November 2007 Space News

Space Tracking and Surveillance System's Second Satellite Completes Successful Thermal Vacuum Testing At Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman 29 Nov 2007 -- The second of two Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites being built by prime contractor Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has successfully completed thermal vacuum testing.
BAE SYSTEMS PRODUCES FIRST RADIATION-HARDENED SINGLE-CHIP SPACEWIRE INTERFACE BAE Systems 28 Nov 2007 -- BAE Systems has produced a radiation-hardened single-chip SpaceWire interface that performs the functions of multiple chips at a fraction of the size, saving cost, space, weight, and power.
Boeing Demonstrates Maturity of TSAT Encryption System Boeing 28 Nov 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has successfully demonstrated the communications and transmission security architecture of its proposed Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT).
Russia disappointed with U.S. missile shield proposal - Lavrov RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2007 -- Russia is disappointed with Washington's written proposals on missile defense cooperation, but is ready to continue constructive talks on the issue, the foreign minister said on Wednesday.
Russia ready to continue U.S. missile shield talks - Lavrov RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2007 -- Russia is disappointed with Washington's written proposals on missile defense cooperation, but is ready to continue constructive talks on the issue, the foreign minister said on Wednesday.
Russian Foreign Minister Criticizes Latest US Proposal on Missile Shield VOA 27 Nov 2007 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has criticized recent U.S. proposals for a missile defense system based in Europe.
NASA Building Test Pad at White Sands for New Spacecraft Army News 27 Nov 2007 -- NASA took a step toward sending a new generation of explorers to the moon with the groundbreaking for a new test launch pad at White Sands Missile Range Nov. 14.
Raytheon Selected to Design the Next GPS Control Segment for Precision Navigation and Timing Raytheon 27 Nov 2007 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $160 million, 18-month contract to develop a new system design for the next-generation Global Positioning System Control Segment. The contract was awarded by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.
Northrop Grumman Team Wins $160 Million U.S. Air Force Contract for Global Positioning System Next Generation Control Segment Northrop Grumman 26 Nov 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a $160 million U.S. Air Force contract for the Global Positioning System (GPS) Next Generation Control Segment (OCX) System design and risk reduction.
Northrop Grumman Qualifies Extended Data Rate Software for Advanced EHF Military Communications Satellite Northrop Grumman 26 Nov 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has completed qualification testing of the payload flight software for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) military communications satellite payload.
British MPs warn against dividing Europe over U.S. missile shield RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2007 -- A British parliamentary committee conceded that Russia's opposition to U.S. missile shield plans in Europe will be difficult to overcome, and called for greater international cooperation on the issue.
ISS Crew Completes Spacewalk Work on Harmony Module VOA 24 Nov 2007 -- Two U.S. astronauts have completed the external wiring on a new component of the International Space Station during a spacewalk on the orbital outpost.
Poland to discuss missile shield with U.S. after consulting NATO RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2007 -- Poland will be ready to resume dialogue with the United States on the missile defense issue after consultations with NATO and neighboring states, the prime minister said on Friday.
Zenit rocket to be launched from Pacific Ocean site on Sunday RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2007 -- An attempt to launch a Zenit-3SL rocket with a Thuraya-3 communications satellite on board will be made on Sunday from a floating platform in the Pacific Ocean, the Sea Launch company said on Friday.
Russia disappointed by U.S. response to radar offer RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2007 -- Russia is disappointed with a U.S. reply to its offer that Washington use its radar systems as an alternative to missile defense plans for Central Europe, a Russian Foreign Ministry source said on Friday.
Second Belarusian satellite to blast off late 2009 RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2007 -- Belarus's second satellite will be launched from Russia's Plesetsk space center in late 2009, the head of Belarusian company Geoinformational Systems said on Thursday.
