January 2011 Space News

Lockheed Martin SBIRS Team Passes Major Flight Operations Test Milestone on Path to GEO-1 Launch Lockheed Martin 31 Jan 2011 -- The U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]-led Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) team has successfully completed a major space to ground interface and functional system test for the first geosynchronous (GEO-1) satellite. The milestone, known as the 5001.4 test, verifies the spacecraft’s performance and interface with the ground segment and represents one of the program’s most significant milestones to date on the path to launch.
Munich conference to discuss Russia-NATO missile defense network RIA Novosti 31 Jan 2011 -- The creation of a joint Russia-NATO missile defense network will be a key issue of upcoming global security conference.
Iran to Unveil New Rockets, Satellites Within Days VOA 31 Jan 2011 -- Iran says it will unveil a range of new rockets and satellites as part of national celebrations of the 32nd anniversary of its Islamic Revolution.
President hails Iran's space achievements IRNA 30 Jan 2011 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday that launching satellite into orbit changed the scientific atmosphere of the country.
President inaugurates construction of major space research center IRNA 30 Jan 2011 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday inaugurated construction of major space laboratory and research center.
Defense Minister: New space projects to be unveiled IRNA 30 Jan 2011 -- Defense Minister Brigadier-General Ahmad Vahidi said on Sunday that different high-tech projects such as domestically-made satellites named 'Rasad and Fajr' are ready for inauguration.
Russian space freighter Progress M-09M docks with ISS RIA Novosti 30 Jan 2011 -- A Russian cargo spacecraft, Progress M-09M, docked on Sunday with the International Space Station (ISS).
Boeing and Northrop Grumman Submit Proposal for Missile Defense Competitive Contract Boeing 28 Jan 2011 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and industry partner Northrop Grumman Corporation [NYSE: NOC] today submitted their joint proposal for the competitive development and sustainment contract for future work on the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the United States' ballistic missile defense system.
Lockheed Martin-Raytheon Team Submits Proposal for Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Contract Lockheed Martin 28 Jan 2011 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that it has submitted its proposal for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Development and Sustainment Contract to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA’s) GMD Joint Program Office. The Lockheed Martin-Raytheon team completed delivery of the proposal yesterday, Jan. 27.
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System Completes Tracking Exercise Lockheed Martin 28 Jan 2011 -- The Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] completed a key tracking exercise for the Aegis ballistic missile defense (BMD) system aboard three Navy ships.
Boeing and Northrop Grumman Submit Proposal for Missile Defense Competitive Contract Northrop Grumman 28 Jan 2011 -- The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) and industry partner Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today submitted their joint proposal for the competitive development and sustainment contract for future work on the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the United States' ballistic missile defense system.
NASA Marks 25 Years Since Challenger Tragedy VOA 28 Jan 2011 -- The U.S. space agency NASA has marked the 25th anniversary of the space shuttle Challenger disaster, which killed all seven crew members and triggered questions about the safety of shuttle flights.
Russian cargo spacecraft Progress M-09M blasts off to ISS RIA Novosti 28 Jan 2011 -- A Russian cargo spacecraft, Progress M-09M, lifted off toward the International Space Station (ISS) at 4:32 Moscow time [1:32 GMT] on Friday, the Russian space agency Roscosmos said.
Boeing Tests New Ka-band SATCOM Antenna System Boeing 27 Jan 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today that it successfully conducted its first over-the-air ground test of a Ka-band satellite communications (SATCOM) phased-array antenna system that will enable wideband SATCOM on aircraft, providing increased bandwidth for networking in flight.
Orbital Awarded Systems Integration Contract by Thales Alenia Space for Iridium NEXT Satellites Orbital Sciences Corp. 27 Jan 2011 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, today announced that it has signed a systems integration and test contract with Thales Alenia Space, the prime contractor for Iridium NEXT, the next-generation satellite constellation of Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) of McLean, Va.
Japanese cargo spacecraft docks with ISS RIA Novosti 27 Jan 2011 -- A Japanese cargo freighter docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, a spokesman for Russian Mission Control said.
Russian answer to U.S. reusable robotic spacecraft in the offing RIA Novosti 27 Jan 2011 -- Russian researchers are working on an unmanned spacecraft similar to the U.S. Boeing X-37 Orbital Test Vehicle, Space Troops chief Oleg Ostapenko said on Thursday.
Russia's Angara booster rocket to be 'ready for tests' in 2012 RIA Novosti 27 Jan 2011 -- Russia's new generation Angara booster rocket will be ready for a test launch by 2012, the country's space force commander said on Thursday.
