December 2015 Space News

Analysts: More Problems Ahead for Russian Space Agency VOA 30 Dec 2015 -- Russia's President Vladimir Putin liquidated the Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, on Monday – and replaced it with a state corporation, still called Roscosmos.
China sends sophisticated satellite into Earth orbit Press TV 30 Dec 2015 -- China has launched a highly sophisticated satellite specifically designed to observe the Earth with high-definition imaging equipment.
Russia Reduces Reliance on Foreign Satellite Data - Space Agency Sputnik 29 Dec 2015 -- Russia has significantly reduced its dependency on foreign remote sensing satellites.
Russia Postpones Plans on Extensive Moon Exploration Until 2025 Sputnik 29 Dec 2015 -- The Russian space agency Roscosmos will give up on manned flights to the Moon and related activities at least until 2025, the Russian Izvestia newspaper reported Tuesday, citing the updated version of the Federal Space Program (FSP).
Israel fires head of missile programs over breach of security information Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- Israel has fired the head of its missile programs over what has been described as a "grave" breach of security information.
Israeli Missile Defense Program Chief Sacked Over Info Security Breach Sputnik 27 Dec 2015 -- The head of the Israeli missile defense program, Yair Ramati, has been fired on Sunday for committing "severe information security violations," the country's Defense Ministry said.
US burned $231 million over sat-aided missile system: Report Press TV 26 Dec 2015 -- A new report details how the United States government threw away over $230 million of taxpayer money on a failed satellite-aided missile system.
China's Yutu rover finds a new kind of moon rock People's Daily 24 Dec 2015 -- The Chinese moon rover Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, has identified a new type of moon rock, according to a study published Tuesday in Nature Communications.
Russia, India Agree to Boost Cooperation in Space Exploration Sputnik 24 Dec 2015 -- Russia and India have affirmed common dedication to further collaborate in developing space exploration, rocket manufacture and engine manufacture, according to a joint statement published Thursday following talks between the two countries' leaders.
Good Riddance: Germany Withdraws Patriot Missiles From Turkey Sputnik 23 Dec 2015 -- Germany has moved its Patriot air-defense systems out of Turkey as its military mission in the country expires next month.
45th SW launches ORBCOMM, lands first stage booster AFNS 22 Dec 2015 -- The 45th Space Wing successfully supported the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket during its mission to put ORBCOMM's OG2 communications satellites into orbit Dec. 21.
Russian, US Space Companies Seal Satellite Deal for First Time Sputnik 22 Dec 2015 -- Russia's Dauria Aerospace completed the first ever private space contract with a US company.
SpaceX Achieves Long Sought Historic Feat in Rocket Launch VOA 21 Dec 2015 -- Six months after one of its rockets exploded after launch, privately-owned SpaceX resumed operations Monday with a dramatic nighttime launch and a historic landing of its first-stage booster.
David's Sling Missile Defense Ready for 2016 Deployment to Israel Sputnik 21 Dec 2015 -- The US military completed the final milestone before authorizing delivery of an operational missile defense against large caliber rockets to Israel, the US Department of Defense announced in a news release on Monday.
U.S. 6th Fleet Receives Aegis Ashore-Romania from MDA NNS 18 Dec 2015 -- U.S. Ambassador to Romania Mr. Hans Klemm and Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu announced the major military components of the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System in Romania have been transferred to Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, during a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dec. 18.
US, NATO announce completion of a new missile site in Romania Press TV 18 Dec 2015 -- The US and NATO have announced the completion of a new missile site in southern Romania to supposedly thwart potential threats from the Middle East.
China launches satellite to shed light on invisible dark matter People's Daily 17 Dec 2015 -- China on Thursday sent into space the country's first space telescope in a fresh search for smoking-gun signals of dark matter, invisible material that scientists say makes up most of the universe's mass.
Russia, China Sign Range of Space Industry Agreements Sputnik 17 Dec 2015 -- Russia's space agency Roscosmos signed a cooperation agreement on Thursday with China National Space Administration.
Putin Hopes Vostochny Comsodrome Completed According to Schedule Sputnik 17 Dec 2015 -- Russian President hopes that the completion and the first launch from the Vostochny space center would be carried out according to the schedule.
Russian weapons can neutralize US missile system: General Press TV 16 Dec 2015 -- The head of Russia's strategic missile forces says Moscow is in possession of missiles capable of disabling the United States' so-called anti-missile shield.
Moscow Confirms Suspension of Russian-Ukrainian 'Dnepr' Rocket Launches Sputnik 16 Dec 2015 -- Russia's Strategic Missile Forces (SMF) Commander said that Launches of Russian-Ukrainian carrier rockets have been suspended in accordance with President Vladimir Putin's decree.
New Crew Arrives at International Space Station Sputnik 15 Dec 2015 -- The Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft carrying three Expedition 46 members docked on Tuesday with the ISS.
