October 2013 Space News

US, Romania begin work on Aegis Ashore missile defense complex Army News 31 Oct 2013 -- Top U.S., Romanian and NATO officials broke ground Monday on a new ballistic missile defense facility being built to boost regional stability and strengthen the alliance's collective security stance.
Astronomers Discover Earth-sized 'Lava Planet' VOA 31 Oct 2013 -- Two teams of astronomers have, for the first time, measured an Earth-sized exoplanet, a planet they say should not exist.
India Prepares for Mars Mission VOA 31 Oct 2013 -- India will launch a spacecraft to Mars on November 5 - an ambitious feat attempted only by a handful of countries. The Red Planet mission marks a major expansion of India's space program as it tries to emerge on the frontlines of space exploration.
Romania starts work on US missile defense base Iran Press TV 29 Oct 2013 -- Romania has begun building a military base that will become part of a controversial US-led NATO missile defense system stationed in Europe.
Iran new satellite ready for lift-off into space: Minister Iran Press TV 29 Oct 2013 -- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan says the country's new domestically designed and manufactured satellite is ready to be launched into orbit, and it will be lifted into space in due time.
Deputy Secretary General attends ballistic missile defence groundbreaking in Romania NATO 28 Oct 2013 -- NATO Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Alexander Vershbow on Monday (28 October 2013) participated in a groundbreaking ceremony of the missile defence facility at the Deveselu airbase in southern Romania. "This facility will be an important part of NATO's overall missile defences in Europe," said Ambassador Vershbow.
Europe's ATV-4 Space Freighter to Undock From ISS RIA Novosti 28 Oct 2013 -- Europe's ATV-4 space freighter will undock from the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday and will enter the Earth's atmosphere five days later, the European Space Agency (ESA) said.
Russia Plans to Spend $22M on Soyuz-2 Launch Pad RIA Novosti 26 Oct 2013 -- Russia's Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, has announced a tender for construction of launch facilities for Soyuz-2 carrier rockets at the future Vostochny spaceport, being built in Russia's Far East.
Russia's Proton-M Rocket Puts US Satellite into Orbit RIA Novosti 26 Oct 2013 -- A US telecoms satellite, Sirius FM-6, was put into orbit on Saturday by Russia's Proton-M rocket, a spokesman for the Russian space agency Roscosmos said.
Russia Mulls Development of New Super-Heavy Carrier Rocket RIA Novosti 25 Oct 2013 -- Russia's Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, is to discuss with leading Russian scientists development of a new launch vehicle capable of carrying up payloads to 70 tons, its head said Friday.
'Most Distant' Galaxy Spotted VOA 24 Oct 2013 -- Astronomers have discovered what they’re calling the most distant galaxy ever found.
Space Station Orbit to Be Adjusted Ahead of Soyuz Docking RIA Novosti 24 Oct 2013 -- The orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) will be raised on Thursday by nearly one kilometer to ensure safe docking of Russia's Soyuz piloted spacecraft with new crew members, a spokesman for the Russian space agency Roscosmos said.
Russia Retires Faulty Glonass-M Satellite RIA Novosti 22 Oct 2013 -- A satellite in the fleet of Russia's answer to GPS has been decommissioned because of a terminal malfunction, space officials said Tuesday.
Cygnus Spacecraft Heads to Fiery End After Leaving Space Station RIA Novosti 22 Oct 2013 -- The Cygnus cargo spacecraft developed by private US company Orbital Sciences undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) Tuesday and headed toward Earth, where it will break up as it re-enters the atmosphere Wednesday, successfully completing the inaugural flight by an Orbital spacecraft, NASA said in a statement.
New Delay Hits Russian Launch of US Satellite RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2013 -- The launch of a Russian Proton-M rocket carrying a US telecoms satellite has been postponed for a second time on the satellite operator's request, the Russian space agency said Monday.
Russia Offers Brazil New Joint Space Projects RIA Novosti 20 Oct 2013 -- Russia and Brazil have discussed prospects of cooperation in the space industry aimed at further development of Brazil's ambitious space program, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
Fighting Asteroids a New Task for Russia's Space Industry RIA Novosti 20 Oct 2013 -- Russia's space agency has a new mission on its plate: fighting asteroids, the organization's head said Sunday.
