August 2011 Space News

Orbital Receives FAA Commercial Space Launch License for Taurus II COTS Demonstration Mission Orbital Sciences Corp. 31 Aug 2011 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, today announced that it received a Commercial Space Transportation Launch License from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program demonstration mission in early 2012.
Raytheon's Next-Generation Weather Sensor Nears Launch Raytheon 31 Aug 2011 -- A NASA spacecraft carrying a Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) climate and weather monitoring sensor has been shipped to Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., in preparation for launch.
Russian defense minister, U.S. attache discuss missile shield RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2011 -- Russia's defense minister met with the U.S. defense attache in Moscow to discuss the U.S.-led missile shield in Europe.
Russia may put space program under state defense order RIA Novosti 31 Aug 2011 -- The Russian Space Agency Roscosmos is considering returning the federal space program to the framework of the state defense.
China Moves Toward Permanent Space Presence VOA 31 Aug 2011 -- A country that only eight years ago put its first taikonaut into orbit could, in eight more years, be the only country to possess a permanently-crewed space station.
NASA: Space Station May Be Evacuated RFE/RL 30 Aug 2011 -- Russia and the United States gave conflicting signals about the way forward with the ISS now that the Soyuz has been temporarily grounded.
Briz-M upper-stage fault behind Proton-M launch failure RIA Novosti 30 Aug 2011 -- A malfunction of the Briz-M upper-stage rocket reportedly caused the failure of a Proton-M rocket launch two weeks ago.
NRL Set to Launch Experimental TacSat-4 Spacecraft NNS 30 Aug 2011 -- The Naval Research Laboratory announced that its Tactical Satellite IV is scheduled to launch Sept. 27 aboard a Minotaur-IV+ launch vehicle.
Iran prepares to send Explorer-5 data gathering machine into air IRNA 30 Aug 2011 -- Explorer-5 data gathering machine carrying a monkey will be sent into the air in the near future.
Northrop Grumman Business Unit Astro Aerospace Delivers Antennas to Lockheed Martin for GPS III Northrop Grumman 29 Aug 2011 -- Astro Aerospace, a strategic business unit of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), has delivered 16 self-deploying, monopole JIB antennas for the first two next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS III) satellites being built by Lockheed Martin Corporation.
Russia Delays Missions to and From Space Station VOA 29 Aug 2011 -- Russia's space agency has announced that it will delay the return of crew members from the ISS and postpone the launch of new crew.
New ISS mission postponed until October RIA Novosti 29 Aug 2011 -- Russia's Space Agency Roscomos has postponed the launch of a new mission to the ISS due to an accident that caused the loss of a cargo ship.
Progress space freighter destroyed in atmosphere - source RIA Novosti 29 Aug 2011 -- Large pieces of the Progress M-12M space freighter have not been discovered because the ship most likely burned up in the Earth's atmosphere or the third stage of the Soyuz-U carrier rocket exploded.
Iran to launch satellite into space by mid March ISNA 29 Aug 2011 -- Iranian “Fajr” (Dawn) satellite would be launched into space by mid March.
European ATV-3 unmanned cargo carrier shipped to Kourou RIA Novosti 27 Aug 2011 -- ATV-3, Europe's next unmanned cargo carrier to the International Space Station has arrived to the Kourou space center.
Kazakhstan not to ban Russian rocket launches from Baikonur RIA Novosti 27 Aug 2011 -- Kazakhstan does not plan to ban launches of Russian rockets from its space center in Baikonur.
Russia to test launch Soyuz rockets before delivering ISS crews RIA Novosti 26 Aug 2011 -- Russia will carry out two unmanned test launches of Soyuz carrier rockets in the coming fall.
Orbital's Cygnus Cargo Module Arrives at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility Orbital Sciences Corp. 25 Aug 2011 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, today announced that the first pressurized cargo module (PCM) for its Cygnus™ cargo logistics spacecraft has arrived at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in eastern Virginia.
Raytheon Ground System Passes Launch Test for Critical Polar Orbiting Satellite Raytheon 25 Aug 2011 -- The Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) developed Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Common Ground System achieved a major milestone on the road to NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) launch with the successful completion of the NPP Compatibility Test 4 this August. This is the last major comprehensive test prior to the scheduled October launch.
