June 2017 Space News

Amazon Founder Bezos Aims To Replace Russian Engines In U.S. Launches RFE/RL 27 Jun 2017 -- A private space company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced on June 26 that it plans to build a new rocket engine for space flights to replace engines now provided by Russia.
Modified Proton-M Carrier Rocket to Be First Launched in 2019 Sputnik 27 Jun 2017 -- The first launch of the new modification of the Proton-M carrier rocket will be conducted in 2019, the press service of Russia's Roscosmos State Space Corporation said Tuesday.
THAAD Remains Contentious Issue for US-South Korea Summit VOA 27 Jun 2017 -- South Korean officials are voicing support for the controversial U.S. Terminal High Altitude Defense (THAAD) missile defense system in advance of President Moon Jae-in's summit this week with U.S. President Donald Trump, but it remains a contentious issue as lawmakers in Washington voice concerns over deployment delays.
SpaceX completes second of two rocket launches within three days = SPA 26 Jun 2017 -- US space exploration company SpaceX completed its second of two rocket launches inside three days on Sunday, with both missions successful in relanding parts of their rockets safely back on Earth, dpa reported.
India's Answer to GPS Runs Into Serious Technical Failures Sputnik 26 Jun 2017 -- A major scuffle has erupted along the India-China border as Chinese troops entered the Indian state of Sikkim and destroyed two Indian bunkers. Chinese troops also engaged in a fight with Indian troops, who are guarding the border at the location.
Presidential Office Denies Asahi Report on THAAD Deployment KBS World Radio 24 Jun 2017 -- The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae has denied a Japanese newspaper's report Saturday that the United States reiterated its call for South Korea to complete the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system by the end of the year.
THAAD deployment plan revised to bring forward delivery: S.Korea official People's Daily 23 Jun 2017 -- South Korea's presidential Blue House said Friday that plan to deploy the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) had been revised to bring forward the date of delivery and installation in the country's southeastern region.
India launches 31 satellites in single space mission People's Daily 23 Jun 2017 -- India Friday launched 31 satellites, including an earth observation satellite, in a single space mission from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota.
India launches 31 satellites, including 29 foreign payloads SPA 23 Jun 2017 -- India's space agency launched 31 satellites including its main earth observation satellite and 29 foreign payloads in a single mission on Friday, dpa reported.
Electric Eye: New Satellite Gives India the Edge Along the Border Sputnik 23 Jun 2017 -- With the ability to zoom in on areas less than 0.6 meters, India's Cartosat-2 series satellite will allow the Indian Army to keep an eagle eye on hostile activities on the border, said experts on the feat accomplished by India with the launch of the PSLV rocket bearing the satellite on Friday.
India Successfully Launches Rocket With 31 Satellites - Space Agency Sputnik 23 Jun 2017 -- India successfully launched rocket with nano satellites from 14 countries.
Russia's Soyuz-2.1v Blasts Off From Plesetsk With Military Spacecraft Aboard Sputnik 23 Jun 2017 -- Russia has launched a spacecraft for the armed forces.
Aegis Missile Defense Test Conducted MDA 21 Jun 2017-- The U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the Japan Ministry of Defense conducted a development flight test today of a new Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA missile off the coast of Hawaii.
India's Mars Orbiter Mission Completes First 1,000 Earth Days Sputnik 20 Jun 2017 -- The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) maiden Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also known as Mangalyaan, completed its first 1,000 Earth days in its orbit around the red planet on Monday.
Russia Constructs a Network of Unique Early Warning Radars Sputnik 20 Jun 2017 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has taken steps to establish a network of state-of-the-art early warning radar installations capable of detecting incoming cruise missiles thousands of kilometers away.
China's Zhongxing-9A Satellite Fails to Reach Orbit Due to Rocket Failure Sputnik 19 Jun 2017 -- China's Zhongxing-9A communications satellite has failed to reach its orbit after a malfunction of its Long March carrier rocket, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), which was responsible for launching the satellite, said in a statement on Monday.
