October 2016 Space News

Completed assembly of Long March-7 rocket expected in 2017 People's Daily 31 Oct 2016 -- Another Long March-7 rocket is expected to be finished in January 2017. After the assembly of the new rocket is completed, it will be tasked with sending China's first space cargo ship Tianzhou-1 into space in the first half of next year.
BRICS Space Agencies Sign Memorandum on Cooperation in Space Exploration Sputnik 31 Oct 2016 -- Roscosmos Director General Igor Komarov stated that BRICS made a step into the future, as joint efforts on the use of the ERS system would help to eliminate consequences of natural disasters, improve environmental protection and further sustainable social and economic development of the BRICS countries.
Russia to Allocate $1.5Bln to Federal Space Program in 2017 - Draft Budget Plan Sputnik 29 Oct 2016 -- The financing of the Russia's 2016-2025 federal space program will reach some 92.5 billion rubles ($1.47 billion) in 2017, according to the draft laws database of the State Duma.
China to launch Long March-5 carrier rocket in November People's Daily 28 Oct 2016 -- China's largest carrier rocket, the Long March-5, will make its first trip into space in early November this year.
US to Go Beyond THAAD Deployment in S Korea if N Korea Threat Persists Sputnik 28 Oct 2016 -- US will further promote the THAAD missile systems deployment in South Korea in case North Korean threat persists, US Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken said Friday.
DoD Official Discusses U.S. Military, Commercial Space Industry AFPS 26 Oct 2016 -- The United States must make sure space services are always available to its warfighters, Douglas L. Loverro, deputy assistant secretary of defense for space policy said Oct. 24 at the Center for Strategic and International Studies here.
US, China Silent on Space Talks, Except to Say There Will Be More VOA 25 Oct 2016 -- The United States and China appear to be keeping an unusually low profile as they push for more dialogue and cooperation on space exploration.
Top Official Describes DARPA Real-Time Space Awareness Efforts AFPS 24 Oct 2016 -- The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has transferred to the Air Force ownership of a revolutionary space surveillance telescope, and the agency is working on other real-time technologies to improve space situational awareness, DARPA's deputy director said.
India Delays Launch of Dedicated South Asia Satellite Amid Tension With Pakistan Sputnik 24 Oct 2016 -- India's launch of a satellite on behalf of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was announced two years ago by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the SAARC summit in Kathmandu. However, the launch date has been postponed indefinitely due to disagreements between India and its neighbor over ongoing violence in Kashmir.
Advanced Space Surveillance Telescope Has Critical Military Applications AFPS 22 Oct 2016 -- The most sophisticated space surveillance telescope ever developed is ready to begin tracking thousands of space objects as small as a softball. It's a boon to space surveillance and science and a new military capability important to the nation and the globe, an Air Force general says.
Photos Show European-Russian Mars Probe Likely Crashed, Exploded RFE/RL 22 Oct 2016 -- A joint European-Russian space probe appears to have exploded upon landing on the surface of Mars, satellite pictures showed on October 21.
Mars Probe Crash Site Photographed VOA 21 Oct 2016 -- The European Space Agency says it has found the crash site of its ill-fated Schiaparelli probe on the surface of Mars.
New company set up to develop space economy People's Daily 21 Oct 2016 -- The commercialization of rocket launches will boost the industry by bringing space tourism income and attracting private investment, experts said.
US to deploy THAAD system to S Korea 'as soon as possible' Press TV 20 Oct 2016 -- The United States is set to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to South Korea in the wake of the North's missile tests, deemed menacing by Seoul and Washington
Venezuela Joins International Charter on Space, Major Disasters Sputnik 20 Oct 2016 -- The Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities has become a member of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters.
North Korea Pledges to Launch More 'Satellites' Into Space - Embassy Sputnik 20 Oct 2016 -- Pyongyang will increase the number of satellite launches under the state space program despite international criticism, the North Korean Embassy in Russia vowed on Thursday.
Shenzhou-11 spacecraft docks with Tiangong-2 space lab People's Daily 19 Oct 2016 -- The Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft successfully completed its automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab at 3:31 a.m. Wednesday Beijing Time, according to Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC).
