the J-2X engine.
- NASA Announces Distribution of Constellation Work NASA 05 Jun 2006 -- NASA announced Monday agency center responsibilities associated with the Constellation Program for robotic and human moon and Mars exploration.
- NASA Welcomes European Space Station Module Washington File 05 Jun 2006 -- NASA celebrated the May 30 arrival in Florida of an important component to the International Space Station, the Columbus research laboratory.
- NASA Struggles with Budget Issues as It Defines Moon Landing Goals VOA 05 Jun 2006 -- As the United States prepares to return humans to the moon by 2020, the space agency NASA is busy figuring out what to do once they are there
- NASA Announces Mars Science Lab Mission Launch Contract NASA 02 Jun 2006 -- NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida has selected Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services Inc. to deliver an Atlas V rocket for the Mars Science Laboratory mission to carry a large rover to the red planet in the fall of 2009.
- Space Station Crews Conducts Maintenance Spacewalk VOA 02 Jun 2006 -- The two U.S. and Russian International Space Station crewmen stepped outside the outpost for a spacewalk to perform maintenance chores as the U.S. space agency prepares to resume shuttle flights.
- Residents of ISS Conduct Spacewalk NASA 02 Jun 2006 -- The residents of the International Space Station ventured outside their orbital home Thursday night to conduct a 6-hour, 31-minute spacewalk.
- Space Shuttle Discovery on Schedule for July Launch Washington File 01 Jun 2006 -- The space shuttle Discovery is on schedule for a July launch, and NASA officials expect to launch two more flights in 2006, the Atlantis later this summer and a third flight now scheduled for December.
