July 2008 Space News

Boeing Team to Design New Spacecraft Power Generation System for DARPA Boeing 31 Jul 2008 -- A team led by Boeing [NYSE: BA] Advanced Systems has been awarded a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract for the first phase of the Fast Access Spacecraft Testbed (FAST) program.
Defense Support Program Satellite Decommissioned Northrop Grumman 31 Jul 2008 -- The United States Air Force's Defense Support Program (DSP) Flight 19 satellite, built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), was decommissioned today following nine years of service.
Orbital Delivers NASA's IBEX Satellite To Vandenberg Air Force Base For Integration With Pegasus Launch Vehicle Orbital Sciences Corp. 30 Jul 2008 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NSYE: ORB) announced today that the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) satellite has arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), CA following the completion of its manufacturing, integration and testing activities at Orbital’s facilities in Dulles, VA. The satellite arrived at VAFB on Monday,
Russian carrier rocket to orbit European GOCE satellite Sept. 10 RIA Novosti 30 Jul 2008 -- The launch of a Russian Rockot carrier rocket bearing Europe's first GOCE satellite has been scheduled for September 10, the Khrunichev State Research and Production Center said on Wednesday.
Raytheon Completes Significant Milestones for the GPS Ground Control Segment Raytheon 29 Jul 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has completed two significant milestones for the U.S. Air Force's Global Positioning System (GPS) next-generation Control Segment (OCX), which establishes a solid foundation and roadmap to keep the program on track and on schedule.
PW308A-Powered WK2 Launch Aircraft for First Commercial Space Flight Debuts Pratt & Whitney 28 Jul 2008 -- Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) is celebrating the official rollout in Mojave, California of the PW308A-powered WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) launch aircraft for the world's first commercial passenger suborbital spaceship. P&WC is a United Technologies (NYSE: UTX) company.
Boeing Airborne Laser Team Begins Testing Laser with Chemical Fuel Boeing 28 Jul 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], industry teammates and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency have completed installing the high-energy laser aboard the Airborne Laser (ABL) aircraft and have begun testing the laser with its chemical fuel at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Raytheon Awarded $83 Million NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Data Systems Contract Raytheon 28 Jul 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded the data and systems implementation and operations, or DSIO, subcontract by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Scientists Solve Mystery of Brilliant Northern, Southern Lights VOA 25 Jul 2008 -- Scientists have solved the mystery behind the brilliant northern and southern light show known as Aurora Borealis
ATK's Constellation of Five Micro Satellites Enables NASA to Solve Scientific Mystery ATK 24 Jul 2008 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) reported today that the constellation of five micro satellites it built for NASA's THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) mission has successfully demonstrated how satellites can work together to collect data, which in this case, advances the scientific understanding of the Earth's atmosphere.
New Military Communications System Progressing At Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin 24 Jul 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] is progressing steadily on the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications system, most recently delivering the core propulsion module for the third space vehicle (SV-3) six months ahead of the planned schedule
Russian expert warns against nuclear bombers in Cuba RIA Novosti 24 Jul 2008 -- The deployment of Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers in Cuba to counter U.S. missile defense plans in Europe would be a destructive move, a Russian military expert said Thursday.
Russia 'could answer U.S. shield with orbital ballistic missiles' RIA Novosti 24 Jul 2008 -- Russia could put in place an orbital ballistic missile system in response to U.S. missile defense plans for Central Europe, a senior Russian military expert said on Thursday.
Lockheed Martin Team Demonstrates High Power Electric Propulsion System for TSAT Program Lockheed Martin 23 Jul 2008 -- The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]/Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) Space Segment team has completed a successful demonstration of its new-generation High Power Hall Current Thruster (HPHCT) electric propulsion system designed for use on the U.S. Air Force's TSAT constellation.
Soyuz-ST to be launched from French Guiana in 1st half of 2009 RIA Novosti 23 Jul 2008 -- The first Soyuz-ST carrier rocket will be launched from French Guiana in the first half of 2009, the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos said on Wednesday, citing the French satellite launch firm Arianespace CEO.