Air Force Stands Up New Headquarters Space Directorate AFNS 16 Jun 2017 -- Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson has approved the reorganization of the Air Force headquarters to establish a Deputy Chief of Staff for Space Operations, who will be a three-star Air Force general officer.
China' s quantum satellite establishes photon entanglement over 1,200 km People's Daily 16 Jun 2017 -- A team of Chinese scientists have realized the satellite-based distribution of entangled photon pairs over 1,200 kilometers. The photon pairs were demonstrated to be still entangled after travelling long distances.
U.S. Senate Votes 94-6 To Let NASA Keep Using Russian Rocket Engines RFE/RL 16 Jun 2017 -- The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on June 15 to allow the U.S. space agency NASA to continue using Russian-made rocket engines in an amendment to legislation imposing new sanctions on Russia.
Russian Progress MS-06 Cargo Spacecraft Successfully Docks With ISS Sputnik 16 Jun 2017 -- Russia's Progress MS-06 cargo spacecraft, launched on June 14 with the help of a Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket, has docked with the Zvezda module of the International Space Station's (ISS) Russian segment, a Sputnik correspondent reported Friday from the Mission Control Center in the Moscow region.
China Launches First-Ever Cutting Edge X-Ray Telescope Sputnik 16 Jun 2017 -- China has successfully launched their first-ever X-ray space telescope to study phenomena like black holes, gamma ray bursts and pulsar stars, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Japan Trains Using Patriot Interceptor Systems Against North Korean Missiles Sputnik 15 Jun 2017 -- Japan's troops trained to use Patriot air-and-missile defense systems.
China to launch 4 important satellites for space science by 2020 People's Daily 15 Jun 2017 -- China is set to launch four significant satellites for space science during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), after successfully launching the Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope Satellite at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on June 15, according to China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.
China launches X-ray telescope to hunt for black holes SPA 15 Jun 2017 -- China launched its first X-ray space telescope, which will hunt for black holes, pulsars and gamma-ray bursts, dpa reported.
India's Kerosene-Based Semi-Cryogenic Engine to Be Flight Test Ready by 2021 Sputnik 13 Jun 2017 -- After the successful launch of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk-III (GSLV Mk-III), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is now focusing on the semi-cryogenic engine, which uses refined kerosene as a propellant, and is expected to be ready for flight tests it by 2021.
Russia's Next Carrier-Based Rocket Launch Planned for 2018 - Khrunichev Center Sputnik 13 Jun 2017 -- Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center said that the last launch of Russia's light-class Rokot carrier rocket will take place early next year.
Israel to test anti-missile system on US soil Press TV 12 Jun 2017 -- An Israeli military organization is to receive cooperation from the US Missile Defense Agency to test an Israeli Arrow-3 anti-missile system in the US state of Alaska.
BDS Precise Service System covers over 300 Chinese cities People's Daily 12 Jun 2017 -- The Precise Service System of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has been used in creating 317 smart cities in China, according to the Smart BDS Precise Application Summit opened on Monday.
North Korea slams delivery of four extra THAAD launchers to South Press TV 10 Jun 2017 -- North Korea has slammed the clandestine delivery of four extra launchers of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system to South Korea in May.
South Korea Confirms Plans to Continue THAAD Deployment Sputnik 09 Jun 2017 -- The new South Korean administration confirmed that it will not abandon the agreement with the US on the deployment of the THAAD system amid claims by the president about the possible suspension of the deployment of the launchers to further study their environmental impact, Chung Eui-yong, national adviser to Korean President Moon Jae-in said.
Officials: U.S. Missile Defense System Outpaces Threat AFPS 08 Jun 2017 -- The defense system that protects the United States from ballistic missile attacks now outpaces the threat from adversaries out to 2020, and the Defense Department is advancing the capability to stay ahead of the threat into the future, defense officials said on Capitol Hill yesterday.
South Korean Opposition Urges Faster THAAD Deployment as North Launches Missiles Sputnik 08 Jun 2017 -- South Korea's opposition parties urged the government on Thursday to proceed with the installation of a US missile shield after it was put on hold over environmental impact, local media said.