Russia, China to Finalize Satellite Navigation Chip Set Deal by Year-End Sputnik 14 Dec 2015 -- Russia and China will finalize an agreement to establish two joint ventures to develop, manufacture and sell new satellite navigation devices.
Russia Puts Military Satellite Into Orbit on December 13 Sputnik 13 Dec 2015 -- According to Russia's Defense Ministry, a military satellite launched on the Proton-M carrier rocket has been put into orbit.
Houston, We Don't Have a Problem: ISS Crew Returns Safely to Earth Sputnik 11 Dec 2015 -- The Expedition 44/45 crew of the International Space Station has safely returned to Earth.
US Tests SM-3 Interceptors for Romanian, Polish Missile Defense Shields Sputnik 11 Dec 2015 -- The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Ballistic Missile Defense Systems (BMDS) conducted flight tests of its land-based Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors to be deployed in Romania later this year, MDA Director Vice Adm. James Syring said.
Standard Missile Completes First Intercept Test from Aegis Ashore Test Site MDA 10 Dec 2015 -- The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) Operational Test Agency, in conjunction with U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. European Command, and Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, successfully conducted the first intercept flight test today (December 9, Hawaii Standard Time) of a land-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) weapon system and Standard Missile (SM)-3 Block IB Threat Upgrade guided missile, launched from the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), Kauai, Hawaii.
IMDO and MDA Successfully Complete First Arrow-3 Ballistic Missile Defense Engagement MDA 10 Dec 2015 -- The Israel Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) of the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) conducted a successful first engagement of a ballistic missile target with the Arrow-3 interceptor on December 10, 2015.
Israel, US carry out missile system test Press TV 10 Dec 2015 -- Israel and the United States have test-fired an advanced ballistic missile system that has received extensive funding and technical assistance from the US.
Israel Tests Arrow 3 Missile Defense System, Target Locked On From Space Sputnik 10 Dec 2015 -- Israel successfully carried out a test on locking on a missile target from space using its Arrow 3 missile defense system.
United Nations Adopts Russia's Move to Restrict Space Weapons Sputnik 10 Dec 2015 -- The United Nations adopted a Russian-led resolution calling for a restriction against placing the first weapons in outer space, thereby preventing an arms race that could have catastrophic consequences.
AMC C-17 facilitates airdrop for Missile Defense Agency test AFNS 09 Dec 2015 -- Over the summer, the Air Force Test Center sent a C-17 Globemaster III with air and maintenance crews from Edwards Air Force Base to Hawaii, but it was no vacation. The crews worked 24-hour shifts for several months to support a Missile Defense Agency test of the Ballistic Missile Defense System over the western Pacific Ocean.
NAWCWD hosts MDA, Japanese for live-fire test of SM-3 Block IIA missile NNS 09 Dec 2015 -- Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, California hosted a live-fire test of the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA missile, a 21-inch diameter Standard Missile variant cooperatively developed by the United States and Japan for use with the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense program, on Dec. 8.
SASC Chairman McCain Sends Letter On Russian Rocket Engines And U.S. National Security Space Launch Program Sen. McCain 09 Dec 2015 -- U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on the Department of Defense’s national security space launch program and its continued reliance on Russian-made rocket engines.
U.S.-Japan Cooperative Development Project Conducts Successful Flight Test of Standard Missile-3 Block IIA MDA 08 Dec 2015 -- The Japan Ministry of Defense (MOD) Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, announced the successful completion of a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA flight test from the Point Mugu Sea Range, San Nicolas Island, California.
Japan Will Continue Using ISS Until 2024 Sputnik 08 Dec 2015 -- Japan has agreed to continue using the International Space Station (ISS) until 2024, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday.
45th Space Wing supports NASA launch AFNS 07 Dec 2015 -- The 45th Space Wing supported NASA's successful launch of Orbital ATK CRS-4, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket to the International Space Station from Space Launch Complex 41, Dec. 6.
Russia Loses Advanced Military Satellite After Launch RFE/RL 07 Dec 2015 -- Russian officials say they have lost contact with a newly developed military satellite that failed to separate from its booster rocket after being launched.
Russian Defense Ministry Conducts Final GLONASS Tests - Developer Sputnik 07 Dec 2015 -- Russia's GLONASS satellite navigation system has been handed to the Defense Ministry for final tests.
Cygnus Cargo Spacecraft Launched From Florida Toward ISS Sputnik 07 Dec 2015 -- NASA reported that orbital ATK on Sunday launched its Cygnus cargo ship from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to resupply astronauts at the International Space Station after postponing the launch twice over weather conditions.
Tokyo Considering Advanced US Air Defense Systems to Counter N.Korea Sputnik 03 Dec 2015 -- The Japanese Defense Ministry could deploy advanced US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems during the next five-year defense buildup program starting in 2019.
Washington Left in the Dust: Russia Flies Strategic Space Warfare Missile Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- Moscow carried out the first successful flight test of its new anti-satellite missile last month, becoming just the second nation to arm its military with space warfare weapons.

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