Thales Alenia Space’s Cygnus PCM shipped to United States Thales 25 Aug 2011 -- Thales Alenia Space announced today that it has shipped its first Pressurized Cargo Module, designed to transport cargo to the International Space Station, to NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The PCM, developed on behalf of Cygnus prime contractor Orbital Sciences Corporation, was carried by an Antonov An-24 cargo plane.
Putin Orders 'Radical' Russian Space Improvements RFE/RL 25 Aug 2011 -- Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has instructed the Russian space agency to "radically" improve its oversight of spacecraft production.
Roscosmos to tighten control of space industry after rocket lost RIA Novosti 25 Aug 2011 -- The Russian space agency Roscosmos says it will set up a commission for quality control in the space industry.
Russian space boss in bid to fulfill ISS commitments RIA Novosti 25 Aug 2011 -- Russia's space agency Roscosmos is discussing proposals on how to fulfill the country's obligations to deliver crews to and from the ISS.
State of emergency lifted after Russian spacecraft crash RIA Novosti 25 Aug 2011 -- A state of emergency imposed after a Russian space freighter fell to Earth in Siberia’s Altai Republic has been lifted in the region.
Glonass-M satellite launch postponed for additional check RIA Novosti 25 Aug 2011 -- The launch of the Soyuz-2.1B carrier rocket with the Glonass-M navigation satellite was postponed for an additional equipment check.
Indian space agency to launch 3 nano spacecraft with Megha-Tropiques IRNA 25 Aug 2011 -- Indian Space Research Organisation plans to launch three nano satellites and an advanced weather and climate research satellite.
Russian Firm Unveils Plan for Space Tourism VOA 25 Aug 2011 -- A Russian firm has unveiled its plans for an orbital hotel by 2016 and space tours to Mars by 2030.
Redstone Reaches 70 Years Of Service Army News 25 Aug 2011 -- On July 3, 1941, the War Department announced that a site on the southwestern edge of Huntsville had been selected as the location for a new chemical munitions manufacturing and storage plant.
Russia likely to suspend space deliveries RIA Novosti 24 Aug 2011 -- Russia may fail to fulfill its obligations in delivering crews to the ISS after accident with Russia's Progress M-12M space freighter.
Debris from Russian space freighter falls in south Siberia RIA Novosti 24 Aug 2011 -- The wreckage of the Russian Progress M-12M space freighter fell in South Siberia's Altai Republic.
Minister: Iran to send bio-creatures into space IRNA 24 Aug 2011 -- Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Brigadier General Ahmad: Iranian Kavoshgar satellite with a payload containing a bio-capsule of live creatures will be sent into space.
Iran among 10 countries with complete space tech: Minister ISNA 24 Aug 2011 -- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Vahidi: Country is one of the 10 countries which own complete space technology.
Nigeria Expects Flow of Information from New Satellites VOA 24 Aug 2011 -- Nigeria recently launched two new observation satellites designed to assist farmers and help with disaster management, among other tasks.
16th SPCS breaks ground for new global capability AFNS 23 Aug 2011 -- In a combined effort, the 16th Space Control Squadron and the 380th Space Control Squadron, broke ground for a RAIDRS site in Hawaii.
Robonaut successfully passes first test on ISS RIA Novosti 23 Aug 2011 -- The first human-like robot and permanent resident of the International Space Station, Robonaut 2 or R2, has successfully passed its first test, the official Robonaut`s microblog reported on Tuesday.
Russian Progress space freighter set to undock from orbital station RIA Novosti 23 Aug 2011 -- Progress M-11M space freighter will undock from the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday to be buried in the Pacific after conducting a nine-day scientific mission, Russia's Mission Control said.
'Darkest Planet' Baffles Astronomers VOA 23 Aug 2011 -- U.S.-based astronomers say they have discovered the darkest alien world currently known to science, locked in tight orbit around a star 750 light years from Earth.
50th Space Wing gains control of newest GPS satellite AFNS 22 Aug 2011 -- Officials from the 50th Space Wing 2nd Space Operations Squadron accepted command and control of the second GPS Block IIF satellite.
2nd Boeing-built GPS IIF Satellite Enters Service with US Air Force Boeing 22 Aug 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that the second of 12 GPS IIF satellites the company is building for the U.S. Air Force has achieved operational acceptance and entered service. With testing complete, GPS IIF-2, now called SVN-63, is the newest satellite to join the active 31-satellite GPS constellation operated by the Air Force 50th Space Wing and the 2nd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo.
