January 2010 Space News

US Reportedly Beefing Up Defenses in Persian Gulf VOA 31 Jan 2010 -- U.S. media reports say the United States is speeding up the deployment of anti-missile defenses in four Persian Gulf nations as it continues to confront Iran over its nuclear program.
Northrop Grumman Provides Microelectronics for ESA Spacecraft Exploring the Universe Northrop Grumman 29 Jan 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE:NOC) monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) are flying aboard two state-of-the-art European Space Agency (ESA) space telescopes. The Herschel and Planck spacecraft are studying the formation of stars and galaxies, as well as relic radiation from the Big Bang.
Research Laboratory, Academy officials collaborate on space project AFNS 29 Jan 2010 -- U.S. Air Force Academy cadets and members of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Edwards Air Force on the FalconSAT-5 satellite Jan. 11 through 22 here.
Thales Alenia Space statement concerning the Eutelsat W2 satellite Thales 28 Jan 2010 -- The W2 satellite operated by Eutelsat Communications experienced an anomaly during the evening of January 27, 2010.
Russia launches military satellite from Baikonur RIA Novosti 28 Jan 2010 -- Russia launched on Thursday a Proton-M rocket carrying a military satellite on board from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, the Defense Ministry said.
Russia orbits military satellite RIA Novosti 28 Jan 2010 -- Russia on Thursday put a new military satellite into orbit, a spokesman for the Space Forces said.
Russia toys with exotic nuclear space projects RIA Novosti 27 Jan 2010 -- Russia is pondering new applications for yet-to-be-built nuclear-powered spacecraft, including military satellites, nuclear power plants, and space tugs, Energia space corporation said Wednesday.
Thales Alenia Space: contract signed for the Galileo system Support Service Thales 26 Jan 2010 -- Today in Brussels, the European Commission has communicated the decision to award to Thales Alenia Space Italia through a framework contract lasting from 2010 till 2016 for the “System Support” to European Space Agency (ESA).
Russia to finalize design of manned spacecraft booster in Aug. 2010 RIA Novosti 26 Jan 2010 -- Russia will finalize in August 2010 the design of a new booster rocket for a manned spacecraft it is planning to launch in 2017, a design bureau chief said on Tuesday.
Russia set to launch manned spacecraft in 2017 RIA Novosti 26 Jan 2010 -- Russia intends to keep up with the U.S. in the space race and launch a new manned spacecraft by 2017, a senior Russian space official said on Tuesday.
Lockheed Martin Space Vehicle Integration Laboratory Achieves Initial Operational Capability Lockheed Martin 25 Jan 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced today that its new Space Vehicle Integration Laboratory (SVIL) has achieved initial operational capability and is supporting the company's satellite development program activity.
Russian specialists raise space station's orbit RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2010 -- Russian specialists have completed the operation to raise the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) by about 5 km (3 miles), Mission Control said on Sunday.
Russia's Lavrov says missile-defense proposals still in force RIA Novosti 22 Jan 2010 -- Russia's missile-defense proposals, including the joint use of the Gabala radar station in Azerbaijan, are still on the table, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.
Moscow unfazed by Polish missile move RIA Novosti 22 Jan 2010 -- Moscow is undaunted by Poland's decision to base U.S. surface-to-air missiles closer to Russian borders, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.
U.S. Missiles To Be Placed Near Poland's Russian Border RFE/RL 21 Jan 2010 -- Poland has made public the location of the U.S. Patriot missiles soon to arrive on its territory, an announcement that is likely to displease Moscow.
Russian cosmonauts make up to $150,000 for space missions RIA Novosti 21 Jan 2010 -- Russian cosmonauts receive up to $150,000 for a mission on board the International Space Station (ISS), a senior space official said Thursday.
Russian cosmonaut moves Soyuz to new docking port on ISS RIA Novosti 21 Jan 2010 -- A Russian cosmonaut performed on Thursday a complex task of moving a spacecraft from one docking port to another on the International Space Station.
Russian cosmonaut to pilot Soyuz spacecraft to new dock on ISS RIA Novosti 21 Jan 2010 -- Popping outside to move the car to a different parking space is something most of us do without a second thought, but on Thursday it will be a major endeavor for Maxim Surayev.
Northrop Grumman Will Enter Competition as Prime Contractor for Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense Contract Northrop Grumman 21 Jan 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today said it will enter the competition as a prime contractor for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Development and Sustainment contract.
Poland says basing Patriot missiles nearer Russia not political RIA Novosti 21 Jan 2010 -- Poland's decision to deploy a battery of U.S. Patriot missiles just 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the Russian border is neither political nor strategic, the Polish defense minister said Wednesday.
Lockheed Martin Achieves Key Integration Milestones On First Mobile User Objective System Satellite Lockheed Martin 20 Jan 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced today that it has successfully mated the first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite's high-performance communications system module with the propulsion core at its facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif. Supporting ultra-high frequency (UHF) satellite communications (SATCOM), MUOS will provide assured communications, including simultaneous voice, video and data, for mobile warfighters.
Poland plans to deploy US Patriot missiles near Russian border IRNA 20 Jan 2010 -- Poland plans to deploy US Patriot missiles in Morag, a town some 70 kilometers from the Russian border, Polish news reports quoted a defense ministry spokesperson as saying on Wednesday.
Poland to move U.S. Patriots closer to Russian border RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2010 -- U.S. Patriot missiles will be stationed in northern Poland about 60 miles (100 km) from the border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad rather than near Warsaw, the Polish defense minister said on Wednesday.
Key Sensor Delivered to NPOESS Preparatory Project Northrop Grumman 19 Jan 2010 -- The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) team led by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) kicked off the new year with the delivery of a critical sensor, the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS).
