April 2015 Space News

Mission Over: Progress Cargo Vessel Begins Spinning Out of Orbit Sputnik 29 Apr 2015 -- The Progress cargo vessel that failed to dock with the ISS has begun a gradual uncontrolled descent from its orbit, a source in the Russian space industry said Wednesday.
Progress Cargo Vessel Docking With Space Station Canceled Sputnik 29 Apr 2015 -- The docking of the Progress cargo vessel with the International Space Station has been called off and the vessel may continue spinning in space until it drops into the Earth's atmosphere and burns up, a rocket space industry source told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
45th SW successfully launches first Turkmenistan satellite AFNS 28 Apr 2015 -- For the second time in a 14-day span, the 45th Space Wing conducted a successful launch on the Eastern Range from Launch Complex 40 April 27.
Air Force Will Defend, Boost Space Assets, General Says AFPS 28 Apr 2015 -- Space is absolutely vital to the American way of life and it is also vital to the protection of the nation, the commander of Air Force Space Command told the Defense Writers' Group here this morning.
Turkmenistan's First Telecommunications Satellite Put Into Orbit RFE/RL 28 Apr 2015 -- Turkmenistan's first telecommunications satellite has been put into orbit.
Russia to Create World's First Rocket Engine Manufacturing Holding Sputnik 28 Apr 2015 -- Russia is set to create world's first rocket and missile engine manufacturing holding, which will bring together Russian manufacturers of engines for rockets and missiles.
Decision Time for Progress Cargo Vessel Before Complete Radio Contact Lost Sputnik 28 Apr 2015 -- A decision on the different variants of the Progress cargo vessel docking with the International Space Station (ISS) needs to be made by late Tuesday afternoon before the vessel loses complete contact by Russian radio systems, a source in the space rocket industry told RIA Novosti.
Egyptian Space Authority Denies Losing Control of EgyptSat 2 Satellite Sputnik 25 Apr 2015 -- On Thursday, the Russian Izvestiya newspaper reported, citing a source in the RSC Energia (Russian rocket and space corporation), that EgyptSat 2 on April 14 did not respond to commands from the Earth and control over the satellite was lost.
James Webb Space Telescope Progresses Toward Launch VOA 23 Apr 2015 -- While the space community is looking back this week to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, workers in an airtight cleanroom at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, are looking ahead three years, to the launch of its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope.
Congress: Pentagon Can't Use Russian & Chinese Weather Satellites Sputnik 24 Apr 2015 -- No matter their differences, any two people can still manage a conversation about one thing: weather. But for the Pentagon, even atmospheric phenomenon can become a political flashpoint, as it may soon be forbidden from using Russian or Chinese weather satellites.
Russia to Continue Development of Nuclear Engine for Deep Space Flights Sputnik 24 Apr 2015 -- Russia will continue its plans to create a nuclear engine for deep space flights, according to the country's 2016-2025 Federal Space Program.
Russia Ready to Help Brazil Develop Space Centers, Rockets - Deputy PM Sputnik 24 Apr 2015 -- Russia is ready to work with Brazil in the space industry to develop new space centers and Cyclone rockets for launches, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Friday.
Hubble Telescope Celebrates 25 Years in Space VOA 23 Apr 2015 -- The Hubble Space Telescope is an orbiting workhorse. Over the past quarter century, it has sent back thousands of images of nearby planets and the most remote galaxies, expanding our knowledge of the universe in ways previously unimagined.
Russian Rocket Or Missile Crashes After Launch RFE/RL 22 Apr 2015 -- Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry says an experimental rocket or missile crashed shortly after being launched on April 22 in the northwestern region of Arkhangelsk.
Russia to Increase Orbital Grouping to 181 Satellites - Roscosmos Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- Russia's orbital grouping will be expanded to 181 satellites as a result of the implementation of the new Federal Space Program for 2016-2025, the head of the Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, said on Wednesday.
Poland Buys Patriot Missiles as NATO Ramps Up Military Capacity Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- Poland has announced it is to buy Raytheon's Patriot missiles from the United States and has provisionally selected French Airbus Group helicopters as it speeds up the modernization of its military amid tensions with Russia.
Russia Abandons Plans to Build Super-Heavy Carrier Rocket From Scratch Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- Russia will not develop a super-heavy space launch vehicle in the near future, but will modify a heavy Angara-A5 rocket to lift super-heavy loads, Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said Wednesday.
Russia Cuts Budget for New Space Program by $15Bln Due to Crisis Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- Russia's draft Federal Space Program for 2016-2025 envisions budget cuts by more than 800 billion rubles ($15 bln) to 2 trillion rubles ($37 bln), Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said Wednesday.
