September 2010 Space News

Astronomers Find 'Potentially Habitable' Planet VOA 30 Sep 2010 -- Astronomers have discovered a few hundred planets over the years, but Paul Butler of the Carnegie Institution in Washington says the planet he helped discover is different. He and his team of astronomers say this planet, named Gliese 581G, could bear the closest resemblance to Earth of any planet ever discovered.
ATK Encouraged by the Passage of NASA's Authorization Bill ATK 30 Sep 2010 -- Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) issued the following statement regarding the passage of the NASA authorization bill:
Boeing Submits Final Bid for International Space Station Cargo Contract Boeing 30 Sep 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has submitted its final bid for NASA’s Cargo Mission Contract (CMC) for the International Space Station (ISS). Boeing's bid draws on more than 50 years of the company's human spaceflight experience, as well as first-hand knowledge of ISS operations and cargo processing.
Boeing Releases Statement on Passage of NASA Authorization Bill Boeing 30 Sep 2010 -- On Sept. 29, the U.S. Congress passed S. 3729, a bill to authorize NASA programs for fiscal years 2011 through 2013. The bill soon will be sent to President Barack Obama for his signature, signaling a new direction for human space exploration. Boeing today released the following statement:
Lockheed Martin Ends External Tank Production At NASA Michoud Assembly Facility Lockheed Martin 30 Sep 2010 -- After 37 years and 136 tanks delivered, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) production of the Space Shuttle External Tank (ET) has come to an end at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
Raytheon Awarded Joint Polar Satellite System Contracts Raytheon 30 Sep 2010 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) was awarded two contracts with a combined potential value of more than $1.7 billion over the next eight years by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Russia successfully sends Kosmos satellite into orbit RIA Novosti 30 Sep 2010 -- A Molnia-M carrier rocket successfully released a Kosmos satellite into orbit on Thursday.
NASA Ending Space Shuttle Missions After 30 Years Of Flights VOA 29 Sep 2010 -- The US Space Shuttle Discovery is set to lift off from Florida on November 1 for a mission to the International Space Station.
Raytheon's Patriot Production Line Hot Again Raytheon 29 Sep 2010 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) rolled out the first modernized Information Coordination Central since the combat-proven Patriot Air and Missile Defense System was redesigned as part of the resurgence of Patriot. The first two ICCs will soon be delivered to the Republic of Korea, and work has already begun on the new production Patriot for the United Arab Emirates and Taiwan.
Russian company plans to create hotel in orbit RIA Novosti 29 Sep 2010 -- Moscow-based company Orbital Technologies announced sky-high plans to launch an orbiting hotel in space by 2015-2016.
Raytheon Completes GPS OCX Integrated Baseline Review Raytheon 28 Sep 2010 -- The Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) team developing the next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) Advanced Control Segment (OCX) successfully completed on schedule an integrated baseline review with the U.S. Air Force.
Thales Alenia Space and Zodiac Data Systems team up on satellite traffic monitoring and interferences prevention solutions Thales 28 Sep 2010 -- During the Satellite Users Interference Reduction Group (SUIRG) annual conference from 28 au 30 September in San Francisco, Thales Alenia Space and Zodiac Data Systems are announcing that they plan to team up on solutions for the monitoring of satellite transmissions and protection against interferences, whether intentional or not.
MEADS Demonstrates Interoperability With NATO Air Command and Control System in Joint Test Lockheed Martin 27 Sep 2010 -- The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) battle management capability successfully demonstrated interoperability with the NATO Air Command and Control System (ACCS) during a Joint Project Optic Windmill (JPOW) test in July. The interface test was conducted using the Active Layer Theatre Ballistic Missile Defense (ALTBMD) Integration Test Bed being developed by NATO.
Northrop Grumman-Built Space Cryocoolers Achieve Reliability Milestone With More Than 100 Years of Excellent On-Orbit Performance Northrop Grumman 27 Sep 2010 -- Cryocoolers built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) for satellite applications have recently accumulated over 100 years of flawless on-orbit performance. The company's long-life, pulse-tube cryocoolers are used to cool a wide variety of space-borne detectors used in missile warning, Earth and climate sciences, astronomy and cryogenic propellant management.
