December 2011 Space News

Boeing and Northrop Grumman GMD Team Receives Contract from US Missile Defense Agency Boeing 30 Dec 2011 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and industry partner Northrop Grumman Corporation [NYSE: NOC] have received the development and sustainment contract (DSC) from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency for future work on the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) element of the United States' ballistic missile defense system.
Lockheed Martin Receives $1.96 Billion THAAD Production Contract For The United Arab Emirates Lockheed Martin 30 Dec 2011 -- Lockheed Martin received an undefinitized contract totaling $1.96 billion to produce the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System for the Missile Defense Agency and the United Arab Emirates.
Raytheon Receives $582.5 Million for Radars and Services in THAAD Deal to UAE Raytheon 30 Dec 2011 -- Raytheon Company will provide AN/TPY-2 radars, associated spares, training and other services through 2018 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the radar component to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system.
Raytheon Awarded Contract for $363.9 Million for two Radars Raytheon 30 Dec 2011 -- The Missile Defense Agency is awarding Raytheon Company a contract to provide two AN/TPY-2 radars to the U.S. Army as the radar component to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system. The firm-fixed-price contract is for $363.9 million.
Chinese Plan Reveals Space Ambitions RFE/RL 30 Dec 2011 -- China is shooting for the moon in an effort to become a major player in the long-dormant space race.
Taiwan monitoring China's new satellite navigation system: MND CNA 29 Dec 2011 -- Taiwan is closely monitoring the development of China's new satellite-based navigation system and will take responsive measures amid concerns over a possible security threat, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Thursday.
China Lays Out Ambitious 5-Year Plan to Explore Space VOA 29 Dec 2011 -- China has announced an ambitious five-year plan to explore outer space. The plan includes Beijing's previously-stated goals of putting a man on the moon and building a space station.
Soyuz 2.1a with six Globalstar satellites launched from Baikonur RIA Novosti 28 Dec 2011 -- The rocket carrier Soyuz 2.1a with Fregat booster and six American Globalstar-2 satellites has been launched from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation (Roscosmos) said.
Raytheon Awarded $122 Million for Standard Missile-3 Raytheon 26 Dec 2011 -- Raytheon Company received a $122.5 million contract from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency for continued development of Standard Missile-3 Block IA and IB programs. Under this modification, Raytheon will provide SM-3 design and engineering, in service engineering support, production engineering, surveillance and flight test support, and transition to production.
Launch of Russian Proton-M carrier rocket postponed RIA Novosti 26 Dec 2011 -- The launch of a Russian Proton-M carrier rocket with a Dutch telecommunications satellite SES-4 (NSS-14) onboard was called off on Monday due to 'technical problems', a spokesman for the Khrunichev State Research and Production Center said.
Russia's lost Phobos-Grunt to fall in Afghanistan – U.S. military RIA Novosti 26 Dec 2011 -- Russia's Phobos-Grunt spacecraft bound for Mars and stuck in an orbit around Earth will fall in southwestern Afghanistan on January 14, the U.S. Strategic Command said on Monday.
Russia's space chief says industry in 'crisis' after latest failure RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2011 -- Russia's space industry needs an influx of new faces to overcome its current crisis, the head of the Roscosmos agency said on Friday, hours after a satellite crashed in southern Siberia.
New crew arrives at international space station RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2011 -- The Russian Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft docked with the International Space Station on Friday with a new crew of three onboard.
Russian communication satellite crashes shortly after launch RIA Novosti 23 Dec 2011 -- A Meridian satellite that on Friday was launched from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia on board a Soyuz-2 carrier rocket crashed near the Siberian city of Tobolskminutes after liftoff , a Defense Ministry source said.
Northrop Grumman Extends Its Commercial Space Portfolio Northrop Grumman 22 Dec 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation expanded its commercial space portfolio with Stratolaunch Systems' recent selection of Scaled Composites, a Northrop Grumman subsidiary, to build the largest aircraft ever constructed.
Finnish Authorities Find 69 Missiles Aboard Ship VOA 22 Dec 2011 -- Finnish authorities have confiscated 69 Patriot missiles found on a ship that docked in Finland.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, Built by Northrop Grumman, Marks Significant Milestone, Completes Cryotest of All Flight Mirrors Northrop Grumman 21 Dec 2011 -- The last six primary mirror segments and the secondary mirror that will fly on the Northrop Grumman Corporation – built James Webb Space Telescope have passed their final cold test.
New crew on course for space station RIA Novosti 21 Dec 2011 -- The Russian Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft carrying a new crew to the International Space Station separated from the Soyuz-FG rocket and entered an intermediary orbit on Wednesday, a Federal Space Agency official said.
