January 2012 Space News

Intelligence Chief Describes Complex Challenges AFPS 31 Jan 2012 -- America and the world are facing the most complex set of challenges in at least 50 years.
Northrop Grumman Tapped by NASA to Develop Solar Electric Propulsion Flight Concepts for Future Space Missions Northrop Grumman 31 Jan 2012 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation was recently awarded a contract to study high-power solar electric propulsion flight system technology for NASA deep space and human exploration missions.
Russia May Run Repeat Mission to Phobos RIA Novosti 31 Jan 2012 -- Russia will send another sample mission to the Martian moon Phobos if the European Space Agency decides not to include Russia in its ExoMars program.
Russia Blames Radiation for Mars Probe Failure VOA 31 Jan 2012 -- Russia's space agency says cosmic radiation caused its Phobos-Grunt Mars probe to fail.
Space Radiation Blamed for Phobos-Grunt Crash RIA Novosti 31 Jan 2012 -- Space radiation triggered a glitch in the on-board computer system causing the recent crash of Russia’s Mars probe.
Program Glitch Led to Russian Mars Probe Failure – Paper RIA Novosti 31 Jan 2012 -- A government commission has blamed Russian programmers for the recent failure of Russia’s Phobos-Grunt Mars probe.
Engine Failure Behind Meridian Satellite Crash RIA Novosti 31 Jan 2012 -- The crash of Russia’s Meridian communication satellite late last year was caused by the destruction of one of the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket’s engines.
Launch of Space Station Crews Delayed 45 Days RIA Novosti 31 Jan 2012 -- The launch of two new crews to the International Space Stationwill be postponed by about 45 days over the need to build a reserve capsule.
General Dynamics Awarded Contract by Aerojet for Standard Missile-3 Control Actuators General Dynamics 30 Jan 2012 -- General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems has received a contract for the design and production of electromagnetic control actuators for Aerojet's Throttleable Divert and Attitude Control System (TDACS) in support of the Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Block IIA missile interceptor. General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics.
Lockheed Martin Receives $921 Million Contract for Production of Combat-Proven PAC-3 Missiles Lockheed Martin 30 Jan 2012 -- Lockheed Martin received contracts totaling $921 million from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command for hardware and services associated with the combat-proven Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment program.
Space Station's Orbit Raised to Avoid Collision with Space Junk RIA Novosti 29 Jan 2012 -- Specialists of Russia's Mission Control Center raised the orbit altitude of the International Space Station (ISS) in the early hours of Sunday to prevent a possible collision with a Chinese satellite fragment, a spokesman for the Center said.
Ukraine, Russia to Launch 2 Dnepr Carrier Rockets in 2012 RIA Novosti 27 Jan 2012 -- Ukraine and Russia will carry out two rocket launches under the joint Dnepr space program, head of the National Space Agency of Ukraine Yuri Alekseyev said on Friday.
Launch of Proton-M with Dutch Satellite Postponed RIA Novosti 27 Jan 2012 -- The launch of a Russian Proton-M carrier rocket with a Dutch telecommunication satellite onboard scheduled for Friday has been postponed indefinitely for technical reasons, Russian space agency Roscosmos said on Friday.
U.S. Presidential Hopeful Promises Moon Base by 2020 RIA Novosti 26 Jan 2012 -- US Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich has promised to build a moon base by 2020 if he becomes the next U.S. President in November, the Former Speaker of the House of Representatives said in an address to a crowd of over 700 people on Florida's 'Space Coast' on Wednesday.
NASA Says No to Probe Crash Theory Test - Roscosmos RIA Novosti 26 Jan 2012 -- NASA has refused to participate in an experiment designed to show if U.S. radars could have had an impact on Russia's troubled Phobos-Grunt Mars probe, the deputy head of the country's space agency, Roscosmos, Anatoly Shylov said on Thursday.
Russia Launches Progress Freighter to Space Station RIA Novosti 26 Jan 2012 -- A Russian Soyuz-U launch vehicle carrying the Progress M-14M cargo spacecraft has been launched toward the International Space Station (ISS) from the Baikonur space center, Russia's Mission Control said on Thursday.
Thales Alenia Space has completed integration of service module for the fourth ATV Thales 25 Jan 2012 -- Work on ATV4 (Automated Transfer Vehicle) reflects the key role of Europe and Italy in supporting the international Space Station.
