May 2013 Space News

Russia to Launch New Spy Satellite in June RIA Novosti 31 May 2013 -- The Russian military will launch a new reconnaissance satellite from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia on June 8.
Rocket Engine Maker Proton-PM to Invest in New Products RIA Novosti 31 May 2013 -- Russian rocket engine maker Proton-Permskiye Motory plans to spend 39 million rubles ($1.2 million) on modernizing production of engines.
Giant Asteroid Zooming by Earth on Friday Has its Own Moon RIA Novosti 31 May 2013 -- A giant asteroid will zip past Earth at the relatively close space distance of 3.6 million miles (5.8 million km).
Russians Propose Space Billiards for Planetary Defense RIA Novosti 31 May 2013 -- The meteorite that blew up over Russia’s Urals in mid-February, leaving 1,500 injured, came as a striking reminder of how vulnerable we are on our small, blue planet.
NASA: Shielding, New Propulsion Tech Needed for Mission to Mars VOA 30 May 2013 -- The U.S. space agency is relying on findings from an ongoing, unmanned mission to Mars.
Astronauts on Mars Mission Face Dangerous Radiation RIA Novosti 30 May 2013 -- Flying to Mars in the spacecraft available would expose astronauts to radiation levels that could significantly boost their risk of contracting cancer.
Asteroid 1998 QE2 to Make Close Encounter VOA 30 May 2013 -- A 2.7-kilometer-wide asteroid will pass within 5.8 million kilometers of Earth on Friday, May 31.
Astronomers Spot 'Anti-glitch' Neutron Star VOA 30 May 2013 -- Astronomers are used to seeing neutron stars suddenly increase their rate of spin, but they recently witnessed one suddenly slowing down.
Russia’s Soyuz Spacecraft Docks with ISS RIA Novosti 29 May 2013 -- The Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft, carrying three new crew members to the ISS, docked with the station.
Soyuz Spacecraft with New ISS Crew Blasts off from Baikonur RIA Novosti 29 May 2013 -- A Soyuz-FG carrier rocket blasted off from the Baikonur space center to take the Soyuz TMA-09M spacecraft with new crew members to the ISS.
International Crew Blasts Off For Space Station VOA 28 May 2013 -- A veteran Russian cosmonaut, a rookie Italian astronaut and an American mother on her second flight blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Astronauts Confirmed for This Week’s ISS Expedition RIA Novosti 27 May 2013 -- Russian officials confirmed which astronauts would blast off for the ISS on May 29.
Missiles but No Meteorites on US-Russian Agenda – Official RIA Novosti 25 May 2013 -- The United States plans to collaborate with Russia on missile issues and Afghanistan, but not planetary defense from space threats, a senior US diplomat said Saturday.
Air Force Telecoms Satellite Launches in US RIA Novosti 25 May 2013 -- A Delta IV rocket successfully launched a Wideband Global SATCOM 5 satellite from Cape Canaveral on 20:27 EDT (4:27 Moscow time) Friday, media reported.
Missile Defense Obstructs Nuclear Forces Cuts - General RIA Novosti 23 May 2013 -- The United States' insistence on pursuing a missile defense system in Europe is standing in the way of further cuts to Russia's nuclear deterrent forces, Russia's top general said on Thursday at an international security conference in Moscow.
US Lawmakers Try to Block Sharing Missile Defense Data with Russia RIA Novosti 23 May 2013 -- Republican US lawmakers are taking steps to bar the United States from sharing classified missile defense technology information with Russia, draft legislation that was amended in the US Congress Wednesday shows.
Russia to Launch South Korean Satellite in August RIA Novosti 23 May 2013 -- A Russian rocket will launch South Korea's latest multipurpose Arirang-5 satellite on August 22, Seoul's science ministry said on Thursday.
Russian Spacecraft Manufacturer to Make 4 Launches in 2014 RIA Novosti 23 May 2013 -- Russia's Energia Rocket and Space Corporation will make four launches next year from the Pacific Ocean-based Odyssey platform under the Sea Launch program, corporation president Vitaly Lopota said on Thursday.
Space Telescopes Capture Rare Birth of Mega-Galaxy RIA Novosti 23 May 2013 -- US researchers have captured rare images of the creation of a massive galaxy about 10 times the size of the Milky Way that was formed when two young galaxies collided 11 billion years ago, a study published this week says.
First Light Angara Rocket Ready for Launch - Maker RIA Novosti 22 May 2013 -- Russia's first light-class modification Angara 1.2PP carrier rocket is ready for its maiden launch, its manufacturer Khrunichev Center said on Wednesday.