Raytheon's Navy Multiband Terminal Successfully Tests With On-Orbit AEHF Satellite Raytheon 20 Dec 2011 -- Raytheon Company has again successfully tested with the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite that will provide secure communications for the U.S. military and international partners.
Russia tests domestic interceptor missile RIA Novosti 20 Dec 2011 -- Russia carried out a successful test of a short-range interceptor missile on Tuesday as a part of its effort to develop a domestic missile defense shield, the Defense Ministry said.
Russia, Europe plan joint mission to Jupiter RIA Novosti 20 Dec 2011 -- The head of Russia's Federal Space Agency Roscosmos Vladimir Popovkin and European Space Agency's (ESA) Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain held a meeting in Moscow and decided to proceed with Moon research mission and flight to Jupiter, Roscosmos said on Tuesday.
Astrium and Vizada become a world leader in satellite communications services EADS 19 Dec 2011 -- Astrium, Europe’s leading space company, completes the acquisition of Vizada after receiving the necessary regulatory approvals.
Pleiades 1A in orbit! Thales 17 Dec 2011 -- Pleiades 1A, the first new-generation observation satellite operated by French space agency CNES was orbited today by Arianespace on-board a Soyuz launcher from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana.
Lockheed Martin Delivers U.S. Navy’s First Mobile User Objective System Satellite Lockheed Martin 16 Dec 2011 -- Lockheed Martin delivered the U.S. Navy’s first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on December 15, where it will be prepared for a Feb. 16, 2012 liftoff aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle.
Raytheon Awarded $685.7 Million for New Patriot Systems for Taiwan Raytheon 16 Dec 2011 -- Raytheon Company has received a $685.7 million Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract for additional new fire units of the combat-proven Patriot Air and Missile Defense System for Taiwan.
Soyuz rocket launches six satellites RIA Novosti 17 Dec 2011 -- A Russian Soyuz rocket took off on Saturday from Europe's space base in French Guiana, carrying six military satellites.
Russia to build 100-ton ICBM to penetrate US missile defenses RIA Novosti 16 Dec 2011 -- Russia will develop a new liquid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile to overcome US missile defense.
Phobos-Grunt expected to fall to Earth Jan. 6-19 RIA Novosti 16 Dec 2011 -- Russia’s troubled Phobos-Grunt spacecraft will fall back to Earth in the period of January 6-19.
Russia, India to cooperate in production of satellite navigation equipment RIA Novosti 16 Dec 2011 -- Russia and India intend to cooperate in the production of satellite navigation equipment.
Belarus to build 'best spacecraft' - Lukashenko RIA Novosti 16 Dec 2011 -- Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko: Former Soviet republc would build the best spaceship the world has ever seen.
Russia’s participation in NATO summit not decided yet RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2011 -- Russia’s participation in the 2012 Russia-NATO Council summit in Chicago has not been decided yet.
Russia's Baltic radar to be fully operational by 2014 RIA Novosti 15 Dec 2011 -- Russia’s new anti-missile radar station in the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad will become fully operational by the middle of 2014.
Russia, Azerbaijan Discuss Lease Renewal For Radar Station RFE/RL 15 Dec 2011 -- Russian and Azerbaijani officials are in the midst of talks on renewing Moscow's lease on an Azerbaijani radar station.
Russia deploys new missile system in Chechnya RIA Novosti 14 Dec 2011 -- A new missile system has been deployed in Russia’s Northern Caucasus republic of Chechnya.
U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin Agree on Satellite Command & Control R&D Project Lockheed Martin 14 Dec 2011 -- Lockheed Martin has signed a three-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Air Force’s Space Development and Test Directorate and Air Force Research Laboratory to improve the operation and affordability of satellite command and control.
Japanese Troops Conduct Successful Patriot Test Firings Raytheon 14 Dec 2011 -- The Japanese Air Self Defense Forces (JASDF), operating Raytheon Company's Patriot Configuration-3 systems, successfully concluded its annual training exercise at Fort Bliss, Texas. The exercise included target engagement and successful test firings of the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System in tactical mission configurations.
BAE Systems Seeker Performs in First Multi-Kill THAAD Test BAE Systems 13 Dec 2011 -- BAE Systems’ infrared imaging seekers detected two short range ballistic missiles for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weapon system flight test program at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii.
Astrium will continue to manage the ISS on behalf of ESA EADS 13 Dec 2011 -- The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Astrium, Europe’s number-one space company, to manage the continued operation and exploitation of the European components of the International Space Station (ISS) as the lead partner in an industrial consortium.
Lockheed Martin Delivers GPS III Pathfinder Satellite to Denver on Schedule Lockheed Martin 13 Dec 2011 -- The Lockheed Martin team developing the U.S. Air Force’s next generation Global Positioning System has delivered the program’s pathfinder spacecraft to the company’s Denver-area facility.