Russia Orbits Chibis Microsatellite RIA Novosti 25 Jan 2012 -- Russia’s Chibis (Peewit) microsatellite, which studies gamma-radiation generated by lightning in the atmosphere, was put into orbit.
Proton-M, Dutch Satellite Taken to Launch Pad RIA Novosti 25 Jan 2012 -- The Proton-M carrier rocket with the Dutch SES-4 (NSS-14) satellite was installed on a launch pad at the Baikonur space center.
Russian Space Freighter to be Buried in Pacific RIA Novosti 25 Jan 2012 -- The Progress M-13M cargo spacecraft will be sunk in a remote area in the Pacific Ocean after deploying a micro-satellite.
NASA Debunks Life on Venus Claim RIA Novosti 25 Jan 2012 -- NASA has dismissed the sensational claim by a Russian scientist that there is life on Venus, saying that the “disc” seen moving on the surface was in fact a lens cap.
Progress Space Freighter Undocks from ISS RIA Novosti 24 Jan 2012 -- The Progress M-13M space freighter with the Chibis-M micro-satellite undocked early on Tuesday from the International Space Station (ISS), a mission control spokesman said.
ATK Completes Third Space Act Agreement Milestone for Liberty under NASA's Commercial Crew Program ATK 24 Jan 2012 -- ATK's Liberty program successfully held its Launch System Initial Systems Design (ISD) Review, which completes the third of five milestones in the company's unfunded Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA for the Commercial Crew Development Program.
Lockheed Martin-Built GPS Satellites Reach 150 Years of Combined On Orbit Service Lockheed Martin 24 Jan 2012 -- The U.S. Air Force’s fleet of Global Positioning System (GPS) Block IIR and IIR-M satellites has accumulated 150 collective years of successful on-orbit operations.
Thales Alenia Space España participated in 29 of the Satellites placed into Orbit in 2011 Thales 24 Jan 2012 -- It has participated to 22 out of 37 commercial telecommunications satellites launched in the world
Old satellite teaching new lessons AFNS 23 Jan 2012 -- Since Jan. 13, the 2nd Space Operations Squadron here has been busy disposing of an old and trusted satellite.
Russia Readies ISS Space Freighter Launch RIA Novosti 23 Jan 2012 -- A Soyuz-U launch vehicle carrying the Progress M-14M cargo spacecraft will be transported to a launch site at the Baikonur space center on Tuesday, Russian space agency Roscosmos said.
AF officials launch fourth WGS satellite AFNS 20 Jan 2012 -- Air Force officials launched an United Launch Alliance Delta IV-Medium rocket carrying the fourth Wideband Global SATCOM satellite Jan. 19 from Space Launch Complex 37 here.
U.S., NATO Have Some 1,000 Interceptor Missiles - Rogozin RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2012 -- The United States and its NATO allies already have about one thousand missiles capable of intercepting Russia's intercontinental ballistic missiles, the Russian deputy premier in charge of defense said.
U.S. Denies Link to Mars Mission Failure RIA Novosti 20 Jan 2012 -- A spokesperson at the Department of State denied information that the crash of the Phobos-Grunt probe to the Martian moon Phobos could have been caused by a powerful electromagnetic emission from a U.S. radar.
Space Agency Boss Blames Makers for Satellite Crash RIA Novosti 19 Jan 2012 -- A Russian government commission looking into the crash of Phobos-Grunt probe says engineering flaws were the main cause.
Roscosmos Revives Permanent Moon Base Plans RIA Novosti 19 Jan 2012 -- Russian Space Agency Roscosmos is in talks with its European and U.S. partners on the creation of manned bases on the Moon.
ATK Technologies Support Launch of ULA's Delta IV Rocket Carrying WGS-4 ATK 19 Jan 2012 -- ATK composite, propulsion and spacecraft technologies supported today's successful launch of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. This rocket carried the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-4) into orbit for the U.S. Air Force.
Boeing's 4th WGS Satellite Sends 1st Signals from Space Boeing 19 Jan 2012 -- Boeing has received the first on-orbit signals from the fourth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite it is delivering to the U.S. Air Force. The signals indicate that WGS-4, the first in the Block II series, is healthy and ready to begin orbital maneuvers and operational testing.
Scientists Make First-Ever Observations Of Comet’s Demise Deep Inside Solar Atmosphere Lockheed Martin 19 Jan 2012 -- In a paper to be published tomorrow in the journal Science, for the first time ever scientists at the Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory (LMSAL) at the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Palo Alto, and collaborators at other institutions, have reported observations and analysis of the final death throes of a comet, as it passed across the face of the Sun on July 6, 2011, to vanish in flight.