US Asks Russia to Delay Satellite Launch - Official RIA Novosti 20 Oct 2013 -- The US asked to delay today's launch of a Russian Proton rocket carrying an American commercial satellite after problems with one of its communications centers, a space agency official said Sunday.
Largest Known Star in Universe Tearing Itself Apart VOA 17 Oct 2013 -- The largest star in the known Universe is dying and will soon explode, astronomers said.
Russia to Launch First Private Satellite in Feb. 2014 RIA Novosti 15 Oct 2013 -- Russia will launch its first-ever spacecraft to be 100 percent funded by domestic private capital in February 2014.
Russia to Make Second Attempt at Mars Moon Mission – Scientist RIA Novosti 15 Oct 2013 -- Russia will take a second crack at bringing back dust samples from Phobos, one of the moons of Mars, after an attempt in 2011 ended in the spacecraft crashing back to Earth.
SpaceX's Grasshopper Goes Up, Comes Down VOA 14 Oct 2013 -- What goes up, must come down. And sometimes, the trip back to Earth is just as important as the flight itself.
Iran To Send Second Monkey Into Space – Report RIA Novosti 13 Oct 2013 -- Iranian scientists are planning to send a second monkey into space, state-funded Press TV cited the deputy head of the country's space agency as saying.
Iran to send second monkey into space Iran Press TV 12 Oct 2013 -- Deputy Head of Iran Space Agency (ISA) Hamid Fazeli says the Islamic Republic plans to send another indigenous bio-capsule with a live monkey onboard into space.
Water Discovered in Extrasolar, Rocky World VOA 11 Oct 2013 -- Water has been discovered for the first time on a piece of rocky debris 150 light years away from Earth.
Russia Appoints New Space Chief RIA Novosti 10 Oct 2013 -- Former Deputy Defense Minister Oleg Ostapenko will head up Russia's Federal Space Agency, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday. The move comes as part of a major reshuffle of the country's troubled space industry.
Astronomers Discover Lone Planet with No Star VOA 10 Oct 2013 -- Astronomers have discovered a lone planet, floating in space without a star.
Russian Space Agency Faces Major Reform RIA Novosti 09 Oct 2013 -- The Russian government is set to radically centralize its space industry in a bid to combat major inefficiencies and cut down on the misuse of funds under plans unveiled Wednesday by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.
Iran to put Tadbir satellite into orbit soon: Official Iran Press TV 05 Oct 2013 -- An Iranian aerospace official says the country plans to launch a new advanced indigenous satellite into orbit soon.
Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System Completes Successful Intercept Flight Test MDA 04 Oct 2013 -- The Missile Defense Agency (MDA), U.S. Pacific Command, and U.S. Navy sailors aboard the USS Lake Erie (CG 70) successfully conducted an operational flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system, resulting in the intercept of a medium-range ballistic missile target over the Pacific Ocean by the Aegis BMD 4.0 Weapon System and a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB guided missile.
Russian Experiment Reveals Why Astronauts Lose Their Sight RIA Novosti 04 Oct 2013 -- A top Russian scientist said Friday that an experiment that saw dozens of animals blasted into orbit on a satellite has offered up new clues about why astronauts' eyesight deteriorates in space.
European Space Freighter Raises ISS Orbit RIA Novosti 03 Oct 2013 -- Engines of Europe’s ATV space freighter were switched to raise the station’s orbit.
Russia Plans 4 Proton Rocket Launches by Year-End RIA Novosti 02 Oct 2013 -- Russia is planning to launch four more Proton carrier rockets by the end of this year.
Russia Plans to Use Glonass System to Operate Satellites RIA Novosti 02 Oct 2013 -- The Russian Defense Ministry is planning to use the country’s Glonass global positioning and navigation satellite network to operate other satellites in orbit.
'Cassini' Probe Detects 'Plastic' On Saturn Moon RFE/RL 01 Oct 2013 -- The U.S. "Cassini" spacecraft has detected small amounts of propene - a constituent of many plastics - in the atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon, Titan.

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