September 2018 Space News

China launches Centispace-1-s1 satellite People's Daily 30 Sep 2018 -- China launched its Centispace-1-s1 satellite on a Kuaizhou-1A rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 12:13 p.m. Saturday.
Kuwait discounts US pullout of Patriot missiles as internal 'routine procedure' Press TV 30 Sep 2018 -- Kuwait's top military official has said that the recent US defense department's decision to withdraw two anti-air Patriot missile systems from the Persian Gulf kingdom was a "routine procedure" amid Pentagon's refusal to discuss the move.
United Launch Alliance Building Rocket of the Future with Industry-Leading Strategic Partnerships United Launch Alliance 27 Sep 2018 -- United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) next-generation rocket - the Vulcan Centaur - is making strong progress in development and is on track for its initial flight in mid-2020.
Norway Launches 1st Domestically Produced Rocket Into Space – Reports Sputnik 27 Sep 2018 -- Norway successfully launched its first rocket that was fully developed and produced in the country into space on Thursday, the NRK broadcaster reported.
US removing some missile systems from Middle East: Report Press TV 26 Sep 2018 -- The United States is pulling some of its anti-aircraft and missile batteries out of the Middle East, marking a shift that focuses away from long-lasting conflicts in the region to tensions with China, Russia and Iran, according to US media.
Angara-A5 Carrier Rocket Receives First Orders to Launch Civilian Satellites Sputnik 26 Sep 2018 -- The Angara-A5 heavy-lift carrier rocket became subject to the first two contracts for launching civilian satellites, papers published on the Russian public procurement website on Wednesday said.
Boeing's Takeover of Satellite Firm Further Consolidates Space Defense Industry Sputnik 25 Sep 2018 -- Aerospace manufacturer Boeing has completed its takeover of satellite firm Millennium Space Systems, further consolidating space-related defense industrial firms as US President Donald Trump pushes forward with the new Space Force branch of the US military.
7600 employees active in upstream space industry IRNA 24 Sep 2018 -- The director of Iranian Space Agency said that 7600 employees work in Iran's upstream space industry, which includes building space satellites and their launchers.
India Aims to Establish Firmest Conclusion of Water, Minerals on Moon's Surface Sputnik 24 Sep 2018 -- India's second moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, will begin its lunar studies in January-February 2019 with an orbiter that carries a wider range spectrometer that goes up to 5 microns to clearly provide a water signature.
Russia May Help India to Launch Country's First Manned Space Mission - Reports Sputnik 24 Sep 2018 -- Russia and India can conclude an agreement on the exchange of experience and interaction in preparation for the launch of the first Indian manned space mission, Indian media reported on Sunday.
Guizhou endeavors to protect China's FAST telescope while developing economy People's Daily 20 Sep 2018 -- China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in Pingtang, Guizhou province.
Chinese probe to reach Mars in 2021 People's Daily 20 Sep 2018 -- China plans to launch a probe to Mars in 2020, which is expected to reach the red planet in 2021, said an official of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) at a sub-forum of the World Conference on Science Literacy 2018, held on Sept. 18, Beijing News reported.
Pentagon to submit plan for establishment of Space Force to Congress: Official Press TV 20 Sep 2018 -- US President Donald Trump's plan for the establishment of a Space Force will be submitted to Congress by the Pentagon in February next year, Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has said.
US Air Force Secretary Offers Critiques on Costly $13 Billion Space Force Sputnik 18 Sep 2018 -- In a September 14 memo obtained this week by US military news site Defense One, Heather Wilson, the United States secretary of the Air Force, pushed back on several proposals for the Trump administration's Space Force, which is estimated to cost some $13 billion in its first five years.
Air Force: Launching Space Force Will Cost $13 Billion Over 5 Years VOA 17 Sep 2018 -- The military's new Space Force, if approved by Congress, will initially consist of 13,000 personnel and cost nearly $13 billion over five years, according to a U.S. Air Force memo obtained on Monday by VOA.
China's radio telescope 'FAST' to be put into use in 2019 People's Daily 17 Sep 2018 -- China's 500-meter aperture spherical radio telescope or FAST is expected to be put into use for Chinese astronomers next year, announced Chinese astronomer Li Di from Chinese Academy of Science on Saturday.
