February 2013 Space News

Comet Could Hit, Radically Change Mars in 2014 RIA Novosti 28 Feb 2013 -- New observations confirm that a comet heading toward Mars could collide with it in October 2014, possibly ushering in radical environmental change on the Red Planet, astronomy enthusiasts said.
First 'Space Tourist' Wants to Send Couple to Mars RIA Novosti 28 Feb 2013 -- The world's first space tourist is hoping to make history again, this time with a mission to Mars.
Russia Upbeat, US Cool on Success in Lavrov-Kerry Talks RIA Novosti 26 Feb 2013 -- Russian diplomatic sources have expressed optimism about a possible breakthrough in missile defense negotiations at Tuesday's foreign ministers’ meeting in Berlin.
Archangels Continue Satellite Control Legacy Army News 26 Feb 2013 -- With the launch of the Wideband Global Satellite 5, Alpha Company is now preparing to make the next move in advancing satellite communications.
‘Faulty Ukrainian Parts’ Blamed for Zenit Launch Failure RIA Novosti 26 Feb 2013 -- The crash of a Russian Zenit-3SL rocket earlier this month was caused by defective components manufactured in Ukraine.
Army upgrades protected communications satellite terminal training suite Army News 25 Feb 2013 -- The Army recently began schoolhouse computer-based and simulated training upgrades for its advanced Secure Mobile Anti-Jam Reliable Tactical -- Terminal, or SMART-T, to evolve the previous legacy training system to accommodate new system enhancements.
Israel, US Test New Missile Defense System RIA Novosti 25 Feb 2013 -- Israel and the United States carried out the first successful test of the Arrow 3 missile defense interceptor on Monday, the Defense Ministry said.
Canadian Asteroid-Hunting Satellite Launched into Space RIA Novosti 25 Feb 2013 -- The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) on Monday launched a suitcase sized satellite into space aboard an Indian rocket that will search for large asteroids that could impact Earth and keep track of space junk in the solar system.
Apophis May Strike Earth in 2068 - Scientists RIA Novosti 25 Feb 2013 -- The 325-meter (1,066-foot) asteroid 99942 Apophis, that will safely fly by the Earth in 2029 and 2036, may strike the planet in 2068, according to an article published on the NASA website.
Israel, US test new Arrow missile system Iran Press TV 25 Feb 2013 -- Israel and the United States have test fired the latest generation of their Arrow missile system, the Arrow 3, over the Mediterranean Sea.
NATO Patriots to Cost Turkey $8.5 mln Annually RIA Novosti 24 Feb 2013 -- NATO's patriot missile systems, requested by Turkey to protect it from a potential Syrian attack, are expected to cost Ankara 15 million liras ($8.5 million) annually, local media have reported citing the Turkish defense minister.
Russian Deputy PM Urges UN Response to Asteroid Threat RIA Novosti 23 Feb 2013 -- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Saturday a global system to protect our planet from asteroids and other dangerous space objects should be created under the auspices of the United Nations.
Russia to Aim for 15% of Global Space Market – Medvedev RIA Novosti 23 Feb 2013 -- Russia plans to increase its share of the global space market from the current 10 percent to 15 percent, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview published on Saturday.
US Antares Rocket Completes Hotfire Test RIA Novosti 23 Feb 2013 -- The new medium-sized rocket intended for missions to the International Space Station successfully completed the final ground test on Friday evening, its developer said.
Progress Freighter Resets Space Station Orbit RIA Novosti 22 Feb 2013 -- The engines of a Russian Progress M-17M space freighter were fired on Friday to readjust the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS), a Russian space agency spokesman said on Friday.
Police Carry Out Searches in Space Firm Fraud Case RIA Novosti 22 Feb 2013 -- Police have conducted searches as part of an investigation into alleged fraud at a satellite communications company, the Interior Ministry's Moscow branch said on Friday, but did not give further details.
Patriot missile students run exercise with UAE soldiers Army News 21 Feb 2013 -- Recently, the Air Defense Artillery Patriot School at 3rd Battalion, 6th ADA planned and executed the first Combined Capstone Exercise (CAPEX) with U.S. and United Arab Emirates soldiers.
Russian Military to Develop Anti-Meteorite Defenses RIA Novosti 20 Feb 2013 -- The Russian Aerospace Defense Forces will develop a series of measures aimed at protecting the Russian soil from falling meteorites and other dangerous space objects, commander of the western military district's aviation Maj. Gen. Igor Makushev said on Wednesday.