Nigeria Launches Satellite in Russia KCNA 21 Aug 2011 -- Nigeria launched earth observation satellites on August 17 as part of its efforts to develop the space.
Missing satellite found off designated orbit RIA Novosti 19 Aug 2011 -- The Russian Express-AM4 communication satellite, missing after Thursday's launch, could not separate from the booster and was found off the designated orbit, a source in the Russian space program said on Friday.
Missile Defense Agency completes realignment of headquarters building Army News 18 Aug 2011 -- More than 7,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Department of Defense civilians are descending upon Camp Atterbury, the Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex, and various surrounding areas in Indiana, to execute DoD support to civil authorities in a consequence management role during the Vibrant Response 12 exercise.
Space ops squad calls on reliable spare for active service AFNS 18 Aug 2011 -- The 2nd Space Operations Squadron here is set to swap out an underperforming satellite with a handy spare this week.
Russia launches high-power telecoms satellite RIA Novosti 18 Aug 2011 -- Russia's Proton-M rocket with the high-power Express-AM4 satellite was launched early on Thursday from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan.
Russia loses contact with new satellite RIA Novosti 18 Aug 2011 -- The designer and manufacturer of a Russian satellite launched on Thursday has no information about its location or condition, the Khrunichev State Research and Production Center said.
Space Command retires workhorse satellite AFNS 17 Aug 2011 -- Members of the 3rd Space Operations Squadron, along with their counterparts from the 53rd Signal Battalion, waved a fond farewell to a trusted old friend Aug. 12.
U.S Air Force's Second Missile Warning Satellite Completes Major Environmental Test at Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin 16 Aug 2011 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] has successfully completed acoustic testing of the second Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-2) spacecraft.
MEADS Program Completes Successful BMC4I Software Review Lockheed Martin 16 Aug 2011 -- The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program has successfully completed a Battle Management Command, Control, Communications and Computers and Intelligence (BMC4I) software design review in Huntsville, Ala.
Raytheon Teams with Rafael to Market Iron Dome Weapon System Raytheon 16 Aug 2011 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd have teamed to market the Iron Dome weapon system in the United States. Rafael developed the original Iron Dome to provide protection against rockets, artillery and mortar attacks.
National Weather Satellite Threatened by US Budget Cuts VOA 16 Aug 2011 -- On May 22, 2011, a single massive tornado hit Joplin, Missouri, claiming more than 150 lives. But the death toll would have been much higher a century ago.
Future of Russian missile defense to be based in air RIA Novosti 15 Aug 2011 -- Russia's next generation missile defense systems which are currently under development will be based not on the ground but in the air, former chief designer of Almaz-Antei corporation Igor Ashurbeili said.
Russia can offer new generation system for European missile shield RIA Novosti 15 Aug 2011 -- Russia could deploy its future S-500 anti-missile systems as part of a U.S.-led missile defense shield in Europe, a leading aerospace design chief said on Monday.
New 'missile shield' to be built around Moscow after 2015 RIA Novosti 15 Aug 2011 -- Russia will deploy new S-500 air defense systems around Moscow after 2015, a leading Russian aerospace defense chief said on Monday.
Pakistan successfully launches communication satellite IRNA 12 Aug 2011 -- Pakistan has launched into space its communication satellite from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China.
DARPA Hypersonic Vehicle Advances Technical Knowledge DARPA 11 Aug 2011 -- The Agency’s Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 is designed to fly anywhere in the world in less than 60 minutes.
Russia tests carrier rocket for Glonass satellite launch RIA Novosti 11 Aug 2011 -- Russia's Space Forces have started ground tests of a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket, which will orbit a Glonass satellite at the end of August.
NASA lunar spacecraft to take better images of Apollo landing sites RIA Novosti 11 Aug 2011 -- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will relocate closer to the moon to take images of the Apollo lunar landing sites.
Northrop Grumman Performs First-Time Cueing of Airborne Infrared Sensor in Missile Defense Test With the Integrated Sensor Manager Northrop Grumman 10 Aug 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has successfully completed the first test to demonstrate real-time cueing of the Airborne Infrared (ABIR) sensor for the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) with the Integrated Sensor Manager (ISM). The company's ISM completed the early intercept proof-of-concept exercise by participating as an associated operation in the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) FTX-17 test on July 8.
