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Space


January 2006 Space News

  • U.S. Landsat Earth-Imaging Satellite Resumes Operations Washington File 31 Jan 2006 -- The Landsat 5 Earth observation satellite is back in operation after imaging operations temporarily were suspended in November 2005 because of technical difficulties.
  • U.S. AIR FORCE AWARDS LOCKHEED MARTIN $491 MILLION CONTRACT FOR 3RD ADVANCED MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE Lockheed Martin 31 Jan 2006 -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a contract for $491 million to build a third spacecraft for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (Advanced EHF) program constellation. Advanced EHF satellites will provide global, highly secure, protected, survivable communications for all warfighters serving under the U.S. Department of Defense.
  • Alcatel Alenia Space starts the ExoMars mission design Thales 31 Jan 2006 -- In the frame of a contract signed with the European Space Agency (ESA), Alcatel Alenia Space has started the ExoMars mission design. The ExoMars mission aims at sending a lander rover to Mars in order to find traces of past or present life. This contract, worth about 13 million Euros, calls for one year mission design work up to the preliminary design review including the definition of the main system elements of the mission.
  • Sea Launch Departs Home Port for EchoStar X Mission Boeing 30 Jan 2006 -- The Odyssey Launch Platform and the Sea Launch Commander have departed Home Port in Long Beach, Calif., for Sea Launch's first mission of the year. The Sea Launch team is preparing to launch the EchoStar X broadcast satellite on Feb. 8, at the opening of a 49-minute launch window, at 3:35 pm Pacific Time (23:35 GMT).
  • NASA Mars Rovers Advance Understanding of Red Planet Washington File 30 Jan 2006 -- NASA's Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, have been working overtime to help scientists better understand ancient environmental conditions on the red planet.
  • International Space Station Status Report: SS06-004 NASA 27 Jan 2006 -- Preparations for a walk in space took center stage this week on the space station.
  • Alcatel Alenia Space signs MOU on space cooperation with the South African CSIR Thales 26 Jan 2006 -- Alcatel Alenia Space today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), a leading research and development, technology and innovation institution in South Africa, to consolidate global cooperation in the space market and to leverage their respective competencies and knowledge.
  • Boeing Engineers Assist NASA in Shuttle Tile Work Boeing 25 Jan 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] engineers, working closely with United Space Alliance [USA] and NASA, have found a way to prevent gap fillers, thin spacers between the Space Shuttle's heat resistant tiles, from protruding from the belly of the Orbiter.
  • Astronomers Find Smallest Planet Yet Outside Our Solar System VOA 25 Jan 2006 -- Astronomers report finding the smallest, possibly most Earth-like planet ever detected around a star outside our solar system.
  • ATK Rocket Motors, Composites Technology Support Successful Launch of Japan's H-IIA Vehicle ATK 24 Jan 2006 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) rocket motors and composites technology supported today’s successful launch of a Japanese H-IIA vehicle from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan. The launch vehicle placed into orbit the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS).
  • Very first image delivered by MSG2 weather satellite Thales 24 Jan 2006 -- The MSG2 satellite, launched on December 21 and now positioned at 6.5 degrees West, has transmitted yesterday at 3:00 pm GMT its very first image. MSG2 satellite was built by an Alcatel Alenia Space-led European team.
  • Japan's ALOS in orbit: ESA will deliver its data to European researchers ESA 24 Jan 2006 -- ALOS, Japan's latest Earth Observation satellite, was successfully launched at 02:33 CET (10:33 Japan time) on 24 January.
  • NASA Announces Senior Management Changes NASA 23 Jan 2006 -- NASA announced senior management changes today involving three agency field centers.
  • Rocket journeys to edge of solar system AFPN 23 Jan 2006 -- The 45th Space Wing helped successfully launch the NASA Pluto New Horizons spacecraft on an Atlas V rocket here Jan. 19.
  • ATK and KEI Missile Defense Team Successfully Test Fire Second-stage Rocket Motor ATK 20 Jan 2006 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) completed a successful test firing earlier today of a second-stage rocket motor for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI). This is the first in a series of static motor firings leading up to the program’s first booster flight in 2008. Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) is leading the industry team charged with developing and testing a KEI capability under contract to MDA. Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is responsible for developing and integrating the KEI system’s interceptor.
