June 2020 Space News

Missile Defense Chief Looks to Handle Changing Threat DoD News 30 Jun 2020 -- Missile defense has gone from pie-in-the-sky Star Wars technology in the 1980s to a proven military capability in the 21st century, and the Missile Defense Agency is looking to extend those capabilities against new threats.
USSF field command structure reduces command layers, focuses on space warfighter needs US Air Force 30 Jun 2020 -- The Department of the Air Force and the United States Space Force have finalized the new service's organizational structure for echelons below the headquarters, reflecting the newest branch of the armed forces' guiding principles of being a lean, agile and mission-focused organization.
India's first human space mission "Gaganyaan" will not be affected by COVID pandemic: Dr.Jitendra Singh India PIB 29 Jun 2020 -- Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that the launch of India's first human space mission "Gaganyaan" will not be affected by COVID pandemic and preparation are carrying on in the right direction.
Russia's Roscosmos Reveals Cost of Angara Heavy-Lift Rocket for Defence Ministry Sputnik 29 Jun 2020 -- The production cost of each of Russia's new Angara-A5 heavy-lift rockets, manufactured for the Defence Ministry under a contract on test flights, is below 5 billion rubles ($71.6 million), the State Space Corporation Roscosmos said on Monday.
UK Reportedly Ready to Pump $600 Million into US Satellite Operator as Alternative to EU's Galileo Sputnik 27 Jun 2020 -- In 2018, then-UK Prime Minister Theresa May pulled out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system project as Brussels excluded London from its development in preparation for Brexit.
Naval Research Laboratory Telescope Onboard Joint NASA and European Space Agency Program Discovers 4000th Comet NNS 26 Jun 2020 -- The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's Large Angle Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) instrument identified the 4000th comet discovered by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a joint mission between the European Space Agency and NASA on June 15.
US, Europe, Japan Space Agencies Announce COVID-19 'Dashboard' VOA 25 Jun 2020 -- The U.S. space agency NASA and its European and Japanese counterparts (ESA, JAXA) announced Thursday the launching of the COVID-19 Earth Observation Dashboard, a web-based collection of satellite data from all three agencies documenting how the coronavirus pandemic has changed the planet.
Japan confirms cancellation of US missile system deployment Press TV 25 Jun 2020 -- Japan's government has confirmed the cancellation of a plan to deploy a multibillion-dollar US anti-missile system in the country, amid pressure from local residents complaining about the health risks posed by the project.
Japan Abandons Plans to Deploy US Aegis Ashore Missile Defence System Sputnik 25 Jun 2020 -- Japan has abandoned its plans to deploy US Aegis Ashore land-based missile defence system, the Kyodo news agency reported on Thursday, citing Defence Minister Taro Kono.
Japan to Abandon US Missile Defense System VOA 25 Jun 2020 -- Japan Defense Minister Taro Kono announced Thursday Japan had decided to scrap plans to deploy the U.S.-made land-based Aegis Ashore missile defense system that was intended to protect Japan from North Korean threats.
Changes in Tech, Strategy Drive Missile Defense DoD News 24 Jun 2020 -- Changes to technologies, strategy and capabilities make a good case for closer cooperation among the combatant commands, the services and allies in regard to missile defense, military officers charged with this crucial mission said.
Historic reforms initiated in the Space sector India PIB 24 Jun 2020 -- Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved far reaching reforms in the Space sector aimed at boosting private sector participation in the entire range of space activities. The decision taken is in line with the long-term vision of the Prime Minister of transforming India and making the country self-reliant and technologically advanced.
India Ends Monopoly of its Space Agency, Sets Up New Entity to Facilitate Private Players Sputnik 24 Jun 2020 -- Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 16 May announced certain structural reforms which included the opening up of space technology to private players. Sitharaman had said, "future projects for planetary exploration, outer space travel, etc shall also be open for the private sector".
Launch marks milestone in nation's space effort People's Daily 24 Jun 2020 -- The final satellite to complete the third-generation network of China's Beidou Navigation Satellite System was launched on Tuesday morning, marking a milestone in the nation's space endeavor.