Northrop Grumman-Built Hyperion Imager Celebrates Seventh Anniversary On-Orbit, Continues to Deliver Extraordinary Data Northrop Grumman 21 Nov 2007 -- The first hyperspectral imager in space, built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) in just over 12 months, is marking its seventh anniversary on-orbit.
Thuraya-3 satellite launch delayed again RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2007 -- The launch of a Zenit-3SL rocket with a Thuraya-3 communications satellite from the Pacific Ocean has been delayed for a sixth time due to poor weather conditions, a Russian Mission Control spokesman said Wednesday.
Russian rocket launches under threat in French Guiana RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2007 -- Plans to launch Russian rockets from a space center near Kourou in French Guiana are under threat from raids on its equipment and territory, a contractor said on Wednesday.
Russia to launch manned spacecraft from new site in 2018 RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2007 -- Russia will start launches of manned spacecraft from a future space center in Russia's Far East in 2018, a first deputy prime minster said on Wednesday.
LOCKHEED MARTIN DELIVERS KEY SATELLITE HARDWARE FOR NEW MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM Lockheed Martin 20 Nov 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has achieved another major milestone in the development of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications system with the successful delivery of the core propulsion module for the second satellite in the program constellation
Raytheon Completes Test to Begin Improving Accuracy of Global Positioning System Signals Over India Raytheon 20 Nov 2007 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) successfully completed the final system acceptance test to augment standard Global Positioning System signals over India.
China set to launch next manned spacecraft in Oct. 2008 RIA Novosti 20 Nov 2007 -- China is planning to launch its next manned spacecraft in October 2008, a researcher at the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) said on Tuesday.
LOCKHEED MARTIN-BUILT SIRIUS 4 LAUNCHED SUCCESSFULLY FROM BAIKONUR COSMODROME Lockheed Martin 18 Nov 2007 -- The SIRIUS 4 communications satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] for SES SIRIUS, an SES company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), was successfully launched today from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Republic of Kazakhstan
Russian carrier rocket Proton puts European satellite into orbit RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2007 -- A Russian Proton-M carrier rocket, launched from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, has put a European telecommunications satellite into orbit, Russia's space agency (Roskosmos) said on Sunday.
UK urged to pull out of US missile defence program IRNA 17 Nov 2007 -- The British government was urged Saturday by the Liberal Democrats not to allow the US to station part of its controversial Ballistic Missile Defence programme at bases in the UK.
ATK Successfully Completes First Test Series for NASA's 7,500 Pounds-Force Thrust Liquid Oxygen/Methane Workhorse Engine ATK 16 Nov 2007 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) completed NASA's first test series for a 7,500 pounds-force (lbf) thrust Liquid Oxygen (LOX)/Methane Workhorse Engine
Europe needs more missile sites - Czech official RIA Novosti 16 Nov 2007 -- A Czech deputy premier said Friday that Europe needs more missile shield sites than the two currently proposed by the United States.
First Soyuz launch from Kourou set for 2009 - Perminov RIA Novosti 16 Nov 2007 -- The first launch of a Soyuz carrier rocket from a space center near Kourou in French Guiana will be conducted in 2009, Russia's space chief said on Friday.
Thuraya-3 satellite launch scheduled for November 18 RIA Novosti 16 Nov 2007 -- The delayed sea launch of a Zenit-3SL rocket with a Thuraya-3 communications satellite is scheduled to go ahead on November 18, a spokesman for the Russian Mission Control Center said Friday.
US Lawmakers Grill Space Agency on Plans for Shuttle Retirement VOA 15 Nov 2007 -- U.S. space agency officials are facing sharp questions from U.S. lawmakers over a five-year gap in American spaceflight capabilities between the planned 2010 retirement of the space shuttle fleet and the anticipated development of a successor vehicle
Lockheed Martin Delivers Helioseismic And Magnetic Imager To Goddard Space Flight Center For NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory Lockheed Martin 15 Nov 2007 -- The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), an instrument for NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), has been delivered to NASA’s GoddardSpacecraft Centerfor integration on SDO, which is scheduled to launch in December 2008
ATK Wins Three-Year Initial $15 Million Services Contract With NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory ATK 15 Nov 2007 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) announced today that it has been awarded an initial three-year $15 million services contract by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. Under the terms of the agreement, ATK will provide mechanical and thermal engineering support services to JPL for an initial three years, with two one-year options.
