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Space


October 2003 Space News

  • ANOTHER SOLAR ERUPTION VOA 30 Oct 2003 -- Scientists have detected another big eruption on the sun, blasting hot, electrically-charged gases our way. It is expected to cause a second geomagnetic storm Friday, threatening Earth's electrical systems. The quick succession of such massive solar events is unusual.
  • Japanese SERVIS-1 Satellite Successfully Launched by Eurockot EADS 30 Oct 2003 -- The Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer (USEF) of Tokyo, Japan and Eurockot Launch Services GmbH of Bremen, Germany, today announced the successful launch of the SERVIS-1 satellite at 13:43 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia using a ROCKOT launch vehicle.
  • ORBITAL RECEIVES MAJOR ORDER FROM NASA FOR PEGASUS AND TAURUS SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLES Orbital Sciences Corp. 30 Oct 2003 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has ordered four space launch vehicles, including two Pegasus® and two Taurus® rockets, for U.S. government scientific satellite missions scheduled to be launched over a two-year period beginning in 2006.
  • SOLAR FLARES VOA 29 Oct 2003 -- Predicting space weather is getting more precise. Twice in the past week, forecasters have warned us about two solar storms with the potential for creating havoc among Earth's electrical systems and orbiting satellites. The world is much better prepared to deal with ferocious solar activity than it used to be.
  • SOLAR ERUPTION VOA 28 Oct 2003 -- U-S scientists say the second solar eruption in one week could disrupt communications on Earth again. This one is huge -- much bigger than the one that struck the planet last week.
  • SOYUZ LANDING VOA 27 Oct 2003 -- The outgoing U-S and Russian crew of the international space station has returned safely to Earth. They touched down in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft together with a short-term Spanish visitor to the station.
  • ATK Successfully Conducts First Five-Segment Space Shuttle Motor Test ATK 24 Oct 2003 -- ATK (Alliant Techsystems) (NYSE:ATK) yesterday successfully conducted the first static test firing of a five-segment Space Shuttle reusable solid rocket motor (RSRM).
  • EADS announces signature of the £ 2.5 bn (€ 3.6 bn) Skynet 5 contract with UK MoD EADS 24 Oct 2003 -- EADS subsidiary Paradigm Secure Communications Limited has signed the £ 2.5bn (€ 3.6 bn) Skynet 5 Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD).
  • First ground-based Midcourse Defense Brigade activated Army News Service 23 Oct 2003-- U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command and the Colorado Army National Guard activated the nation's first ground-based Midcourse Defense Brigade Oct. 16.
  • SPACE STATION SAFETY VOA 23 Oct 2003 -- A news report says some U-S space agency scientists had opposed sending a fresh crew to the international space station because faulty environmental monitoring equipment aboard could pose a health threat. But the crew of the orbiting outpost says no such threat exists at the moment.
  • Third satellite contract won by EADS Astrium in one month EADS 21 Oct 2003 -- Following an international competition, EADS Astrium in partnership with Alcatel has been selected to build two Arabsat telecommunications satellites.
  • ARABSAT Selects ILS For 2 Proton Launches Lockheed Martin 21 Oct 2003 -- The Arab Satellite Communications Organization (ARABSAT) has selected International Launch Services (ILS) of the United States to launch its next two satellites on Proton/Breeze M launch vehicles. Financial details were not disclosed.
  • Lockheed Martin-Led Team Submits Proposal For Transformational Communications MILSATCOM Space Segment Lockheed Martin 21 Oct 2003 -- A team led by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] and Northrop Grumman [NYSE: NOC], has submitted a proposal for the Risk Reduction and System Definition effort of the Transformational Communications MILSATCOM (TCM) Space Segment.
  • ATK Supports Successful Deployment of a Military Weather Satellite by Titan II Rocket ATK 20 Oct 2003 -- An ATK (Alliant Techsystems) (NYSE:ATK) STAR(TM) 37XFP motor played a critical role in Saturday's successful deployment of a Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) spacecraft by a Lockheed Martin Titan II launch vehicle. The launch occurred at Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
  • Final Titan II launches AFPN 20 Oct 2003-- The Air Force's 13th and final Titan II rocket launched a Defense Meteorological Satellite Program payload from here Oct. 18 at 9:17 a.m.