Raytheon Awarded $175 Million for Standard Missile-3 Block IIA Raytheon 27 Sep 2010 -- The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) a $175 million contract for the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA cooperative development program with Japan. The contract will provide continued funding for engineering and development efforts for the SM-3 Block IIA missile through the preliminary design review of the all-up-round, scheduled for early 2011.
Vandenberg officials launch Minotaur IV AFNS 27 Sep 2010 -- Officials here launched a Minotaur IV rocket Sept. 25.
Glonass to provide global coverage this year RIA Novosti 27 Sep 2010 -- Russia's top space official confirmed Russia's navigation system Glonass will cover 100% of the Earth's surface by the end of the year.
1st Boeing SBSS Satellite Sends Initial Signals from Space Boeing 26 Sep 2010 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has acquired initial on-orbit signals from the first Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) satellite following its launch at 9:41 p.m. Pacific time on Sept. 25 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The signals indicate that the satellite is functioning normally and is ready to begin orbital maneuvers and operational testing.
Orbital Successfully Launches Minotaur IV Rocket for U.S. Air Force Carrying Space Based Space Surveillance Satellite Orbital Sciences Corp. 26 Sep 2010 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, today announced that it successfully launched the U.S. Air Force’s Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) Satellite, also known as SBSS Block 10, aboard a Minotaur IV rocket.
Roscosmos to send 2 space tourists to ISS after 2013 RIA Novosti 25 Sep 2010 -- The Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos plans to send Soyuz spacecraft with two space tourists to the International Space station (ISS) after 2013, the head of Roscosmos' manned flights department, Alexei Krasnov, said.
Russian Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft with 3 astronauts lands in Kazakhstan RIA Novosti 25 Sep 2010 -- The Russian Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft with three crew members on board successfully landed in Kazakhstan on Saturday morning, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.
Orbital Set to Launch Minotaur IV Rocket for U.S. Air Force Orbital Sciences Corp. 24 Sep 2010 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, today announced that it is prepared to launch the first orbital mission of the Minotaur IV rocket in support of the Air Force’s Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) satellite, also known as SBSS Block 10. The Minotaur IV rocket is the latest in the family of highly reliable, cost-effective Minotaur launches that Orbital has developed for the U.S. Air Force. The SBSS mission will be the 18th to be carried out by Orbital’s family of Minotaur vehicles over the last 10 years. The previous 17 missions have all been successful.
Undocking of Soyuz TMA-18 postponed until Saturday RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2010 -- The departure of the Russian Soyuz TMA-18 spaceship from the International Space Station (ISS) was delayed on Friday for technical reasons and will be postponed until Saturday, Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) head Anatoly Perminov said.
Soyuz TMA-18 spaceship to return to Earth Friday RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2010 -- The Russian Soyuz TMA-18 spaceship with three crew members on board will depart early on Friday from the International Space Station, a spokesman for Russia's Mission Control said.
NASA To Ship Fuel Tank For The Last Planned Shuttle Flight Lockheed Martin 22 Sep 2010 -- The external fuel tank that will power the last planned space shuttle into orbit will be shipped Tuesday to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tank has been restored to flight configuration at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans after sustaining damage during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
MEADS Life Cycle Costs Significantly Lower Than Fielded Systems, With Coverage Area Eight Times Greater Lockheed Martin 22 Sep 2010 -- The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program has presented a required life cycle cost estimate to the three partner nations that proves the MEADS system design will significantly reduce the cost of ownership compared to air and missile defense systems that are currently fielded.
First Kourou launch of Soyuz-ST rocket could be March 2011 RIA Novosti 22 Sep 2010 -- The first flight of Russia's Soyuz-ST carrier rocket from the European space center in French Guiana may take place in March 2011, a senior Russian space official said on Wednesday.
Thales Alenia Space to supply components for Russian satellites RIA Novosti 22 Sep 2010 -- Satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space signed a three-party agreement with two Russian space enterprises to supply electronic components for three communications satellites, the company said Wednesday.
Thales Alenia Space wins contracts to built payloads for Russia's Express AM8, AT1 and AT2 satellites Thales 22 Sep 2010 -- Thales Alenia Space announces tri-partite contracts with RSCC (Russian Space Operator) and JSC “ISS – Reshetnev Company” to supply the Express AM8, AT1 and AT2 communications satellite payloads.