Scientist in Texas Runs NASA's Lunar Laser Program VOA 14 Nov 2007 -- At the McDonald Observatory in western Texas, a unique space program has been quietly underway for more than 30 years. It is called the Lunar Laser Ranging Program
Northrop Grumman Demonstrates New Rocket Engine Design Using Oxygen and Methane Propellants Northrop Grumman 14 Nov 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) successfully hot-fire tested a radically new type of rocket engine specifically designed to use oxygen and methane propellants that range from all-gas to all-liquid at the inlet to the thruster
U.S. Warmongers' Ambition for Military Supremacy under Fire KCNA 14 Nov 2007 -- Some time ago, the U.S. conducted another missile interceptor test on the Kauai Island of Hawaii despite strong protest and denunciation by the international community
Boeing Completes Prototype Heat Shield for NASA Orion Spacecraft Boeing 13 Nov 2007 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has completed a developmental heat shield for NASA's Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) that is designed to protect future astronauts from extreme heat during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere following lunar and low-Earth orbit missions.
Belarus to launch its second satellite in 2009 RIA Novosti 13 Nov 2007 -- Belarus plans to launch its second satellite in 2009, the National Academy of Sciences said on Tuesday.
U.S. missile shield in Europe aimed against Russia - army chief RIA Novosti 13 Nov 2007 -- Missile defense elements the United States plans to deploy in Central Europe are undoubtedly directed against Russia, the country's top military commander said on Tuesday.
ATK Propulsion Technologies Help Launch Boeing's Delta IV Heavy Rocket ATK 12 Nov 2007 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) supported the successful launch of a Boeing Delta IV heavy rocket carrying the 23rd and final Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Support Program missile-warning satellite (DSP-23).
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Engines Lift Air Force DSP-23 Satellite into Orbit Pratt & Whitney 12 Nov 2007 -- A trio of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) RS-68 engines and a PWR RL10 upper stage engine worked in concert to boost an Air Force Delta IV Heavy rocket on Saturday from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Russia, India sign joint lunar research deal RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2007 -- Russia's Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) and the Indian Department of Space have signed a joint lunar research and exploration agreement, the Russian agency said on Monday.
Zenit launch delayed until Nov. 14 - mission control RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2007 -- A Zenit rocket launch with a Thuraya-3 communications satellite, part of the Sea Launch project, has been delayed due to poor weather until November 14, Russia's mission control spokesperson said Monday.
China successfully launches new satellite - news agency RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2007 -- China successfully launched Monday the third Yaogan-series earth remote-sensing satellite, China's Xinhua news agency reported.
Northrop Grumman-Built Defense Support Program Flight 23 Satellite Successfully Launched Northrop Grumman 11 Nov 2007 -- The final Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite thundered into the night sky from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Nov. 10 at 8:50 p.m. EST, and successfully separated from the Delta IV-Heavy launch vehicle six hours and 20 minutes later
Russia to add three new modules to ISS by 2011 RIA Novosti 09 Nov 2007 -- Russia will build three additional modules for its segment of the International Space Station (ISS) by 2011, the head of Russia's space agency, Roskosmos, announced on Friday.
Russia to build new space center in Far East - Roskosmos RIA Novosti 09 Nov 2007 -- Russia is to build a new space center in the Far East, but will continue to use Kazakhstan's Baikonur launch site until at least 2020, Roskosmos, Russia's space agency, said on Friday.
Russia, U.S. to hold missile shield talks in Washington in Nov. RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2007 -- U.S. missile defense plans for Europe will be discussed with Russia at a high-level meeting in Washington in November, a Russian Foreign Ministry official said on Thursday.
