May 2020 Space News

Iran completes cycle of space technology despite sanctions IRNA 31 May 2020 -- Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology Morteza Barari said on Sunday that despite all sanctions and restrictions, the Islamic Republic of Iran attained full cycle of space technology.
Russian space agency calls Trump's reaction to SpaceX launch 'hysteria' Press TV 31 May 2020 -- The Russian space agency Roscosmos has criticized US President Donald Trump's reaction to NASA's launch of two astronauts into space, calling it "hysteria."
SpaceX Astronauts Welcomed Aboard International Space Station VOA 31 May 2020 -- The crew of the International Space Station welcomed U.S. astronauts Douglas Hurley and Bob Behnken after their privately built SpaceX capsule docked Sunday.
NASA, SpaceX launch astronauts to space Global Times 31 May 2020 -- NASA and SpaceX launched Crew Dragon spacecraft from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Saturday, carrying two American astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).
US Astronauts Dock SpaceX Rocket at International Space Station VOA 31 May 2020 -- U.S. astronauts Douglas Hurley and Bob Behnken docked SpaceX's newly designed Crew Dragon capsule at the International Space Station on Sunday.
Remarks by President Trump After Viewing SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 Lauch The White House 30 May 2020
Remarks by President Trump at Kennedy Space Center The White House 30 May 2020
Remarks by Vice President Pence at Kennedy Space Center | Cape Canaveral, FL The White House 30 May 2020
China launches two new technology experiment satellites PLA Daily 30 May 2020 -- China sent two satellites into planned orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province Saturday.
Air and missile defense programs stay on track despite slight delay Army News 29 May 2020 -- Several programs tied to the Army's air and missile defense modernization priority have made timeline adjustments due to COVID-19, but remain on track to deliver capabilities as planned, according to Army Futures Command officials.
Army's Iron Dome batteries inbound for testing in 2021 Army News 29 May 2020 -- Two Iron Dome batteries will go through initial testing on American soil, says a top air defender, before the short-range air defense system can be fielded to Army formations.
China's Defence Ministry Urges US, Japan to Refrain From Arms Race in Space Sputnik 29 May 2020 -- China is calling upon countries that have created space military units to prevent space from becoming a new international battleground, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said on Friday.
'A Single Clenched Fist': Russia Defiant But Anxious As U.S. Seeks To End Its Monopoly On Manned Space Flight RFE/RL 29 May 2020 -- As veteran NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken made final preparations aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule for the first manned orbital flight from U.S. soil in almost a decade, the Russian company that operates the famed Soyuz rocket marked a milestone of its own.
Kuwait - Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancements (MSEs) with Canisters DSCA 28 May 2020 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Kuwait of eighty-four (84) Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancements (MSEs) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $800 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
Kuwait - Patriot Missile Repair and Return DSCA 28 May 2020 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Kuwait of a Patriot missile Repair and Return program for an estimated cost of $200 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
Kuwait - Patriot Program Sustainment and Technical Assistance Support DSCA 28 May 2020 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Kuwait of Patriot program sustainment and technical assistance as follow-on support for an estimated cost of $425 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
Japanese Study to Find Site for Missile Defence System Delayed Due to COVID-19 - Reports Sputnik 28 May 2020 -- An ongoing study in northern Japan to find a suitable site for the deployment of a US-made Aegis Ashore ground-based missile system has been delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus disease outbreak, the NHK broadcaster reported on Thursday citing a source involved in the investigation.
Launch Marks New Era in US Space Travel - But With a Twist VOA 27 May 2020 -- Even by using the tools at his disposal at the Adler Planetarium situated along the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Director of Astronomy Geza Gyuk acknowledges there is a limit to what he can see and do in understanding the cosmos.
Remarks by President Trump During SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 Launch Briefing | Merritt Island, FL The White House 27 May 2020
SpaceX Launch Marks New Era in Space Travel VOA 26 May 2020 -- Even by using the tools at his disposal at the Adler Planetarium situated along the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago, Director of Astronomy Geza Gyuk acknowledges there is a limit to what he can see and do in understanding the cosmos.
Virgin Orbit Says Air-Launched Rocket Tests Fail Sputnik 26 May 2020 -- The Virgin Orbit company said the tests of the air-launched LauncherOne carrier rocket had failed.
Virgin Orbit Ignites LauncherOne Rocket During First Launch Demo, Mission Safely Terminated Virgin Orbit 25 May 2020 -- Virgin Orbit, the California-based satellite launch company, conducted a launch demonstration of its innovative air-launched rocket today in the skies over the Pacific Ocean just off the California coast.
