July 2018 Space News

NASA Certifies Russia's RD-180 Rocket Engines for Manned Flights Sputnik 31 Jul 2018 -- NASA and the US Air Force have certified Russia's RD-180 engines for Atlas V carrier rockets to used for manned spaceflights by US astronauts, Igor Arbuzov, director general of Russia's major rocket engine manufacturer JSC NPO Energomash and the United Launch Alliance, said in an interview with Sputnik.
Could Space Force Be New Branch of US Military? VOA 31 Jul 2018 -- The Pentagon's report on how to structure its space components, including the potential creation of a Space Force or Space Corps, will not be submitted to Congress in time for Wednesday's deadline.
US Congress Pushes Ballistic Missile Defense Program Based on Laser-Armed Drones Sputnik 31 Jul 2018 -- Despite receiving a record-high $11.5 billion budget in 2018, the US Missile Defense Agency is poised to receive an extra $50 million in 2019 for a missile defense program that it did not ask Congress to fund: one that would mount lasers on drones.
Japan May Withdraw PAC-3 Missile Interceptors As Korean Tensions Ease – Reports Sputnik 30 Jul 2018 -- The Japanese Defense Ministry is considering withdrawing on Monday surface-to-air Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) ballistic missile interceptors deployed in the country's north and west to counter possible missile launches from North Korea, the NHK broadcaster reported citing the ministry's officials.
China Launches Twin Satellites With Single Carrier Rocket - Reports Sputnik 30 Jul 2018 -- China launched twin satellites into space with a single carrier rocket on Sunday, Chinese media reported.
Like Washington and Moscow: India to Set Up Missile Shield Around Delhi Sputnik 29 Jul 2018 -- Taking a cue from superpowers Russia and the United States, other countries are mulling similar advanced air defense systems to protect their big cities.
Moscow: Military Confrontation in Space May Be As Dangerous as Nuclear Arms Race Sputnik 27 Jul 2018 -- According to a statement published by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Friday, Moscow prioritized peaceful exploration and use of outer space.
Spaced Out: Trump's Space Force Left Out of Congress' 2019 Defense Budget Bill Sputnik 27 Jul 2018 -- US President Donald Trump might have said he was creating a Space Force in June, but it's Congress' job to actually do that, and the defense spending bill the US Congress agreed to on Monday doesn't even include the term "space force," much less allocate money for it.
Japan's Expenses for US Aegis Ashore Systems Deployment to Grow by 30% - Reports Sputnik 22 Jul 2018 -- The Japanese Defense Ministry plans to increase expenditures for deployment of a US land-based missile defense systems, Aegis Ashore by 20-30 percent up to 250 billion yen ($2.2 billion), The Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported citing military sources on Sunday.
China finishes hot-fire test of next generation rocket engine People's Daily 20 Jul 2018 -- China has successfully finished its first joint hot-fire test of a domestically-developed liquid oxygen and kerosene engine, Xinhua reported on July 19.
27 Satellites in 3 Years: Indian Private Sector Shifts Focus to Space Projects Sputnik 19 Jul 2018 -- A consortium of private firms is expected to assemble 7-9 satellites per year. For the past few years, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been encouraging the country's private firms to undertake satellite and rocket manufacturing work so that the agency itself can focus on research.
As Demand Soars, US Arms Maker to Double Production of Enhanced Patriot Missiles Sputnik 12 Jul 2018 -- The US and its allies are apparently running low on military hardware to throw at conflicts simmering around the globe, but Lockheed Martin is coming to the rescue, preparing to more than double production of the latest version of its Patriot missile as worldwide demand soars.
Pakistan launches two sensing satellites IRNA 09 Jul 2018 -- Pakistan has launched two remote sensing satellites using a Chinese launch vehicle, Radio Pakistan reported.
China Launches 2 Satellites for Pakistan VOA 09 Jul 2018 -- China has launched two satellites for Pakistan to survey resources and monitor natural disasters for agriculture research, as well as the progress of infrastructure-related projects being built with billions of dollars of unprecedented Chinese investment.
China Mulls Creation of Joint Global Satellite System with Russia - Source Sputnik 08 Jul 2018 -- A Chinese delegation has proposed to Russia's Roscosmos state space corporation to discuss a possibility of the creation of a joint global satellite communications system, which could become an analogue of UK's OneWeb satellite constellation or Starlink, a source from Russian space industry told Sputnik.
301st Rescue Squadron supports SpaceX resupply rocket launch AFNS 05 Jul 2018 -- Airmen from the 301st Rescue Squadron supported the successful launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket June 29, 2018. The launch of the Falcon 9 marked its fifteenth commercial resupply services mission lifting off at 5:42:42 a.m. EDT, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
In 'Salute to Service,' Trump Again Touts Space Force VOA 04 Jul 2018 -- President Donald Trump is again pushing his idea to create a "Space Force" as the sixth branch of the U.S. military, stating that "space is becoming very important militarily, as well as other reasons."
'Japan to buy Lockheed Martin radar for missile system' Press TV 03 Jul 2018 -- Japan has reportedly picked major US military contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. to provide advanced radar for its multi-billion-dollar missile defense system.
China's Super-Powerful Rocket Under Development Outstrips Europe's, NASA's Sputnik 02 Jul 2018 -- China is currently developing an ultra-powerful rocket that could deliver heavier payloads into low-Earth orbit than NASA's devices can, according to Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua.
India's Domestic SatNav System Hits Major Roadblock Ahead of Commercial Release Sputnik 02 Jul 2018 -- A study conducted by Indian scientists with the support of the Indian Space Research Organization's Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre warned that signals from NavIC satellites may interfere with WiFi signals in receivers.

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