Army Space Initiatives Aim to Help Warfighters Army News 08 Nov 2007 -- New satellites, radar sites, laser technology and missile-defense locations overseas are among initiatives planned by the Army's Space and Missile Defense Command that will help warfighters in the next five years, according to Lt. Gen. Kevin T. Campbell.
U.S. Air Force Set to Launch 23rd and Final Northrop Grumman-Built Defense Support Program Satellite On November 10 Northrop Grumman 08 Nov 2007 -- The 23rd and final Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite, built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) for the U.S. Air Force, is scheduled for launch on Nov. 10 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Launch Complex 37.
Shuttle Lands After Mission to Space Station VOA 07 Nov 2007 -- The crew of the space shuttle Discovery has returned to Earth after completing a more than two-week mission to the International Space Station
Astronomers Discover Fifth Planet Orbiting Distant Star VOA 07 Nov 2007 -- Astronomers Tuesday announced the discovery of another planet orbiting a distant star, making it the most crowded planetary system outside our own
Shuttle Discovery Lands Safely on Earth VOA 07 Nov 2007 -- The U.S. space shuttle Discovery has landed safely on Earth after a challenging two-week mission to build and repair components on the International Space Station.
Space Command striving for improved field communications AFPN 07 Nov 2007 -- Airmen of Air Force Space Command's Space Innovation and Development Center were on hand in Warren's AFB Quebec flight area recently, but they weren't looking to the area's Peacekeeper past; they were demonstrating the future.
Army Astronaut Returns to Earth Army News 07 Nov 2007 -- Army astronaut Col. Doug Wheelock and the Discovery space shuttle crew safely landed at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida after a challenging 15-day mission shortly after 1 p.m. Eastern Standard Time today.
Discovery Mission Readies Station for International Partner Labs Washington File 07 Nov 2007 -- With the International Space Station's Harmony module set for docking by the European and Japanese laboratories, and sections of the station's truss and solar arrays moved and working, Space Shuttle Discovery's crew returned to Earth November 7, the shuttle glinting in Florida's midday sun.
ATK Selects Avionics Contractor for Ares I First Stage ATK 07 Nov 2007 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) announced it has selected L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL), to provide key components of the avionics subsystem for the First Stage of NASA's next-generation human launch vehicle -- the Ares I.
Russia's Space Agency confirms members of 17th ISS expedition RIA Novosti 06 Nov 2007 -- The Russian Space Agency confirmed on Tuesday the composition of the main and back-up crews of the 17th International Space Station (ISS) expedition.
Boeing Demonstrates 'One-Button' Start-Up of Satellite Ground Station Boeing 06 Nov 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and its TEAM TSAT partners have successfully demonstrated the "one-button" start-up feature of its U.S. ground station, an essential element of the companies' Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) offering.
Boeing Supports First Dual Intercept Test of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System Boeing 06 Nov 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] played a key role in today's successful test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense weapon system, which intercepted two ballistic missile targets with two Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) missiles for the first time.
LOCKHEED MARTIN AEGIS BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM SUCCESSFULLY DESTROYS TWO BALLISTIC MISSILES DURING UNPRECEDENTED TEST Lockheed Martin 06 Nov 2007 -- During an unprecedented test today, Lockheed Martin's [NYSE: LMT] Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System successfully intercepted and destroyed two non-separating, short range ballistic missile targets nearly simultaneously.
Northrop Grumman Awarded Patent for Innovative Payload Positioning System That Dramatically Increases Future Space Telescope Performance and Efficiency Northrop Grumman 06 Nov 2007 -- The U.S. Patent Office recently awarded a patent to five Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) engineers for a unique payload positioning boom that increases the ability of space telescopes to observe more of the sky while creating a variety of design, fuel and service efficiencies.