Boeing to Bid on International Space Station Cargo Contract Boeing 18 Jan 2010 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced it will draw on its human spaceflight experience, as well as its knowledge of International Space Station (ISS) operations and cargo processing, to bid on NASA's ISS Cargo Mission Contract.
James Webb Space Telescope's First Primary Mirror Segment Meets Flight Specifications, Achieves Significant Milestone Northrop Grumman 18 Jan 2010 -- The first primary mirror segment of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has met flight specifications at ambient temperatures, the result of a process that has been six years in the making. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is leading the design and development effort for the space agency's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Russia to orbit 2 satellites, ISS freighter from Baikonur in Feb. RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2010 -- Russia will launch two international satellites as well as a freighter to the International Space Station (ISS) next month from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, the Federal Space Agency said Monday.
Space team achieves key ground-segment milestones AFNS 15 Jan 2010 -- A joint Air Force and Lockheed Martin team developing the Space-Based Infrared System program, known as SBIRS, has achieved two key milestones: a testing milestone demonstrating the ground system is on track to support launch of the first SBIRS geosynchronous GEO-1 satellite in the constellation; and a maturity milestone moving the ground system into the next level of integration.
Russian military lays hope on new Angara carrier rockets RIA Novosti 15 Jan 2010 -- Russia will use extensively the new Angara class carrier rockets to deliver military satellites into orbit, the commander of Russia's Space Forces has said.
Russian cosmonauts complete year's first spacewalk RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2010 -- Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and Maxim Surayev have completed this year's first spacewalk and returned to the International Space Station, Mission Control said Thursday.
First on Titan: Five years ago the Huygens space probe built by prime contractor Thales Alenia Space landed on Saturn’s most mysterious moon Thales 14 Jan 2010 -- For its first planetary mission in 1991, the European Space Agency selected Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor, leading a team of manufacturers from throughout Europe. The objective was the on-site exploration of an unknown atmosphere around an enigmatic moon, located much further away than any other atmospheric probe had ventured to date.
'Dangerous' asteroid safely flies past Earth - astronomer RIA Novosti 13 Jan 2010 -- An asteroid named 2010 AL30 whose unusual orbit frightened astronomers two days ago safely flew past Earth at a distance of 130,000 km (80,796 miles) on Wednesday.
U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin Team Achieves Key Ground Segment Milestone For Nation's Space-Based Missile Warning System Lockheed Martin 13 Jan 2010 -- The U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team developing the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) program has achieved two key milestones: a testing milestone demonstrating that the ground system is on track to support launch of the first SBIRS geosynchronous (GEO-1) satellite in the constellation, and a maturity milestone moving the ground system into the next level of integration.
China missile defense test not linked to Taiwan arms sale - Clinton RIA Novosti 13 Jan 2010 -- U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that China's missile defense test was not a response to U.S. arms supplies to Taiwan.
Russia activates 1 of 3 new Glonass navigation satellites RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2010 -- One of three newly orbited satellites in Russia's Glonass space satellite navigation grouping has entered service, the federal space agency Roscosmos said on Tuesday.
Unusual space object, possibly man-made, approaches Earth RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2010 -- An unusual space body with parameters similar to a man-made object will approach Earth on Wednesday at a distance about three times less than the moon's orbit.
China Says Missile Interception Test Successful VOA 12 Jan 2010 -- China says it has successfully carried out a test of military technology to shoot down missiles in mid-air. The news comes in the wake of tensions between Beijing and Washington because of American missile sales to Taiwan, an island China considers part of its territory.
Kuwait Air Defense Forces Conduct Successful Patriot Test Firings Raytheon 11 Jan 2010 -- The Kuwait Air Defense Forces successfully test fired Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Patriot Air and Missile Defense System against tactical ballistic missiles. The test firings were held last month at the Udairi Range in Kuwait in conjunction with other Kuwait Air Defense and Land Forces elements during a joint exercise.
Russia earmarks $17 mln to research nuclear-propelled spacecraft RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2010 -- The Russian government will allocate 500 million rubles ($16.7 million) in 2010 on a project to build a spaceship with a nuclear engine.
China tests missile-defense system RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2010 -- China tested a ground-based system to intercept missiles in midflight on Monday, the Xinhua news agency reported.
Thales Alenia Space awarded a € 85 million contract for the System Support Services of Galileo Thales 08 Jan 2010 -- Today in Brussels, the European Commission has communicated the decision to award to Thales Alenia Space Italia through a framework contract lasting from 2010 till 2016 for the “System Support” to European Space Agency (ESA). The activities will be covered for the period 2010 till 2014 by the first work order for a value of about € 85 million.
Strategic, Space command officials improve GPS coverage AFNS 07 Jan 2010 -- Officials from the U.S. Strategic Command and Air Force Space Command here initiated an effort that will improve global coverage for users of the Global Positioning System constellation.
U.S. office confirms PAC-3 missiles sale to Taiwan CNA 07 Jan 2010 -- The United States' de facto embassy here - the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - confirmed Thursday that the U.S. government has awarded contracts to defense manufacturers to build Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles for Taiwan, which were part of an arms package Washington agreed to sell to Taipei in 2008.
NASA reports discovery of 5 exoplanets RIA Novosti 06 Jan 2010 -- NASA's Kepler space telescope, designed to find Earth-size planets in the habitable zone of sun-like stars, has discovered its first five new planets beyond the solar system, NASA has reported.
Hubble Photo Displays Galaxies From Early Universe VOA 05 Jan 2010 -- The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a mosaic of images to reveal the most complete picture of the early universe, with thousands of galaxies in "various stages of assembly."

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