Moscow must answer U.S. shield with Cuban 'spy' site - analyst RIA Novosti 23 Jul 2008 -- Russia should respond to U.S. missile defense plans for Central Europe by reopening a 'spy' facility in Cuba to gather intelligence on the United States, a Russian analyst said on Wednesday.
General Dynamics Completes Milestone in MUOS Defense Satellite Communications System General Dynamics 22 Jul 2008 -- General Dynamics C4 Systems recently mounted three 18.4-meter satellite antennas on 53-foot-tall pedestals in Wahiawa, Hawaii, as part of the preparations to deploy the new Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), the U.S. military's next-generation narrowband global mobile satellite communications system
Thales wins contract with German Aerospace Centre for a new propulsion system for satellites Thales 22 Jul 2008 -- The contract between Thales and DLR was signed on July 17 at DLR facilities in Königswinter, near Bonn. The project will be carried out on behalf of the German Aerospace Centre, with financial support from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.
Russia puts fifth German spy satellite into orbit RIA Novosti 22 Jul 2008 -- A Russian carrier rocket has successfully put into orbit a fifth German SAR-Lupe reconnaissance satellite, a Russian Space Forces spokesman said on Tuesday.
Boeing, Missile Defense Agency Successfully Complete Missile Defense Sensor Integration Test Boeing 21 Jul 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], working with industry teammates and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, today successfully completed a Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system test that demonstrated the most complex integration to date of sensors required to support a missile intercept.
Boeing Delivers 4th High-Definition TV Satellite to DIRECTV Boeing 21 Jul 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced that DIRECTV Inc. has taken on-orbit delivery of the DIRECTV 11 satellite, which will continue to expand DIRECTV's industry-leading lineup of high-definition television channels and services to millions of households in the United States.
Raytheon Radars Play Key Role in Missile Defense Test Raytheon 21 Jul 2008 -- Three missile defense radars built by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) performed successfully in the latest flight test conducted by the Missile Defense Agency July 18.
Poland says U.S. missile shield deal 'one step closer' RIA Novosti 21 Jul 2008 -- Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Monday that Warsaw and Washington had moved a step closer to an agreement on the placement of a U.S. missile base in Poland.
Poland and U.S. to continue missile shield talks RIA Novosti 21 Jul 2008 -- The Polish Foreign Ministry has said talks between Warsaw and Washington on the possible deployment of elements of a U.S. missile shield in Poland are to continue on Monday.
Lithuania confirms willingness to host U.S. missile shield RIA Novosti 19 Jul 2008 -- Lithuania's president, currently on a visit to Argentina, told a national paper that his country is willing if necessary to host elements of a U.S. missile shield.
Successful Target Tracking and Radar Exercise Completed MDA 18 Jul 2008 -- Lieutenant General Henry A. "Trey" Obering, Missile Defense Agency director, announced the successful execution of an important system test today during which a long-range ballistic missile was tracked by radars of the missile defense system
SAIC Awarded $45 Million Contract From NASA SAIC 17 Jul 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a contract in support of the NASA Office of Program Analysis and Evaluation (PA&E) to provide independent program/project assessment, analysis and evaluation services
Sea Launch puts U.S. telecom satellite in orbit RIA Novosti 16 Jul 2008 -- The Sea Launch consortium has successfully launched the EchoStar XI broadcast satellite from its ocean-based platform in the Pacific Ocean.
Russian astronauts successfully complete second spacewalk RIA Novosti 16 Jul 2008 -- Two Russian astronauts on the International Space Station successfully completed a six-hour spacewalk, Russia's mission control said on Wednesday.
Iranian Threat Justifies Missile Defense, General Says AFPS 15 Jul 20008 -- Iran's launch of a missile with a 2,000-kilometer range last week is a concrete example of the threat the world faces from missile proliferation, the chief of the Missile Defense Agency said here today.