Defense, State Agree to Pursue Conduct Code for Outer Space AFPS 18 Jan 2012 -- The departments of Defense and State have agreed an international code of conduct should govern activities in outer space.
U.S., coalition nations form Wideband Global Satellite partnership AFNS 18 Jan 2012 -- Senior defense officials from six countries announced a multilateral partnership in wideband global satellite communication.
China Plans to Launch 30 Satellites in 2012 RIA Novosti 18 Jan 2012 -- China is planning to launch 21 carrier rockets with 30 satellites in 2012.
Trailer Claims Secret U.S.-Yugoslav Space Pact RFE/RL 18 Jan 2012 -- Trailer accurate in acknowledgement of the serious contribution of Slovenian engineer Herman Potocnik to 20th-century aerospace advances.
4th Boeing Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite Ready for Liftoff Boeing 18 Jan 2012 -- Boeing today announced that the fourth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite the company is delivering to the U.S. Air Force has successfully completed prelaunch testing and is ready for launch. WGS-4, the first spacecraft in the program's upgraded Block II series, is scheduled to launch at 7:38 p.m. Eastern time on Jan. 19 aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Boeing to Build More Wideband Global SATCOM Satellites for US Air Force Boeing 18 Jan 2012 -- Boeing has received authorization from the U.S. Air Force to produce and launch the eighth and ninth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellites. The WGS-9 authorization and the WGS-8 production option, which was authorized last month, have a combined value of $673 million and are part of the $1.09 billion contract modification announced by the Air Force in September 2011.
Secretary Clinton Statement on International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities US Dept. of State 17 Jan 2012
U.S. to Launch Space Arms-Control Initiative RIA Novosti 17 Jan 2012 -- The United States is launching a new space arms-control initiative.
NATO Anti-Missile Radar in Turkey Put into Operation RIA Novosti 17 Jan 2012 -- A NATO missile defense radar deployed in Turkey has been put into operation.
Russian Scientists Mock U.S. Radar Theory on Mars Probe RIA Novosti 17 Jan 2012 -- The theory that Russia’s Mars mission failed due to a U.S. radar is extremely “exotic,” Russian scientists said.
Russia to Test if U.S. Radar Downed Phobos Probe RIA Novosti 17 Jan 2012 -- A Russian government commission inquiring into why the Phobos-Grunt Mars probe crashed this week is to test whether it was affected after launch by U.S. radars.
U.S. Radar May Have Damaged Russian Mars Probe RIA Novosti 17 Jan 2012 -- A powerful electromagnetic emission from a U.S. radar in the Pacific could have caused the malfunctioning of the Russian Phobos-Grunt probe.
Lockheed Martin Missile Defense Programs Achieve Significant Milestones In 2011 Lockheed Martin 17 Jan 2012 -- Lockheed Martin-developed missile defense system elements achieved 16 significant milestones during 2011, further solidifying the corporation’s position as a leader in ballistic missile defense (BMD).
Missile Defense "National Team" Awarded C2BMC Contract Lockheed Martin 17 Jan 2012 -- Lockheed Martin, as prime contractor leading a consortium of five major defense contractors, has been awarded a follow-on contract with an estimated value of $980M to continue work on the Command, Control, Battle Management and Communications program for the Missile Defense Agency.
Raytheon Receives $51 Million Contract for Patriot Missile Upgrades Raytheon 16 Jan 2012 -- Raytheon Company has been awarded a $51.3 million contract to upgrade Patriot Advanced Capability-2 missiles to the Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical (GEM-T) configuration. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM), Redstone Arsenal, Ala., issued the contract as a follow-on to AMCOM's Patriot missile continuous technology refreshment program initiated in 2000.
Iran to launch satellite into space early February ISNA 16 Jan 2012 -- Iran plans to launch satellite into space and inaugurate military projects early February, said Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi.
Russian Phobos-Grunt Mars probe falls in Pacific Ocean RIA Novosti 15 Jan 2012 -- Doomed Russian Phobos-Grunt Mars probe that's been stuck in Earth orbit for two months has crashed down in the Pacific Ocean on late Sunday.
