July 2007 Space News

U.S. space institute goes global, hosts first international students AFPN 30 Jul 2007 -- Four Australian airmen recently traveled more than 10,000 miles to expand their knowledge of U.S. space operations and the constantly changing global arena of space.
MDA Commissions New Building at Redstone Arsenal Missile Defense Agency 30 Jul 2007 -- Air Force Lt. General Henry "Trey" Obering III, Missile Defense Agency director, officiated at the commissioning of a new MDA building today in a ceremony at the von Braun Complex on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala.
Northrop Grumman Completes Restructure of NPOESS Program Northrop Grumman 30 Jul 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), in conjunction with the government's tri-agency NPOESS Integrated Program Office, has completed the restructure of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS).
LOCKHEED MARTIN TEAM SUBMITS PROPOSAL TO DESIGN AND BUILD U.S. AIR FORCE'S TSAT SPACE SEGMENT Lockheed Martin 30 Jul 2007 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]/Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) team today submitted its proposal to design and build the Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) Space Segment, the future global communications network for the U.S. Air Force that will provide seamless, protected communications for a wide range of defense and intelligence users.
Boeing Submits TSAT Production Proposal to U.S. Air Force Boeing 30 Jul 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and its TEAM TSAT industry partners today submitted a proposal to the U.S. Air Force for the Development and Production phase of the Transformational Satellite Communications System Space Segment (TSAT) program.
Russia, U.S. to hold at least 2 rounds of missile shield talks before Oct. reports RIA Novosti 30 Jul 2007 -- Russia's foreign minister said Monday that Russia and the United States will hold at least two rounds of talks on Washington's plans to deploy its missile shield in Central Europe before reports to the presidents are prepared in October.
Russia, U.S. set to discuss missile defense in Washington RIA Novosti 30 Jul 2007 -- Russian and U.S. diplomats and military experts will start Monday two-day consultations on U.S. plans to deploy elements of its missile shield in Europe and Moscow's alternative proposals.
Next Shuttle Launch Scheduled for August 7 Washington File 27 Jul 2007 -- NASA managers have cleared space shuttle Endeavour's August launch after a two-day flight readiness review that assessed mission risks and determined the shuttle's equipment, support systems and procedures are ready to fly.
NASA Finds Evidence of Sabotaged Computer Bound for Space Station VOA 27 Jul 2007 -- Two weeks before the US space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to lift-off, the US space agency NASA says a piece of equipment that was to fly on the mission was deliberately sabotaged
U.S. space shuttle launch to go ahead as planned - NASA expert RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2007 -- The launch of space shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station (ISS) will go ahead as scheduled on August 7, and will not be delayed due to earlier reported sabotage, a NASA expert in Russia said Friday.
Progress M-59 cargo ship to be undocked from ISS August 1 RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2007 -- Russia's Progress M-59 space cargo ship will be undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) August 1 and de-orbited into the Pacific, a representative of Mission Control said Friday.
Boeing awarded $80 million to begin planning missile defense system RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2007 -- The Pentagon has awarded Boeing $80 million to begin planning and building two missile defense systems to be based in Poland and the Czech Republic, a spokesman for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said.
Mars Rovers Hunkered Down Under Skies Darkened by Massive Dust Storms VOA 27 Jul 2007 -- Officials at the U.S. space agency NASA say the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity remain hunkered down beneath Martian skies darkened by severe dust storms
Airborne Laser Demonstrates Full Weapon System Engagement Sequence in Flight Missile Defense Agency 26 Jul 2007 -- Lieutenant General Henry "Trey" Obering, Missile Defense Agency director, announced today that the Airborne Laser (ABL) program has accomplished another historic "first" on July 24, 2007 by propagating its Beacon Illuminator Laser (BILL) and using the return to compensate for atmospheric disturbances.
India plans to double satellite launches within five years RIA Novosti 26 Jul 2007 -- India intends to double the number of satellites it orbits within five years, the head of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said Thursday.
Russia offers NATO strategic missile defense partnership -official RIA Novosti 26 Jul 2007 -- Russia is offering to engage NATO in a strategic partnership to counter possible missile threats, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Thursday.