Australian Summit Ponders Mining in Space VOA 20 Feb 2013 -- Academics, miners and space industrialists are gathering in Sydney Wednesday to discuss the possibilities and logistics of mining other planets. Scientists argue that they will eventually overcome the huge expenses and technical difficulties of extracting minerals from asteroids, and even the Moon or Mars.
Russian Officials Say City Survived 'Space Attack VOA 18 Feb 2013 -- The governor of Russia's meteorite-hit Chelyabinsk region wants world leaders to come to his remote region to discuss how the international community can defend against such threats in the future.
Meteorite Fireball Slams Into Russia, 1,000 Hurt RIA Novosti 16 Feb 2013 -- A flaming meteorite streaked across the sky and slammed into central Russia on Friday with a massive boom that blew out windows and damaged thousands of buildings around the city of Chelyabinsk, injuring more than 1,000 people in the area, officials said.
Deputy Prime Minister Backs New Space Defense System RIA Novosti 16 Feb 2013 -- Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin on Saturday backed calls to establish a new system to identify and neutralize threats in space.
NATO Reassures Russia Over Turkey Patriot Deployment RIA Novosti 15 Feb 2013 -- NATO representatives have assured Russia the deployment of Patriot missile systems in Turkey is not preparation for an offensive operation against Syria.
AF splits space, missile career field for officers AFNS 15 Feb 2013 -- The Air Force has split the space and missile career field in an effort to ensure more focused development for officers performing these critical missions in increasingly complex operational environments.
Russian Meteor Fall Injures Hundreds RFE/RL 15 Feb 2013 -- Officials says hundreds of people have sought medical assistance in central Russia's Ural Mountains after a meteor burned up in the lower atmosphere.
Meteorite Hits Central Russia, Hurting Hundreds RIA Novosti 15 Feb 2013 -- A hail of meteorite fragments fell in central Russia on Friday morning, hurting hundreds of people and damaging thousands of buildings.
Meteor Causes Panic in Russia VOA 15 Feb 2013 -- Russian officials say a meteor hit in the Chelyabinsk region, near the country’s Ural Mountains, setting off blasts that injured more than 750 people, mainly by broken glass.
Russian Nuclear Sites Unharmed by Meteors – Atomic Agency RIA Novosti 15 Feb 2013 -- The hail of meteor pieces that hit Russia fell in a region with a cluster of major nuclear facilities, including the country’s largest nuclear fuel-processing plant.
Russian Meteorite Not Asteroid Debris – Space Agency RIA Novosti 15 Feb 2013 -- The meteorite that hit Russia’s Urals morning was not debris from the 2012 DA14 asteroid which is due to pass close by the Earth later the same day.
Uganda Ready to Get Its Space Program Off the Ground VOA 15 Feb 2013 -- The African Space Research Program, based in Uganda, has announced that it is ready to launch its first probe into space.
Asteroid Safely Passes Earth VOA 15 Feb 2013 -- A massive asteroid has safely passed Earth in the closest known flyby ever for a rock that large.
Large Asteroid Safely Passes Earth RFE/RL 15 Feb 2013 -- A large cosmic rock safely has flown past Earth.
Asteroid Close Call is a ‘Celestial Torpedo’ RIA Novosti 15 Feb 2013 -- An asteroid about the size of a 15-story building that will “narrowly” streak by the planet Earth ought to serve as a warning that a serious collision is ‘a matter of time.’
North Korean Actions Raise Stakes for US Missile Defense VOA 14 Feb 2013 -- North Korea's latest nuclear test, coupled with its successful long-range rocket launch in December, is prompting renewed attention to the state of U.S. missile defenses.
Iran keen to cooperate with Russia on aerospace IRNA 14 Feb 2013 -- Iran is interested in cooperation with Russia in the field of aerospace, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said.
Asteroid's Spin Intrigues Astronomers VOA 14 Feb 2013 -- Astronomers hope to learn more about Asteroid 2012 DA14's features and composition as it flies past Earth at about 7.8 kilometers per second.
Readout of the President's Call with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe The White House 13 Feb 2013
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Intercepts Target Using Space Tracking and Surveillance System-Demonstrators Data DoD 13 Feb 2013
Space-Based Sensors Star in "Stellar Eyes" Missile Defense Test NNS 13 Feb 2013 -- The Navy's Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System scored another hit for the Missile Defense Agency on the Pacific Missile Range.
Iran, Russia to strengthen cooperation on space science IRNA 13 Feb 2013 -- In the 10th meeting of Iranian and Russian officials, the two sides agreed on strengthening mutual cooperation on space science.
