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Space


May 2002 Space News

  • 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.
  • Boeing Completes Major Modifications to First Airborne Laser Aircraft Boeing 30 May 2002 -- After the most extensive modification ever performed at a Boeing facility, the first Airborne Laser (ABL) ballistic missile-defense system aircraft is progressing toward flight-worthiness testing in Wichita, Kan.
  • 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).
  • CONTINUING THE HUMAN PRESENCE IN SPACE Lockheed Martin 29 May 2002 -- A new set of tenants will head for the International Space Station, along with 5,500 lbs. of supplies and science experiments when Space Shuttle Endeavour and her crew of seven lifts off Thursday, May 30. The Shuttle will return to Earth 12 days later with the station’s previous occupants after their six-month stay in orbit.
  • LOCKHEED MARTIN BREAKS GROUND ON NEW THAAD MISSILE PRODUCTION FACILITY IN TROY, ALABAMA; EXPANSION TO RAISE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN PIKE COUNTY Lockheed Martin 29 May 2002 -- Lockheed Martin broke ground today in Troy, Ala. on a new production facility for the Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System that will eventually provide additional jobs for Pike County residents.
  • ABL Aircraft Moves Step Closer to Laser System Integration Boeing 28 May 2002 -- The first Airborne Laser (ABL) missile-defense system aircraft, a modified Boeing 747-400 freighter aircraft, has been transitioned to the flight ramp in preparation for flight testing later this summer.
  • OFEQ-5, IAI's New Imaging Satellite Launched into Space By Means of the Shavit Launcher Israel Aerospace Industries 28 May 2002 -- Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), in cooperation with other Israeli hi-tech industries, launched its OFEQ-5 satellite, by means of the Israeli SHAVIT launcher, developed and produced by IAI/MLM Division
  • Boeing Delivers First EELV/Delta IV Common Booster Core Boeing 23 May 2002 -- Less than five years in the making, a new rocket, built by The Boeing Company [NYSE:BA] for a U.S. Air Force program designed to reduce launch costs and ensure the nation's access to space, rolled out from its facility in Decatur, Ala.
  • Boeing-led Team Extends Reach of Space Station Robotic Arm Boeing 20 May 2002 -- The International Space Station's robotic arm gets added reach when space shuttle Endeavour delivers the Mobile Base System (MBS) to the orbital outpost later this month.
  • Double Success as Two Boeing-Built Satellites Enter Service Boeing 20 May 2002 -- Two popular communications satellite models have been delivered to long-term customers marking a major milestone for Boeing Space and Communications (S&C), a unit of The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA].
  • Lockheed Martin's Atlas V Team Successfully Performs Second Practice Countdown to Prepare for First Launch Lockheed Martin 20 May 2002 -- Lockheed Martin's next-generation Atlas V vehicle passed another significant test on the launch pad last week on the way to its debut launch this summer. The Atlas team successfully completed the second 'wet dress rehearsal (WDR),' which is a practice countdown for actual launch. WDR number one was conducted successfully during the week of March 11.
  • Aerojet and Pratt & Whitney Achieve Three SLI Milestones, Move Closer to COBRA Engine Prototype. Pratt & Whitney 20 May 2002 -- The joint venture team of Pratt & Whitney and Aerojet has achieved three major milestones in development of the COBRA reusable booster/second-stage engine for NASA's Space Launch Initiative (SLI):
  • Boeing Tests Critical Components for Advanced Rocket Engine Boeing 15 May 2002 -- Boeing (NYSE:BA) has successfully tested a state-of-the-art liquid oxygen turbopump, marking a significant step forward in the development of next-generation rocket engine technology.
  • Boeing-Built Communications Satellite Goes the Distance and Then Some Boeing 13 May 2002 -- A Boeing-built telecommunications satellite has provided 17 years of service to its customers on Earth, double its contract life.
  • BAE SYSTEMS atmospheric infrared sounder to significantly enhance weather forecasting BAE Systems 09 May 2002 -- BAE Systems Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), built by the IR Imaging Systems (IRIS), Lexington, Massachusetts, was successfully launched May 4 onboard NASA's Aqua Spacecraft from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.
  • ATK Propulsion and Composite Technologies Support Launch of NASA Earth Observation Satellite ATK 06 May 2002 -- ATK (Alliant Techsystems) (NYSE: ATK) solid propulsion and composite structure technologies supported the launch on May 4 of a Boeing Delta II 7920-10L rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. that successfully placed into orbit NASA's Aqua Earth observation satellite.