Russian Satellite a 'Success' Despite Animal Deaths – Official RIA Novosti 22 May 2013 -- Russia's Bion-M1 biological research satellite, which recently carried rodents, microorganisms and plants on a month-long space flight, successfully accomplished its mission, an official said on Wednesday, despite the death of most of the animals on board.
Space Capsule Returns Cosmic Rodents to Earth after Month-Long Flight RIA Novosti 19 May 2013 -- The returnable capsule of a biological research satellite has landed in the Russian Orenburg Region near the border with Kazakhstan, bringing mice, Mongolian gerbils, geckos and various microorganisms and plants back to Earth after their month-long flight, Mission Control said on Sunday.
Astronomers Awaiting Comet ISON's Year-End Spectacular VOA 19 May 2013 -- Excitement has been growing in recent months over the approach of Comet ISON. Like other comets, this chunk of rock and ice is following a long, elliptical orbit around the Sun, and like other comets, when it nears the Sun later this year, its trailing stream of dust and vapor will catch the sunlight and become a long, luminous, tail. Many astronomers are predicting that when this celestial traveler sweeps by us later this year, it could turn out to be 'the comet of the century.'
Russia to Move Angara Rocket to Plesetsk Center by June RIA Novosti 18 May 2013 -- Russia's new super-heavy class Angara carrier rocket will be delivered to the Plesetsk space center for further testing by June, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said.
Russia, France Planning 7 Kourou Launches by 2015 RIA Novosti 18 May 2013 -- Russia and France will carry out seven Soyuz-ST carrier rocket launches from the Kourou space center in French Guiana by the end of 2014, Russia's Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said.
Space Station’s Orbit Raised 2.8 Km RIA Novosti 17 May 2013 -- A Russian Progress M-19M resupply spacecraft readjusted the orbit of the International Space Station.
Tech Company CEOs Arrested in Glonass Embezzlement Case RIA Novosti 17 May 2013 -- The previous and current general directors of high-tech company Synertech have been arrested on suspicion of embezzling funds.
Asteroid Sampling Mission Gets Green Light VOA 17 May 2013 -- NASA’s first mission to rendezvous with an asteroid and return a sample to Earth was given the green light to proceed into the development stage May 15 with the goal of a launch in 2016.
Moon Hit By Largest Meteoroid Impact in 8 Years VOA 17 May 2013 -- The U.S. space agency, NASA, has just spotted the biggest explosion on the Moon in the eight years since the agency has been monitoring lunar impacts caused by meteoroids.
AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense System Completes Successful Intercept Flight Test DoD 16 May 2013
Nimble Titan Increases Multinational Missile Defense Cooperation AFPS 16 May 2013 -- U.S. Strategic Command has been leading an international effort for the past eight years to promote cooperation and interoperability in missile defense around the globe.
GPS IIF-4 successfully launched from Cape Canaveral AFNS 16 May 2013 -- A U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System satellite built by Boeing was successfully launched May 15.
US Sees China Missile Launch as Test of Muscle VOA 16 May 2013 -- The U.S. government believes a Chinese missile launch this week was the first test of a new interceptor that could be used to destroy a satellite in orbit.
Skylab-Era Astronauts Reflect on Life Off Earth VOA 16 May 2013 -- Only four decades ago, scientists didn't know if humans could adapt to long-duration spaceflight.
Russia Boosts Emergencies Space Monitoring RIA Novosti 16 May 2013 -- Russia’s Emergencies Ministry has finalized deployment of a space monitoring system to help ensuring prompt response to emergency situations in the country.
Earth, Moon Share Water Source VOA 16 May 2013 -- The Moon and Earth share the same source of water, according to new research.
Sunsational Show as Solar Flares Shoot into Space RIA Novosti 16 May 2013 -- The sun has put on a spectacular light show in recent days, firing off solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
Russia Orbits European Telecoms Satellite RIA Novosti 15 May 2013 -- A Russian Proton-M launch vehicle delivered early a European telecommunications satellite into a designated orbit.
Kepler Malfunction Imperils Search for Distant Earths VOA 15 May 2013 -- NASA says its Kepler space telescope has been crippled by the failure of one of the mechanical reaction wheels that helps keep it pointed.
Sun Unleashes Massive Solar Flares VOA 15 May 2013 -- The Sun has emitted four giant, X-class flares over the past few days, the most recent coming May 14. X-class flares are the largest class of solar flares.
Stratcom Strives to Build Coalitions for Space Operations AFPS 14 May 2013 -- Officials at U.S. Strategic Command hope to forge a coalition that shares assets and capabilities in space.
Space Station’s Crewmembers Safely Land in Kazakhstan RIA Novosti 14 May 2013 -- The Soyuz TMA-07M landing capsule touched the ground in a designated area in Kazakhstan.