Raytheon Standard Missile-3 Achieves Dual Intercepts in Space Raytheon 06 Nov 2007 -- In a first-of-its-kind dual missile defense test, two Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN)-built Standard Missile-3s, fired from a U.S. Navy ship, simultaneously intercepted and destroyed two short-range ballistic missile targets in space, Nov. 6.
Japan's Moves for MD under Fire KCNA 06 Nov 2007 -- The Japanese foreign minister recently asserted that Japan's missile defence network is aimed to cope with the "missile threat" from north Korea.
Sea-Based Missile Defense “Hit to Kill” Intercept Achieved Missile Defense Agency 06 Nov 2007 -- Air Force Lieutenant General Henry ‘Trey” Obering, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) director, announced the successful completion today of a multiple simultaneous engagement involving two ballistic missile targets
MODERNIZED GPS SATELLITE BUILT BY LOCKHEED MARTIN DECLARED OPERATIONAL FOR USERS WORLDWIDE Lockheed Martin 05 Nov 2007 -- The modernized Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-M) satellite, launched from Cape Canaveral on Oct. 17, has been declared fully operational for military and civilian navigation users around the globe, following a successful on-orbit checkout by a combined U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team.
Astronauts Repair Panels During Spacewalk Army News 05 Nov 2007 -- Army astronaut Col. Doug Wheelock and mission specialist Doug Parazynski successfully repaired a torn solar array panel during Saturday's seven-hour, 19-minute spacewalk.
Mars Radar Data Hints At Large Ice Deposits at Equator VOA 05 Nov 2007 -- An international team of scientists has found what may be very large amounts of ice just below the surface of Mars
China's first lunar probe to reach moon orbit Nov. 5 - agency RIA Novosti 04 Nov 2007 -- China's first lunar probe, launched from the Xichang Launch Center in the country's southwest on October 24, will reach the moon's orbit Monday morning, the Chinese news agency Xinhua said on Sunday.
NASA astronaut puts together ripped solar energy panel on ISS RIA Novosti 03 Nov 2007 -- NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski has put a homemade brace on a torn wing of the solar panel, the main electricity generating device on the International Space Station (ISS), a NASA spokeswoman said.
Discovery Crew Preps for Spacewalk Army News 02 Nov 2007 -- Army astonaut Col. Doug Wheelock and other space shuttle Discovery astronauts spent the day preparing to repair a torn solar array panel during a spacewalk scheduled for Saturday.
Russian Proton-M rocket to launch European satellite in November RIA Novosti 02 Nov 2007 -- A Russian Proton-M carrier rocket has been scheduled to put a European telecommunications satellite into orbit on November 18, Russia's space agency (Roskosmos) said Friday.
Sea Launch to resume Zenit launches on Nov. 13 RIA Novosti 02 Nov 2007 -- The first launch of a Zenit rocket under the Sea Launch project following a January explosion that damaged a launch platform has been scheduled for November 13, a company spokesperson said on Friday.
Discovery Crew Preps for Spacewalk Army News 01 Nov 2007 -- NASA postponed Army astronaut Col. Doug Wheelock's third spacewalk, scheduled for today, until Saturday, when instead of evaluating a torn solar array, he and Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski are expected to repair it.
Discovery spacewalk to fix solar wing postponed until Saturday RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2007 -- NASA Discovery shuttle planners have rescheduled to Saturday a spacewalk to fix a ripped solar wing, the U.S. space agency's Web site said on Thursday.
Russian booster brings German satellite SAR-Lupe into orbit RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2007 -- A Cosmos 3M carrier rocket has successfully brought a German SAR-Lupe communications satellite into orbit, a spokesman for Russia's Space Forces said on Thursday.
ATK Conducts Test Firing of the Space Shuttle's Reusable Solid Rocket Motor ATK 01 Nov 2007 -- In its continued effort to ensure safety of the Space Shuttle, and to prepare for the development of Ares I, Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) successfully conducted a test firing today of NASA's four segment Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM).