November 2011 Space News

ATK Awarded $20 Million UltraFlex™ Solar Array Contract from Orbital ATK 30 Nov 2011 -- ATK was awarded a $20 million contract by Orbital Sciences Corporation to provide its UltraFlex™ solar arrays to power Orbital's enhanced Cygnus™ cargo logistics space vehicle, which is being utilized under NASA's Commercial Resupply System contract.
Boeing Receives Authorization for Additional Tracking and Data Relay Satellite Boeing 30 Nov 2011 -- Boeing has received a $289 million contract modification from NASA, exercising an option to add Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) M to the existing TDRS fleet. Three Boeing-built TDRS satellites are currently providing critical services to NASA, and two more are on schedule for delivery to the customer with launches planned in 2012 and 2013.
Astrium achieves Initial System Acceptance on Yahsat programme EADS 30 Nov 2011 -- Astrium Services and Thales Alenia Space (TAS) have achieved the Initial System Acceptance (ISA) milestone, which was approved by the Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) and the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces.
Raytheon Receives Approval for $1.7 Billion Patriot Sale to Saudi Arabia Raytheon 30 Nov 2011 -- Raytheon Company has received U.S. Congressional and State Department approvals on a $1.7 billion Direct Commercial Sales contract to upgrade the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Patriot Air and Missile Defense System to the latest Configuration-3.
NATO general to discuss missile defense in Moscow RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2011 -- Lt. Gen. Jurgen Bornemann, the Director General of the International Military Staff of NATO, to discuss military cooperation with Russia.
Russia activates radar aimed at Europe RIA Novosti 30 Nov 2011 -- Acting in response to U.S. missile shield plans in Europe, Russia has activated a Voronezh-class missile attack early warning radar station.
New UN satellite survey of forests charts extent of global deforestation UN News Centre 30 Nov 2011 -- The rate of global deforestation, mainly the conversion of tropical forests to agricultural land, averaged 14.5 million hectares a year between 1990 and 2005, according to a satellite-based survey.
SAIC Completes Vibro-Acoustic Test Capability, Facility for NASA SAIC 29 Nov 2011 -- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) has completed design and construction services, providing NASA with a new vibro-acoustic test capability (VTC). The VTC includes a mechanical vibration facility (MVF) and a reverberant acoustic test facility (RATF), supported by an integrated high-speed data acquisition system, facility control system, and common infrastructure systems. The MVF is the largest and highest powered spacecraft test capability built to date, and the RATF is the largest high intensity test capability ever built.
New Russian Anti-Missile Facility Opens in Kaliningrad VOA 29 Nov 2011 -- Russia has officially opened a new anti-missile radar station in the Baltic Sea region of Kaliningrad.
Russia Activates Missile-Warning System Near EU Borders RFE/RL 29 Nov 2011 -- Russia has activated a radar warning system against incoming missiles in its exclave of Kaliningrad.
Russia’s radar to counter missile shield, says Medvedev RIA Novosti 29 Nov 2011 -- New anti-missile radar station should be treated by the West as the “first signal” of Russia’s readiness to counter “threats” posed by NATO’s missile defense plans.
Russia’s Baltic radar station put into service RIA Novosti 29 Nov 2011 -- A new radar station capable of monitoring missile launches, as well as the future European missile defense system, was put into operation in Russia’s Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad.
Space Is Common Wealth: KCNA White Paper KCNA 29 Nov 2011 -- The Korean Central News Agency released white paper "Space Is Common Wealth of Humankind".
Russia’s NATO envoy to visit China, Iran over missile defense RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2011 -- Russian envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin will visit China and Iran to discuss a U.S.-backed global missile defense network.
Russia’s Glonass-M satellite put into orbit RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2011 -- Russia sent another Glonass-M navigation satellite into orbit.
Russia launches last Glonass-M satellite of 2011 RIA Novosti 28 Nov 2011 -- A Russian Soyuz carrier rocket with a Glonass-M navigation satellite on board was launched from the Plesetsk space center.
ATK Successfully Debuts New Thrust Vector Electronic Control System (TVECS) on STAR™ 48BV Motor ATK 28 Nov 2011 -- ATK announced that it successfully performed the first orbit insertion of a satellite using its new STAR™ 48BV rocket motor with an innovative vectorable nozzle.
Russian president warns space officials over failures RIA Novosti 27 Nov 2011 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has threatened to punish officials responsible for recent failures in the space industry.