  • Sea Launch Begins a Sold-Out Year Boeing 20 Jan 2006 -- Following a banner year in 2005 with four successful missions and nine new commercial launch contracts, Sea Launch is now preparing for the first of six missions in 2006, planned for February.
  • Kinetic Energy Interceptor Missile Defense Team Successfully Performs Static Test-Fire of Stage 2 Rocket Motor Northrop Grumman 20 Jan 2006 -- The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN) team for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Kinetic Energy Interceptor (KEI) program successfully completed the first in a series of static test firings of the missile's second-stage rocket motor on Jan. 17 at teammate Alliant Techsystem's (NYSE:ATK) facility in Elkton, Md. The event marked a critical knowledge point for the program that will lead up to the program's first booster flight test in 2008.
  • Eutelsat's Hot Bird 7ATM satellite has arrived at Kourou from Alcatel Alenia Space facilities Thales 20 Jan 2006 -- The HOT BIRDTM 7A broadcasting satellite built by Alcatel Alenia Space for Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) arrived last night at the Kourou launch site in French Guiana. The satellite's scheduled launch date is 21 February 2006 on-board an Ariane 5 ECA rocket.
  • NASA's Space Shuttle Processing Status Report: S06-002 NASA 20 Jan 2006 -- The shuttle arm was installed Monday. Arm verification testing starts next week. All three main engines were installed last week and leak checks continue.
  • NASA Magnetic Field Mission Ends NASA 20 Jan 2006 -- NASA's Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) satellite recently ceased operations, bringing to a close a successful six-year mission.
  • EADS SPACE to play central role in the Galileo satellite navigation test phase EADS 19 Jan 2006 -- EADS SPACE is to play a central role in the test phase for the new European satellite navigation system Galileo, following the contract signature in Berlin today between Galileo Industries, as the prime contractor, and the European Space Agency ESA. The contract is worth €1 billion with almost one fifth to be handled by the space units of EADS.
  • Powerful ILS Atlas V Launches High-Speed Mission To Pluto Lockheed Martin 19 Jan 2006 -- An Atlas V vehicle provided by International Launch Services (ILS) successfully propelled NASA's New Horizons spacecraft today on a 9-and-a-half-year mission to Pluto.
  • Alcatel applauds the concrete start of the Galileo Project Thales 19 Jan 2006 -- As a shareholder and a founding member of Galileo Industries, Alcatel (Paris: CGEP.PA and NYSE: ALA) today applauds the contract signature of the first industrial phase of Galileo, the European satellite navigation system, between Galileo Industries* and ESA (European Space Agency). This contract marks one of the most important and strategic milestones for Europe and the beginning of the implementation of the Galileo program with the In-Orbit-Validation phase.
  • NASA's Pluto Mission Launched Toward New Horizons NASA 19 Jan 2006 -- The first mission to distant planet Pluto is under way after the successful launch today of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
  • NASA New Horizons Spacecraft on Its Way to Pluto Washington File 19 Jan 2006 -- NASA has launched a spacecraft designed to explore for the first time distant Pluto, its moons and possibly the icy Kuiper Belt mini-worlds 1.6 billion kilometers beyond the orbit of the planet Neptune.
  • US Launches Decade-Long Mission to Pluto VOA 19 Jan 2006 -- The United States has launched the first spacecraft to the distant, icy planet Pluto.
  • MAJOR MILESTONE ACHIEVED ON NEW MISSILE WARNING SYSTEM BUILT BY LOCKHEED MARTIN Lockheed Martin 18 Jan 2006 -- The Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) team led by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has successfully completed engineering thermal vacuum testing of the payload for the first geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellite. SBIRS will provide early warning of missile launches and support other missions simultaneously including missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace characterization.
  • EADS Astrium awarded Nimiq 4 satellite by Telesat EADS 17 Jan 2006 -- EADS Astrium has been selected by Telesat, one of the world’s leading satellite operators, to build the company’s new Nimiq 4 satellite. This is the third consecutive order for a Eurostar E3000 satellite from the Canadian-based operator following Anik F1R and Anik F3. Planned to enter service in 2008, Nimiq 4 will broadcast direct-to-home TV from its orbital location of 82º West.