  • MEADS, the answer to the Bundeswehr's new air defence concept EADS 06 May 2002 -- MEADS meets the requirements of the 'capabilities oriented' air defence concept of the Bundeswehr which has recently been approved in Germany.
  • Boeing Sends NASA's Aqua into Space on Earthly Quest Boeing 04 May 2002 -- Early this morning, a Boeing [NYSE:BA] Delta II rocket climbed into the pre-dawn skies over Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to send NASA's Aqua spacecraft on a mission to help improve life on Earth.
  • 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
  • Astrium supplies multi-functional research facility (Microgravity Science Glovebox) for the International Space Station EADS 01 May 2002 -- With the integration of the first European research facility, the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG), into the transport module Leonardo, the countdown for extended use on the International Space Station has begun.
  • Reusable space transport systems to reduce cost EADS 01 May 2002 -- Utilisation of space by man will be characterised by considerable growth in the years and decades to come. Not only the use of communications satellites for various applications, but also the utilisation of the International Space Station that is currently being built, will considerably increase commercial interest in development and research in space: Once the necessary prerequisites are established (e.g. secured access and cost of laboratory utilisation, provision of feeder flights, research results covered by patents), industry will make extensive use of the opportunities provided for product development under microgravity conditions.
  • Astrium Space Infrastructure EADS 01 May 2002 -- The Space Infrastructure business division of Astrium is responsible for substantial elements of the European Ariane family of launchers, the most successful commercial launcher programme worldwide, and the International Space Station, the largest project ever in the history of spaceflight.
  • CryoSat - A Satellite with an icy Mission EADS 01 May 2002 -- Astrium is building the new European environmental and climate satellite CryoSat.
  • Metop - Europe's First Weather Satellite in a Polar Orbit EADS 01 May 2002 -- Everybody knows the images from the European Meteosat weather satellites from the daily weather forecasts on television. Starting in 2005 these satellites, which have been successful since 1977, will be supplemented by an additional European weather satellite system: Metop (Meteorological Operational Polar Satellite). Astrium is the prime contractor for the construction of this new European weather satellite.
  • Spot 5 - Service Continuity and Performance EADS 01 May 2002 -- A new member has been added to the family of earth observation satellites: the three-ton Spot 5, which was developed and built by Europe's space company Astrium for the French Space Agency CNES. Spot 5 was fully assembled and tested in Toulouse, at Astrium premises and Intespace (Cnes' test center).
  • Mars Express - Europe Conquers the Red Planet EADS 01 May 2002 -- For the first time, a European space probe is to fly to Mars and land on the planet by the end of 2003. 'Mars Express' shall investigate whether there was once water on our neighboring planet Mars and whether life was formed at that time.
  • Further development to adapt Ariane 5 to the market EADS 01 May 2002 -- The requirements of commercial satellite operators and other space payload customers are growing steadily. Communications satellites, for example, do not only increase in efficiency but also in size and weight.
  • TerraSAR-X - the commercial radar eye in space EADS 01 May 2002 -- For the first time in Germany, it has been decided to fund and build an Earth observation satellite in a public-private partnership - TerraSAR-X. In March of this year, a corresponding agreement was signed by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and the space company Astrium (Friedrichshafen).
  • Propelled into space - Astrium presents propulsion systems of the future EADS 01 May 2002 -- They propel communications satellites, research probes and the European launch system Ariane 5: propulsion products from Astrium. During the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA in Berlin-Brandenburg (6 to 12 May 2002) the Propulsion Systems business unit of Astrium will present a vast range of products for all space applications.
  • European high technology for the International Space Station EADS 01 May 2002 -- The International Space Station takes shape: Including 'Zarya', 'Unity', 'Zvezda', 'Destiny', the Canadian robotic arm, the US airlock Quest, the Russian docking compartment Pirs, frame structures and solar collectors, the station has a weight of about 130 tons already.
  • Rosetta - a Spacecraft in Search of Pristine Matter EADS 01 May 2002 -- In January 2003, the European spacecraft Rosetta is to set off in search of pristine matter. It will be launched on its long flight to the comet 'Wirtanen' by the European launch vehicle Ariane 5.



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