February 2014 Space News

Russia Moves to Reinforce Space Ties With Kazakhstan RIA Novosti 28 Feb 2014 -- Russia has tentatively approved a new agreement to strengthen space ties with Kazakhstan, which currently hosts Russia's largest launch facility.
Russia Plans $55.3Bln Expenditure On Aerospace Defense by 2020 RIA Novosti 28 Feb 2014 -- Russia's military will invest 2 trillion rubles ($55.3 billion) in building up its aerospace defense weapons over the next six years, defense officials said Friday.
Russia to Start Building New Manned Rocket Launch Pad in 2015 RIA Novosti 25 Feb 2014 -- Russia is planning to start construction of a launch pad for a new heavy-class carrier rocket at a future space center in the Far East next year to set the stage for its maiden manned launch in 2018.
Hundreds of Violations Found at Far East Space Center RIA Novosti 25 Feb 2014 -- Investigators in Russia said Tuesday that they have detected 800 legal violations, mainly of labor regulations, during checks on construction work at the Vostochny space center in the Far East region of Amur.
Shelton announces new space situational awareness satellite program AFNS 24 Feb 2014 -- The commander of Air Force Space Command announced a new satellite program during a speech about the importance of space and cyberspace at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium and Technology exposition, Feb. 21, here.
Revealed: US to track other countries' spacecraft Iran Press TV 24 Feb 2014 -- The US Air Force has unveiled a previously secret program for keeping tabs on other countries' spacecraft as well as tracking space debris.
Russia to Boost Manpower on New Space Center Construction RIA Novosti 24 Feb 2014 -- Work on Russia's new Far Eastern Vostochny space center will be prioritized now that the Winter Olympics in Sochi has come to an end, a senior official said Monday while touring the facility.
Bilateral U.S., Japan missile defense exercise promotes security and integration AFNS 22 Feb 2014 -- Personnel from the U.S. military and Japan Self Defense Forces engaged in the week-long Integrated Air and Missile Defense Wargame V here to strengthen ties between the two nations and unite missile defense operations through bilateral training.
GPS IIF-5 successfully launched from Cape Canaveral AFNS 21 Feb 2014 -- The U. S. Air Force officials successfully launched the fifth Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellite carried aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV launch vehicle at 8:59 p.m. EST from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., Feb. 20.
New Russian Rocket Mock-Up Rolls Out to Launch Pad RIA Novosti 18 Feb 2014 -- A full-scale mock-up of Russia's first large post-Soviet rocket has been rolled out to a launch pad at the Plesetsk space center.
Russian Proton Rocket Carrying Turkish Satellite Blasts Off From Baikonur RIA Novosti 15 Feb 2014 -- A Proton rocket carrying a Turkish satellite lifted off early Saturday in the first launch of Russia's largest rocket this year, the space agency told RIA Novosti.
China's lunar rover 'wakes up': spokesman People's Daily 13 Feb 2014 -- China's moon rover Yutu is awake after its troubled dormancy but experts are still trying to find out the cause of its abnormality, a spokesman with the country's lunar probe program said on Thursday.
Chinese Lunar Rover, Thought Lost, Comes Back to Life RIA Novosti 13 Feb 2014 -- China's maiden lunar rover, which had earlier been declared lost due to technical problems, has unexpectedly revived itself, the country's state media reported Thursday.
China's troubled Jade Rabbit lunar rover declared dead on moon's surface Voice of Russia 12 Feb 2014 -- China's troubled Jade Rabbit lunar rover has died on the surface of the moon, state media reported Wednesday, in a major setback for the country's ambitious space programme.
USS Donald Cook Begins Forward Deployment to Rota, Spain NNS 11 Feb 2014 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) arrived at Naval Station Rota, Spain to begin her forward deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, Feb. 11.
First of four US Navy ships to support NATO Ballistic Missile Defense arrives in Spain NATO 11 Feb 2014 -- The first of four US Navy destroyers, which will form a centerpiece of NATO's Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) arrived in its new home port at the Spanish Naval Base of Rota, on Tuesday (11 February 2014).
US deploys destroyer to Europe amid Russia concerns Iran Press TV 11 Feb 2014 -- The first of four US missile destroyers has arrived in Europe, an apparent move by Washington to challenge Russia that voiced concerns over the deployment.
Russia-Kazakhstan Working Group to Report on Proton Launches RIA Novosti 11 Feb 2014 -- A Russia-Kazakhstan working group will finalize its recommendations this week on the frequency of launches of the Proton rocket, Kazakh media reported Monday.
Spacecraft Progress M-20M submerged in Pacific Ocean Voice of Russia 11 Feb 2014 -- A supply spacecraft Progress M-20M that was undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on February 3 and then sent to a solo flight for an experiment, was finally submerged in the waters of the Pacific ocean, said a representative of RKA Mission Control Center.
Pentagon needs extra $4.5 bln to fix failed missile defense systems Voice of Russia 08 Feb 2014 -- The United States Department of Defense intends to request $4.5 billion in additional spending over the next five years to boost its missile defense systems, according to a Reuters report.
Remotely piloted aircraft flies first long-duration test using repurposed satellite AFNS 05 Feb 2014 -- Using a repurposed commercial satellite, Air Force crews flew MQ-1 Predators and MQ-9 Reapers from Creech Air Force Base, Nev., during multiple missions in November and December.
Russian Space Cargo Vehicle Docks with ISS RIA Novosti 06 Feb 2014 -- A Progress-M resupply craft that launched Wednesday evening from the Baikonur cosmodrome has successfully docked with the International Space Station, delivering 2 ½ tons of fuel and other supplies.
AF Space Command adds new antennas AFNS 05 Feb 2014 -- The 50th Space Wing here earned operational acceptance for four of its remote tracking station antennas from Air Force Space Command Jan. 29, signaling the start of full operations for the Air Force's newest satellite communication assets.
Russian Soyuz Launches Progress Craft Carrying ISS Supplies RIA Novosti 05 Feb 2014 -- A Russian Soyuz-U rocket blasted off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on Wednesday evening carrying a Progress-M resupply vehicle loaded with cargo for the International Space Station.
Russian Soyuz launches space ship with goldfish on board to ISS Voice of Russia 05 Feb 2014 -- A Russian Soyuz-U rocket blasted off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on Wednesday evening carrying a Progress-M resupply vehicle loaded with cargo for the International Space Station, including a container with goldfish.
Russian Premier Inks Asset Merger for New Space Corporation RIA Novosti 04 Feb 2014 -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a government directive Monday consolidating space industry assets under a single state-controlled corporation.
US sends ballistic missile destroyer to Spain to support NATO missile shield Voice of Russia 03 Feb 2014 -- The US deployed a ballistic missile defense destroyer to Spain to boost NATO's anti-missile shield in Europe. Washington says the deployment is aimed at curbing possible missile threats from Iran while Russia considers the move as a national security threat.
Iran unveils two domestically developed satellites Iran Press TV 03 Feb 2014 -- The Islamic Republic of Iran has unveiled two indigenously developed satellites that could be used for a variety of purposes.
Russia may quit START III after US deploys destroyer in Europe Voice of Russia 02 Feb 2014 -- If the US continues to boost its anti-missile capabilities through developing missile defense system in Europe, Russia may have no other option but to withdraw from the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), warns the Russian Foreign Ministry's top disarmament official, Mikhail Ulyanov.

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