Russia's missile warning system financed in full despite economic woes - defense firm TASS 22 Apr 2015 -- Negative trends in the Russian economy have not affected the financing of Russia's missile early warning system, defense technology firm RTI Deputy Chief Designer Dmitry Stupin said on Wednesday.
Polish President Enhances His Campaign by Pledging to Buy US Missiles Sputnik 21 Apr 2015 -- Poland will negotiate with the United States an agreement to purchase a set of medium-range Patriot air defense systems, Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said Tuesday.
US Welcomes Poland's Decision to Purchase Patriot Missile System Sputnik 21 Apr 2015 -- The Embassy of the United States in Warsaw praised Poland's decision to purchase Patriot medium-range surface-to-air missile systems as part of a $10-billion integrated defense program.
Poland will buy US Patriot air defense systems - Polish Defense Ministry TASS 21 Apr 2015 -- Poland has chosen the supplier for its national missile defense system. According to the country's Defense Ministry, it is the US company Raytheon, the manufacturer of Patriot air defense missile systems.
Shoigu: Non-strategic missile shield in Europe capable of providing regional security TASS 16 Apr 2015 -- Formation of a non-strategic European missile shield may be one of the ways to settle the issue concerning controversial US plans on setting up its missile shield in Europe, which Russia strongly opposes, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Thursday.
Work: Space Domain Presents Challenges, Threats AFPS 16 Apr 2015 -- In a candid and passionate speech, Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work yesterday asked members of the space community to help the United States maintain its edge in the space domain in the 21st century.
45th Space Wing supports 6th SpaceX re-supply mission AFNS 15 Apr 2015 -- The 45th Space Wing supported Space Exploration Technologies' (SpaceX) successful launch of their Falcon 9 Dragon spacecraft headed to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 40, here April 14.
Russian Federal Space Program Financing to 2025 Set at Around $40 Billion Sputnik 15 Apr 2015 -- Financing for Russia's federal space program through 2025 will be approximately $40 billion, the scientific technical council for Russia's space agency Roscosmos said Wednesday.
No consultation on THAAD during S. Korea, U.S. defense ministers' talks People's Daily 10 Apr 2015 -- No consultation was made Friday about the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), on the Korean Peninsula during talks between South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo and visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter.
Moscow accuses US, NATO of trying to invent new grounds for missile shield in Europe TASS 10 Apr 2015 -- The United States and NATO refuse to take into consideration the progress in resolving the crisis over Iran's nuclear program in deployment of the missile defense shield in Europe, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
Carter: No Plans Yet to Deploy Advanced Missile System in South Korea VOA 10 Apr 2015 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, on a visit to South Korea, said the U.S. military is preparing to deploy new weapons in the region, including stealth fighters and different classes of naval vessels, but is not yet prepared to discuss deployment of an advanced missile defense system.
US Denies Reports of High Altitude Defense Deployment in South Korea Sputnik 08 Apr 2015 -- The United States is not discussing the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile interceptor battery on the Korean Peninsula with its South Korean partners, US Assistant Secretary of Arms Control Frank Rose told the press.
Space warning squadron keeps watch at 'top of the world' AFNS 07 Apr 2015 -- Located at the "top of the world," the 12th Space Warning Squadron's location offers a unique and strategic vantage point in the execution of its missile warning and defense, and space surveillance missions in support of U. S. Strategic Command.
US Stands on Need for European Missile Defense Regardless of Iran Deal Sputnik 07 Apr 2015 -- The United States will not change its stance on the need for missile defense systems in Europe even after a preliminary deal was struck last week by the P5+1 and Tehran Group on Iran's nuclear program, a US State Department official told Sputnik in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
Rogozin Vows Spaceport to Be Completed Without Any More Corruption Scandals Sputnik 05 Apr 2015 -- Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin has vowed that the construction of Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome will be completed without any further corruption scandals.
Missile Research Misfires: How the US Spent $10 Bln on Doomed Defense Plans Sputnik 05 Apr 2015 -- America's Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX) was at one point designed to become 'the most powerful radar of its kind in the world', but ended up as a $2.2 billion flop; together with three other unworkable programs launched by the country's Missile Defense Agency, it has left a hole in US homeland defense, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Russia will launch first sattelite of Missile Attack Warning System in July-December 2015 TASS 02 Apr 2015 -- Russian Defense Ministry has issued a report on a forthcoming expansion of the national orbital grouping of the space echelon of the Missile Attack Warning System (MAWS).

NEWSLETTER

Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list