L-3 Acquires 3Di Technologies, LLC, Expands Secure Satellite Communications Capability L-3 Communications 21 Sep 2010 -- L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) announced today that it acquired 3Di Technologies, LLC (3Di) on September 17, 2010. 3Di provides highly specialized end-to-end secure satellite communications utilized by forward-deployed United States special operations and in-theater personnel.
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Completes Latest Round of Tests on J-2X Gas Generator Pratt & Whitney 21 Sep 2010 -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne successfully completed the latest round of tests on the workhorse gas generator for NASA’s J-2X rocket engine. With the first NASA J-2X engine far along in development, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is on track to begin testing in 2011 at Stennis Space Center. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Successfully Powers Launch of U.S. Government Payload Pratt & Whitney 21 Sep 2010 -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne yesterday helped boost into orbit a U.S. Government payload. The payload was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V is powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 booster engine and a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RL10 upper-stage engine. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX). RD AMROSS LLC is a joint venture of Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and NPO Energomash.
New computer chip cuts costs, adds efficiency to space systems AFNS 21 Sep 2010 -- Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate officials partnered with Xilinx, Inc. five years ago to design new field programmable gate arrays that would reduce costs, increase effectiveness of their satellite circuitry and withstand the damaging effects of radiation in the cosmos.
Boeing Space Based Space Surveillance Satellite Ready for Launch Boeing 21 Sep 2010 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and its teammate Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. today announced that the Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) satellite and ground system have completed final testing. The satellite is scheduled to be launched Sept. 25 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, Calif.
Lockheed Martin Delivers 1,000th PAC-3 Missile to the U.S. Army Lockheed Martin 21 Sep 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] delivered the 1,000th Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile to the U.S. Army last week during a ceremony at its state-of-the-art PAC-3 Missile production facility in Camden, AR. PAC-3 Missiles are combat-proven and deployed globally.
Orion Spacecraft on the Path to Future Flight Lockheed Martin 21 Sep 2010 -- Preparations for Orion’s first mission in 2013 are well under way as a Lockheed Martin-led crew begins lean assembly pathfinding operations for the spacecraft. The crew is conducting simulated manufacturing and assembly operations with a full-scale Orion mockup to verify the tools, processes and spacecraft integration procedures work as expected.
Soyuz spacecraft upgrade ups payload by 70 kg RIA Novosti 21 Sep 2010 -- New onboard digital command and control systems have helped increase the payload of Russia's manned Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft by 70 kg, the head of the Energia space corporation said on Tuesday.
STSS Demonstration Satellite Successful in First Handover of Track Data From Acquisition Sensor to Tracking Sensor Northrop Grumman 20 Sep 2010 -- A Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) Demonstration satellite built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN) autonomously transferred target track data from its acquisition sensor to its tracking sensor July 23, the first time such a capability has been executed in space for the program.
Raytheon Completes Upgrade of 1,000th Patriot Missile for U.S. Army Raytheon 20 Sep 2010 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) completed its 1,000th Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical (GEM-T) upgrade for the U.S. Army. Earlier this year, Raytheon reached the same milestone with its worldwide customer base.
Lockheed Martin and ATK Athena Launch Vehicles Selected as a NASA Launch Services Provider ATK 17 Sep 2010 -- NASA announced yesterday that the Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) and Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) Athena Launch Vehicle Family has been selected to become part of the agency's Launch Services II contract.
Lockheed Martin and ATK Athena Launch Vehicles Selected as a NASA Launch Services Provider Lockheed Martin 17 Sep 2010 -- NASA announced yesterday that the Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT) and Alliant Techsystems (NYSE: ATK) Athena Launch Vehicle Family has been selected to become part of the agency’s Launch Services II contract.
Proteus platform passes cumulated mark of 20 years in orbit Thales 17 Sep 2010 -- Thales Alenia Space and French space agency CNES announced today that their jointly developed PROTEUS platform has passed the symbolic milestone of 20 cumulated years in orbit. Six of these modular platforms have been ordered to date, and five have already been launched, for the Jason-1, Calipso, CoRoT, Jason-2 and SMOS satellites.
