April 2016 Space News

US warned over missile system People's Daily 30 Apr 2016 -- Beijing and Moscow urge Washington against starting deployment in the Republic of Korea
Japan to Abandon ASTRO-H Astronomical Satellite After Communication Lost Sputnik 29 Apr 2016 -- The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said that it would abandon the Hitomi (ASTRO-H) X-ray astronomy satellite over a month after communication with the spacecraft was lost.
China and Russia Urge US to Drop THAAD Proposal People's Daily 29 Apr 2016 -- Russia is joining with China in opposing any US plans to establish a missile system in South Ksorea.
China, Russia warn US over Korea missile deployment plan Press TV 29 Apr 2016 -- Russia and China have vowed to mutually counter increasing US military presence on the Korean Peninsula, calling on Washington to forgo the installation of a new anti-missile system in the region.
Going Sky-High: India Successfully Deploys Very Own GPS-Like System Sputnik 28 Apr 2016 -- India has successfully launched and put into orbit its seventh and final navigation satellite of the regional navigation system - IRNSS-1G.
Putin Compares First Launch From Vostochny Cosmodrome With Pudding Sputnik 28 Apr 2016 -- "The proof of the pudding is in the eating!" President Vladimir Putin said after a Soyuz spaceship with three Russian satellites on board lifted off from the newly-built Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far East on Thursday.
Putin Highlights Significance of First Launch From Vostochny Space Center Sputnik 28 Apr 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated the country's space agency Roscosmos on the first launch from the newly-built Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East.
Russia Launches First Rocket From Vostochny Cosmodrome RFE/RL 28 Apr 2016 -- Russia has launched a rocket for the first time from the newly built Vostochny Cosmodrome, one day after a technical glitch thwarted an earlier launch and flustered President Vladimir Putin.
Upset Putin To Stay At Cosmodrome For 2nd Try At Rocket Launch RFE/RL 28 Apr 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has been sharply critical of Russian space officials for the delay of the maiden launch of a rocket from the new Vostochny Cosmodrome.
Putin Reprimands Roscosmos Head, Deputy PM for Delay in Vostochny Launch Sputnik 28 Apr 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued reprimands to Roscosmos head Igor Komarov and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees the country's space industry, for the delay in launching the first rocket from the newly-built Vostochny Cosmodrome, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.
China Launches Kunpeng-1B Sounding Rocket Sputnik 27 Apr 2016 -- China has successfully launched the Kunpeng-1B sounding rocket from a launch pad in Danzhou City in the southern Chinese Hainan Province.
First Launch From Vostochny Space Center Postponed Sputnik 27 Apr 2016 -- The first-ever launch of the carrier rocket "Soyuz-2.1a" from the newly-built Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East is postponed, the reasons are to be investigated.
United States-Republic of Korea Framework Agreement for Cooperation in Aeronautics and the Exploration and Use of Airspace and Outer Space for Civil and Peaceful Purposes US Dept. of State 27 Apr 2016 -- On April 27, 2016, at the opening of the second U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Civil Space Dialogue, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Yun Byung-se and the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Mark Lippert signed a Framework Agreement for Cooperation in Aeronautics and the Exploration and Use of Airspace and Outer Space for Civil and Peaceful Purposes.
Turkey's 'Homemade' Missile Defense System Will be Integrated Into NATO Sputnik 25 Apr 2016 -- Turkey is going to eleborate its own missile defense system, which may be integrated in the NATO-operated one, the head of Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) said Monday.
China open to Sino-U.S. space cooperation People's Daily 25 Apr 2016 -- China is open to space cooperation with all nations including the United States, the heavyweights of China's space program said on Sunday, the anniversary of China's first satellite launch 46 years ago.
China Marks First-ever "Space Day" People's Daily 24 Apr 2016 -- Today marks China's first-ever "Space Day." It's also the 46th anniversary of the successful launch of the country's first satellite, 'Dong Fang Hong' or 'The East is Red.'