Pentagon Says 'Aggressive' Russian Statements on Missile Defense Not Justified VOA 15 Jul 20008 -- The head of the U.S. missile defense program says Russia's sharp rhetoric about the system is not justified, and installations planned for Europe would not be any threat to Russia or its defenses
Raytheon Leads Team Bidding on Indian Satellite-Based Navigation System Raytheon 15 Jul 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) is leading a team to deliver a comprehensive solution for the Indian Space Research Organization and Airports Authority of India global navigation satellite systems.
Raytheon Awarded $38.5 Million to Upgrade Patriot for South Korea Raytheon 15 Jul 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has received a $38.5 million contract from COMLOG to upgrade Patriot missiles for South Korea.
Raytheon Awarded $156 Million to Upgrade Kuwait's Patriot Air and Missile Defense Capabilities Raytheon 15 Jul 2008 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has received a $156 million Foreign Military Sales award from the U.S. Army to provide the State of Kuwait with Patriot Configuration-3 radar upgrade kits and related engineering and technical services.
Russian astronauts conduct second spacewalk on ISS RIA Novosti 15 Jul 2008 -- Two Russian astronauts on the International Space Station have started a spacewalk, which is expected to last five and a half hours, Russia's mission control said Tuesday.
Russia says U.S. missile shield will harm European security RIA Novosti 15 Jul 2008 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday that the placement of a U.S. missile shield in Europe will harm regional security.
DoD News Briefing with Lt. Gen. Obering from the Pentagon 15 Jul 2008 -- Presenter: Director, Missile Defense Agency Lt. Gen. Henry Obering
BAE SYSTEMS COMPUTERS HANDLE PROCESSING ON NASA GLAST MISSION BAE Systems 14 Jul 2008 -- BAE Systems computers will enable a new NASA satellite to examine gamma rays, the most intense form of radiation in the universe.
Russia says Iran war games show U.S. does not need missile shield RIA Novosti 11 Jul 2008 -- Russia's foreign minister said on Friday that Iran's recent missile tests show it does not have ability to attack Europe, and disprove the U.S. justification for a missile shield in Central Europe.
Russia: Iran's Current Missile Range Too Short for Threat VOA 11 Jul 2008 -- The United States and Russia continue sparring over a Central European missile defense system, as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says America is committed to protecting its allies from a possible Iranian missile attack, and her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, claiming Tehran's missiles do not have sufficient range to justify the controversial system
Russian cosmonauts make risky spacewalk to fix Soyuz RIA Novosti 11 Jul 2008 -- Two Russian astronauts aboard the International Space Station have made a daring spacewalk to repair their Soyuz descent capsule, Russian mission control said on Friday.
Satellite's instrumentation providing scintillation forecast data AFPN 10 Jul 2008 -- Whether it's static interrupting a radio station, or crackling noises interfering with a theater commander's attempt to contact a deployed unit, scintillation can cause communication chaos.
AFOTEC officials hold first space summit AFPN 10 Jul 2008 -- Maj. Gen. Stephen T. Sargeant, commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center here, hosted the organization's first space summit July 1 and 2.
General Dynamics Ships GeoEye-1 Satellite to Launch Site General Dynamics 10 Jul 2008 -- General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems announced today that it has shipped GeoEye-1, a next-generation earth imaging satellite, to its launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif
Czechs Protest Russian Threats Against US Missiles VOA 10 Jul 2008 -- Czech officials are accusing Russia of interfering in their internal affairs by threatening military action against a planned U.S. missile defense system on Czech soil.
US missiles in Czech will heighten tension with Russia, UK MPs fear IRNA 10 Jul 2008 -- British MPs have expressed regret in parliament at the initial agreement to begin basing part of the controversial US intercontinental ballistic missile shield in the Czech republic.
U.S. may secretly deploy ballistic missiles in Poland - expert RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- The U.S. may station intermediary and shorter-range ballistic missiles in Poland under the guise of interceptors, a Russian expert said Thursday.