NASA's 'Curiosity' Heading for Mars VOA 26 Nov 2011 -- In clear morning skies over central Florida, NASA launched an Atlas Five rocket carrying the Mars Science Lab and a rover the size of a small automobile called Curiosity Saturday.
ATK Technologies on Display as NASA Launches Next Mars Rover ATK 26 Nov 2011 -- ATK technologies and capabilities will play mission-critical roles throughout the entire journey of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), which successfully launched earlier today aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. MSL carries "Curiosity" NASA's largest Mars rover to date. The one ton rover – with a payload 10 times more massive than earlier Mars rovers - will land near the base of a layered mountain inside Mars' Gale Crater for a two-year mission. Curiosity will gather data to help assess whether Mars ever had an environment capable of supporting microbial life.
NASA’S Mars Science Laboratory Lifts Off, Protected by Lockheed Martin-Built Aeroshell Lockheed Martin 26 Nov 2011 -- NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft launched this morning from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. at 10:02 a.m. ET aboard an Atlas V-541 rocket provided by United Launch Alliance. The mission’s large Curiosity rover is encapsulated and protected in an aeroshell that was designed and built by Lockheed Martin.
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne Boosts Latest Mars Rover to the Red Planet Pratt & Whitney 26 Nov 2011 -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne demonstrated the consistent reliability of its power and propulsion systems by successfully boosting the Mars Science Laboratory rover, which will travel to the red planet to assess its habitability. The mission launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida by a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
Data beamed from Russia Mars probe 'deciphered' RIA Novosti 24 Nov 2011 -- Russian specialists have deciphered telemetry data received from a wayward Mars probe, but have yet to find out the cause of its erratic behavior, a space industry source said on Thursday.
ESA receives telemetry from Russian Mars probe RIA Novosti 24 Nov 2011 -- The European tracking station in Perth, Australia, received telemetry from a Russian Mars probe that has been stuck at a low-Earth orbit since after its launch, the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Thursday.
NATO, U.S. set to continue to work with Russia on missile defense RIA Novosti 24 Nov 2011 -- NATO and the United States said they would continue consultations with Moscow to prove that their European missile shield project poses no threat to Russia's strategic nuclear capabilities.
Statement in connection with the situation concerning the NATO countries’ missile defence system in Europe Russia 23 Nov 2011
Russian President Threatens To Target U.S. Missile Shield RFE/RL 23 Nov 2011 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has issued a strident warning to the West, threatening to aim missiles at U.S. missile-defense sites in Europe if Washington does not adequately address Moscow's concerns about the planned system.
Russia Warns of Response to US Missile Shield VOA 23 Nov 2011 -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia will aim missiles at U.S. anti-missile sites in eastern Europe if the United States does not heed Russian concerns about its missile defense plans.
Army successfully launches Advanced Hypersonic Weapon demonstrator Army News 23 Nov 2011 -- At the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, successes sometimes happen faster than a speeding bullet.
ESA to make 5 attempts to receive data from Russian probe RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2011 -- A tracking station in Perth, Australia, will make five attempts early on Thursday to receive telemetry from a Russian Mars probe that has been stuck at a low-Earth orbit since after its launch, the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Wednesday.
Thales Alenia Space wins a contract to build Turkmenistan Telecommunication Satellite Thales 23 Nov 2011 -- Thales Alenia Space announced it has signed a contract with Turkmenistan Ministry of communication for the design, manufacture and delivery of the first Turkmenistan Telecommunication Satellite.
Russia to move missiles to EU borders if U.S. shield talks fail - Medvedev RIA Novosti 23 Nov 2011 -- Russia may deploy 'advanced offensive weapon systems' on its borders with Europe in response to a planned U.S.-backed European missile shield, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday.
Missile shields in region cannot counter Iranian missiles: Safavi IRNA 23 Nov 2011 -- Supreme Leader's Senior Military Advisor Major General Seyyed Yahya Rahim-Safavi referred to the inefficiency of the missiles deployed in the region to protect the Zionist regime and said that the missiles will not be able to counter Iranian missiles.
