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
Boeing Statement Regarding Finalization of Settlement with Justice Department Boeing 30 Jun 2006 -- Boeing and the Justice Department have finalized an agreement that settles investigations by U.S. Attorneys in Virginia and California related to the improper hiring of a former Air Force acquisition official and the mishandling of a competitor's proprietary data on the EELV program. The agreement reflects all of the key provisions of the tentative settlement announced on May 15.
Alcatel signs a contract with Shin Satellite to design and build Thaicom 5 Thales 30 Jun 2006 -- Thaicom 5 will be the second satellite provided by Alcatel Space to Thailand and the 2nd Spacebus Satellite ordered in 2005
Alcatel Alenia Space ready for the Space Shuttle STS-121 Discovery mission countdown Thales 29 Jun 2006 -- Alcatel Alenia Space today announced that the MPLM Leonardo (Multifunctional Pressurized Logistical Module), developed by Alcatel Alenia Space for the Italian Space Agency (ASI), will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) onboard the Space Shuttle Discovery flight STS-121set to launch on Saturday July 1st from Cape Canaveral, in Florida.
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.
ATK Composite and Propulsion Technologies Help Launch National Reconnaissance Office Satellite ATK 28 Jun 2006 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) propulsion and composite technologies supported yesterday's successful launch of a Boeing Delta IV rocket carrying a classified spy satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. This was the first Delta IV mission launched from the Western Range at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
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.
LOCKHEED MARTIN DISTRIBUTED APERTURE IMAGING TECHNOLOGY EXPANDS THE HORIZON ON TELESCOPE CAPABILITY Lockheed Martin 27 Jun 2006 -- Engineers at the Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) Advanced Technology Center (ATC) have designed and built a prototype nine-aperture wide-field imaging telescope that overcomes the increase in mass, volume and cost associated with large single-optics telescopes for space-based applications. The ability of a telescope to resolve fine detail is a direct function of its light-gathering power. Larger apertures – mirrors or lenses – gather more light and provide greater resolution of detail. star9-lo
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne propulsion duo makes West Coast debut Pratt & Whitney 27 Jun 2006 -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR), a business unit of United Technologies Corp. [NYSE: UTX], today powered a Delta IV rocket off the SLC-6 launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base and into the California skies with its PWR RS-68 booster, teamed with its PWR RL10B-2 upper stage engine. The rocket carried a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
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.
Northrop Grumman Wins NASA Task Order for Software Assurance of the Mars Science Laboratory Northrop Grumman 26 Jun 2006 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) was awarded a task order to independently verify and validate mission-critical software on the Mars Science Laboratory for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Alcatel Alenia Space will develop and supply the radio frequency subsystem for PRISMA satellites Thales 26 Jun 2006 -- Alcatel Alenia Space today announced that it will develop and supply the S-Band Formation Flying Radio Frequency (FFRF) sensor for the PRISMA mission. PRISMA primary goal is to perform guidance, navigation and control demonstrations as well as in-flight validation of sensor technologies for future missions in which rendezvous and formation flying are a prerequisite, such as Darwin.
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
Alcatel Alenia Space to provide on-board and ground segment equipment for the LISA Pathfinder Thales 25 Jun 2006 -- Alcatel Alenia Space today announced that it will develop and deliver on-board and ground segments equipment for the LISA Pathfinder program. LISA Pathfinder will provide in-orbit testing and validation for the new concepts and technologies that will be used on ESA/NASA's Laser Interferometry Space Antenna (LISA) mission, which aims to detect and measure interplanetary gravitational waves.
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.
ATK Propulsion Technologies Support Successful Launch of Delta II Rocket ATK 22 Jun 2006 -- ATK (NYSE: ATK) solid propulsion technologies supported last night’s successful launch of a Boeing Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The launch marked the beginning of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s (DARPA) Microsatellite Technology Experiments (MITEX) mission.
Boeing Supports Successful Intercept Test of Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Boeing 22 Jun 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE:BA] today supported the seventh successful intercept of a ballistic missile target by the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) and the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (Aegis BMD) weapon system.
LOCKHEED MARTIN DISTRIBUTED APERTURE IMAGING TECHNOLOGY EXPANDS THE HORIZON ON TELESCOPE CAPABILITY Lockheed Martin 22 Jun 2006 -- During a test today the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System with its Standard Missile (SM)-3 successfully intercepted a ballistic missile target with a separating reentry vehicle outside the Earth’s atmosphere. Both the Aegis BMD Weapon System aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) and range sensors confirmed a direct hit of the missile target during its midcourse flight phase over the Pacific Ocean.