Next Space Station Crew To Have First Woman Commander Washington File 24 Jul 2007 -- The next visitors to the International Space Station, scheduled to arrive in October, include the first woman to lead a long-duration spaceflight and spaceflight participant Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, the first Malaysian angkasawan (astronaut) to visit the orbital outpost.
Russian radar offer to be discussed in U.S. July 30-31 RIA Novosti 24 Jul 2007 -- A Russian delegation will visit Washington July 30-31 to discuss the Russian president's proposals for the United States on missile defense cooperation in Europe, the foreign minister said Tuesday.
ISS orbit adjusted to host shuttle Endeavor - Mission Control RIA Novosti 24 Jul 2007 -- Russian Mission Control said Tuesday it successfully adjusted the International Space Station's orbit in preparation for the docking of the U.S. space shuttle Endeavor, due to be launched August 8.
Astrium wins study for new Vega upper stage EADS 23 Jul 2007 -- Astrium has won a contract from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Cologne to investigate concepts for a new upper stage for the European launcher Vega.
Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman TSAT Team Announces Partnership With Juniper Networks Northrop Grumman 23 Jul 2007 -- The Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)/Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) Transformational Satellite Communications (TSAT) team today announced its partnership with Juniper Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:JNPR) to apply the company's Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) routing software and related expertise in the design of the team's TSAT processor/router.
PAYLOAD FOR LOCKHEED MARTIN-BUILT MISSILE WARNING SATELLITE COMPLETES EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL TEST PHASE Lockheed Martin 23 Jul 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced today that the payload for the first Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous orbit (GEO) spacecraft has successfully completed thermal vacuum testing, a key milestone in preparation for launch of this first-of-its-kind satellite.
ATK Awarded Additional Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) Motor Contract Valued at Approximately $70 Million ATK 23 Jul 2007 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) has been selected by Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) as part of the Orion prime contractor team, led by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), to provide the attitude control motor (ACM) for NASA's Orion crew exploration vehicle launch abort system (LAS).
FIRST LOCKHEED MARTIN-BUILT GPS SATELLITE MARKS 10 YEARS IN SERVICE Lockheed Martin 23 Jul 2007 -- The first U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR) satellite, built by a team led by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], has surpassed its 10-year design life of on-orbit service, providing the U.S. military and civil users world-wide with highly accurate navigation capabilities since 1997.
Space station crew begins 6.5-hour spacewalk - NASA RIA novosti 23 Jul 2007 -- Two crew members of the International Space Station have begun a spacewalk that includes the removal of an outdated ammonia reservoir, a NASA Houston mission control spokesperson said Monday.
LOCKHEED MARTIN CONDUCTS SUCCESSFUL PAC-3 MISSILE TEST AT WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE Lockheed Martin 19 Jul 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] successfully conducted a PAC-3 Missile flight test today at White Sands Missile Range, NM.
Raytheon Delivers Short-Range Ballistic Missile Defense Solution to U.S. Navy Raytheon 19 Jul 2007 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has delivered the first Near Term Sea-Based Terminal weapon to the U.S. Navy for use in defending against short-range ballistic missile threats
Defense source warns of threat to states hosting missile shield RIA Novosti 19 Jul 2007 -- A source in Russia's Defense Ministry warned Thursday that countries that host missile defense systems are not improving their own security, but are putting themselves and their neighbors at risk.
The ESA GOCE scientific satellite is ready for environmental tests Thales 19 Jul 2007 -- GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady State Ocean Circulation Explorer), the first European Space Agency (ESA) satellite dedicated to the study of the terrestrial gravitational field and circulation in the oceans, was today presented to the international scientific community and the press, at the Thales Alenia Space premises in Turin.
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Awarded $1.2 Billion NASA Contract for J-2X Ares Rocket Engine Pratt & Whitney 18 Jul 2007 -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR), a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company, was awarded a NASA contract valued at $1.2 billion to design, develop and test a J-2X engine that will power the upper stages of the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles.
ISS orbit to be adjusted July 24 - mission control RIA Novosti 18 Jul 2007 -- The International Space Station's orbit will be adjusted July 24 to prepare for the docking of the U.S. space shuttle Endeavor, due to be launched August 7, Russia's Mission Control Center said Wednesday.
India to orbit Israeli spy satellite in September - paper RIA Novosti 18 Jul 2007 -- A leading Indian broadsheet quoted anonymous sources Wednesday as saying the country is planning to launch an Israeli spy satellite in September.