Pentagon: Replacing Russian Engines on US Rockets Would Cost Extra $1Bln Sputnik 20 Apr 2016 -- Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Logistics Frank Kendall said that the US armed forces will need to buy Russian RD-180 engines for Atlas rocket boosters to send satellites into space for at least another five years.
Missile Defense Agency Budget Addresses Escalating North Korea, Iran Threats AFPS 14 Apr 2016 -- Escalating threats from North Korea and Iran, including aggressive ballistic missile testing, is pushing the Missile Defense Agency to find increasingly more cost-effective ways to perform its mission, MDA Director Navy Vice Adm. James D. Syring said here yesterday.
US modernizing missile systems against Russia, China: Pentagon Press TV 14 Apr 2016 -- The Pentagon has once again confirmed that it is planning to upgrade its missile systems to protect America from the increasing Russian "provocation," says a senior US military official.
Hyten announces Space Enterprise Vision AFNS 13 Apr 2016 -- Gen. John Hyten, the commander of Air Force Space Command, announced the command's Space Enterprise Vision April 12 at Peterson Air Force Base. The SEV is the result of an AFSPC-commissioned study that looked at how to make the nation's national security space enterprise more resilient.
US to Build Long-Range Radar in Alaska to Eye North Korea's Rockets Sputnik 13 Apr 2016 -- The United States plans to begin construction next year of hyper-sensitive radar in the state of Alaska to monitor North Korean missiles, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Director Vice Admiral James Syring stated in a congressional testimony on Wednesday.
US Experimenting With 'Space-Based Kill' System - Military Official Sputnik 13 Apr 2016 -- The US Missile Defense Agency will obtain 22 sensor systems in orbit to monitor whether incoming missiles have been destroyed by interceptors.
Russia Working on New Generation of Space Rocket Engines - Roscosmos Sputnik 12 Apr 2016 -- The Russian space industry is working on the creation of new rocket engines for advanced launch vehicles, Russia's Federal Space Agency Roscosmos head Igor Komarov said Tuesday.
Out of This World! China Begins Testing Tiangong-2 Space Lab Sputnik 12 Apr 2016 -- China has completed the assembly and started testing its Tiangong-2 space laboratory, local media said on Tuesday.
USSTRATCOM, UAE sign agreement to share space services, data STRATCOM 11 Apr 2016 -- U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) entered into an agreement with the United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAESA) to share space situational awareness (SSA) services and information today at the 32nd Space Symposium.
Space Firm: Russia to Shift All Lunar Launches to Vostochny Cosmodrome Sputnik 11 Apr 2016 -- Russia will stop using the Soviet-era Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for lunar launches, according to Russian-based Rocket and Space Corporation (RSC Energia).
NASA's Kepler telescope enters 'emergency mode' Press TV 10 Apr 2016 -- US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is doing all it can to fix its expensive Kepler telescope that has entered emergency mode 75 million miles from home, putting at risk the world's greatest hope to find habitable planets beyond the boundaries of our solar system.
SpaceX launches inflatable space habitat to ISS, rocket lands on droneship for 1st time People's Daily 09 Apr 2016 -- U.S. space firm SpaceX resumed its resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday, carrying aboard an experimental inflatable space habitat that might be crucial for future deep space explorations.
Carter says THAAD missile system 'going to happen' in S Korea Press TV 09 Apr 2016 -- Defense Secretary Ashton Carter says the United States will go ahead with the proposed deployment of a US missile system in South Korea despite Chinese complaints.
SpaceX lands Falcon 9 rocket on water for first time Press TV 09 Apr 2016 -- The SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket has successfully managed to land safely on the platform of a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, after four previous attempts at water touchdown ended in failure.
US Needs 18 More Russian Rocket Engines for Its Military Satellites Sputnik 09 Apr 2016 -- The US isn't going to have the rocket engines it needs for its military satellites for another six years, and Russia remains a reliable partner in providing an affordable means into space, the Pentagon says.
China Sends Scientific Satellite Into Space to Study Microgravity Sputnik 06 Apr 2016 -- On Wednesday, China launched a retrievable scientific research satellite atop a Long March 2-D rocket; it will conduct 19 experiments to study the effects of microgravity, the state news agency reported.

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