Upgraded Raytheon Standard Missile-3 Intercepts Separating Ballistic Missile Target Raytheon 22 Jun 2006 -- A Raytheon Company-produced Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) and the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) 3.6 Weapon System destroyed a ballistic missile target today outside the earth's atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. It was the seventh successful intercept for Aegis BMD's SM-3.
Alcatel Alenia Space to provide onboard equipment for Soyuz-Fregat launchers Thales 22 Jun 2006 -- Alcatel Alenia Space announced today that it will provide subsystems for the complete safeguard chain of Soyuz-Fregat rockets to be launched from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou.
Alcatel Alenia Space to provide communication payload for Arabsat's BADR-6 satellite Thales 22 Jun 2006 -- Alcatel Alenia Space today announced that it will provide the communication payload for the fourth-generation BADR-6 "Full Moon" satellite, for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat). BADR-6 satellite, with prime contractor EADS Astrium, is expected to be operational in 2008.
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.
BAE Systems Develops High-density, Radiation-hardened C-RAM Semiconductor BAE Systems 21 Jun 2006 -- BAE Systems has introduced a radiation-hardened, 4Mb chalcogenide random-access memory, or C-RAMTM, semiconductor for space applications. The device is designed for system designers who need a high-density, radiation-hardened, non-volatile memory device and who previously relied on repackaged commercial devices or volatile memory with battery backup.
Boeing Delta II Carries Technology Demonstrator into Orbit for DARPA Boeing 21 Jun 2006 -- A Boeing [NYSE: BA] Delta II launch vehicle today successfully carried into orbit an experimental payload for the joint U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), U.S. Air Force and U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) team.
Outstanding Performance Leads to Early Handover of Boeing Weather Satellite Boeing 21 Jun 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that GOES-N, the first of three Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) built for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has reached its orbital slot 22,300 miles above the equator, and Boeing engineers have achieved a major milestone by transferring control of the satellite to NASA.
Mirror Backplane Prototype Structure for James Webb Space Telescope Delivered for Testing at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Northrop Grumman 21 Jun 2006 -- An important element of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) optical telescope, the Backplane Stability Test Article (BSTA), was delivered to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center for a series of rigorous tests designed to verify its readiness for use in space.
PWR Engine Adds to Legacy with Delta II Launch of MiTEx Satellite Pratt & Whitney 21 Jun 2006 -- A Delta II rocket carrying the MiTEx satellite was launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station today by an RS-27A booster rocket engine, built by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR), a business unit of United Technologies Corporation [NYSE: UTX].
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
Boeing Signs Agreement to Mentor Woman-Owned Missile Defense Supplier Boeing 20 Jun 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], which develops missile defense solutions for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and other customers, has signed an agreement to mentor Wildwood Electronics, a woman-owned small business in Huntsville, Ala., that supports several of those programs.
Boeing Demonstrates TSAT Next-Generation Processor Router Capability Boeing 20 Jun 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] successfully completed a series of live tests demonstrating the interoperability of the Transformational Satellite Communications (TSAT) Next-Generation Processor Router (NGPR) with a government reference ground terminal, marking another achievement for the TSAT Space Segment development program.
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.
Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missile Destroys Drone Target to Mark Second- Straight Successful Test Flight in May Raytheon 19 Jun 2006 -- Raytheon Company's Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missiles (GEM) celebrated its second consecutive successful test flight as a GEM-T missile destroyed a surrogate cruise missile at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
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.
Sea Launch Begins Countdown for Galaxy 16 Launch Boeing 15 Jun 2006 -- The Sea Launch team has initiated a 72-hour countdown in preparation for the launch of the Galaxy 16 communications satellite, scheduled for Saturday, June 17, at the opening of a two-hour launch window, at 12:50 am Pacific Daylight Time (07:50 GMT).
Raytheon Awarded $31.5 Million to Support the U.S. Navy Satellite Communications System Raytheon 15 Jun 2006 -- Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), received a $31.5 million U.S. Navy contract to provide logistics support for the USC-38 satellite communications system.
Raytheon Receives $10.5 Million Contract to Upgrade Patriot Missile Facility Test Equipment Raytheon 14 Jun 2006 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) received a $10.5 million contract from the German company COMLOG to test and deliver an upgrade kit for Patriot missile facility test equipment.
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.
Sea Launch Awarded Launch Assignment for the Thuraya-3 Satellite Boeing 12 Jun 2006 -- In a contract signed with Boeing Satellite Systems International (BSSI), a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL vehicle will lift the 5250 kg (11,578 lb) Thuraya-3 satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit from Sea Launch's equatorial launch site in the Pacific Ocean in January 2007.