Russia insists on equal part in European missile defense RIA Novosti 27 Jan 2011 -- Russian experts must be involved in the development of the European missile defense network on a permanent and equal basis, the chief of the Russian General Staff said.
Raytheon Awarded $20 Million for Patriot Technical Assistance for State of Kuwait Raytheon 26 Jan 2011 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has received a $20 million Foreign Military Sales technical assistance contract to support operational capability of Kuwait's Patriot Air and Missile Defense System.
Russia to continue developing missile defense system RIA Novosti 26 Jan 2011 -- Russia will go forward with plans to develop its own missile defense system after the ratification of a strategic arms reduction treaty with the United States, Russia's Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said on Wednesday.
Russian astronomers predict Apophis-Earth collision in 2036 RIA Novosti 26 Jan 2011 -- Russian astronomers have predicted that asteroid Apophis may strike Earth on April 13, 2036.
U.S. Second Fleet Ships Complete Successful Ballistic Missile Defense Tracking Exercise NNS 25 Jan 2011 -- Three Commander, U.S. Second Fleet ships successfully completed a tracking exercise Jan. 22, off the coast of Virginia using the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system during Atlantic Trident 2011.
Russia to launch new batch of Glonass satellites by June RIA Novosti 25 Jan 2011 -- Russia will launch another three Glonass-M satellites on board a Proton heavy carrier rocket later this year to complete the orbiting Glonass grouping, the head of Russia's space agency Roscosmos said Tuesday.
Russian space programs underfunded - scientist RIA Novosti 25 Jan 2011 -- Russia is not in a position to carry out global space programs single-handedly and should team up with India and Kazakhstan, veteran rocket scientist Boris Chertok said on Tuesday.
Russia plans to build carrier rocket for Mars missions RIA Novosti 25 Jan 2011 -- Russia's Khrunichev research center plans to develop a new super-heavy carrier rocket that will be used to launch piloted spacecraft to Mars.
Lockheed Martin to Enhance Space Systems Development With Opening of New Virtual Laboratory Lockheed Martin 24 Jan 2011 -- Lockheed Martin plans to increase the affordability and efficiency of space system development with the opening of a new advanced technology and virtual simulation facility, known as the Collaborative Human Immersive Laboratory (CHIL). The CHIL, located at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company headquarters in Littleton, Colo., integrates several virtual reality technologies enabling engineers and technicians to validate, test, and understand products and processes virtually before creating them physically. The result is a reduction in risk with savings in both time and cost.
Raytheon Awarded $145 Million for Patriot GEM-T Missiles for State of Kuwait Raytheon 24 Jan 2011 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has received a $145 million Foreign Military Sales production contract for Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missiles – Tactical (GEM-T) to augment Kuwait's air and missile defense.
Russia to decide on missile deployment if no deal with NATO RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2011 -- Russia is expecting a reply from NATO to its proposals on building a European missile defense system, and will have to deploy a nuclear missile grouping if no agreement is reached, President Dmitry Medvedev said Monday.
Japanese cargo spacecraft successfully blasts off to ISS RIA Novosti 22 Jan 2011 -- Japan successfully launched its second-ever unmanned cargo ship to the International Space Station (ISS) early Saturday morning, the Japanese space agency JAXA said.
Russian cosmonauts complete ISS spacewalk RIA Novosti 22 Jan 2011 -- Two Russian cosmonauts have successfully completed all assigned tasks during the first spacewalk by the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) in 2011, the Russian Mission Control said.
First Delta IV Heavy launches from Vandenberg AFB AFNS 21 Jan 2011 -- A Delta IV Heavy Launch Vehicle was launched from here Jan. 20.
NASA adds another shuttle flight to its schedule RIA Novosti 21 Jan 2011 -- NASA has set a target launch date of June 28 for its Atlantis shuttle, making it a de-facto final flight of its space shuttle fleet.
Stardust Spacecraft, Comet Aiming for Valentine's Day Rendezvous VOA 21 Jan 2011 -- NASA's Stardust-NExT spacecraft has a date with a comet called Tempel 1 on the night of February 14th.
Russian astronauts begin first spacewalk of 2011 RIA Novosti 21 Jan 2011 -- Two Russian astronauts ventured outside the Russian Pirs compartment at the (ISS for the first spacewalk this year.
Russia puts meteorological satellite into orbit RIA Novosti 21 Jan 2011 -- The Zenit-3SB rocket, launched on Thursday from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, delivered the Elektro-L 1 meteorological satellite into orbit.