U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin Complete Environmental Testing of the Nation’s Next Missile Warning Satellite Lockheed Martin 13 Dec 2011 -- Lockheed Martin has successfully completed thermal vacuum testing of the U.S. Air Force’s second Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-2) satellite.
Phobos-Grunt mission ‘impossible,’ says chief designer RIA Novosti 13 Dec 2011 -- Russia's Phobos-Grunt spacecraft will not be able to complete its mission, the head and chief designer Viktor Khartov said.
ESA to resume attempts to contact Russia's failed Mars probe RIA Novosti 13 Dec 2011 -- A ESA station will make two more attempts to contact Russia's troubled Phobos-Grunt spacecraft.
Russia’s Glonass satnav system targets Latin America, India RIA Novosti 13 Dec 2011 -- The Latin American and Indian markets will be a priority for Glonass, Russia’s global satellite navigation system.
NASA seeking astronaut candidates AFNS 12 Dec 2011 -- NASA is accepting applications for astronaut candidates via the USAJobs website, through Jan. 12, 2012.
Russia to launch ESA satellites from French Guiana Dec. 17 RIA Novosti 12 Dec 2011 -- A Russian launcher will put several European Space Agency satellites into orbit from the Kourou space port in French Guiana.
Six Astrium satellites ready for takeoff EADS 12 Dec 2011 -- Astrium, the European space industry leader, is prime contractor for all six satellites scheduled for launch on 16 December on the second Soyuz flight to be operated out of French Guyana.
Lockheed Martin Awarded Contract to Deliver Jabiru-1 for NewSat Limited of Australia Lockheed Martin 12 Dec 2011 -- Lockheed Martin announced today the award of a contract from NewSat Limited (NewSat) of Australia to build the Jabiru-1 satellite. The construction of the satellite will commence immediately and it will be ready for launch in the second half of 2014. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Northrop Grumman Completes Fabrication of Key Sunshield Deployment Flight Structure for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Northrop Grumman 12 Dec 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation has completed the space-qualified, graphite composite tubes that will enable the giant sunshield of the James Webb Space Telescope to deploy in space. The company is leading the telescope's design and development under contract to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Orbital Selects "Antares" as Permanent Name for New Rocket Created by the Taurus II R&D Program Orbital Sciences Corp. 12 Dec 2011 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the world’s leading space technology companies, today announced that Antares™ will be the permanent operational name for the medium-class launch vehicle created by its research and development program formerly known as Taurus II.
Raytheon Awarded $241 Million Contract for SM-3 Block IIA Raytheon 12 Dec 2011 -- The Missile Defense Agency awarded Raytheon Company a $241 million contract modification for continued engineering design and development work on the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA.
Amos 5 and Loutch 5A communications satellites in orbit Thales 12 Dec 2011 -- The Amos 5 and Loutch 5A communications satellites were successfully launched yesterday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a Proton rocket with Briz-M booster. Amos 5 was launched for the Israeli operator Spacecom, and Louch-5A for Roscosmos, the Russian space agency.
Russia launches two telecoms satellites RIA Novosti 11 Dec 2011 -- A Proton-M carrier rocket with two telecommunications satellites onboard blasted off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on Sunday, Russia's space agency Roscosmos spokesman said.
Official: Navid, Fajr and Explorer 5 satellites to be launched to space soon IRNA 08 Dec 2011 -- Head of Iran Space Agency Hamid Fazeli informed press Wednesday of near future launching of 3 more Iranian made satellites, Navid, Fajr, and Kavoshgar (Explorer) 5.
US vows to 'press forward' with missile shield amid Moscow warnings IRNA 08 Dec 2011 -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday vowed to 'press foward' with plans to deploy a controversial missile shield amid Russian warnings of a major renewed arms race, according to German press reports.
NATO and Russia fail to agree on missile shield: Rasmussen IRNA 08 Dec 2011 -- NATO and Russia failed to reach an agreement on the controversial deployment of a missile shield in Europe, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen was quoted saying in Brussels on Thursday.
NATO, Russia Fail To Defuse Rift Over Missile Shield RFE/RL 08 Dec 2011 -- NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said after a meeting between NATO and Russian officials that the military alliance is not ignoring Moscow's concerns over plans for a European missile-defense system.
Medvedev's missile shield remarks may be election rhetoric - NATO chief RIA Novosti 08 Dec 2011 -- The NATO secretary general said the Russian president's recent remarks about Russia's countermeasures against the European missile defense system could be influenced by the parliamentary elections.
NATO, Russia Still at Odds Over Missile Shield VOA 08 Dec 2011 -- NATO foreign ministers have failed to ease Russian fears over a proposed missile defense shield in Europe.