Kazakhstan, Russia Compromise on New Space Port RIA Novosti 13 Feb 2013 -- The new Kazakh-Russian space launch facility, Baiterek, will be modified for the launch of Zenit carrier rockets, Kazakhstan’s National Space Agency Kazcosmos head Talgat Musabayev said.
Images May be Evidence of Milky Way's Youngest Black Hole VOA 13 Feb 2013 -- Astronomers may have found the most recent black hole to form in our galaxy, and they think it could have been born in a rare explosion caused by a dying star.
Iran Wants to Develop Space Ties with Russia – Minister RIA Novosti 12 Feb 2013 -- Iran intends to develop space cooperation with Russia, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said.
Progress Space Freighter Docks with ISS RIA Novosti 12 Feb 2013 -- The Progress M-18M spacecraft, launched on Monday, performed an automated docking with the International Space Station early on Tuesday.
US Space Agency NASA Blasts Earth-Observing Satellite Into Orbit RIA Novosti 12 Feb 2013 -- The US space agency NASA launched its most advanced earth-observing satellite into space, continuing a four-decade initiative to track from space the effect humans have on the earth’s environment.
Astronomers to Study Asteroid during Close Shave RIA Novosti 12 Feb 2013 -- US astronomers will seek to determine the precise spin of the 2012 DA14 asteroid when it will be passing the Earth on February 15 by the smallest-ever recorded margin.
Russia Orbits Progress Space Freighter RIA Novosti 11 Feb 2013 -- A Progress M-18M cargo spacecraft was launched from the Baikonur site in Kazakhstan and put into orbit.
President: Iran launched living creature into space for first time IRNA 10 Feb 2013 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday that the Iranian experts sent a living creature to space for the first time and returned it safe and sound.
Curiosity Rover Gets First Martian Bedrock Samples RIA Novosti 10 Feb 2013 -- NASA's Curiosity rover has become the first spacecraft ever to drill into a Martian rock and collect stone powder samples for further study, NASA said on its website on Saturday.
Russian Progress M-16M Fragments Sink in Pacific RIA Novosti 09 Feb 2013 -- Fragments of Russia's Progress M-16M cargo spacecraft that did not burn up in the Earth's atmosphere splashed down in a non-navigational area of the Pacific on Saturday, Mission Control said.
Arianespace Orbits Azerbaijani, Spanish Satellites RIA Novosti 08 Feb 2013 -- Arianespace has successfully launched two telecommunications satellites from French Guiana, the French space transportation company has reported.
Archangels continue satellite control legacy Army News 05 Feb 2013 -- Alpha Company at Fort Detrick began its existence as the first Satellite Operation Center in 1982. Since then, the Archangels (Alpha) have led the 53rd Signal Battalion (Satellite Control) in several technological advancements to better serve the United States Military in the ever-increasing need for satellite communications.
Russia Launches Six Globalstar-2 Satellites RIA Novosti 06 Feb 2013 -- A Russian Soyuz-2.1a rocket with six Globalstar-2 low-orbit communication satellites lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Wednesday, Russia's Federal Space Agency, known as Roscosmos, said after the launch.
Year's First Baikonur Space Launch Postponed Due to Weather RIA Novosti 05 Feb 2013 -- This year's first space launch from the Baikonur space port has been postponed until Wednesday due to bad weather, the Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said on Tuesday.
First Iranian astronaut to be sent to space by next six years IRNA 04 Feb 2013 -- Iranian Space Agency official Mohammad Ebrahimi said on Monday that heavy consignments will be sent to the space in the next six years including astronaut.
Iran's Ahmadinejad Ready to Fly Into Space – News Agency RIA Novosti 04 Feb 2013 -- A week after Iran sent a monkey into orbit, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he is ready to become the country's first astronaut, Iran's Mehr news agency reported on Monday.
Zenit Engine Worked Normally - Roscosmos RIA Novosti 02 Feb 2013 -- The first stage engine of the Zenit-2S rocket that failed shortly after Friday's launch operated in the normal regime during and after the liftoff, the press service of the Russian space agency Roscosmos said.
Iran indigenization of aerospace technology fully operational IRNA 01 Feb 2013 -- Iran fully indigenized aerospace cycle’s technology by sending living creatures into space aboard an home-made bio-capsule.
Zenit Rocket Launch Fails as Engine Shuts Down RIA Novosti 01 Feb 2013 -- A Zenit-3SL rocket carrying an Intelsat-27 telecoms satellite crashed into the Pacific Ocean shortly after launch.

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