Three-Man ISS Crew Returns To Earth RFE/RL 14 May 2013 -- A Soyuz space capsule carrying a three-man international crew has landed safely on the steppes of Kazakhstan.
Three-Man International Space Station Crew Returns Home VOA 14 May 2013 -- A Soyuz space capsule carrying a three-man international crew has landed safely in central Kazakhstan.
Russia Launches Proton-M with French Telecoms Satellite RIA Novosti 14 May 2013 -- A Proton-M rocket carrying a European telecommunications satellite blasted off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan.
Russia’s Proton-M Spacecraft Set to Orbit French Satellite RIA Novosti 14 May 2013 -- Russia’s Proton-M carrier rocket will blast off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan to put a French telecommunications satellite into orbit.
New Method of Finding Planets Scores First Discovery VOA 14 May 2013 -- Astronomers have found a new exoplanet for the first time using a method that relies on physicist Albert Einstein's special theory of relativity.
Distant Pulsar Lends New Support for Einstein’s Relativity Theory VOA 14 May 2013 -- It seems there are always members of the scientific community who are eager for the chance to knock the air out of Albert Einstein's nearly 100 year-old General Theory of Relativity.
Department of Defense News Briefing with Lt. Gen. Wiercinski from the Pentagon DoD 13 May 2013
15 Aircraft Set to Ensure ISS Crew Lands Safely RIA Novosti 13 May 2013 -- Fifteen aircraft and six rescue vehicles will be deployed to ensure the safe recovery of the Soyuz TMA-07M landing capsule.
Mars One colonization scheme submits 78,000 applications Iran Press TV 12 May 2013 -- Some 78,000 people from 120 countries have applied for a one-way trip project of settlement in the Red Planet run by the Dutch nonprofit company Mars One.
Astronauts Replace Pump to Tackle ISS Ammonia Leak RIA Novosti 11 May 2013 -- Expedition 35 crew members Chris Cassidy and Tom Marshburn have removed and replaced a pump on a cooling system of the International Space Station (ISS) that may be leaking ammonia, NASA said on Saturday.
ISS Astronauts Prepare for Spacewalk to Fix Ammonia Leak RIA Novosti 10 May 2013 -- Astronauts in the US section of the International Space Station (ISS) were preparing for a possible spacewalk to inspect and fix an ammonia leak in a cooling loop, NASA said Friday, hours after the leak was detected.
Officials Call for Continued Ballistic Missile Defense Modernization AFPS 09 May 2013 -- Senior defense officials underscored the importance of ballistic missile defense modernization efforts requested in the fiscal 2014 budget proposal during testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee today.
Russian Satellite to Take Detailed Pictures of Solar Eclipse RIA Novosti 09 May 2013 -- In response to a request posted by bloggers in social networks, Russian space officials have agreed to adjust the work of cameras on a weather satellite to take detailed pictures of the lunar shadow as it moves around the Earth during the May 10 solar eclipse.
Space Station's Orbit to be Raised by 2.6 Km RIA Novosti 08 May 2013 -- Russia's Progress M-19M resupply spacecraft will readjust the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday, a spokesman for the Russian space agency Roscosmos said.
Europe's Vega Launcher Orbits Estonia's First Satellite RIA Novosti 07 May 2013 -- The European light-class carrier rocket Vega, which lifted off from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana on Tuesday, successfully delivered three satellites into orbit, including Estonia's first spacecraft ESTCube-1, Estonian television reported.
Angara Rocket Launch Delayed to 2014 RIA Novosti 06 May 2013 -- The launch of Russia's new Angara carrier rocket has been delayed by at least a year, Defense Ministry officials said on Monday.
NASA Reveals Close Call with Russian Space Junk RIA Novosti 02 May 2013 -- NASA had to fire the thruster engines on the Fermi Gamma-ray Telescope to nudge it out of the way and narrowly avoid a collision.
Scientists Advance Asteroid Detection, Deflection, Detonation Research VOA 02 May 2013 -- Amateur and professional skywatchers all over the world send observations to the Minor Planet Center, which collects information about near-Earth objects.
NASA Explores Technology to Face Asteroid Danger VOA 01 May 2013 -- Asteroids hold promise for space explorers even as they pose a threat to us on Earth.
Egyptian Deities Linked to Cosmic Discoveries VOA 01 May 2013 -- Two ancient Egyptian deities are set to rendezvous in space later this decade, but it's a meeting of a scientific, not mythological, kind.
Colliding Galaxies Offer View into Universe's Past VOA 01 May 2013 -- NASA has released a new image of two massive galaxies colliding.

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