Russia, NATO should analyze missile threat to Europe RIA Novosti 17 Sep 2010 -- Russia believes that Moscow and NATO should properly assess missile risks before starting on a missile defense plan.
Russia, U.S. still disagree on missile shield RIA Novosti 17 Sep 2010 -- Russia and the US still have some major disagreements on the missile defense issue.
Astrium investigates automatic landing at the Moon’s south pole EADS 16 Sep 2010 -- Europe’s leading space company, has won a new competitive contract from the European Space Agency (ESA), as a follow-up to the Next Exploration Science and Technology (NEXT) study to develop a Lunar Lander. The Lunar Lander Phase B1 study will aim to complete the mission design for landing an automated vehicle near the south pole of the Moon.
Lockheed Martin Successfully Completes Formal Testing of Second-Generation Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Capability Lockheed Martin 16 Sep 2010 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) recently demonstrated the second generation of its Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capability in a formal U.S. Navy test event.
Kazakhstan to join Russia-Ukraine space program RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2010 -- Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Russia will work together as part of the Cosmotrans space cooperation project.
Cuba may link up to Glonass system RIA Novosti 16 Sep 2010 -- Moscow and Havana plan to connect Cuba to the Glonass navigation satellite system.
US Aerospace Giant Enters Realm of Space Tourism VOA 16 Sep 2010 -- U.S. astronauts may soon have to make room on their ship for space tourists.
NATO should invite Russia into European missile defense project RIA Novosti 15 Sep 2010 -- NATO SG Rasmussen: NATO should invite Russia to take part in missile defense system project.
Top Russian, U.S. defense officials to discuss military ties RIA Novosti 15 Sep 2010 -- Russian Def Minister Serdyukov and US SecDef Gates will hold meeting in Pentagon to discuss bilateral military cooperation.
AFSPC commander focuses on leverage in space community AFNS 15 Sep 2010 -- The commander of Air Force Space Command detailed challenges of the space community.
Russia's Mission Control set to readjust ISS orbit RIA Novosti 15 Sep 2010 -- The orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) will be raised by about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles).
Russia supplies another batch of rocket engines to the US RIA Novosti 15 Sep 2010 -- Russia's Energomash company will send a batch of 4 rocket engines for US Atlas rockets under a contract with Lockheed Martin.
Russia plans to restore its weather satellite network by 2030 RIA Novosti 15 Sep 2010 -- Russia will fully rebuild its network of weather forecasting and monitoring satellites by 2030 under a state program.
Brazilian delegation arrives in Ukraine for military, space talks RIA Novosti 15 Sep 2010 -- A military delegation from Brazil will arrive in Ukraine for 3-day talks on military and space cooperation.
NASA Awards Boeing $1.24B Extension to International Space Station Sustainment Contract Boeing 14 Sep 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that NASA has awarded the company an extension to the International Space Station (ISS) contract for sustaining engineering. The extension is valued at $1.24 billion over a five-year period.
Air Force Research Laboratory officials launch new age in testing AFNS 14 Sep 2010 -- Air Force Research Laboratory Det. 7 officials began a new phase of rocket testing.
Northrop Grumman to Bid for U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Objective Simulation Framework Competition Northrop Grumman 14 Sep 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today announced that it intends to bid as prime contractor in the competition for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Objective Simulation Framework (OSF), which will integrate MDA's modeling and simulation architectures.
Northrop Grumman-Built STSS Demonstration Satellites Show Growing Capabilities by Detecting, Tracking Another Satellite Northrop Grumman 14 Sep 2010 -- A Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) Demonstration program satellite showed an increased set of capabilities when it detected and tracked a resident space object – another satellite – on July 19. The missile defense satellite is one of two STSS spacecraft built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN).
Thales Alenia Space’s Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) getting ready for launch to the International Space Station Thales 14 Sep 2010 -- Thales Alenia Space announced today that the official ceremony marking the conversion of the Multipurpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Leonardo into a Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM) and its transfer of ownership from Italian space agency ASI to American counterpart NASA, was held last week at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
An Army First: Army Astronaut Col. Doug Wheelock to command the ISS Army News 14 Sep 2010 -- Army Astronaut Col. Doug Wheelock will become the new commander of the International Space Station.