DPRK Delegate Speaks at UN Meeting KCNA 18 Oct 2016 -- A delegate of the DPRK made a speech at the discussion of the agenda "international cooperation in the peaceful use of space" at a meeting of the 4th Committee of the 71st UN General Assembly on October 13.
Permanent station plans ride on mission People's Daily 18 Oct 2016 -- As a Chinese spaceship rockets through the void toward a rendezvous with a new Chinese space lab, experts say a monumental step in the nation's long march in space exploration is about to occur.
Antares Rocket Takes Off to ISS Sputnik 18 Oct 2016 -- The US Antares carrier rocket equipped with two Russian RD-181 engines blasted off to the International Space Station with the Cygnus cargo ship from the Wallops Flight Facility for the first time, NASA TV live broadcast showed.
Huge Upgrades to Japan's Missile Defense May Bolster Security Against Pyongyang Sputnik 18 Oct 2016 -- In the wake of ballistic missile tests carried out by North Korea, Japan is planning to accelerate improvements to its missile defenses.
DARPA to Transfer Advanced Space Debris Telescope to Air Force AFPS 17 Oct 2016 -- The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has worked with the Air Force to develop an advanced telescope that already is revolutionizing space situational awareness and helping prevent potential collisions with satellites or planet Earth.
Shenzhou-11 launch heralds grand prospects for future space travel People's Daily 17 Oct 2016 -- Haris Qamar, 26, of Burke, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
China launches manned spacecraft People's Daily 17 Oct 2016 -- China launched the Shenzhou XI manned spacecraft on Monday morning to transport two astronauts to the Tiangong II space laboratory.
China to launch Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft on Oct. 17 People's Daily 16 Oct 2016 -- The Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft will be launched at 7:30 a.m. Monday Beijing Time, China's manned space program spokesperson said Sunday.
European Lander Starts Descent to Mars VOA 16 Oct 2016 -- A European Space Agency experimental probe is expected to land Wednesday on Mars, as part of a mission aimed at exploring the red planet's atmosphere and searching for signs of life.
Russia, India Agree on Mutual Placement of Satellite Stations – Roscosmos Sputnik 15 Oct 2016 -- Russia's Roscosmos space corporation said that Russia and India agreed on mutual placement of Russia's Glonass satellite navigation system and Indian NavIC navigation system on the sidelines of the BRICS Goa summit.
Clinton Says US Would 'Ring China With Missile Defense' VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton threatened to "ring China with missile defense" systems and issued a tough rebuke to Beijing's disputed South China Sea claims, according to comments revealed by WikiLeaks.
DoD Decision Breathes New Life into Critical OCX Satellite Program AFPS 14 Oct 2016 -- An Air Force program that will provide a vital new command system for the global positioning system satellite constellation in the shortest time possible will continue despite cost growth, Defense Department officials confirmed today.
World's first quantum satellite to finish in-orbit testing People's Daily 13 Oct 2016 -- The world's first quantum satellite is currently in the middle of in-orbit testing, and will carry out additional scientific tests after November, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced on Oct. 12. Nicknamed "Micius," the satellite, Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS), was launched in China in August.
China to launch spacecraft with two astronauts on Monday People's Daily 13 Oct 2016 -- The manned Shenzhou-11 spacecraft will be launched on Monday, China Central Television reported.
Russian Defense Ministry Can Soon Get Five New Reconnaissance Satellites Sputnik 13 Oct 2016 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has signed a contract with the Lavochkin Research and Production Association on the development of a radar reconnaissance satellite system, the Russian Izvestia newspaper reports.
China-Russia joint missile defense drill set for 2017 People's Daily 12 Oct 2016 -- China and Russia announced on Tuesday that they will conduct an anti-missile joint exercise next year as the United States plans to deploy a missile defense system near them.
China, Russia criticize U.S. missile defense plan People's Daily 11 Oct 2016 -- China and Russia on Tuesday accused the United States of damaging global and regional stability with its missile defense plans.
