July 2020 Space News

China achieves key independent tech with full global service of BeiDou Global Times 31 Jul 2020 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a ceremony to mark the launch of full global services of the BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System on Friday in Beijing, indicating that China's domestically development and independently operated global satellite navigation system has been fully completed.
Xi declares start of Beidou's full-scale global service People's Daily 31 Jul 2020 -- Renowned Chinese scientists, headed by Chen Fangyun, propose to build an experimental two-satellite positioning system.
Xi officially announces commissioning of BDS-3 navigation system PLA Daily 31 Jul 2020 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, officially announced the commissioning of China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) on Friday.
China's successful launch of Tianwen-1 Mars mission marks steady progress in exploring the outer space People's Daily 31 Jul 2020 -- China launched its first Mars exploration mission Tianwen-1 on July 23 with the fourth Long March-5 rocket coded as Long March-5 Y4 at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan province.
The Soviet Mars Shot That Almost Everyone Forgot RFE/RL 31 Jul 2020 -- A U.S. Atlas V rocket lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral on July 30 to cap an unprecedented month of international Mars mission launches, including by the United Arab Emirates and China.
Last BeiDou satellite starts operation in network PLA Daily 30 Jul 2020 -- The 55th and last satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) has commenced 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 Wednesday.
NASA Rover En Route to Mars to Look for Signs of Life VOA 30 Jul 2020 -- The U.S. has launched its next-generation Mars rover in search of potential signs of life on the red planet.
Iranian Satellite Once Derided as 'Tumbling Webcam in Space' Snaps Pics of US's Largest Mideast Base Sputnik 30 Jul 2020 -- The images were reportedly obtained amid the ongoing massive war games in southern Iran involving multiple branches of the armed forces, including elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) formations.
Xi to attend ceremony marking completion of BeiDou-3 system as final satellite starts operation in network Global Times 29 Jul 2020 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend a ceremony marking the completion and launching of the BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System scheduled for Friday in Beijing.
The United States and Russia Hold Space Security Exchange US Dept. of State 28 Jul 2020 -- Officials from the Departments of State, Defense, and Energy, as well as the National Security Council, met with Russian Federation officials in a Space Security Exchange under the framework of the Strategic Security Dialogue.
Missile Defense Becomes Part of Great Power Competition DoD News 28 Jul 2020 -- All aspects of the military are engaged in great power competition, but while most analysts focus on developments in offensive missiles, Chinese and Russian defense leaders are developing even more capable missile defenses, Defense Department officials said.
U.S. Space Effort's Future Hinges on Private Industry DoD News 28 Jul 2020 -- When the United States sent men to the moon in the 1960s, the effort was largely driven by the government. But the future of the U.S. space effort will be agile innovators in the private sector who partner with the government, the Space Force's chief scientist said.
China receives data from newly-launched mapping satellite Global Times 28 Jul 2020 -- Remote sensing satellite ground stations in China have received data from the newly-launched mapping satellite Ziyuan III 03, sources with the Chinese Academy of Sciences said on Monday.
US allows South Korea to use solid fuel in space launch vehicles, missiles Press TV 28 Jul 2020 -- South Korea says it has reached an agreement with the United States to use solid fuel for space launch vehicles, a move that would facilitate Seoul's plans to enhance surveillance capabilities over the Korean Peninsula and build more powerful missiles.
South Korea Allowed to Develop Own Rocket Fuel VOA 28 Jul 2020 -- South Korea said Tuesday it has reached an agreement with the United States that will allow it to use solid rocket fuel for space vehicles, a change that will enable the country to launch its first military surveillance satellites and develop the technology to build more powerful missiles.
U.S., Russia Discuss Space Security Ahead Of Nuclear Talks This Week RFE/RL 27 Jul 2020 -- U.S. and Russian officials are holding talks on space security after the United States and Britain last week accused Moscow of having launched an anti-satellite weapon.
China launches new high-resolution mapping satellite PLA Daily 25 Jul 2020 -- China sent a new high-resolution mapping satellite into space on Saturday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern province of Shanxi.