Boeing Airborne Laser Test Bed Team Receives Air Force Association Award Boeing 13 Sep 2010 -- The Boeing [NYSE: BA] Airborne Laser Test Bed (ALTB) team today received the 2010 Theodore Von Karman Award at the Air Force Association’s (AFA) Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in National Harbor. The annual award is the AFA’s highest honor in the field of science and engineering and recognizes the team’s achievements in directed energy research and development.
Sirius XM-5 satellite delivered to Baikonur for October launch RIA Novosti 12 Sep 2010 -- A giant An-124 Ruslan cargo plane has landed at the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan with a telecommunications satellite that will be launched for Sirius XM radio in mid-October, the Russian Space Agency said on Sunday.
Russian Progress craft docks with International Space Station RIA Novosti 12 Sep 2010 -- The Progress M-07M cargo spacecraft docked as planned with the International Space Station on Sunday, two days after it was launched from Kazakhstan.
Astrium and SpaceX sign an agreement to bring Falcon 1e launch capabilities to the European institutional market EADS 09 Sep 2010 -- Astrium and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) today signed an agreement to provide dedicated launch services to the European institutional very small satellite market.
Astrium and Avanti Communications launch military and government Ka-band test-bed EADS 08 Sep 2010 -- Astrium Services is launching its military and government advanced Ka-band test-bed in cooperation with Avanti Communications who will be providing the satellite bandwidth. Astrium Services has entered into a pioneering agreement with Avanti Communications to use transponder capacity for Ka-band tests on the soon to be launched Hylas 1 satellite.
Russian Rokot carrier rocket orbits three satellites RIA Novosti 08 Sep 2010 -- A Russian Rokot carrier rocket orbited a Gonets-M satellite and two Kosmos satellites on Wednesday, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.
Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services Selected to Launch Geoeye-2 Earth-Imaging Satellite Lockheed Martin 07 Sep 2010 -- Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lockheed Martin Corporation [NYSE: LMT], announced today that it has been selected by GeoEye, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEOY) to launch the company's next-generation, high-resolution Earth-imaging satellite, GeoEye-2, on an Atlas V rocket. Financial terms are not being disclosed at this time.
Programme kickoff for Turkey’s Göktürk satellite system, supplied by Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space Thales 07 Sep 2010 -- Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space today announced the official start of the Göktürk observation satellite system for the Turkish Ministry of Defense. The original contract was signed by Telespazio and the Turkish Defense Ministry in 2009, and the programme now officially enters the design and construction phase. Satellite launch is planned for 2013.
Northrop Grumman Distributed Aperture System (DAS) for F-35 Demonstrates Ballistic Missile Defense Capabilities Northrop Grumman 07 Sep 2010 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) AN/AAQ-37 Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS) for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter successfully detected and tracked a two-stage rocket launch at a distance exceeding 800 miles during a routine flight test conducted aboard the company's BAC 1-11 test bed aircraft.
Russian Rokot carrier rocket to orbit Gonets-M satellite on September 8 RIA Novosti 06 Sep 2010 -- A Russian Rokot carrier rocket will take off from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia on September 8 to put a Gonets-M satellite into orbit, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Monday.
Three more GLONASS satellites put into orbit RIA Novosti 02 Sep 2010 -- Russia's Proton-M carrier rocket put three GLONASS satellites into orbit.
Roscosmos, NASA name crew for ISS mission in late 2012 RIA Novosti 02 Sep 2010 -- NASA and Roscosmos have announced the three crewmembers for the November 2012 launch to the International Space Station.
Russian cosmonauts long for hot showers on ISS RIA Novosti 02 Sep 2010 -- A team of Russian cosmonauts working at the Russian segment of the ISS are unhappy about the absence of hot showers onboard.
DSP satellite now on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force AFNS 02 Sep 2010 -- A structural test vehicle from the Defense Support Program was donated to the National Museum of the US Air Force by Northrop Grumman.
Boeing-built GOES-15 Weather Satellite Enters Service for NASA, NOAA Boeing 01 Sep 2010 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that GOES-15, the company's eighth Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, has completed on-orbit testing and has been accepted into service by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

NEWSLETTER

Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list