  • Galileo sends first signals to Earth based on Alcatel Alenia Space's technology Thales 17 Jan 2006 -- Giove-A, the first Galileo pilot satellite launched on December 28th, has transmitted its signals to the Earth stations using the Navigation Signal Generation Unit (NSGU) and the wide-band Navigation Antenna developed by Alcatel Alenia Space.
  • Boeing Awarded Air Force Contract for Directed Energy and Space Surveillance R&D Boeing 16 Jan 2006 -- The Laser & Electro Optical Systems (L&EOS) unit of Boeing [NYSE:BA] Missile Defense Systems (MDS) has received a contract worth up to $413 million to continue supporting two U.S. Air Force laboratories engaged in cutting-edge research on high energy laser and satellite tracking technologies.
  • NASA Stardust Mission Capsule Brings Comet Dust to Earth Washington File 15 Jan 2006 -- After spending nearly seven years in space and traveling more than 4.6 billion kilometers, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Stardust capsule returned to Earth in the early morning hours of January 15, carrying precious samples of cometary and interstellar dust.
  • US Space Capsule Returns Comet Dust for Study of Solar System Formation VOA 15 Jan 2006 -- A U.S. space capsule containing precious grains of star dust has landed intact in Utah, giving scientists the chance to study matter dating from the formation of our solar system.
  • U.S. Agency Proposes Rules for Commercial Human Space Flights Washington File 13 Jan 2006 -- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), whose Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) is newly charged with regulating commercial space flight crew and passengers, has proposed requirements for crew qualifications and training and for passenger training and informed consent.
  • Boeing and NASA Design Oxygen-Saving Equipment for ISS Boeing 12 Jan 2006 -- Boeing (NYSE:BA) has developed an innovative system for the International Space Station (ISS) that will save precious oxygen and prevent unnecessary wear and tear on vital life-support systems within the orbiting laboratory. The Recharge Oxygen Orifice Bypass Assembly (ROOBA). allows for Extravehicular Activity (EVA) crewmembers, spacewalkers, to use Space Shuttle oxygen resources during EVA preparation activities without having to rely solely on Station oxygen. ROOBA will also prolong the life of key system components like the ISS compressor.
  • Raytheon Team Successfully Demonstrates APKWS™ II Rocket Motor Raytheon 12 Jan 2006 -- A Raytheon Company-led team has successfully demonstrated the rocket motor for its Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS™ II) 2.75-inch laser guided weapon system.
  • One year ago, Alcatel Alenia Space-built Huygens space probe landed on Titan, Saturn's largest moon Thales 12 Jan 2006 -- One year ago, on January 14, 2005, the Huygens space probe landed on Titan, representing the most ambitious effort in planetary space exploration ever mounted. Alcatel Alenia Space - the probe's prime contractor - leading a consortium of 40 companies and laboratories, is proud to be the first European company to have met the challenge of building a spacecraft designed to resist such harsh conditions.
  • Astronomers Find That Many Milky Way Planets Have Multiple Suns VOA 12 Jan 2006 -- As astronomers detect more and more planets outside our solar system, they are finding that many of them have more than one sun, unlike Earth and its companions.
  • Boeing Announces Largest Satellite Contract in Nine Years with Mobile Satellite Ventures Boeing 11 Jan 2006 -- Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) and Boeing [NYSE:BA] announced today a major commercial contract award for three satellites and associated ground systems. Financial details of the award were not disclosed however this is the largest commercial satellite order booked by Boeing since 1997, when it received an order for two large satellites for regional mobile communications from an international customer.
  • NASA Taps Northrop Grumman for Software Development Northrop Grumman 11 Jan 2006 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a U.S. General Services Administration Millennia task order by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for scientific software services that will enable more efficient use of NASA supercomputing resources.
  • Thales signs contract for TBMD sensor demonstration Thales 11 Jan 2006 -- The contract consists of a technology upgrade of the Thales Anti Air Warfare System with an early warning function to support the implementation of a TBMD capability on the Royal Netherlands Navy's Air Defence and Command frigates. The function is based on the Thales long-range SMART L radar system.
  • Alcatel Alenia Space delivers Earth observation satellite data acquisition systems to China Thales 11 Jan 2006 -- Alcatel Alenia Space today announced the delivery of Earth observation data acquisition systems to the China State Radio Monitoring Center (CSRMC), the national Chinese network of Earth observation stations. This equipment will be located in three satellite data reception stations operated by the CSRMC.