China Successfully Launches 3 Non-Military Satellites in Earth's Orbit - CASC Sputnik 25 Jul 2020 -- China on Saturday successfully launched three non-military satellites into orbit using the Long March 4B launch vehicle, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) said on Saturday.
Space Force Rockets Toward Milestones DoD News 24 Jul 2020 -- Although the Space Force, the military's newest service, is just seven months old, it has sprinted toward its goal of preserving dominance in the space domain, its leader said.
Russia denies US, UK accusations of testing space weapon Press TV 24 Jul 2020 -- Russia has rejected as "propaganda" American and British allegations that it has tested an anti-satellite weapon in space.
Briefing With Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation Dr. Christopher A. Ford On the U.S.-Russia Space Security Exchange US Dept. of State 24 Jul 2020
U.S., Russia To Hold Space Security Meeting Amid Alarm Over Anti-Satellite Weapons RFE/RL 24 Jul 2020 -- A U.S. delegation will meet with Russian officials on July 27 to discuss security in space for the first time in seven years amid alarm in Washington over Moscow's latest test of an anti-satellite weapon.
U.S. Says Russia Tested Anti-Satellite Weapon In Space RFE/RL 24 Jul 2020 -- The United States has accused Russia of conducting the test of an anti-satellite weapon in space that Washington fears could be used to threaten critical U.S. and allied satellites.
China's Mars probe not to compete for space leadership: FM Global Times 24 Jul 2020 -- China's Mars probe mission is not designed to compete for space leadership; in fact, the universe is big enough for any country's exploration and cooperation, Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
Russia conducts space-based anti-satellite weapons test USSPACECOM 23 Jul 2020 -- U.S. Space Command has evidence that Russia conducted a non-destructive test of a space-based anti-satellite weapon. On July 15, Russia injected a new object into orbit from Cosmos 2543, currently Satellite Catalog Number 45915 in Space-Track.org.
US claims Russia just tested an 'anti-satellite weapon' in orbit Press TV 23 Jul 2020 -- The US Space Command has claimed that it's found evidence that Russia recently conducted a test of anti-satellite weapons.
China marching to Mars for humanity's better shared future People's Daily 23 Jul 2020 -- the United Arab Emirates, China and the United States -- have either launched or prepared to send up unmanned spacecraft to the planet more than 55 million km away.
China's successful launch of Mars mission heralds new era of deep-space probes beyond the Moon Global Times 23 Jul 2020 -- China successfully launched its first Mars probe, named Tianwen-1, via a Long March-5 Y4 carrier rocket from Wenchang Space Launch Center in South China's Hainan Province into planned orbit on Thursday. The move heralds a new era in China's deep-space exploration, which has steadily progressed beyond moon probes to interplanetary missions, mission commanders and developers said.
China successfully launches first Mars mission PLA Daily 23 Jul 2020 -- China launched a Mars probe on Thursday, designed to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission, taking the first step in its planetary exploration of the solar system.
European Telescope Takes First Picture of Another Solar System VOA 22 Jul 2020 -- The European Southern Observatory has released the first image ever captured by a telescope of multiple planets orbiting around a sun-like star, just like our solar system.
UK defence teams up with world leading UK space company to secure next generation of military communications UK MOD 19 Jul 2020 -- A new military communications satellite is set to keep troops safe across the globe for decades to come, thanks to a £500 million contract confirmed today by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
United Arab Emirates set to launch mission to Mars SPA 19 Jul 2020 -- The United Arab Emirates is to launch its first mission to Mars early on Monday, as it strives to develop its scientific and technology capabilities, according to Reuters.
Long March-5 rocket in position for China's first Mars probe Global Times 17 Jul 2020 -- China has taken another major step toward its first Mars probe mission, Tianwen-1. The Long March-5 Y4, the carrier rocket commissioned for the probe, was vertically transported to the launch area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in South China's Hainan Province on Friday morning ahead of the launch scheduled to take place between the end of July and the beginning of August, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA.)
China prepares to launch Long March-5 rocket for Mars mission PLA Daily 17 Jul 2020 -- The fourth Long March-5 rocket, to be used to launch China's first Mars exploration mission, was vertically transported to the launching area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province on Friday.