Astrium awarded Sentinel 5 Precursor contract from ESA EADS 08 Dec 2011 -- Astrium has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) as prime contractor for the Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite (S5p) a low-cost mission to monitor atmospheric chemistry.
Boeing Receives US Air Force Reusable Booster System Contract Boeing 07 Dec 2011 -- The Boeing Company has received a $2 million contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to define requirements and design concepts for the Reusable Booster System (RBS) Flight and Ground Experiments program. This program will enhance space launch capability by providing a reliable, responsive and cost-effective system.
Northrop Grumman Makes Significant Spacecraft Progress for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Northrop Grumman 07 Dec 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation delivered to NASA the flight software that will enable the James Webb Space Telescope to communicate with its ground station nearly a million miles away after it passed formal verification testing. The company is leading the telescope's design and development effort for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
Iran to build spacecraft carrying life capsule ISNA 07 Dec 2011 -- Iran will have accomplished building a spacecraft carrying life capsule in next 28 months.
Jason-1 celebrates 10 years of space-based altimetry Thales 06 Dec 2011 -- Thales Alenia Space joins French space agency CNES and NASA of the United States to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Jason-1 satellite launched on December 7, 2001. Thales Alenia Space originally teamed up with French Space Agency CNES to develop the technology for the Poseidon spaceborne altimeter, and tested on the Topex satellite as early as 1992, marking a real revolution in oceanography. The accuracy of the measurements delivered by this high-precision instrument demonstrated the thermohaline circulation (movement of currents) in the oceans, a major energy engine governing the global climate, as well as the rise in sea levels due to global warming.
NASA Confirms First Earth-Sized Planet in a Sun-like Star's Habitable Zone VOA 06 Dec 2011 -- NASA's Kepler space telescope has confirmed the discovery of the first so-called super-Earth planet ever found orbiting a Sun-like star from a habitable distance.
Scientists say 'diamond planets' in our galaxy possible RIA Novosti 06 Dec 2011 -- A group of scientists from the Ohio State University said some terrestrial planets in our galaxy could contain up to 50 percent diamond, the Space.com portal reported.
NASA announces discovery of first earthlike planet in habitable zone RIA Novosti 06 Dec 2011 -- NASA said its Kepler mission has confirmed its discovery of a first earthlike planet in the habitable zone, the area where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface.
Lockheed Martin Selected By U.S. Air Force for Reusable Booster System Flight Demonstrator Program Lockheed Martin 05 Dec 2011 -- Lockheed Martin has been selected by the U.S. Air Force for a contract award to support the Reusable Booster System (RBS) Flight and Ground Experiments program. The value of the first task order is $2 million, with a contract ordering value of up to $250 million over the five-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract period. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center are developing the RBS as the next generation launch vehicle that will significantly improve the affordability, operability, and responsiveness of future spacelift capabilities over current expendable launchers.
Russia views NATO missile shield as 'legitimate target for attack' IRNA 03 Dec 2011 -- Russia's NATO envoy Dmitry Rogozin on Saturday warned of a likely military confrontation with the western military alliance over the deployment of its controversial missile shield in Poland, according to the Hamburg-based weekly news magazine Der Spiegel.
Russia deploys airspace umbrella RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2011 -- Russia has organized an aerospace defense branch.
China completes over 30 pct of its space navigation program RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2011 -- China has launched its 10th navigation satellite into orbit as part of a project to develop its own global satellite navigation system.
ESA halts attempts to contact Russian Mars moon probe RIA Novosti 02 Dec 2011 -- The European Space Agency said it had ended attempts to establish contact with Phobos-Grunt.
ESA Abandons Attempts To Contact Stranded Russian Space Probe RFE/RL 02 Dec 2011 -- The European Space Agency has said it would no longer try to make contact with Russia's stranded Mars probe Phobos-Grunt if December 2 attempts failed.
Medvedev: Missile shield remarks forced measure RIA Novosti 01 Dec 2011 -- Russian President Medvedev: plans to put offensive weapon systems on Russia's borders were not electoral rhetoric but a forced measure.
Russia’s Aerospace Defense Forces go on duty RIA Novosti 01 Dec 2011 -- Russia’s newly created Aerospace Defense Forces officially went on duty to become the country’s first line of defense against strategic military threats.
Russia’s Aerospace Defense Forces to go on duty on Thursday RIA Novosti 01 Dec 2011 -- Russia’s newly created Aerospace Defense Forces (VKO) will officially go on duty on Thursday, VKO spokesman Alexei Zolotukhin said.
Astrium takes a major step forward in the development of Ariane 5 ME (Midlife Evolution) EADS 01 Dec 2011 -- Astrium, the European space industry leader, has received confirmation from the European Space Agency (ESA) following its Preliminary Design Review (PDR) that the Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution launcher project has been approved.

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