China, Russia slam US missile systems in Europe, South Korea Press TV 11 Oct 2016 -- Russia and China have condemned the United States for its decision to deploy missile systems in Europe and South Korea purportedly in response to Iranian and North Korean missiles.
China, Russia Agree US Missile Defense to Harm Global Strategic Stability Sputnik 11 Oct 2016 -- Washington deliberately exaggerates the missile threat for the sake of boosting its military worldwide, China's Central Military Commission Joint Staff Department said.
US Ignores Russian Offers to Reach Agreements Addressing Missile Defense Systems Sputnik 11 Oct 2016 -- According to the first deputy chief of the Russian General Staff's Main Operational Department, the US ignores Russia's proposals to reach agreements allaying concerns over its missile defense system deployment.
US Missile Defense Network Poses Threat to Safe Use of Space by Any Country Sputnik 11 Oct 2016 -- US global missile defense network is posing a threat to free and safe use of outer space by any country, the Russian General Staff stated on Tuesday.
Obama Wants Humans on Mars by 2030s VOA 11 Oct 2016 -- President Barack Obama says with the help of private companies, the United States will send humans to Mars by the 2030s.
Making Human Settlement of Space a Reality The White House 11 Oct 2016 -- Announcing two new NASA initiatives that build on the President's vision to enable humans to sustainably live and work in space.
China to launch world's first X-ray pulsar navigation satellite People's Daily 10 Oct 2016 -- The China Academy of Space Technology has announced plans to launch the world's first X-ray pulsar navigation satellite (XPNAV-1) in November, Xinhua reported.
S. Korean political heavyweight proposes to halt THAAD discussion People's Daily 10 Oct 2016 -- A South Korean political heavyweight has proposed to halt discussion on the deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) on the South Korean soil.
China to become only nation to run a space station by 2024 People's Daily 08 Oct 2016 -- China's space lab Tiangong-2 roars into the air on the back of a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Sept. 15, 2016. (Xinhua Photo)
China to upgrade geological probe on moon, Mars People's Daily 08 Oct 2016 -- China has resolved to advance its geological research in Earth's polar regions, the moon, Mars and other planets.
India Expedites Its Space Centric Warfare Program Sputnik 07 Oct 2016 -- The Indian government has started a new framework that will provide an edge to Indian armed forces in the Asian region.
Official: Iran to send 3 satellites into orbit by yearend IRNA 06 Oct 2016 -- Head of the Iranian Space Agency Mohsen Bahrami said that Iran will launch three domestically-built satellites into orbit by the end of next Iranian year (will end March 20, 2018).
Arianespace Successfully Launches Ariane 5 Rocket With 2 Satellites Sputnik 06 Oct 2016 -- An Ariane 5 rocket has successfully lifted off from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana with two satellites.
Iran interested in cooperating with NASA ISNA 05 Oct 2016 -- Head of the Iranian space agency Mohsen Bahrami said Iran is interested and ready to cooperate with NASA.
Anti-THAAD Protesters Rally in Seoul VOA 05 Oct 2016 -- Hundreds of South Koreans who live near the future deployment site of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system staged a protest in Seoul Wednesday.
Iran has plans to place 3 satellites into orbit IRNA 04 Oct 2016 -- The head of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) Mohsen Bahrami said here on Tuesday that Iran is set to launch three indigenous satellites in future.
Iran to launch three satellites into the space ISNA 04 Oct 2016 -- Director of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) Mohsen Bahrami said the country will send three satellites into the space by the end of next year.
Iran plans to launch three satellites into space Press TV 04 Oct 2016 -- Head of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) Mohsen Bahrami says the country is planning to send three home-made satellites into space.
Turkey Tests Missile Defense System to Blunt IS Attacks VOA 03 Oct 2016 -- Turkey is in the final stages of a developing a new missile defense system to prevent rocket attacks on its cities by the Islamic State, Turkey's defense minister says.
US, S Korea to pay 'price' for THAAD missile deployment: China daily Press TV 01 Oct 2016 -- A top Chinese newspaper has cautioned Washington and Seoul against the planned deployment of an advanced US missile system to the Korean Peninsula, saying the pair will face a "counter attack" for their controversial move.

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