Boeing and Northrop Grumman GMD Team Statement on Final Proposal Submission of Competitive Missile Defense Contract Boeing 22 Nov 2011 -- The Boeing Company and Northrop Grumman Corporation today submitted their final proposal for future work on the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the United States' ballistic missile defense system. Following proposal submission, the companies released the following statement:
Hamilton Sundstrand Rocketdyne to Power ?Curiosity’ Rover on Mars Hamilton Sundstrand 22 Nov 2011-- When the Mars Science Laboratory embarks on its voyage to Mars on Nov. 25, Hamilton Sundstrand Rocketdyne products will be onboard to make the mission possible.
Boeing and Northrop Grumman GMD Team Statement on Final Proposal Submission of Competitive Missile Defense Contract Northrop Grumman 22 Nov 2011 -- The Boeing Company and Northrop Grumman Corporation today submitted their final proposal for future work on the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the United States' ballistic missile defense system.
Raytheon First to Successfully Test With On-Orbit AEHF Satellite Raytheon 22 Nov 2011 -- Raytheon Company has become the first to successfully test with the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite. Raytheon's Army Secure Mobile Anti-jam Reliable Tactical Terminal (SMART-T) is the first operationally-fielded terminal to interoperate with an on-orbit AEHF satellite.
Historic First Image Downloaded from VIIRS Raytheon 22 Nov 2011 -- Raytheon Company's Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite has produced its first image aboard the recently launched NASA NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) spacecraft. The visible spectrum image shows the East Coast of the United States in unprecedented sharpness and detail.
Space station crew land safely in Kazakhstan RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2011 -- The Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft carrying three crewmembers of the International Space Station (ISS) landed safely in Kazakhstan on Tuesday morning, Russia's Mission Control said.
Russian experts baffled by probe's erratic behavior RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2011 -- Russian Federal Space Agency experts are puzzled by the rising orbit of the Phobos-Grunt unmanned Mars probe, Roscosmos deputy head Vitaly Davydov said on Tuesday.
Russia's space agency wants to focus on Moon if Mars mission fails RIA Novosti 22 Nov 2011 -- If Russia's Phobos-Grunt Mars mission fails the country's space agency may focus on Moon exploration, the deputy head of the Roscosmos agency said on Tuesday.
Lockheed Martin-Raytheon Team Submits Final Proposal For Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Contract Lockheed Martin 21 Nov 2011 -- Lockheed Martin announced today that it has submitted its final proposal revision for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) Development and Sustainment Contract. The Lockheed Martin-Raytheon GMD team delivered its final offer to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA’s) GMD Joint Program Office in Huntsville, Ala., Nov. 18.
Northrop Grumman Creates Significant Efficiencies to Move U.S. Air Force's Defense Weather Satellite System Forward Northrop Grumman 21 Nov 2011 -- An early program planning and testing approach implemented by Northrop Grumman Corporation is setting a new standard for efficiency in building military weather satellites.
Russian response to NATO missile defense to be 'reasonable' – Medvedev RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2011 -- Russia's response to the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system in Europe will be 'reasonable and adequate,' but will not end the possibility of further negotiations, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday during a meeting with officers of the Southern Military District.
U.S. ready to provide Russia with missile shield details RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2011 -- The United States is ready to provide Russia with technical specifics of interceptor missiles of the European missile defense system, Russia's Kommersant daily said on Monday, citing U.S. sources.
Last chance to send Russian Mars moon probe expires Monday RIA Novosti 21 Nov 2011 -- The launch window to send Russia's Phobos-Grunt unmanned spacecraft to a Mars moon will close on Monday, an airspace source told RIA Novosti.
Russia ready to dialogue with U.S. on missile defense-Foreign Minister RIA Novosti 19 Nov 2011 -- Russia does not give up missile shield talks with the United States, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday during the East Asia Summit.
India developing capabilities to protect space-based assets IRNA 18 Nov 2011 -- India said it is developing capabilities to protect its space-based assets such as satellites.
Russia seeks extension of Azerbaijan radar lease until 2025 RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2011 -- Russia and Azerbaijan are close to signing a document extending the lease of the Gabala radar until 2025.
Russia, France to team up on ‘hi-tech rockets’ RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2011 -- Russia and France will pool their efforts to build cutting-edge reusable space rockets, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.
Nokia to be first to use Russia’s Glonass navigation system in its phones RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2011 -- Finland’s Nokia is to be the first international manufacturer to use Russia’s satellite navigation system, Glonass.
Space station’s orbit to be raised by 6 km RIA Novosti 18 Nov 2011 -- The orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) will be raised on Friday by 6 km (3.72 miles) to 392 km (243.5 miles), a spokesman for Russia’s Mission Control said.