NASA Hints at Potential Deal With Bezos' Blue Origin and Other Firms Announcing New Space Plan Sputnik 24 Jun 2020 -- The initiative will be part of NASA's plans to commercialise space travel and is an offshoot of the Commercial Crew Programme the agency signed with private US aerospace companies. Last month, it resulted in the first manned mission to the International Space Station from American soil since 2011.
China completes BDS navigation system, reduces reliance on GPS Global Times 23 Jun 2020 -- Carrying the last satellite of China's domestically developed BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, or BDS, the Long March-3B launch vehicle blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center Tuesday morning.
China launches last BDS satellite to complete global navigation constellation PLA Daily 23 Jun 2020 -- China launched the last satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) on Tuesday, marking the completion of the deployment of its own global navigation system.
Iran set to have 18 home-grown satellites by yearend IRNA 21 Jun 2020 -- With an increase in Iran's space sector, the country is expected to have 18 domestically-made satellites by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2021), Iran's ITC Minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi said on Sunday.
US new space strategy 'aggressive', Washington seeing space as arena for waging war: Russia Press TV 19 Jun 2020 -- Russia has lambasted the US's newly-unveiled space strategy document as "aggressive", saying Washington views space as a new "arena" to wage "war."
Defense Space Strategy Addresses Militarization, Competition DoD News 18 Jun 2020 -- The Defense Department's newly released Defense Space Strategy addresses new realities in space: great power competition and militarization of the domain, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for space policy said.
US Space Militarization Plans May Jeopardize Fragile Cooperation With Russia - Roscosmos Sputnik 18 Jun 2020 -- Washington's space militarization plans may jeopardize the already fragile cooperation with Russia, the deputy head of Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos said on Thursday, still confirming the country's readiness to strengthen bilateral partnership.
Defense Official Briefs Defense Space Strategy to Reporters DoD 17 Jun 2020 -- Stephen L. Kitay, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy; Lieutenant Colonel Uriah Orland, Pentagon Spokesperson
Department of Defense Releases Defense Space Strategy DoD 17 Jun 2020 -- "Today the Secretary for Defense released the Defense Space Strategy, which identifies how Department of Defense will advance spacepower to be able to compete, deter, and win in a complex security environment characterized by great power competition."
China sends new high-resolution remote sensing satellite into space Global Times 17 Jun 2020 -- China successfully sent another high-resolution remote sensing satellite, the Gaofen 9-03, into designated orbit on Wednesday via a Long March-2D carrier rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's Gansu Province.
Russia, China Put at Risk US Military Space Superiority, Pentagon Says Sputnik 17 Jun 2020 -- The United States maintains a lead over Russia and China in military space capabilities, but is challenged by the pace of their development, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence Stephen Kitay told reporters on Wednesday.
U.S.-UK Technology Safeguards Agreement US Dept. of State 17 Jun 2020 -- On June 16, 2020, the United States and the United Kingdom concluded the Agreement on Technology Safeguards Associated with U.S. Participation in Space Launches from the United Kingdom, or the U.S.-UK Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA).
Final Beidou satellite ready for launch People's Daily 15 Jun 2020 -- A Long March 3B carrier rocket sits on the launchpad at Xichang Satellite Center in Sichuan province, ready to send the last satellite of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System into space.
Japanese Defence Minister Says Aegis Ashore Deployment to Be Halted Due to High Cost Sputnik 15 Jun 2020 -- Japan intends to stop deployment of Aegis Ashore, a US missile defence system, because of its cost and the deployment schedule, Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono said Monday.
Japan Drops Plan to Deploy US Missile System VOA 15 Jun 2020 -- Japan's Defense Minister announced Monday the country will cancel plans to deploy a costly, land-based U.S. missile defense system designed to counter escalating threats from North Korea.
Last satellite of China's BeiDou system to be launched PLA Daily 14 Jun 2020 -- The last satellite of China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has entered the countdown phase for its launch, the China Satellite Navigation Office announced Sunday.
SpaceX Successfully Deploys 61 Satellites Into Low Earth Orbit Sputnik 13 Jun 2020 -- SpaceX has successfully deployed 58 additional Starlink satellites and three SkySats into low-earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 booster which safely touched down after launch, the company said on Twitter.