  • SOYUZ-SPACE STATION DOCKING VOA 20 Oct 2003 -- A Russian "Soyuz" spacecraft has arrived at the International Space Station with a fresh international crew.
  • Bush Congratulates China on Successful Space Mission Washington File 19 Oct 2003 -- Following is the text of a letter from President Bush to President Hu Jintao of China October 19 congratulating China on the successful completion of its first manned space mission
  • Lockheed Martin-Built Titan II Successfully Launches Military Weather Satellite From Vandenberg Air Force Base Lockheed Martin 18 Oct 2003 -- A Lockheed Martin-built Titan II launch vehicle successfully placed the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Block 5D-3 spacecraft into orbit this morning for the U.S. Air Force.
  • SOYUZ / SPACE STATION VOA 18 Oct 2003 -- A new multinational crew is heading to the international space station. They lifted off from Baikonur, Kazakhstan Saturday for a two-day journey aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket, the substitute transportation for the U-S shuttle fleet that was grounded after February's shuttle accident.
  • U-S FUTURE IN SPACE VOA 16 Oct 2003 -- The disarray in the U-S space shuttle program after the Columbia disaster has left lawmakers wondering what the future of the country's manned space program should be. Experts tell Congress that the expensive shuttle fleet and international space station are limiting the possibilities for human space exploration.
  • CHINA / SPACE VOA 16 Oct 2003 -- Flush from the victory of having successfully completed its first manned space mission, China is outlining plans for its future space ambitions. Officials Thursday announced an eventual space station is in the works.
  • CHINA / U-S SPACE VOA 15 Oct 2003 -- China's first manned space launch raises the question whether it will eventually join the international space station program or participate in other cooperative manned space ventures.
  • Secretary-General congratulates Chinese on first manned space mission UN News Centre 15 Oct 2003 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today congratulated China on its first manned space mission, calling it a "step forward for all humankind."
  • China: Man Launched Into Space In 'Historic Step' RFE/RL 15 Oct 2003 -- China today entered an exclusive club by becoming only the third nation in history to successfully place an astronaut into Earth's orbit. A space capsule carrying a Chinese Air Force officer is now circling the planet and is scheduled to return early tomorrow morning. Chinese President Hu Jintao is hailing the mission as a "historic step" for the country, while the U.S. calls the launch an important achievement.
  • SPACE DIGEST VOA 15 Oct 2003 -- Last Days of Galileo; New Crew for Space Station; NASA Birthday
  • CHINA SPACE REAX VOA 15 Oct 2003 -- The launch of the Shenzhou-five, China's first manned spacecraft, has brought both congratulations and competitiveness from other nations with space programs.
  • CHINA-SPACE VOA 15 Oct 2003 -- China has launched its first manned space mission, becoming the third nation after the United States and the former Soviet Union to put a human in orbit.
  • CHINA / YANG LIWEI VOA 15 Oct 2003 -- As China embarks on its first manned mission into space, the man who is piloting the craft has become an instant national hero.
  • China Launches First Manned Space Mission VOA News 14 Oct 2003 -- China's space agency announced that the space craft, known as Shenzhou Five, was launched at 0100 UTC Wednesday from Gobi desert in northwestern China.
  • China: Preparations Begin To Launch Man Into Space, Enter Exclusive Club RFE/RL 14 Oct 2003 -- China is poised to begin its first manned space mission by launching a rocket that will carry a single astronaut into orbit and return him safely to Earth. If successful, it would signal the arrival of China into an exclusive club.
  • INDIA / CHINA SPACE RACE VOA 14 Oct 2003 -- As China prepares to launch it first manned space mission, neighbor India, is also gearing up for plans to send a spacecraft to the moon by the year 2008.
  • CHINA-SPACE VOA 14 Oct 2003 -- China has cancelled plans to televise the launch of its first manned space mission. The launch time is secret, but it is expected by the end of the week.
  • CHINA SPACE SECRECY VOA 14 Oct 2003 -- After months of little mention of China's space program, its state owned media are beginning to inform the public of the country's first manned space launch.