UK, India Space Agencies Launch Twin Satellites Into Orbit, Collaborate Efforts Sputnik 17 Sep 2018 -- A joint venture between British, Australian, and Indian governments sent two state-of-the-art satellites into orbit on Sunday. Indian and British experts have hailed the project as the first of its kind and will help the British space industry achieve new ground on future programs.
Baikonur Facilities to Undergo Overhaul Before OneWeb Satellites Launch - Source Sputnik 16 Sep 2018 -- The assembly and testing facility of the Baikonur cosmodrome which will be used for the launch of OneWeb satellites atop Russian rockets will go through a reconstruction ahead of the beginning of the launches, a source at the cosmodrome told Sputnik Sunday.
JAXA Postpones Launch of Cargo Vehicle to ISS Without Explanations - NASA Sputnik 15 Sep 2018 -- The unmanned H-II Transfer Vehicle-7 (HTV-7) was loaded with more than five tons of supplies, water and spare parts for the crew aboard the ISS, with a half dozen of new lithium-ion batteries upgrades ISS's power grid upgrades, NASA said.
AF Announces selection of GPS III follow-on contract AFNS 14 Sep 2018 -- The U.S. Air Force announced selection of Lockheed Martin for a fixed-price-type production contract for 22 GPS III Follow-On satellites with a total estimated contract value up to $7.2 billion.
The Hole Truth: U.S.-Russia Space Dustup Threatens Rare Frontier Of Cooperation RFE/RL 14 Sep 2018 -- MOSCOW -- On August 29, disturbing data from a Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft docked at the International Space Station (ISS) reached the mission control centers in Houston and Moscow. The shuttle was losing oxygen, flight operators noted, and pressure inside the cabins was dropping. None of the crew members on board -- three Americans, two Russians and a German -- could provide an explanation.
Russian Space Industry Source Says No New Leaks Found at ISS Sputnik 14 Sep 2018 -- The space crew at the International Space Station (ISS) has not found any new holes caused by an alleged drilling impact at the Soyuz spacecraft docked to the ISS, a source in the rocket and space industry told Sputnik on Friday.
India Continues to Use Foreign Launchers for Heavy Satellites Sputnik 13 Sep 2018 -- Against speculations that India was planning to completely ditch foreign agencies for satellite launches, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has engaged Arianespace for the launch of two crucial telecommunications satellites, GSAT-31 and GSAT-30.
Russian Spacecraft Under Careful Scrutiny After ISS Air Leak Incident - Source Sputnik 13 Sep 2018 -- Experts from the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation are checking the Soyuz MS-10 and Progress MS-11 spacecraft at the Baikonur Cosmodrome after the air leak incident at the Soyuz spacecraft docked to the International Space Station (ISS), a source in the rocket and space industry told Sputnik.
Korea - Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) Missiles DSCA 13 Sep 2018 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea (ROK) of sixty-four (64) Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles for an estimated cost of $501 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
Japan Successfully Tests Missile Interceptor off Hawaiian Coast Sputnik 13 Sep 2018 -- The Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force successfully demonstrated its ability to intercept and destroy a ballistic missile in a Tuesday test off the coast of Hawaii, marking another step toward self-sufficiency in missile defense as the US Navy grows weary of performing the role in Japanese waters.
Japan Successfully Tests Ship-Launched Interceptor Rocket Over Pacific Sputnik 13 Sep 2018 -- The Japanese navy, in its first test of an upgraded ship-launched SM-3 interceptor rocket, successfully destroyed a ballistic missile target over the Pacific Ocean, the US defense contractor Raytheon announced in a press release on Wednesday.
Thailand is next ASEAN country to benefit from Chinese satellite technology People's Daily 12 Sep 2018 -- The traffic jams in Bangkok, Thailand's capital, are known to be some of the worst in the world. However, that could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to China's Beidou Navigation System, as China sets out to develop a high-precision positioning system for the city, Chinanews.com reported recently.
Russian, U.S. Space Officials Downplay Rumors Of Space Station Sabotage RFE/RL 12 Sep 2018 -- U.S. and Russian space officials have tried to downplay rumors of sabotage on the International Space Station (ISS) after a Russian newspaper suggested that U.S. astronauts may have purposely drilled a tiny hole into the station.
Russia Refuses to Accuse US Astronauts of Soyuz Air Leak - ISS Official Sputnik 12 Sep 2018 -- Making bald assertions that US astronauts were responsible for a recent air leak at the International Space Station (ISS) are unacceptable and dangerous, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov told reporters, commenting on the Kommersant report on Wednesday.