Phobos-Grunt to crash into Pacific Ocean Jan. 15 - Roscosmos RIA Novosti 14 Jan 2012 -- Doomed Russian Phobos-Grunt Mars probe that's been stuck in Earth orbit for two months may finally come crashing down on Jan. 15 over the Pasific Ocean, Russia's space agency Roscosmos said on Saturday.
U.S. says will give no missile defense assurances to Russia RIA Novosti 13 Jan 2012 -- US control official: Obama administration will not give Russia guarantees that US missile defenses will not impact Russia.
Space station to perform debris avoidance maneuver RIA Novosti 13 Jan 2012 -- The International Space Station will perform a maneuver to avoid debris from the U.S. Iridium 33 satellite.
Russia’s troubled Mars probe to hit Earth on Jan. 15-16 RIA Novosti 13 Jan 2012 -- Russia’s troubled Phobos Grunt spacecraft is expected to fall back to Earth between Sunday and Monday morning.
U.S. Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin Contract for Third and Fourth GPS III Satellites Lockheed Martin 12 Jan 2012 -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $238 million contract for production of the third and fourth satellites in the next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation, known as GPS III.
Raytheon to Develop Mission Critical Launch and Check Solution for the Global Positioning System Raytheon 12 Jan 2012 -- Raytheon Company has been awarded a $27.4 million contract by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center for development of a Global Positioning System (GPS) Launch and Checkout System (LCS), which will provide early launch and checkout of GPS III satellites starting with the first GPS III launch in 2014.
Russia's wayward Mars probe 'may fall Jan.14-16' RIA Novosti 11 Jan 2012 -- Russia's troubled Phobos-Grunt spacecraft will fall back to Earth between January 14 and 16, possibly some place in the Indian Ocean, Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said on Wednesday.
Boeing Begins NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Study Boeing 11 Jan 2012 -- The Boeing Company has begun work on a four-month NASA contract to develop a mission concept study for solar electric propulsion technologies. Under the $600,000 firm, fixed-price contract, Boeing will evaluate concepts that combine high-power solar arrays with advanced electric thrusters to power spacecraft and payloads to high Earth orbit and deep space destinations.
U.S. Air Force Awards Contract to Lockheed Martin for GPS III Launch and Checkout Capability Lockheed Martin 11 Jan 2012 -- The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $21.5 million contract to provide a Launch and Checkout Capability (LCC) to command and control all GPS III satellites from launch through early on-orbit testing.
Russia was well aware of Phobos-Grunt mission risks - space chief RIA Novosti 10 Jan 2012 -- Phobos-Grunt, a failed Russian sample mission to a Martian moon, was launched despite risks of which Russian scientists were well aware, the head of the Russian space agency said on Tuesday.
Northrop Grumman's Astro Aerospace Unit Completes Critical Design Audit of Reflector Boom Assembly for SMAP Mission Northrop Grumman 09 Jan 2012 -- Astro Aerospace, a strategic business unit of Northrop Grumman Corporation, has completed a major milestone in the development of the reflector boom assembly (RBA) for NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Mission.
Raytheon Awarded $30 Million for New Missile Defense Interceptor Raytheon 09 Jan 2012 -- Raytheon Company received a $30.2 million contract from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for continued development of the Stunner interceptor. Stunner is an advanced, multi-mission, multi-platform interceptor designed for integration into current and planned air and missile defense systems.
China launches remote-sensing satellite RIA Novosti 09 Jan 2012 -- China launched a high-resolution remote-sensing satellite on Monday, Xinhua reported.
Raytheon Delivers First Upgraded Patriot Radar to Kuwait Raytheon 04 Jan 2012 -- Raytheon Company completed its first Configuration-3 Patriot radar upgrade for the State of Kuwait. This is the first of six radar modernization deliveries due under contract to the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command.
Bits Of Russian Space Probe To Fall To Earth On January 15 RFE/RL 04 Jan 2012 -- Russian officials say fragments of a failed space probe are expected to fall to Earth in 11 days.
NASA puts twin probes in lunar orbit RIA Novosti 02 Jan 2012 -- Two robotic probes on a synchronized gravity-mapping mission to the Moon began orbiting the Earth’s natural satellite over the weekend.
Lockheed Martin and NASA Place Two Grail Spacecraft Into Orbit Around the Moon Lockheed Martin 01 Jan 2012 -- Both of NASA’s Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft were successfully inserted into orbit around the Earth’s moon. The mission will analyze the internal structure and gravitational forces of the moon. Lockheed Martin built the twin robotic spacecraft and is conducting flight operations for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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