NATO’s Missile Defence – the first live-fire test NATO 17 Nov 2011-- During the German-led exercise Rapid Arrow 2011, the NATO Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence Interim Capability was succesfully tested.
Two Astrium space systems head for Mars aboard the rover 'Curiosity' EADS 17 Nov 2011 -- NASA’s new Mars rover, ‘Curiosity’, will be launched on 25 November from Cape Canaveral in Florida on an Atlas V rocket.
MEADS Conducts Successful First Flight Test At White Sands Missile Range Lockheed Martin 17 Nov 2011 -- The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) successfully completed its first flight test today at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
Northrop Grumman-led Team Completes Installation of Huge Assembly Stand for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Flight Optics Northrop Grumman 17 Nov 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation and its teammate ITT Exelis have finished installation of the giant structural steel frame used to assemble the mirrors and instruments of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Washington maintains its stance on European missile shield RIA Novosti 16 Nov 2011 -- Washington will not provide Moscow with any legally binding guarantees on the European missile shield.
International Space Station Welcomes New Crew VOA 16 Nov 2011 -- A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying an American and two Russians has docked with the International Space Station.
Soyuz With Russian-American Crew Docks At Space Station RFE/RL 16 Nov 2011 -- Russian space officials say a Russian spacecraft carrying two Russians and an American has successfully docked at the ISS.
Soyuz docks with orbital station RIA Novosti 16 Nov 2011 -- Russia's Soyuz TMA-22 piloted spacecraft docked with the International Space Station in automatic mode.
Boeing Receives Phase II Contract for High Power Adaptive Optic System Boeing 15 Nov 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has received a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense's High Energy Laser – Joint Technology Office (HEL-JTO) to continue development of a prototype High Power Adaptive Optic system.
Orbital-Built Intelsat 18 Communications Satellite Successfully Completes In-Orbit Testing Orbital Sciences Corp. 15 Nov 2011 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, announced today that the Intelsat 18 satellite has completed its in-orbit testing and has been handed over to the customer, Intelsat S.A
Training Leaders Raytheon and Petrofac Partner to Provide Water Survival Training at NASA's Johnson Space Center Raytheon 15 Nov 2011 -- Raytheon Technical Services Company LLC (RTSC), a subsidiary of Raytheon Company, and Petrofac Training Services, a member of the Petrofac group, have entered into a strategic partnership to deliver water survival training to the global oil and gas industry.
Soyuz docks with International Space Station RIA Novosti 15 Nov 2011 -- An online broadcast of the docking of a Soyuz TMA-22 with the International Space Station will be shown on November 16.
Northrop Grumman-Built STSS Demonstration Satellites Participate in THAAD Weapon System Multiple Missile Test Northrop Grumman 14 Nov 2011 -- The Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites tracked two different missile targets and delivered data in real-time to support a successful Oct. 5 flight test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system, according to Northrop Grumman Corporation, prime contractor, and the Raytheon Company, sensor payload provider.
Northrop Grumman Modular Space Vehicle Successfully Completes Preliminary Design Review Northrop Grumman 14 Nov 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation has completed on schedule the preliminary design review (PDR) for its modular space vehicle (MSV), allowing the program to proceed to its critical design review and closer to manufacturing.
Northrop Grumman Successfully Demonstrates Sunshield Flight Processes on Full-Size Model of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Northrop Grumman 14 Nov 2011 -- Engineers at Northrop Grumman Corporation have confirmed how the James Webb Space Telescope's five ultra-thin sunshield layers are attached, folded and stowed for launch using the Sunshield Full-Scale Mockup test article.
Medvedev to assess reaction to Euro missile defense RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2011 -- Russian Pres. Medvedev announced that he would deliver a complete assessment on the US-backed European missile defense system.
Air Force participates in joint homeland defense exercise AFNS 14 Nov 2011 -- A variety of military and federal organizations participated in a first-of-its-kind homeland defense event Nov. 7.
Russia still hopes to regain control of Mars probe RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2011 -- Russia has time until the beginning of December to establish contact with its Phobos-Grunt unmanned spacecraft.
Soyuz Launched To Space Station Carrying Russian, U.S. Crew RFE/RL 14 Nov 2011 -- Two Russians and one American have blasted off aboard a Soyuz spacecraft on a mission to the ISS.