Situation Around Hole on Soyuz More Difficult Than Expected - Roscosmos Chief Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- The situation around a hole in the fabric of a Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft, docked to the International Space Station (ISS), is more complicated than it was expected, Dmitry Rogozin, the chief of the Russian space agency Roscosmos stated.
US Pushes NATO States to Renege on Outer Space Agreements – Moscow Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- The United States is exerting pressure on the NATO countries so that they roll back previously reached agreements on outer space, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control said.
Elon Musk's SpaceX Abandons Reusable Spacecraft Idea Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- Reusability of spacecraft was SpaceX's biggest sales pitch. In the meantime, Boeing will stick with the concept.
France to Spend Over $4Bln on Military Satellites Renewal - Defense Minister Sputnik 09 Sep 2018 -- Paris will spend 3.6 billion euros (over $4 billion) for military satellites renewal, French Defense Minister Florence Parly told the French radio station Europe 1 on Sunday.
France joins space race with Russia spying accusations Press TV 08 Sep 2018 -- France has announced measures to join a space race which escalated recently as the US unveiled plans for militarization of the Earth's outer space.
France Accuses Russia Of Spying On Military Satellite In Space RFE/RL 08 Sep 2018 -- A Russian satellite attempted last year to spy on a satellite providing secure communications for the French and Italian militaries, French Defense Minister Florence Parly said on September 7.
Beijing protests UK naval incursion People's Daily 07 Sep 2018 -- Beijing expressed strong dissatisfaction on Thursday after a naval vessel from the United Kingdom sailed into territorial waters off China's Xisha Islands, with China urging an immediate cessation of such provocative actions.
Iran's defense minster visits China to discuss cooperation Press TV 07 Sep 2018 -- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami has arrived in China's capital Beijing for a visit during which he is expected to discuss mutual defense cooperation with Chinese officials.
French Defense Ministry Claims Russia Spied on French-Italian Military Satellite Sputnik 07 Sep 2018 -- French Defense Minister Florence Parly has accused Russia of committing "an act of espionage" back in 2017, claiming that a Russian satellite then approached the French-Italian military satellite Athena-Fidus in an attempt to intercept its communications.
Army National Guard space support teams give ground commanders planetary view Army News 06 Sep 2018 -- It can sometimes be hard for commanders to get a full picture of the battlefield, whether that's on the ground in Syria or in the forests of Colorado. The "Space Cowboys" of the Colorado Army National Guard's 117th Space Battalion aim to solve that problem.
49th Missile Defense Battalion tests its METL Army News 06 Sep 2018 -- The 100th Missile Defense Brigade and the 49th Missile Defense Battalion conducted their most comprehensive and thorough external evaluation to date at Fort Greely Aug. 20-24.
Space Support Teams Give Ground Commanders Planetary View AFPS 05 Sep 2018 -- It can sometimes be hard for commanders to get a full picture of the battlefield, whether that's on the ground in Syria or in the forests of Colorado. The "Space Cowboys" of the Colorado Army National Guard's 117th Space Battalion aim to solve that problem.
The Netherlands - Patriot Recapitalization (RECAP) DSCA 05 Sep 2018 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Netherlands of four (4) Netherlands Patriot Fire Units for an estimated cost of $105 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
Chinese private space company launches suborbital rocket People's Daily 05 Sep 2018 -- A private Chinese company sent a suborbital rocket into space at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
Bahrain in Talks With Russia to Send Astronauts Into Space - Russian Embassy Sputnik 05 Sep 2018 -- The Bahrain Space Science Agency (NSSA) is engaged in talks with Russia on sending its astronauts to space, but no specific agreements have been reached yet, the Russian embassy in Manama told Sputnik on Wednesday.
Leak At ISS Caused By 'Drill Hole,' Roscosmos Says RFE/RL 04 Sep 2018 -- A pressure leak at the International Space Station (ISS) last week was a drill hole that happened during manufacturing or in orbit, the chief of Russia's space agency says.
Roscosmos Head Offers to Continue Rocket Engines Supply to US Despite Sanctions Sputnik 03 Sep 2018 -- At the same time, Russia stated that it was prepared to supply rocket engines to China, Russian state space corporation Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin told reporters Monday.

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