Norway Bets Millions of Kronor to Win 'European Space Race' Sputnik 22 May 2020 -- The Scandinavian country's ambition is to make the Andøya Space Centre in Nordland County the main location for satellite launches in Europe, edging out its competitors.
Tiangong details unveiled Global Times 21 May 2020 -- After the successful maiden flight of the Long March-5B large rocket and the testing of China's new-generation manned spaceship, more details of China's space station have been unveiled.
Beidou navigation system used in majority of countries and regions, designer says PLA Daily 21 May 2020 -- China's Beidou Navigation Satellite System has been used in more than half the world's countries and regions, according to the system's chief designer.
US Space Force Orders Two New Ballistic Missile Early Warning Satellites Sputnik 20 May 2020 -- Defense contractor Northrop Grumman has received a $2.375 billion contract to build two ballistic missile early warning satellites for the US Space Force.
Russia Poses 'Serious' and 'Growing' Threats to US in Space, Says Top Pentagon Official VOA 20 May 2020 -- Russia continues to pose "serious" and "growing" threats to U.S. interests in space, according to the top military officer for space defense.
Chairwomen Johnson and Horn Comment on the Resignation of Doug Loverro House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 20 May 2020 -- "Yesterday afternoon, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced that Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations (HEO) Doug Loverro had resigned from his position effective the previous day."
NASA Message Regarding the Lead of Human Spaceflight NASA 19 May 2020 -- Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations Doug Loverro has resigned from his position effective Monday, May 18.
Remarks by Vice President Pence at the 7th Meeting of the National Space Council The White House 19 May 2020
Naval Research Laboratory Conducts First Test of Solar Power Satellite Hardware in Orbit NNS 18 May 2020 -- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory engineers launched PRAM, the Photovoltaic Radio-frequency Antenna Module, aboard an Air Force X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle on May 17 as part of a comprehensive investigation into prospective terrestrial use of solar energy captured in space.
China's satellite navigation industry turned up $49 billion in 2019 Global Times 18 May 2020 -- China's satellite navigation and location services industry achieved an output value of 345 billion yuan ($48.58 billion) in 2019, up 14.4 percent from the previous year, according to an annual industry report.
China's Chang'e-4 probe survives 500 Earth days on Moon's far side Global Times 17 May 2020 -- China's Chang'e-4 probe has survived 500 Earth days on the far side of the moon while conducting a scientific exploration of the virgin territory.
NASA: US Hopes Russia Will Support Artemis Space Development Accords Sputnik 16 May 2020 -- The US government still hopes that Russia will support the newly proposed bilateral Artemis Accords for the economic development of space between the Earth and the Moon, NASA Acting Associate Administrator Mike Gold told reporters.
Remarks by President Trump at Presentation of the United States Space Force Flag and Signing of an Armed Forces Day Proclamation The White House 15 May 2020
Department of the Air Force expands potential basing locations for US Space Command Headquarters US Air Force 15 May 2020 -- With the establishment of the United States Space Force, the Department of the Air Force, in coordination with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, is announcing its revised approach for determining the permanent location of U.S. Space Command headquarters.
Space Force Flag Unveiled at White House DoD News 15 May 2020 -- Defense leaders presented the flag of the Space Force to President Donald J. Trump today in the Oval Office. The flag of the newly created armed service will hang alongside those of the other military services at the White House.
US Space Force Flag Unveiled VOA 15 May 2020 -- The new Space Force flag was unveiled Friday at the White House, the nation's first new military service flag in more than 70 years.
China to launch last satellite in the Beidou-3 Navigation Satellite System in June Global Times 15 May 2020 -- China will launch in June the last satellite for Beidou-3 Navigation Satellite System, an array of 30 satellites that will provide services to global users, an official said.
Capella Space Signs SAR Imagery Contract with the Department of Defense Capella Space 13 May 2020 -- Capella Space will provide on-demand, high-resolution SAR data and analytics for the U.S. Navy
US Space Force Commander Claims Russia's 'Unsafe Behavior Has Not Slowed Down' During Pandemic Sputnik 13 May 2020 -- One of the US Space Force's leading commanders recently blasted Russian space activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming Moscow has an "increasing penchant for unsafe and what I would consider unacceptable behavior in space." Meanwhile, the Pentagon is readying its own plans for militarizing outer space.
China launches first satellites for new generation space-borne IoT project Global Times 12 May 2020 -- China has successfully launched the first two communication satellites for its new space-based Internet-of-Things (IoT) project into designated orbit on Tuesday, with the first one named after its birthplace Wuhan, a city once hit hard by the COVID-19, according to China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), the developer.