Russian Soyuz spacecraft sets course to space station RIA Novosti 14 Nov 2011 -- Russia’s Soyuz TMA-22 piloted spacecraft has separated from the launch vehicle and reached the trajectory for the International Space Station.
Medvedev says Russia, U.S. to continue consultations on missile defense RIA Novosti 13 Nov 2011 -- Moscow and Washington's positions on the U.S. plans concerning the European missile shield still differ greatly and bilateral consultations on this issue will continue, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.
Iran to launch different satellites, Vahidi says IRNA 12 Nov 2011 -- Minister Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said on Saturday that Iranian experts have planned to launch different satellites namely Fajr, Navid and Tolu' to space for scientific application.
Russia again fails to make contact with Mars moon probe RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2011 -- Russia has again been again unsuccessful in its attempts to establish contact with its Phobos Grunt probe, whose engines failed to put in on course for Mars after take-off, a source in the space rocket industry told RIA Novosti on Saturday.
Contact with Russian Mars probe 'unlikely' – expert RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2011 -- The Phobos-Grunt unmanned spacecraft cannot be controlled at a low-Earth orbit, where it is currently stuck, because of its design features, a Russian space expert said on Saturday.
Aborted Mars probe jeopardizes Russia's long-range space program RIA Novosti 12 Nov 2011
Raytheon to Deliver NMT SATCOM Systems for U.S. Navy and International Partners Raytheon 11 Nov 2011 -- Raytheon Company has received several production orders from the U.S. Navy for next-generation Navy Multiband Terminal protected Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite communication (SATCOM) terminals since the initial award for 22 systems in 2010.
Russia yet to make contact with Mars moon probe RIA Novosti 11 Nov 2011 -- Attempts during the night to receive a signal from the unmanned lander Phobos-Grunt spacecraft, which failed to reach its orbit after separating from the launch vehicle on November 9, have so far been to no avail, a source in the space industry said on Friday.
MEADS Demonstrates Advanced Plug-And-Fight Capabilities in Integration Test Lockheed Martin 10 Nov 2011 -- The Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) system elements have successfully performed a simulated engagement against real-world air and representative missile threats demonstrating MEADS’ plug-and-fight capabilities.
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and NASA Complete Hot-Fire Test on J-2X Engine Pratt & Whitney 10 Nov 2011 -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne and NASA successfully completed a 500-second duration hot-fire test on NASA’s J-2X engine, a key step in demonstrating the propulsion system’s ability to power humans further into space than ever before.
Russian Mars Probe To Fall To Earth Unless Fix Is Found RFE/RL 10 Nov 2011 -- Russia's ambitious return to deep-space exploration is in limbo as space engineers struggle to salvage an unmanned probe to Mars that is stranded in orbit around the Earth.
NASA's New Upper Stage Engine Passes Major Test NASA 09 Nov 2011 -- NASA conducted a successful 500-second test firing of the J-2X rocket engine on Wednesday, Nov. 9, marking another important step in development of an upper stage for the heavy-lift Space Launch System (SLS).
Russia's Mars-Moon Probe Stuck in Earth Orbit VOA 09 Nov 2011 -- Russia's first interplanetary mission since the Soviet era appears to be in trouble.
Russia has two weeks to put Mars probe back on track RIA Novosti 09 Nov 2011 -- Engineers have up to two weeks to correct the path of a Russian probe bound for Mars, a top space official said on Wednesday.
Russian probe fails to set course to Mars – Roscosmos RIA Novosti 09 Nov 2011 -- A robotic spacecraft to the Mars moon Phobos launched early on Wednesday has failed to reach a flying orbit after separation from the launch vehicle, the head of Russia's Federal Space Agency said.
Russia launches probe to Mars moon RIA Novosti 09 Nov 2011 -- Russia launched early on Wednesday a robotic spacecraft to the Mars moon Phobos in the nation's first attempt to carry out an interplanetary mission in 15 years.
Northrop Grumman CERES Instrument Successfully Launched on NPOESS Preparatory Project Northrop Grumman 09 Nov 2011 -- A key Northrop Grumman Corporation-built instrument launched Oct. 28 at 2:48 a.m. (PDT) on the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) spacecraft.
Space Tracking and Surveillance System Demonstration Satellites, Built by Northrop Grumman, Complete Mission Objectives Ahead of Schedule Northrop Grumman 09 Nov 2011 -- The Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites continue to shine in their role as space sensors validating key functions and capabilities for missile tracking.