China forms first satellite network for civil maritime affairs with latest successful launch Global Times 11 Jun 2020 -- China successfully sent a newly developed maritime environment monitoring satellite into orbit at 2:31 am on Thursday, forming the country's first satellite network for civil maritime affairs, which the developer said would bring the country to forefront of the world in terms of marine remote sensing capability, and also a step forward toward being a space power.
China successfully launches new ocean observation satellite PLA Daily 11 Jun 2020 -- China successfully sent an ocean observation satellite into space from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province Thursday.
NASA Awards Contract to Deliver Robot Rover to Moon VOA 11 Jun 2020 -- The U.S. space agency, NASA, has announced it has awarded a $199 million contract to a city of Pittsburgh company to launch its robot lunar rover to the moon in 2023. The agency made the announcement in an online release Thursday.
China launches HY-1D satellite to monitor maritime environment Global Times 10 Jun 2020 -- China successfully sent a newly developed maritime environment monitoring satellite into orbit at 2:31am on Thursday.
New details from Iran's latest satellite in interview with Sardar Jafarabadi Tasmin NA 10 Jun 2020 -- Mehdi Bakhtiari: On May 23 of this year, the Revolutionary Guards Air Force placed its first satellite, Noor, on a 425-kilometer Earth orbit by satellite to Ghased. This happened while, unlike previous satellite launches in the country, no one was informed about it until the operation.
Private sector will be allowed to use ISRO facilities and other relevant assets to improve their capacities: DrJitendra Singh India PIB 09 Jun 2020 -- Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that private sector will be allowed to use Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) facilities and other relevant assets to improve their capacities.
China tests inter-satellite links of BeiDou navigation system PLA Daily 08 Jun 2020 -- The Xi'an Satellite Control Center's tests have shown links among the satellites of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) are stable to ensure that the constellation can be completed as scheduled.
China, Serbia sign memorandum on space technology PLA Daily 06 Jun 2020 -- China and Serbia on Friday signed a memorandum on space technology which aims, among other things, to put the Serbian national flag on co-designed spacecraft in the future.
Space Development Agency Works Closely With Army, Its Biggest Customer DoD News 05 Jun 2020 -- With the 2019 creation of the Space Force, U.S. Space Command and the Space Development Agency, the Defense Department has a lot riding on space. But the agency's big focus now is on taking care of its biggest customer – the Army – the Space Development Agency's director said.
Cosmic Or Cosmetic Changes: A Twitter Shake-Up At Russia's Space Agency RFE/RL 05 Jun 2020 -- A scroll through the official Twitter account of Roskosmos on June 3 would have turned up some striking old posts from Russia's respected state-owned space agency.
SpaceX rocket launches 60 internet satellites into space Global Times 04 Jun 2020 -- US private space company SpaceX launched its eighth batch of 60 Starlink satellites into space on Wednesday.
Corps' satellite communication system exceeding performance expectations USMC News 03 Jun 2020 -- Marine Corps Systems Command is updating its tactical satellite system that provides increased communication on the battlefield.
54th BeiDou satellite starts operation in network PLA Daily 03 Jun 2020 -- The 54th and penultimate satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has started operation in the network after completing in-orbit tests and network access evaluations, according to a statement from China's Satellite Navigation System Management Office.
Spacecom, Space Force Officials Discuss Planetary Defense, Astronaut Launch DoD News 02 Jun 2020 -- It's possible one day an asteroid may threaten the Earth and the threat would need to be mitigated – possibly by the U.S. military. It's a scenario considered in a paper titled "Whither Space Power?" co-authored by two Air Force officers in 2002.
Not Rocket Science? Some In Kremlin Orbit Greet SpaceX Success With A Dose Of Derision RFE/RL 02 Jun 2020 -- When two NASA astronauts blasted off on May 30 under American - albeit commercially produced - power for the first time in nearly a decade, much of the world celebrated the achievement.
China sends two satellites into planned orbit People's Daily 01 Jun 2020 -- China sent two satellites into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwest of the country at 4:53 p.m. Sunday (Beijing Time).
Designers working on new, more powerful Long March 11 rocket PLA Daily 01 Jun 2020 -- Designers have begun to develop an upgraded version of the Long March 11 carrier rocket called the Long March 11A, which they said will be wider and taller than the current model and have greater thrust.

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