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Successfully Boosts Heavy-Lift Vehicle Carrying a Government Satellite Pratt & Whitney 20 Jan 2011 -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne today helped boost a government satellite for the U.S. government, demonstrating its heavy-lift capabilities and continued support of national security. The satellite was onboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket, powered by three Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-68 booster engines and one upper-stage RL10B-2 engine. The Delta IV Heavy launched for the first time from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, becoming the largest rocket ever launched from the West Coast. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.
NRO Satellite Successfully Launched Aboard Delta IV Heavy NRO 20 Jan 2011 -- A NRO payload was successfully launched aboard a ULA Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle on January 20, 2011.
NATO Sees Russia as Missile Defense Partner AFPS 20 Jan 2011 -- NATO SG Fogh Rasmussen: Looking forward to moving ahead during the first half of 2011 on missile defense cooperation with Russia.
Launch of Japan cargo spacecraft postponed over poor weather RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2011 -- The launch of a Japanese cargo freighter to the ISS has been delayed until Saturday due to adverse weather conditions.
Russian cosmonaut Kondratyev ready for first spacewalk RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2011 -- Russian cosmonaut Dmitry Kondratyev will carry out his first spacewalk from the International Space Station on Friday.
Russia launches meteorological satellite RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2011 -- Russia launched a Zenit-3SB rocket carrying a meteorological satellite from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, Russia's space agency.
Euro missile defense needs Russian and NATO systems RIA Novosti 19 Jan 2011 -- NATO's vision for European missile defense is two independent, but coordinated systems, the alliance's secretary general.
Russian cosmonauts prepare for year's first spacewalk RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2011 -- Russian cosmonauts Dmitry Kondratyev and Oleg Skripochka are preparing to conduct this year's first spacewalk.
General Dynamics Awarded $41 Million to Supply Next-Generation Deep Space Network Antennas for NASA General Dynamics 19 Jan 2011 -- General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies received a $40.7 million contract from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to build two additional 34-meter (112-foot wide) beam waveguide antennas as part of NASA’s modernization and transformation plan to continue scientific studies of the Earth as well as explore distant bodies in the solar system.
Northrop Grumman-Built STSS Demonstration Satellites Complete On-Orbit Calibration, Ready for BMDS Tests Northrop Grumman 19 Jan 2011 -- The Space Tracking and Surveillance (STSS) Demonstration program satellites are ready to fully participate in Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) tests after on-orbit calibration of the acquisitions and track sensors for both spacecraft was completed Nov. 3 by prime contractor Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), and infrared sensor payload provider Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN).
Raytheon to Open GPS Collaboration Center in Southern California Raytheon 19 Jan 2011 -- Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) new Global Positioning System Collaboration Center opening in February 2011 in El Segundo, Calif., will allow U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems personnel to interact with the GPS Operational Control Segment (GPS OCX) system in an operations-like environment.
Northrop Grumman Verifies Crosslink Capability Between STSS Demonstration Satellites Northrop Grumman 18 Jan 2011 -- The effectiveness of the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) Demonstration satellites has been expanded after a communications crosslink was activated and successfully tested by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), prime contractor, and Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN), sensor payload provider.
Kazakhstan ratifies space cooperation agreement with Russia RIA Novosti 17 Jan 2011 -- Kazakh President Nazarbayev has signed into law the ratification of a Russian-Kazakh space cooperation agreement.
Army nanosatellite completes first flight Army News 14 Jan 2011 -- The first U.S. Army built satellite in more than 50 years completed its mission as it succumbed to the Earth's gravity and burned up during reentry.
Iran to launch 'Fajr' home-made satellite in near future IRNA 12 Jan 2011 -- Iran's Communications and Information Technology Minister said on Wednesday Iran will launch a home-made satellite called 'Fajr' by the end of current Iranian year on March 20.
Russia to launch ocean satellite in March RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2011 -- Russia will launch an oceanography satellite in March to keep track of a vast amount of data that will help improve weather, climate and ocean forecasts, a Russian scientist said on Wednesday.
European missile shield should stipulate joint decision making - Russian NATO envoy RIA Novosti 12 Jan 2011 -- The creation of a European missile shield should stipulate joint decision making, while a simple sharing of defense information among the project participants would only restrict Russia's nuclear potential, the Russian envoy to NATO said in an interview with the Izvestia daily.