Raytheon Awarded $32 Million for US Navy's GPS-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Service Raytheon 10 Aug 2011 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a $32.2 million U.S. Navy contract for the Global Positioning System-based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Service program for Navy surface and subsurface platforms.
1st Boeing 702MP Satellite on Track for 2012 Launch Following Key Test Boeing 09 Aug 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that its Space & Intelligence Systems division has completed a key compatibility test of its UHF hosted payload with the company's newest satellite. The 702MP model satellite IS-22 is being built for Intelsat.
Visionary Ideas Could Transform Future NASA Missions VOA 09 Aug 2011 -- NASA has awarded $3 million in grants for 30 proposals which explore new ideas for America’s next generation space program.
U.S., Russia to continue missile defense talks in St. Petersburg RIA Novosti 08 Aug 2011 -- The US and Russia will continue talks on the issue of a proposed European missile shield.
Iran plans to send indigenous satellite into space ISNA 08 Aug 2011 -- Iran intends to launch another locally-made satellite into space to be placed at an altitude of approximately 36,000 km above the earth.
Rescue reservists support successful rocket launch AFNS 08 Aug 2011 -- Air Force Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing here supported the successful United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch August 6.
USAPHC partners with NASA, local colleges to measure air quality via satellite Army News 08 Aug 2011 -- Atmospheric scientists are one step closer to improving the use of satellites to measure air quality and surface pollution.
Lockheed Martin-Built BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R Satellite Launched Successfully For Japanese Firms Lockheed Martin 06 Aug 2011 -- The BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R broadcasting and telecommunications satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] for the Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (SJC), was successfully launched today from Kourou, French Guiana. Lift-off occurred at 6:52 p.m. EDT aboard an Ariane 5-ECA launch vehicle provided by Arianespace of Evry, France. Initial contact with the satellite was confirmed at 7:53 p.m. EDT from Lockheed Martin's satellite tracking station in Uralla, Australia.
Juno Spacecraft Launches Toward Jupiter VOA 05 Aug 2011 -- The U.S. space agency launched the Juno spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida Friday, beginning a five-year journey to Jupiter.
Lockheed Martin-built Juno Spacecraft Lifts Off for Six Year Voyage to Jupiter Lockheed Martin 05 Aug 2011 -- NASA's Juno spacecraft, designed and built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], was successfully launched this morning from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 12:25 p.m. EDT aboard an Atlas V 551 rocket provided by United Launch Alliance.
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Successfully Launches Juno Spacecraft on Mission to Study Planet Jupiter Pratt & Whitney 05 Aug 2011 -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne demonstrated its continued support of NASA by successfully boosting the Juno spacecraft on its mission to study planet Jupiter.
Boeing Selects Atlas V Rocket for Initial Commercial Crew Launches Boeing 04 Aug 2011 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today announced it has selected the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket to launch the Boeing Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft from Florida's Space Coast.
Russian cosmonauts complete spacewalk outside ISS RIA Novosti 04 Aug 2011 -- Two Russian cosmonauts, Alexander Samokutyayev and Sergei Volkov, completed their 6-hour spacewalk on Thursday with a 40-minute delay and returned to the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS).
Space systems give Australians, U.S. Soldiers edge in Talisman Sabre Army News 03 Aug 2011 -- For American and Australian Soldiers taking part in Talisman Sabre, satellites can make the difference between winning or losing.
Two Russian cosmonauts leave ISS for spacewalk RIA Novosti 03 Aug 2011 -- Two Russian cosmonauts left the International Space Station (ISS) for a six-hour spacewalk on Wednesday during which they plan to carry out a manual launch of a mini-satellite and install new stream video equipment on the station's outer surface.
NASA's 'Robotic Emissary' Reveals New Details of Asteroid VOA 01 Aug 2011 -- NASA's Dawn spacecraft is about 188 million kilometers from Earth. And in a matter of days, it will begin gathering information about the giant asteroid Vesta. The spacecraft already has returned vivid and surprising images of the asteroid since it successfully maneuvered into a low orbit around Vesta last month.
EADS acquires Vizada for its Astrium Division EADS 01 Aug 2011 -- Astrium, an EADS (EUR:EAD) subsidiary has entered into an agreement to acquire Vizada from Apax France, a French Private Equity fund and the majority shareholder, for $ 960 million.

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