Return capsule of China's experimental manned spaceship comes back successfully PLA Daily 09 May 2020 -- The return capsule of the trial version of China's new-generation manned spaceship successfully returned to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 1:49 p.m. (Beijing Time) Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
DOD, Private Sector Leaders See Danger to GPS Due to FCC Licensing Ruling DoD News 08 May 2020 -- The Federal Communications Commission's granting of a license to a private company threatens to undermine the Defense Department's Global Positioning System capabilities, as well as that of the civilian sector, which also relies on GPS, DOD officials told Congress.
Trial version of China's new-generation spaceship safely returns to Earth Global Times 08 May 2020 -- The trial version of China's new-generation manned spaceship, which was launched by the Long March-5B in its maiden flight on Tuesday, has successfully made its re-entry to Earth and returned to its designated landing site at 1:49 pm Friday, China's Manned Space Agency announced.
Chang Zheng-5B, China's Response to the US Lunar Project Sputnik 08 May 2020 -- China is able to compete with the United States in the exploitation of moon resources. Successful testing of the Chang Zheng-5B heavy-lift rocket is an important step in this direction, Sergei Filipenkov, a Russian aviation and cosmonautics expert, said, commenting on the US Artemis Accords lunar project.
China's experimental new-generation manned spaceship works normally in orbit People's Daily 07 May 2020 -- The trial version of China's new-generation manned spaceship is now working normally in orbit, having completed a series of operations as planned, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) on Wednesday.
DOD News Briefing with David Altwegg on Fiscal Year 2020 Budget for Missile Defense Agency DoD 06 May 2020 -- DOD Chief Information Officer Dana Deasy and Deputy CIO for Command, Control and Communications Fred Moorefield
Leaders Chart the Course as U.S. Space Force Launches DoD News 06 May 2020 -- Air Force Secretary Barbara M. Barrett and Space Force Gen. John W. Raymond cast some light on the previously classified missions of America's reusable space plane, the X-37B.
Unknown malfunction during cargo return capsule re-entry: CMSA Global Times 06 May 2020 -- A test version of China's first flexible and inflatable cargo return capsule, which was launched into orbit on Tuesday by the Long March-5B's maiden flight, experienced a failure during its re-entry to Earth due to an unknown malfunction, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Wednesday.
China's new spaceship in steady flight form, good working condition: CMSA Global Times 06 May 2020 -- The trial version of China's new-generation manned spaceship has completed duties including solar sail deployment, relay antenna deployment and autonomous orbit control four times after being launched by the Long March-5B carrier rocket, China's Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Wednesday.
Long March-5B rocket enables China to construct space station PLA Daily 06 May 2020 -- Construction of China's space station moves a step closer with the successful maiden flight of its new large carrier rocket, the Long March-5B, on Tuesday.
Congratulatory message hails Long March 5B maiden flight PLA Daily 06 May 2020 -- The success of the first flight mission of China's new large carrier rocket Long March 5B marks a good beginning for the country's space station program, said a congratulatory message sent by the central authorities on Tuesday.
The Long March-5B completes a successful maiden flight, officially kicking off China's space station construction Global Times 05 May 2020 -- China's latest state-of-the-art carrier rocket, the Long March-5B, made a successful maiden flight on Tuesday, during which the new rocket managed to send the assembly of a trial version of the country's new-generation manned spaceship with no crew and a testing cargo-returning spacecraft into planned orbit. The successful launch signaled that a new era of the construction of China's manned space projects including space stations has been officially ushered in, according to rocket developer and space industry insiders.
Long March-5B a successful comeback after two failed space launch missions: China's Manned Space Agency Global Times 05 May 2020 -- Tuesday's successful debut flight of the Long March-5B, which came after the previous consecutive launch failures in March and April, declares a huge comeback for China's space program, pumping confidence into the country's future space missions, according to Ji Qiming, an official with China's Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Tuesday.
Long March 5B launch marks new stage in China's manned space program PLA Daily 05 May 2020 -- China's Long March 5B carrier rocket made its debut flight from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province on Tuesday evening, with the China Manned Space Agency saying it marked a new chapter in the country's manned space program.
China to conduct the debut flight of Long March 5B carrier rocket PLA Daily 05 May 2020 -- China will conduct the debut flight of its Long March 5B carrier rocket at 6 pm on Tuesday at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in South China's Hainan province, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Pentagon Awards Lockheed Martin $6 Billion Patriot Missile Interceptor Contract Sputnik 01 May 2020 -- Lockheed Martin has won more than $6 billion to produce interceptors and other equipment for the Patriot anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence system, the US Department of Defence said in a press release.

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