Lockheed Martin Developed Multi-Mission Satellite Operations Center Goes Live With Launch of STPSAT-2 Lockheed Martin 11 Jan 2011 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced that the satellite command and control system – the Multi-Mission Satellite Operations Center Ground System Architecture– recently went operational with the successful launch of the multi-payload experimental Space Test Program STP-S26 mission, STPSat-2. The architecture was developed by Lockheed Martin and the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center Space Development and Test Directorate.
Northrop Grumman Scalable SIRU(TM) Selected as Inertial Reference Unit for Boeing Satellites Northrop Grumman 11 Jan 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today announced that its Scalable Space Inertial Reference Unit (Scalable SIRU™) has been selected as the inertial reference unit of choice for Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems satellite platforms.
Orbital-Built Glory Earth Science Satellite Arrives at Vandenberg Air Force Base Launch Site Orbital Sciences Corp. 11 Jan 2011 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, today announced that the Glory satellite has arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA to be integrated with the company’s Taurus® XL rocket that will launch the satellite into low-Earth orbit in late February.
Northrop Grumman-Built James Webb Space Telescope Makes Significant Progress in 2010 With Completion of Mission, Mirror and Sunshield Milestones Northrop Grumman 10 Jan 2011 -- Highlighted by the completion of its most important milestone to date, Mission Critical Design Review, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope made significant progress throughout 2010. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is leading the design and development effort for the space agency's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Sentinel Project Uses Satellite Images To Monitor, Perhaps Deter, Humanitarian Abuses RFE/RL 09 Jan 2011 -- People act differently when they are being watched. It’s a fact that authoritarian regimes have long exploited to suppress dissent. But watchfulness can also work to the good and perhaps even stop atrocities. That’s the premise behind the Satellite Sentinel Project, a collaboration between Google, the United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT), the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, and celebrity-backed NGOs.
Another GPS software upgrade completed AFNS 07 Jan 2011 -- As part of a larger ongoing effort by Air Force officials to improve and maintain the current GPS ground system, Air Force Space Command officials completed another sustainment software release for the GPS operational control segment ground system.
US Shuttle Launch Delayed Again VOA 07 Jan 2011 -- The US space shuttle Discovery's upcoming mission to the International Space Station has been delayed again.
Plasma Jets Could Resolve Longstanding Mystery of Solar Heating Lockheed Martin 06 Jan 2011 -- In a paper published today in the journal Science, researchers –from the Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory (LMSAL) of the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] Advanced Technology Center (ATC), along with colleagues at the High Altitude Observatory (HAO) of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Colorado and the University of Oslo, Norway – have discovered a major source of hot gas that replenishes the Sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona. The researchers used new observations from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on NASA’s recently launched Solar Dynamics Observatory and NASA’s Focal Plane Package for the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) on the Japanese Hinode satellite – both designed and built at the ATC.
Patriot missile designer dead at 91 RIA Novosti 06 Jan 2011 -- Zdzislaw Starostecki, a chief designer of the Patriot missile, has died in the United States.
SAIC Awarded Contract by U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) SAIC 05 Jan 2011 -- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) (NYSE: SAI) announced today it was awarded a prime contract by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) to provide modeling, simulation, analysis and integration support to warfighters. The multiple award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract has a three year base period of performance, two two-year options and a total ceiling value of more than $343 million for SAIC.
Lockheed Martin-Developed Missile Defense Programs Led Ballistic Missile Defense Efforts In 2010 Lockheed Martin 05 Jan 2011 -- Lockheed Martin-developed missile defense system elements led the nation’s ballistic missile defense efforts in 2010. During 2011, Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] anticipates an energetic schedule of continued fielding, testing and showcasing of its mature air and missile defense systems and solutions for the warfighter.
India blames German connectors parts for destroying doomed rocket IRNA 05 Jan 2011 -- The 10 connectors that snapped prematurely destroying the Indian GSLV on December 25 were imported from Germany.
India to launch two large communication satellites IRNA 05 Jan 2011 -- Indian Space Research Organisation said it plans to launch at least two large communication satellites within this calendar year.
Berlin mum on Norwegian report about planned spy satellite IRNA 04 Jan 2011 -- Germany refused to comment on a Norwegian newspaper report about plans for an advanced spy satellite.
Leaked Cables Show US-German Spy Satellite Program VOA 03 Jan 2011 -- Leaked U.S. diplomatic cables show that the United States and Germany allegedly are developing together a spy satellite system despite strong opposition from countries such as France.

NEWSLETTER

Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list