Missile defense experts meet in Hawaii AFPN 17 Jul 2007 -- Missile defense experts from all over the Pacific theater met here July 16 for the four-day 2007 Joint Interface Control Officer Conference.
ATK Announces Team Ares Validation of Manufacturing Processes on Common Bulkhead Demonstration Article to Reduce Risk on Constellation Launch Vehicles ATK 17 Jul 2007 -- As part of the Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK)-led team and its risk reduction efforts focused on the Ares I upper stage production proposal, Lockheed Martin has completed fabrication of two common bulkhead demonstration articles.
BAE SYSTEMS WINS MORE WORK ON SEA-BASED MISSILE WARNING RADAR BAE Systems 17 Jul 2007 -- BAE Systems has been awarded a second contract from Boeing for work on the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX-1), a floating, self-propelled, mobile missile warning radar station.
Bush And Poland's Kaczynski Defend Antimissile Plan RFE/RL 17 Jul 2007 -- Polish President Lech Kaczynski met with U.S. President George W. Bush on June 16 at the White House, where the two leaders talked about the war in Iraq and U.S. plans to build a missile-defense base in Poland and the neighboring Czech Republic.
Endeavour crew begins pre-launch drills - NASA RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2007 -- The seven-member crew of space shuttle Endeavour has arrived at NASA's space center in Florida for a final round of pre-launch training, a spokeswoman told RIA Novosti early Tuesday.
Poland, U.S. ready to announce missile base location - Kaczynski RIA Novosti 17 Jul 2007 -- Warsaw and Washington have determined the location of the future U.S. missile base in Poland and will announce their decision in the near future, the Polish president said.
BAE SYSTEMS TO PRODUCE FIELD PROGRAMMABLE GATE ARRAY FOR SPACE USE BAE Systems 16 Jul 2007 -- BAE Systems will produce and sell radiation-hardened field-programmable gate array (FPGA) semiconductors for space use, responding to a critical customer need for the devices.
Boeing-led Airborne Laser Team Actively Tracks Airborne Target, Compensates for Atmospheric Turbulence and Fires Surrogate High-Energy Laser Boeing 16 Jul 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], along with industry teammates and its government customer, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, successfully completed a key Airborne Laser (ABL) flight test Friday, demonstrating the weapon system's ability to actively track an airborne target, compensate for atmospheric turbulence and fire a surrogate for its missile-killing high-energy laser.
Boeing to Submit Proposal for Global Positioning System III Boeing 16 Jul 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] is preparing a response to a U.S. Air Force Request for Proposals for the development and production of an enhanced constellation of Global Positioning System satellites known as GPS III.
LOCKHEED MARTIN-BUILT MILSTAR SATELLITE CONSTELLATION REPOSITIONED TO ENHANCE GLOBAL COVERAGE Lockheed Martin 16 Jul 2007 -- A combined U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] team has successfully completed an on-orbit reconfiguration of the five-satellite Milstar constellation to maximize the system's capabilities to provide secure, reliable and robust communications to U.S. and Allied Forces around the globe.
Poland, U.S. to discuss missile defense in Washington RIA Novosti 16 Jul 2007 -- Polish President Lech Kaczynski and U.S. President George W. Bush will discuss Monday plans to build a U.S. missile defense base in Poland, the White House press service said.
Russian space firm signs 14 deals for commercial rocket launches RIA Novosti 15 Jul 2007 -- A leading Russian space company said Sunday it had signed 14 deals for the commercial launches of its Proton carrier rockets.
Airborne Laser Successfully Targets Simulated Missile in Flight Missile Defense Agency 13 Jul 2007 -- Lieutenant General Henry "Trey" Obering, Missile Defense Agency director, announced today that the Airborne Laser (ABL) program has reached another significant development milestone by successfully completing its first of two Low Power System Integration-Active Flight Test knowledge points
Boeing to Bid for Ares I Instrument Unit Avionics Contract Boeing 13 Jul 2007 -- Decades of successful spaceflight and aircraft avionics integration and a highly experienced network of suppliers are the key to the Boeing [NYSE: BA] bid to provide a low-risk approach to producing Instrument Unit Avionics (IUA) for the next-generation Ares I crew launch vehicle.