Russia may scrap missile deal over U.S. shield - military expert RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- Russia may respond to U.S. plans for missile defense bases in Central Europe with a host of measures, including the withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a senior military expert said on Thursday.
Sea Launch to put U.S. telecom satellite in orbit next week RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- Sea Launch is preparing for the launch of the EchoStar XI satellite next week, with lift off planned for 5:21 GMT on July 16, the consortium said Thursday.
Russia 'able to ensure security' despite U.S. missile shield RIA Novosti 10 Jul 2008 -- Russia has the means to ensure national security despite any potential threats posed by the planned United States missile shield in Central Europe, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
General Dynamics Awarded $9 Million Contract for Satellite Communication Encryption and Telemetry Technologies General Dynamics 09 Jul 2008 -- General Dynamics C4 Systems has been awarded a $9.2 million contract option to continue the development, qualification and certification of a National Security Agency (NSA) approved encryption module that will be used to secure telemetry, tracking and control of Department of Defense satellites
Thales Alenia Space to deliver very-high-resolution optical imaging instrument to Astrium Thales 09 Jul 2008 -- Thales Alenia Space is ready to deliver the high-resolution (HR) optical imaging instrument for integration in the first Pleiades earth observation satellite.
Russia must punish states hosting U.S. missile shield - analyst RIA Novosti 09 Jul 2008 -- Russia must use economic and political means, and military ties with Asia, to punish European states that agree to host U.S. missile defense elements, a Russian political analyst said on Wednesday.
Medvedev pledges response to U.S. missile shield RIA Novosti 09 Jul 2008 -- Russia will respond to U.S. missile shield plans in Central Europe, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday, pledging at the same time that Moscow would not resort to 'hysterics' over the issue.
Boeing Submits Offer for NASA's Facilities Development and Operations Contract Boeing 08 Jul 2008 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] submitted a proposal to NASA today for the Facilities Development and Operations Contract (FDOC), a four-year contract under which Boeing plans to work in collaboration with NASA to bring innovative, affordable solutions to the agency's next-generation mission control center and other facilities at Johnson Space Center in Houston
Raytheon Submits Proposal for NOAA Environmental Satellite Ground Segment Raytheon 08 Jul 2008 -- The Team GOES-R partnership led by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has submitted its proposal to develop the ground segment for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's next- generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite series known as GOES-R.
U.S., Czech Republic Sign Controversial Radar Pact RFE/RL 08 Jul 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg have signed a treaty under which the Czech Republic would host a radar base for a planned U.S. missile-defense system.
Czech, U.S. officials sign missile defense deal RIA Novosti 08 Jul 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg signed an agreement Tuesday on the deployment of a missile-tracking radar on Czech soil, the CTK news agency reported.
Russia calls U.S. missile shield proposals 'vague, unacceptable' RIA Novosti 08 Jul 2008 -- A top Russian general said on Tuesday that U.S. proposals intended to soothe Russian concerns over a proposed U.S. missile shield in Central Europe are vague and contain too many unacceptable conditions.
US, Czech Republic Sign Controversial Missile Radar Deal VOA 08 Jul 2008 -- The United States and the Czech Republic have signed an agreement that will allow construction of part of a missile defense shield
Air Force Space Command sends six nominees to NASA astronaut candidate selection board AFPN 07 Jul 2008 -- Six AFSPC officers have been selected by an Air Force board to have a shot at a Mission Specialist berth with NASA for the astronaut class of 2009.
US-Poland Missile Defense Talks to Continue VOA 07 Jul 2008 -- The State Department says efforts for a missile-defense agreement with Poland will continue despite an inconclusive meeting on the issue Monday between Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski
Polish top diplomat to discuss missile shield with McCain, Obama RIA Novosti 07 Jul 2008 -- Poland's foreign minister has flown to the United States for talks on the deployment of U.S. interceptor missiles on Polish soil with presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain.
