October 2012 Space News

Mars Soil Similar to Hawaiian Volcanic Soil VOA 31 Oct 2012 -- The soil on Mars appears to be very similar to the volcanic soils of Hawaii, according to scientists at NASA.
Curiosity Completes First Studies of Martian Soil RIA Novosti 31 Oct 2012 -- Initial experiments completed by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity show that the mineral composition of the Martian soil is similar to that in weathered volcanic-origin basaltic soils in Hawaii.
Russian Freighter 'Speed Docks' With Space Station RIA Novosti 31 Oct 2012 -- A Russian cargo spacecraft performed an accelerated docking with the International Space Station (just under six hours after liftoff.
NASA Eyes Shifting Space Station Orbit To Avoid Debris RFE/RL 31 Oct 2012 -- The orbit of the International Space Station may be adjusted to avoid a collision with debris from a U.S. communications satellite.
Japan Plans to Launch New Carrier Rocket in 2013 RIA Novosti 30 Oct 2012 -- Japan is planning to launch its new light-class Epsilon carrier rocket in summer 2013.
Huge Saturn Storm Continues to Amaze VOA 29 Oct 2012 -- Scientists are marveling at mega storm on the planet Saturn that continues to surprise experts.
Dragon Space Capsule Splashes Down in Pacific RIA Novosti 28 Oct 2012 -- An unmanned Dragon space capsule with 900 kilograms of cargo splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.
Bound For Earth, Dragon Cargo Vessel Leaves Space Station RFE/RL 28 Oct 2012 -- A private U.S. spacecraft has landed back on Earth after delivering supplies to the International Space Station.
NASA Astronauts Undock Dragon Freighter From Orbital Station RIA Novosti 28 Oct 2012 -- NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Aki Hoshide unberthed the Dragon space freighter from the International Space Station, wrapping up 18 days of its first contracted resupply mission.
US, Israel Hold Joint Military Exercises VOA 26 Oct 2012 -- Israel and the United States are holding a major joint military exercise amid growing tensions with Iran over its nuclear program.
US Military Tests Missile Defense Capability RIA Novosti 26 Oct 2012 -- The US Missile Defense Agency has successfully conducted its largest and most complex missile defense flight test ever.
Korean Rocket Launch Delayed Over Russian Engine Glitch RIA Novosti 26 Oct 2012 -- The launch of South Korea's KSLV-1 has been put off owing to a minor failure in its Russian-made Khrunichev RD-191 first-stage rocket motor.
Ballistic Missile Defense System Engages Five Targets Simultaneously During Largest Missile Defense Flight Test in History Missile Defense Agency 25 Oct 2012
Ballistic Missile Defense System Successfully Conducts Largest Missile Defense Flight Test in History NNS 25 Oct 2012 -- The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) successfully conducted the largest, most complex missile defense flight test ever attempted, Oct. 24.
US to Include S.Korea in its Global Missile Shield - Panetta RIA Novosti 25 Oct 2012 -- The United States will continue expanding its global missile shield in Asia, including in South Korea, to counter a possible missile threat from North Korea, US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said.
Soyuz with New Crew Docks at Space Station RIA Novosti 25 Oct 2012 -- A Russian Soyuz TMA-06M spaceship with the new crew of the International Space Station docked with the station successfully.
Taiwan mulling domestic maintenance of its Patriot missiles CNA 24 Oct 2012 -- The defense ministry said it will gradually reduce dependence on the United States for the maintenance of Taiwan's Patriot missiles in order to cut costs and improve efficiency in that area.
New Space Station Crew Blasts Off From Baikonur RIA Novosti 23 Oct 2012 -- Three new crewmembers departed on a two-day voyage to the International Space Station aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
Next Space Station’s Expedition Set for Launch from Baikonur RIA Novosti 23 Oct 2012 -- Russia’s Soyuz TMA-06M spacecraft with the International Space Station’s Expedition 33/34 is set for the launch from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan.
New International Space Crew Confirmed RIA Novosti 22 Oct 2012 -- The crew for the next mission to depart for the International Space Station has been confirmed.
Israel, US Start Largest Ever Air Defense Exercise RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2012 -- The Israeli and United States armed forces started their largest-ever joint air defense and anti-missile exercise.
Rodong Sinmun on S. Korea's "Missile Guidance Agreement" Declaration KCNA 19 Oct 2012 -- The "missile guidance agreement" announced by the south Korean authorities is an open declaration of an all-out war against the DPRK.
Rocket Maker Khrunichev Appoints New Head RIA Novosti 19 Oct 2012 -- Russia's space agency Roscosmos has appointed Alexander Selivyorstov as general director of space rocket maker Khrunichev.
Historic space jump has Natick ties Army News 19 Oct 2012 -- Last weekend, the world watched as Fearless Felix Baumgartner made his epic descent from a balloon 128,100 feet above the Earth.
Russia Warns of 'Technical Response' to NATO Missile Plans RIA Novosti 18 Oct 2012 -- Russia may deliver a "technical response" to NATO over its plans to deploy a European missile defense program.
U.S. Partners With Israel for Exercise Austere Challenge AFPS 17 Oct 2012 -- More than 3,500 American service members will join with Israeli allies for Exercise Austere Challenge 2012 in Israel next week.
Space Station’s Orbit to be Adjusted for Next Spacecraft RIA Novosti 17 Oct 2012 -- Specialists of the Moscow Region-based Mission Control Center will carry out a maneuver to readjust the orbit of the ISS.
Earth-sized Planet Discovered in Alpha Centauri System VOA 17 Oct 2012 -- Astronomers in Europe have discovered the first-ever planet with a mass similar to Earth and orbiting a star like the Sun.