Thales unveils phased array antenna for satcom on the move Thales 12 Jun 2006 -- Thales presented its SATMOVE Xotm solution for mobile satellite communications at the Eurosatory 2006 exhibition in Paris this week. Easy to install on all types of military vehicles, SATMOVE Xotm is a stand-alone terminal that automatically acquires satellites while units are in transit. Based on active phased array technology and operating in the military X band, the new terminal will offer transmit and receive data rates of up to 1 Mb/s.
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.
Boeing Delivers First Improved Standard Missile-3 Warhead Boeing 08 Jun 2006 -- Boeing [NYSE:BA] has delivered to Raytheon Company the first Block 1A Standard Missile-3 Kinetic Warhead (SM-3 KW).
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's J-2X Engine Named to Power CLV Upper Stage Pratt & Whitney 08 Jun 2006 -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR), a business unit of United Technologies Corp. [NYSE:UTX], has been selected by NASA to provide a new version of its Apollo-era J-2 as the propulsion system for the agency’s Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV) upper stage in the next decade.
LOCKHEED MARTIN DELIVERS SECOND FLIGHT TANK TO NASA THIS YEAR Lockheed Martin 07 Jun 2006 -- Lockheed Martin Space Systems – Michoud Operations delivered External Tank-118 to NASA on June 5. The tank will serve as the back-up tank for the STS-121/ET-119 launch in July.
Raytheon Awarded $424 Million for Standard Missile-3 Development for Sea-Based Missile Defense Raytheon 07 Jun 2006 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a U.S. Navy contract with a potential total value of $424 million if all options are exercised for engineering and manufacturing to complete development of Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IA and to continue Block IB development, leading to sea-based missile defense deployment. Initial funding of $96 million has been issued to support engineering services, engineering studies and technology development technical instruction efforts.
EADS Astrium awarded third satellite contract by ARABSAT EADS 06 Jun 2006 -- EADS Astrium will build the satellite as prime contractor and will be responsible for launch and early operations as part of an in-orbit delivery contract. EADS Astrium has already developed the Satellite Control Centres in Dirab (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and in Tunis (Tunisia) to control the ARABSAT satellite fleet. The communications payload will be supplied by Alcatel Alenia Space.
LOCKHEED MARTIN'S ATLAS V SELECTED TO LAUNCH MARS SCIENCE LABORATORY IN 2009 Lockheed Martin 06 Jun 2006 -- Lockheed Martin’s (NYSE: LMT) Atlas V rocket has been selected by NASA to launch the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission in 2009 from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The mission will fly on a powerful Atlas V 541 configuration to propel MSL on a 9 to 12 month journey to the red planet.
AEGIS BMD WEAPON SYSTEM WITH PROTOTYPE SIGNAL PROCESSOR TRACKS ADVANCED, SEPARATING BALLISTIC MISSILES Lockheed Martin 06 Jun 2006 -- The Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Weapon System with a prototype signal processor successfully tracked several advanced ballistic missile targets in separate tests off the coast of Hawaii in April. Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] develops the Aegis BMD Weapon System and serves as the combat system engineering agent for the U.S. Navy and Missile Defense Agency (MDA)’s Aegis BMD program.
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.
Sea Launch Prepares to Launch Galaxy 16 Satellite Boeing 05 Jun 2006 -- The Odyssey Launch Platform and the Sea Launch Commander have departed Home Port in Long Beach, Calif., in preparation for Sea Launch's third mission of the year, the launch of PanAmSat's Galaxy 16 communications satellite. The Sea Launch team is working toward liftoff at the opening of a two-hour launch window, at 12:50 am Pacific Daylight Time (07:50 GMT) on June 17.
Northrop Grumman to Promote International Cooperation on Key Missile Defense Programs in Seville, Spain, June 7-9 Northrop Grumman 05 Jun 2006 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will promote international cooperation on key missile defense programs at the Association Aeronautique et Astronautique de France (AAAF) International Conference on Missile Defence, June 7-9 in Seville, Spain.
Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missiles Destroy Two Surrogate Ballistic Missile Targets During Successful Test Flight Raytheon 05 Jun 2006 -- Raytheon Company's Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missiles (GEM) destroyed two surrogate ballistic missile targets highlighting a successful test flight at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
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.
Boeing Completes Environmental Tests for Wideband Gapfiller Satellite Boeing 01 Jun 2006 -- The first of three Wideband Gapfiller Satellites (WGS) developed by The Boeing Company [NYSE:BA] has successfully completed key dynamic environmental tests, confirming the spacecraft's structural design and mechanical integrity.
Orbital Awarded $17 Million Contract By Orbcomm For Six Satellite Data Communications Payloads Orbital Sciences Corp. 01 Jun 2006 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that ORBCOMM, Inc., has awarded the company a $17 million contract to supply six data communications payloads. The contract also includes options for two additional payload sets, which, if exercised, would bring the total contract value to $21.5 million.
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.

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