Solar Orbiter Captures Closest Images of Sun VOA 17 Jul 2020 -- The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA have released the first images from the Solar Orbiter spacecraft – the closest pictures ever taken of the sun.
Pentagon Lays Groundwork for Future US Experimental Space Station Sputnik 16 Jul 2020 -- The Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) was recently awarded a US Department of Defense contract to transform its own intended NASA transport vehicle into the core structure of the US military's future Unmanned Orbital Outpost.
General Praises U.K.'s Partnership With U.S. in Space Operations DoD News 15 Jul 2020 -- The United States doesn't go to war alone on land, on the sea, in the air, in cyberspace and most certainly in the space domain, the Space Force's top officer said, citing the United Kingdom as a key ally in effective space defense over the last 50 years.
Private Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy completes key engine test Global Times 14 Jul 2020 -- Private Chinese rocket firm Galactic Energy Co has successfully conducted a hydraulic test of the turbine pump of its liquid-fueled Welkin engine, domestic news portal thepaper.cn reported on Tuesday.
Beidou Navigation Satellite System mirrors China's ambition of independent innovation People's Daily 12 Jul 2020 -- As a Long March-3B rocket blasted off at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan province on June 23, sending the last Beidou Navigation Satellite-3 constellation satellite into the space, China accomplished the full deployment of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) constellation six months ahead of schedule.
First Launch of Chinese Kuaizhou-11 Rocket Fails, Reports Suggest Sputnik 10 Jul 2020 -- The first launch of a solid-fueled carrier rocket Kuaizhou-11 (KZ-1A), launched from northwestern China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, was unsuccessful, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.
Roscosmos: Spaceship Progress MS-13 With Waste Cargo From ISS Collapses in Atmosphere Sputnik 09 Jul 2020 -- Russia's Progress MS-13 cargo spaceship that undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) got out of orbit and collapsed in the atmosphere, Russia's space agency Roscosmos said on Thursday.
China's Rival to GPS Navigation Carries Big Risks VOA 08 Jul 2020 -- After more than 20 years of effort, China completed its satellite navigation system last Tuesday when the last of BeiDou's 35 satellites reached geostationary orbit.
BDS promotes China-Arab cooperation to higher level PLA Daily 07 Jul 2020 -- On July 6, the 9th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was held via video-link.
US Army Begins Testing for New Missile Defense System That May Enter Service by 2022 Sputnik 07 Jul 2020 -- The US Army has begun a key test of a new integrated air defense system that was delayed due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. If successful, it could mean the introduction of a new, advanced generation of expanded anti-missile defenses.
Israel puts new spy satellite in orbit in taunt to Mideast countries Press TV 06 Jul 2020 -- Israel has launched a new spy satellite, with reports linking the launch to the Israeli regime's hostility towards Iran and its peaceful nuclear activities.
Israel Launches New Spy Satellite To 'Monitor Iran' RFE/RL 06 Jul 2020 -- Israel's Defense Ministry has announced the successful launch of a new spy satellite that the ministry said would provide high-quality surveillance for its military intelligence.
Israel Successfully Launches New Advanced Spy Satellite 'to Monitor Any Threats' Sputnik 06 Jul 2020 -- At least two more Israeli reconnaissance satellites are currently operational - the Ofek 5, launched in 2002, and the Ofek 11, which has been zooming in on possible targets since 2016.
China launches satellite for space environment study PLA Daily 05 Jul 2020 -- China successfully sent a satellite for space environment study and related technology experiments into the planned orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Sunday.
Russia Will Deploy Space System Warning of Missile Attacks by 2024, Defence Ministry Says Sputnik 03 Jul 2020 -- Russia is going to deploy a space system that warns of missile attacks by 2024, Sergei Surovikin, the commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces, told the military's official newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda on Thursday.
China's last BDS satellite enters long-term operation mode PLA Daily 01 Jul 2020 -- The newly-launched last satellite of China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) successfully entered the long-term operation mode on July 1, announced the Xi'an Satellite Control Center.

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