SkySat balloon and payload launch impress Army officials Army News 16 Oct 2012 -- The launch was part of a demonstration of the Combat SkySat military retransmission platform for members of the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command.
Russia Tests Short-Range Interceptor Missile RIA Novosti 16 Oct 2012 -- Russia's Aerospace Defense Force successfully tested a short-range anti-missile defense system.
Citizen Astronomers Discover Planet with Four Suns VOA 16 Oct 2012 -- Citizen astronomers discovered PH1 with the help of a Yale University-led team of international astronomers that enlists the public to review data from NASA's Kepler spacecraft for signs of distant planets.
Skydiver Breaks Speed of Sound VOA 15 Oct 2012 -- Austrian Felix Baumgartner has become the first skydiver to break the speed of sound.
Baumgartner 'Did Not Notice' Breaking Sound Barrier RIA Novosti 15 Oct 2012 -- Austrian Felix Baumgartner said he did not notice the moment he broke the speed of sound during his record-breaking skydive.
Russia Launches US Telecoms Satellite RIA Novosti 14 Oct 2012 -- Russia's Proton-M carrier rocket with a US telecoms satellite, Intelsat-23, blasted off on Sunday from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, a Russian Federal Space Agency spokesman said.
Austrian Makes Recordbreaking Skydive RIA Novosti 14 Oct 2012 -- Austrian Felix Baumgartner has completed a record-breaking skydive, jumping from a helium balloon 39 kilometers above the Earth.
Skydiver Breaks Record for Highest Jump VOA 14 Oct 2012 -- Austrian Felix Baumgartner has become the first skydiver to break the speed of sound.
Russia Orbits Two European Galileo-IOV Navigation Satellites RIA Novosti 13 Oct 2012 -- A Russian Soyuz-ST-B carrier rocket, launched on Friday evening from the Kourou space center in French Guiana, has orbited two Galileo-IOV (In-Orbit Validation) communications satellites, Russian space agency Roscosmos said.
Gen. Shelton convenes accident investigation AFNS 12 Oct 2012 -- Air Force Space Command commander General William Shelton has ordered an Accident Investigation Board (AIB) to investigate why a Delta IV RL-10B-2 upper stage engine did not perform as expected during the Oct 4 launch of a GPS IIF satellite.
Commercial Space Freighter Docks with Orbital Station RIA Novosti 10 Oct 2012 -- The privately-owned reusable Dragon cargo spacecraft carrying more than 1,000 lbs (some 450 kg) of supplies docked on Wednesday with the International Space Station, NASA's website said.
Patrick Airmen support first Space X launch for NASA's commercial resupply services AFNS 09 Oct 2012 -- Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) completed a successful launch of their Falcon 9 Dragon spacecraft, called Dragon C3, from Space Launch Complex 40 Oct. 7 at 8:35 p.m. EDT here.The launch went off with stellar safety and range support provided by service members assigned to the 45 Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base.
'Silent Sentry' gives deployed Airmen upper hand in space superiority AFNS 09 Oct 2012 -- With the advancement of technology, satellite communication has been a key factor in maintaining space superiority throughout the entire area of responsibility.
Dragon Lifts Off for First Commercial Resupply Mission RIA Novosti 08 Oct 2012 -- The Falcon 9 carrier rocket with the Dragon cargo resupply spacecraft has lifted off from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, NASA reported.
SpaceX Rocket Prepares for Launch to Space Station RIA Novosti 07 Oct 2012 -- SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket with Dragon capsule has been rolled to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida in preparations for the first commercial launch to the International Space Station, NASA said on its website.
SpaceX Capsule Ready to Launch to Space Station VOA 06 Oct 2012 -- The California-based company SpaceX is set to launch the first of a dozen missions to deliver critical supplies to the International Space Station for the U.S. space agency.
Australian Scientists Unveil Super Telescope VOA 05 Oct 2012 -- A powerful new super telescope in the Australian outback is set to begin probing the origins of stars and galaxies.
Air Force launches new GPS satellite AFNS 04 Oct 2012 -- The U.S. Air Force successfully launched a United Launch Alliance Delta IV-Medium rocket carrying the third Global Positioning System IIF satellite.
AEDC's newest national space testing asset on its way to mission readiness AFNS 04 Oct 2012 -- A project team at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex has successfully completed an initial site acceptance test campaign on Arnold Air Force Base's new, one-of-a-kind space asset testing facility.
Mars Rover Ready To Take First Sample VOA 04 Oct 2012 -- The U.S. space agency says the Mars rover Curiosity is ready to scoop up its first sample of soil from the red planet Saturday.
UN launches into World Space Week highlighting contributions of space science to humanity UN News Centre 04 Oct 2012 -- The United Nations launched into World Space Week with the presentation of a navigation satellite model, donated by Russia.
Space Station Set to Launch Microsatellites RIA Novosti 04 Oct 2012 -- Five international microsatellites CubeSat are scheduled to be launched from the International Space Station following a week-long delay.
Space Station to Dodge Astro-Junk RIA Novosti 03 Oct 2012 -- The International Space Station will make a maneuver to a new orbit on Thursday to avoid debris from a Japanese satellite.
ATV-3 Space Freighter Sunk in Pacific RIA Novosti 03 Oct 2012 -- The European Space Agency’s ATV-3 cargo resupply spacecraft has been successfully de-orbited and sunk in the Pacific.
ISS Partners Plan Yearlong Mission to Orbital Station RIA Novosti 02 Oct 2012 -- Space agencies participating in the International Space Station project have agreed to launch an experimental yearlong endurance mission in 2015.
US Lends Vietnam $118 Million For Satellite VOA 01 Oct 2012 -- The United States says it will give Vietnam a loan of more than $100 million to buy a telecommunications satellite from a U.S. company.

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