Large Asteroid Passes Close to Earth VOA 08 Nov 2011 -- An asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier has flown by Earth in the closest encounter by a massive space rock in more than 30 years.
Missile Agency Guards Against Counterfeit Parts AFPS 08 Nov 2011 -- The Missile Defense Agency is working to detect and prevent the use of unauthorized or defective parts that could undermine the effectiveness of the nation's ballistic missile defense system, Army Lt. Gen. Patrick J. O'Reilly, the agency's director, told Congress today.
Russian Martian moon mission to help clarify Red Planet's mysteries RIA Novosti 08 Nov 2011 -- Russia's ambitious mission to bring back soil samples from the Martian moon Phobos will pave the way for the exploration of the Red Planet, a scientist said on Tuesday.
Lockheed Martin to Modernize 29 U.S. Air Force Early Warning Long-Range Surveillance Radars Lockheed Martin 07 Nov 2011 -- The U.S. Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin $46.8 million in contract options to begin modernizing 29 long-range radars which provide advanced warning and air traffic control surveillance over North America’s airspace.
Volunteers Emerge From Space Isolation Module RFE/RL 04 Nov 2011 -- A grueling 520-day mock flight to Mars came to an end on November 4, as six male researchers emerged from the hatch of a sealed metal capsule where they have been confined for 17 months.
Mars 500 experiment successfully completed: hatches opened, the crew is back on Earth RIA Novosti 04 Nov 2011 -- The unique Mars 500 experiment simulating a manned flight to the Red Planet has been successfully completed, a RIA Novosti correspondent said on Friday.
Russia launches Glonass satellites - Roscosmos RIA Novosti 04 Nov 2011 -- Russia on Friday launched a Proton-M rocket carrying three Glonass navigation satellites from the Baikonur space center after a 24-hour delay due to technical reasons, a spokesman for the Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said.
Six Astrium satellites to be launched on the second Soyuz flight from Kourou EADS 03 Nov 2011 -- Astrium, the European space industry leader, is prime contractor for all six satellites to be launched in mid-December by the 2nd Soyuz launcher to lift off from Kourou.
National Armaments Directors Approve MEADS Program Continuation Plan Lockheed Martin 03 Nov 2011 -- The National Armaments Directors of Germany, Italy and the United States approved a contract amendment that funds two flight intercept tests of the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS).
China Reports First Successful Space Docking VOA 03 Nov 2011 -- China says it has successfully carried out its first-ever rendezvous of two orbiting spacecraft.
China completes first space docking RIA Novosti 03 Nov 2011 -- Two Chinese space freighters performed the country's first space docking early in a step towards China’s plans to establish a manned space station.
Roscosmos delays Proton launch with three Glonass satellites RIA Novosti 03 Nov 2011 -- The Russian space agency Roscosmos delayed the launch of a Proton M rocket with a cargo of three Glonass satellites.
Russia set to launch Proton-M carrier rocket with 3 Glonass-M satellites RIA Novosti 03 Nov 2011 -- Russia’s Proton-M carrier rocket with three Glonass-M navigation satellites will be launched on Thursday from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan.
Raytheon Airborne Processors Track Multiple Ballistic Missiles from Airborne Platform Raytheon 02 Nov 2011 -- During a test at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, Raytheon Company airborne processors demonstrated precision tracking of multiple ballistic targets from an airborne platform.
Iran to launch Toloo satellite next year ISNA 02 Nov 2011 -- The Deputy Head of the Industry and Research Institute of the Iranian Defense Ministry Eslami: Iran would launch Toloo imaging satellite into space next year.
Russian space freighter docks with orbital station RIA Novosti 02 Nov 2011 -- The Russian Progress M-13M cargo spacecraft docked in an automatic regime with the International Space Station.
Lockheed Martin Conducts Successful PAC-3 Missile Test at White Sands Missile Range Lockheed Martin 01 Nov 2011 -- Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3 Missile successfully detected, tracked and intercepted an aerodynamic tactical ballistic missile target today in a flight test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
NATO 'fig leaf' for U.S. missile defense shield – Russian envoy RIA Novosti 01 Nov 2011 -- NATO's only role in the proposed missile defense shield for Europe is the cover it provides the U.S., Russia's NATO envoy Dmitry Rogozin said on Tuesday.
USS Monterey Returns from Mediterranean Deployment NNS 01 Nov 2011 -- USS Monterey returned to her Norfolk Va., homeport after an eight-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.

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