Russian Proton Rocket With US Satellite Lifts Off Into Space After 1-Year Hiatus Sputnik 08 Jun 2017 -- A Russian Proton rocket with a US telecom satellite Еchostar-21 was successfully launched early Thursday from the Baikonur spaceport in southern Kazakhstan, the Russian space agency Roscosmos said.
China to develop reusable space vehicles People's Daily 07 Jun 2017 -- China is in the process of developing reusable earth-to-orbit space vehicles that can boost the country to the forefront of the aerospace industry, as well as promote the commercial use of space technologies, said an aerospace official on June 6.
China Plans to Launch Chang'e-5 Lunar Mission on Nov. 30 Sputnik 07 Jun 2017 -- Director of the international cooperation department of China National Space Administration Xu Yansong stated that the third launch of the carrier rocket Long March 5 with the satellite Chang'e-5 will take place in the end of November, approximately on November 30.
South Korea Tries to Slow Walk THAAD VOA 07 Jun 2017 -- Newly elected South Korean President Moon Jae-in is finding that increased diplomacy and legal maneuvers alone will not resolve the dilemma he faces over the U.S. THAAD missile defense system.
S.Korea to halt additional THAAD deployment until green audit ends People's Daily 07 Jun 2017 -- South Korea's presidential Blue House said Wednesday that the country would suspend an additional deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system until a green audit ends in the future.
South Korea suspends deployment of more THAAD pieces Press TV 07 Jun 2017 -- South Korea suspends any further deployment of a controversial US missile system to the country until an environmental impact assessment ordered by President Moon Jae-in is completed.
China willing to cooperate in peaceful space exploration: Xi People's Daily 06 Jun 2017 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a letter of congratulations to the Global Space Exploration Conference, which opened Tuesday in Beijing.
Indian Space Agency to Work on Electric Propulsion for Large Satellites Sputnik 06 Jun 2017 -- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to work on incorporating and utilizing electric propulsion in its spacecraft which will be more cost effective and can help in interplanetary missions. Electric propulsion system will replace the currently used chemical propellants.
India Enters Big League In Space Tech, Launches Its Heaviest Rocket Ever Sputnik 05 Jun 2017 -- Following the agenda of achieving self-sufficiency in space technology, India launched the GSLV Mark III carrying the 3,136kg GSAT-19 communication satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on Monday.
India Launches Heavy Lift Rocket VOA 05 Jun 2017 -- India's heaviest, newly-developed rocket hurtled into space Monday evening carrying a communication satellite of more than three tons from Sriharikota in eastern India. It marks another milestone in the country's ambitious space program and brings India a step closer to sending astronauts into space.
South Korea suspends senior official over US missile system report Press TV 05 Jun 2017 -- South Korea's newly-elected President Moon Jae-in has suspended a senior defense official for deliberately failing to report the "unauthorized" US deployment of additional missile launchers in the country.
Spotlight: First China-designed experiment flies to space station People's Daily 04 Jun 2017 -- SpaceX on Saturday launched a shipment of supplies for the astronauts living at the International Space Station, carrying for the first time an experiment independently designed by China.
Russia on the Way to Adopt New Program on Development of Space Centers Sputnik 02 Jun 2017 -- The federal program for the development of Russian space launch centers for the period of 2017-2025 may be adopted as early as by September, the head of Roscosmos State Space Corporation Igor Komarov said Friday.
Russia's New 'Federation' Spacecraft to be Launched from Baikonur in 2022 Sputnik 02 Jun 2017 -- Russia's next-generation Federation piloted spacecraft will depart on from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan in 2022, State Space Corporation Roscosmos said Friday.
China calls for THAAD to be removed from South Korea Press TV 01 Jun 2017 -- China has once again expressed opposition to the deployment of an advanced US missile system in South Korea, calling on Seoul to remove the controversial Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD).
Japan launches satellite to enhance GPS SPA 01 Jun 2017 -- Japan launched a new satellite from its southwesternmost island on Thursday, as part of an effort to enhance its global positioning system (GPS), dpa reported.

NEWSLETTER

Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list