  • Missile Defense Program Moves Forward AFPS 11 Jan 2006 -- The Missile Defense Agency continues to move forward in its efforts to protect the nation against a ballistic missile attack.
  • NASA Refines Design For Crew Exploration Vehicle NASA 11 Jan 2006 -- NASA's Constellation Program is making progress toward selecting a prime contractor to design, develop and build the Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), America's first new human spacecraft in 30 years.
  • Boeing Sea-Based X-Band Radar Completes Transport through the Straits of Magellan and Arrives in Pearl Harbor Boeing 10 Jan 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today the arrival in Hawaii of the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX) built for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. This marks an interim stop in the vessel's transport operation, originating in the Gulf of Mexico and maneuvering through the Straits of Magellan, ultimately destined for Adak, Alaska.
  • Sea-Based X-Band Radar Arrives in Pearl Harbor Navy NewsStand 10 Jan 2006 -- The Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX) arrived in Pearl Harbor Jan. 9 for planned repairs and refurbishment, after completing a 15,000-mile journey from Corpus Christi, Texas aboard the heavy lift vessel MV Blue Marlin.
  • US Spacecraft Bringing Clues to Solar System Origin VOA 10 Jan 2006 -- A U.S. spacecraft is returning to Earth with a precious cargo of stardust that was gathered during a 4.5 billion kilometer roundtrip journey to a distant comet.
  • NASA Will Pay Russia for Astronauts' Flights to Space Station VOA News 07 January 2006 The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration will pay Russia to ferry U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft.
  • 23:59:60. Atomic clock takes quantum leap AFPN 06 Jan 2006 -- A leap second. It's a time on the clock that doesn't come along very often, and it's a subject of debate between astronomers and clock watchers.
  • Group chops away at space system's weaknesses AFPN 06 Jan 2006 -- Several times a year, a group of junior U.S. military officers and federal government employees use open source databases -- such as the Internet and libraries -- in an attempt to reveal potential weaknesses in the Department of Defense's space systems.
  • US Mars Rovers Enter Third Year of Exploration VOA 07 Jan 2006 -- It has been two years since two U.S. robotic rovers landed on Mars to begin a search for water. The plan was for them to roam for about three months and then die because of the red planet's extremely rugged conditions. But to the surprise of everyone involved, the robots continue operating and adding to scientists' understanding of the red planet.
  • NASA's Space Shuttle Processing Status Report: S06-001 NASA 06 Jan 2006 -- On Tuesday, the vehicle was powered up so technicians could open the payload bay doors and deploy the Ku-band antenna, putting the vehicle back into a processing configuration. Crew module leak checks were successfully performed.
  • Northrop Grumman Ships First Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder Flight Instrument to NASA for Environmental Monitoring Program Northrop Grumman 05 Jan 2006 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has delivered the first Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for early integration into a new spacecraft, for the NPOESS Preparatory Program (NPP), to be launched in early 2008 to monitor global environmental conditions.
  • NASA Announces Next International Space Station Crew NASA 05 Jan 2006 -- NASA and its international partners have selected astronaut Jeffrey Williams and Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov as the next crew for the International Space Station, designated as Expedition 13.
  • Lockheed Martin Achieves Banner Year in 2005 for Missile Defense Milestones Lockheed Martin 04 Jan 2006 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] achieved key milestones on several critical missile defense programs during 2005, and was the only company to lead the development of new technology for boost-, mid-course- and terminal-phase systems.
  • Airborne Laser Progress Continues as Northrop Grumman Runs Full-Power COIL Tests, Delivers Beacon Illuminator Laser Northrop Grumman 04 Jan 2006 -- Laser systems built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) for the Missile Defense Agency's Airborne Laser (ABL) continue to post solid progress with the completion of power and duration testing of the megawatt-class chemical laser and delivery of the Beacon Illuminator Laser (BILL).
  • Raytheon Demonstrates Key BMDS Sensor Netting and Integration Capability Raytheon 03 Jan 2006 -- Raytheon Company successfully demonstrated a key sensor netting and integration capability to the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) as part of an effort funded by the Missile Defense Agency.



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