  • Lockheed Martin's Orbital Space Plane Team Now Includes Orbital Sciences Corporation Lockheed Martin 14 Oct 2003 -- Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) announced today that Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) will join the Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman team that is competing for full-scale development of NASA's Orbital Space Plane (OSP). Lockheed Martin will lead the team as the system prime contractor.
  • Northrop Grumman Completes New Facility for Advanced EHF Payload Integration and Test Northrop Grumman 14 Oct 2003 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Space Technology sector has completed a Department of Defense-certified facility and begun integration and test of an engineering model payload for the department's next-generation Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) communications satellite system.
  • LOCKHEED MARTIN'S ORBITAL SPACE PLANE TEAM NOW INCLUDES ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION Orbital Sciences Corp. 14 Oct 2003 -- Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) announced today that Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) will join the Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman team that is competing for full-scale development of NASA's Orbital Space Plane (OSP).
  • Newest Lockheed Martin Military Weather Satellite Readied For Launch Lockheed Martin 13 Oct 2003 -- A Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Block 5D-3 spacecraft, built under contract for the U.S. Air Force by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is being prepared for launch on October 15, 2003. A Titan II launch vehicle, also supplied by Lockheed Martin, will carry the weather satellite into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
  • CHINA-SPACE VOA 13 Oct 2003 -- China has announced that three of its astronauts have arrived at the launch site for this week's first-ever manned space mission. People are getting excited despite little media coverage in the country.
  • Sea Launch to Offer Land-Based, Medium-Lift Launches from Baikonur in Cooperation with Space International Services Boeing 10 Oct 2003 -- Following the 10th successful Sea Launch mission on Sept. 30, the Sea Launch Board of Directors met and resolved to go forward with plans to offer launch services from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, in addition to its sea-based launches at the Equator. The new offering, Land Launch, is based on the collaboration of Sea Launch Company and Space International Services (SIS), of Russia, to meet the launch needs of commercial customers with medium weight satellites.
  • CHINA / SPACE VOA 09 Oct 2003 -- China is planning to launch [has launched] its first astronaut into orbit [later this month]. [If successful,] the mission of the Shenzhou [SHEN-jo] Five spacecraft would make [makes] Beijing a world-class space power. But experts are divided over how much China's manned space efforts would help it militarily.
  • Preparing for Titan's final flight AFPN 08 Oct 2003-- The last Titan IVB rocket to be launched here arrived from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Oct. 5 while another Titan IVB was moved to Space Launch Complex 40 to launch an early warning satellite under the Defense Support Program.
  • Boeing Awarded $9.2 Million to Process Radar Data from Space Shuttle Endeavour Boeing 08 Oct 2003 -- Boeing [NYSE:BA] has received $9.2 million in follow-on orders from the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) to produce a digital topographic model of the Earth from radar data collected by the space shuttle Endeavour.
  • ORBITAL RECEIVES $11 MILLION ORDER FOR MINOTAUR SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLE FROM THE U.S. AIR FORCE Orbital Sciences Corp. 02 Oct 2003 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that the U.S. Air Force has exercised an option order for a Minotaur space launch vehicle under the 10-year Orbital/Suborbital Program-2 (OSP-2) contract that was awarded to the company earlier this year.
  • Successful Launch for Boeing-Built Galaxy XIII/Horizons-1 Satellite Boeing 01 Oct 2003 -- Last night, a successful launch orbited Galaxy XIII/Horizons-1, a Boeing 601HP satellite built by Boeing [NYSE:BA] for PanAmSat Corporation, Wilton, Conn., and JSAT Corporation of Japan. The satellite will provide coverage over North America, Central America, Alaska and Hawaii from an orbital slot between the Hawaiian Islands and the U.S. west coast.
  • ASTRONAUT ON SHUTTLE RISKS VOA 01 Oct 2003-- A U-S teacher designated to fly on a future space shuttle mission says she accepts the risks despite the death of seven astronauts on the Columbia orbiter in February. She spoke to high school students on Wednesday, the 45th anniversary of the U-S space agency NASA



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