U.S. top diplomat to sign missile deal in Prague RIA Novosti 07 Jul 2008 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice starts a European tour on Monday with a visit to the Czech Republic to sign a missile shield agreement, and will later travel to Bulgaria and Georgia.
Russia, U.S. in deadlock over missile shield as G8 starts in Japan RIA Novosti 07 Jul 2008 -- The presidents of Russia and the U.S. discussed the countries' long-running dispute over Washington's plans to deploy a missile shield in Central Europe on the first day of the G8 summit in Japan.
Thales Alenia Space to cooperate with IAI in the Amos-4 satellite Thales 07 Jul 2008 -- Thales Alenia Space announces a contract with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) LTD, acting through its Systems Missiles and Space Group, MBT Space Division, to supply RF communication assemblies for the Amos-4 communication satellite. IAI, prime contractor of Amos-4, is building the satellite for Israeli satellite operator Spacecom Ltd.
Bush, Medvedev Agree on Iran, Not Missile Defense VOA 07 Jul 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev say they are united in
Polish PM Terms Unsatisfactory Latest US Offer on Missile Shield VOA 04 Jul 2008 -- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says the latest U.S. incentive for Poland to host part of a U.S. missile defense system is unsatisfactory.
MESSENGER Provides New Data On Planet Mercury VOA 04 Jul 2008 -- Data from the first flyby of the planet Mercury in January of 2008 by the spacecraft MESSENGER are reported in eleven papers this week in the journal Science
Poland rejects U.S. missile shield terms, but ready for dialogue RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2008 -- Poland's prime minister said on Friday his country is not satisfied with the terms offered by the U.S. for the deployment of a missile defense base on its soil, but is ready for further dialogue.
Czech-U.S. missile defense deal to be signed in late July RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2008 -- The United States will sign a deal with the Czech Republic to place a missile defense radar in the country in late July, the Czech foreign minister said on Friday.
NASA plans to test space shuttle replacement in spring 2009 RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2008 -- NASA is planning to conduct in spring 2009 the first test flight of a new carrier rocket with an advanced launch vehicle to replace the outdated space shuttle, the U.S. space agency said in a statement.
Polish PM, U.S. vice president talk missile defense RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2008 -- Poland's prime minister held a telephone conversation with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney on Thursday night to discuss Washington's plans to deploy a missile base on Polish soil, the Polish government's press service said.
Astrium successfully concludes Galileo* In-Orbit Test EADS 03 Jul 2008 -- During approximately two months of in-space testing, known as the In-Orbit Test (IOT) phase, the Giove-B navigation satellite has performed excellently.
Poland, U.S. agree on missile shield terms RIA Novosti 03 Jul 2008 -- Poland and the U.S. have reached a tentative agreement on the deployment of an American missile base in Poland, a leading Polish TV channel reported.
US, Poland, Reach Tentative Deal on Missile Defense VOA 02 Jul 2008 -- U.S. officials say the United States and Poland have reached a tentative agreement under which part of a U.S. missile defense system will be based on Polish soil
ATK Receives $250 Million U.S. Air Force Sounding Rocket Contract ATK 02 Jul 2008 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) was awarded a Sounding Rocket Program Three (SRP-3) contract with potential value of $250 million from the U.S. Air Force to provide launch vehicles and engineering and integration services for intercept systems and atmospheric sounding rocket experiments
U.S. says Lithuania has agreed to consider hosting missile shield RIA Novosti 02 Jul 2008 -- United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said that Lithuania has agreed to consider hosting a missile interceptor base if the U.S. deal with Poland falls through.
Boeing GPS IIF Satellite Completes Environmental Tests Boeing 01 Jul 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has completed environmental tests of the first of 12 Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellites, which confirm the mechanical integrity of the spacecraft.
Russian expert says nuclear devices can defend against asteroids RIA Novosti 01 Jul 2008 -- Nuclear explosive devices are the most effective means of protecting Earth from possible collisions with space bodies, including comets and asteroids, a Russian nuclear physicist told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

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