BAE SYSTEMS BEGINS PRODUCTION OF THAAD INTERCEPTOR SEEKER BAE Systems 11 Jul 2007 -- BAE Systems has received a $62.3 million contract from Lockheed Martin Corp. to begin production of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Interceptor Seeker.
Raytheon Awarded $304 Million for Ballistic Missile Defense System Upgrades Raytheon 11 Jul 2007 -- The Missile Defense Agency has awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a $304 million contract to develop advanced tracking and discrimination capabilities for the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) forward based AN/TPY-2 radar.
Sea Launch to resume Zenith launches in September RIA Novosti 11 Jul 2007 -- Rocket launches under the Sea Launch project could resume in September following the explosion of a Zenith rocket in January that damaged a launch platform, a Russian power machine-building company said Wednesday.
NASA Shuttle Endeavour Set To Launch August 7 Washington File 10 Jul 2007 -- Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew are scheduled to continue the next phase of International Space Station assembly with an August 7 launch and an 11-day mission to the orbital outpost.
NEW MISSION GIVEN TO LOCKHEED MARTIN-BUILT STARDUST SPACECRAFT Lockheed Martin 10 Jul 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] is on a team that has been awarded a $25 million contract by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the Stardust-NExT (New Exploration of Tempel) mission. The mission gives a new assignment to the currently-orbiting spacecraft built by Lockheed Martin.
Improved Shuttle Readied for Trip to Space Station VOA 10 Jul 2007 -- NASA officials say they are ready to roll the Space Shuttle Endeavor to the launch pad in Florida in preparation for its scheduled launch to the International Space Station next month
ATK Awarded Contract for Orion Launch Abort Motors ATK 10 Jul 2007 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) has received a $62.5 million contract from Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) for the main abort motor of the NASA Orion crew exploration vehicle Launch Abort System (LAS).
U.S. missile plans goad Russia into retaliation - expert RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2007 -- U.S. plans to deploy its missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic is a ploy to militarize Europe and lure Russia into retaliation, a Russian political expert said Tuesday.
Progress spacecraft to bring computer equipment to ISS in August RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2007 -- The Progress M-61 space cargo ship will deliver additional equipment to the International Space Station (ISS) August 2 to ensure the stable work of the onboard computer network, a Russian space corporation said Tuesday.
Itzhak Nissan, Israel Aerospace Industries' President & CEO: "Signing the AMOS 4 Communications Satellite Contract Strengthens Our Status as a Leading Satellite Manufacturer and as Israel's Prime Space Programs Contractor" Israel Aerospace Industries 10 Jul 2007 -- On July 8, 2007, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has signed a contract with Space Communication Ltd. (Spacecom), a company in which IAI holds approximately 20.5 percent of issued capital, and with the Government of Israel. Spacecom provides broadcasting and communications services to TV broadcasters and programmers, DBS operators, government organizations, private VSAT networks and others.
Airborne Laser Completes Successful Fire Control Loop for Missile Engagement Sequence Missile Defense Agency 09 Jul 2007 -- Lt. General Henry A. "Trey" Obering, Missile Defense Agency director, announced today the successful completion of the basic steps required to complete a fire control loop (sequence of events) to engage a boosting ballistic missile for the Airborne Laser (ABL) aircraft during flight tests conducted on June 29, 2007.
NASA Phoenix Lander, Next Mission to Mars, To Launch in August Washington File 09 Jul 2007 -- NASA's next mission to the surface of Mars is scheduled to launch in August on a 10-month voyage to find out if water frozen in the planet's northern polar region ever has been able to sustain microbial life.
Northrop Grumman Helps NASA Shape Plans for Affordable Lunar Lander Northrop Grumman 09 Jul 2007 -- The lunar lander that will carry NASA astronauts to the moon's surface by the end of the next decade will benefit from more than 50 years of technological change -- and more than 50 years of unique engineering and operational experience from Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), the designer and producer of the original Apollo Lunar Module.
U.S. missile shield plans affect Asia - Russian FM RIA Novosti 09 Jul 2007 -- U.S. plans to deploy missile defenses in Central Europe may affect the situation in Asia, the Russian foreign minister said Monday.
Global missile defense system could be created by 2020 - Ivanov RIA Novosti 08 Jul 2007 -- A global missile defense system proposed by Russia could be created by 2020, a Russian first deputy prime minister said Sunday.
Russia Proton-M booster puts U.S. satellite into orbit RIA Novosti 07 Jul 2007 -- A Russian Proton-M carrier rocket has successfully delivered U.S. telecommunications satellite, DirecTV-10, into orbit, Russia's space agency said.
US Calls Russian Missile Threat 'Unfortunate' VOA 05 Jul 2007 -- The United States Thursday termed "unfortunate" a threat by a senior Russian official to counter a U.S. missile defense system in Europe with new offensive deployments
Successful launch of the Chinasat 6B telecommunication satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space Thales 05 Jul 2007 -- The Chinasat 6B telecommunication satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor, was successfully boosted into orbit today from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province by a Long March 3B rocket. Chinasat 6B will enable ChinaSatcom to offer communication and broadcast capabilities to the Chinese market.
Japan, U.S. to hold first joint missile defense drill in 2008 RIA Novosti 05 Jul 2007 -- Japan and the United States are planning to conduct in January 2008 their first joint exercises on countering a potential missile attack, a Japanese newspaper said Thursday.
Russia touts space success, but U.S. runs half of satellites RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2007 -- Russia's space agency chief said Wednesday the U.S. is running half of the world's satellite fleet, but highlighted Russia's role in managing the international orbital station and building new pads for launch vehicles.
Russia to Respond if US Rejects Kremlin's Missile-Defense Plan VOA 04 Jul 2007 -- Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov says the term "Cold War" will be forgotten if the United States accepts his country's missile-defense plan for Europe
U.S./Russia: NATO Wary Of Entering Missile-Defense Dispute RFE/RL 03 Jul 2007 -- NATO is reacting warily to Russia's proposal to build a joint missile-defense project as an alternative to the system the United States wants to install in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Czech govt. okays U.S. radar deployment near Prague - official RIA Novosti 03 Jul 2007 -- The Czech government has given the U.S. the go ahead to deploy a missile-defense radar near the town of Misov, 90 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of Prague, the country's Security Council official said Tuesday.
NATO ready to discuss new proposals with Moscow - source RIA Novosti 03 Jul 2007 -- NATO has no objections to discussing setting up an information exchange between Brussels and Moscow on missile launches in the framework of the Russia-NATO Council, a source in NATO headquarters said Tuesday.
U.S. must drop European missile shield plans - Russian source RIA Novosti 03 Jul 2007 -- Russia's new defense proposals could be implemented only if the United States abandons plans to deploy elements of its missile shield in Europe, a Russian delegation source at the informal Putin-Bush talks said Tuesday.
Successful launch of SAR-Lupe satellite, with Thales Alenia Space's SAR sensor electronics units Thales 03 Jul 2007 -- The second SAR-Lupe satellite, part of the German observation system, was successfully boosted into orbit yesterday from the Plesetsk space centre by a Russian Cosmos-3M rocket at 21:38:41 hours CEST. SAR-Lupe provides high-resolution images of the ground 24 hours a day to the German Ministry of Defence.
Russia puts German satellite into orbit - Space Forces RIA Novosti 03 Jul 2007 -- A Russian Cosmos 3M carrier rocket launched from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia has put a German SAR-Lupe satellite into orbit, a spokesman for the Space Forces said Tuesday.
Putin Offers to Cooperate with U.S. on Missile Defense AFPS 02 Jul 2007 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to increase cooperation with the United States as it moves toward establishing a missile defense program in Europe, he told reporters during a news conference today with President Bush.
Putin proposes new forms of global cooperation on missile defense RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2007 -- Russia's president proposed to his U.S. counterpart Monday exchanging information on missile launches and using a radar being built in southern Russia for early missile warnings.
Bush, Putin Seek Common Ground on Missile Defense VOA 02 Jul 2007 -- U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin say they are seeking common ground on the controversial issue of missile defense
Missile Defense System Could Include NATO, Russia's Putin Says Washington File 02 Jul 2007 -- President Bush, meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kennebunkport, Maine, welcomed the Russian president's proposal to expand a shared missile defense network to include Russia, the United States and European allies via the NATO-Russia Council.

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