December 2020 Space News

China to launch core module of space station in first half of 2021 People's Daily 26 Dec 2020 -- China plans to launch the core module of its manned space station in the first half of 2021, a senior official said Friday.
China to launch space station core cabinet by Spring 2021 Global Times 25 Dec 2020 -- China is set to launch the core cabinet of the country's first space station by spring 2021, Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's manned space program, disclosed on Friday.
Russia Plans to Supply US with 10 Engines for Atlas V, Antares Carrier Rockets in 2021 Sputnik 23 Dec 2020 -- Russia's Energomash research and production association (part of Roscosmos state space corporation), a major rocket engine manufacturer, plans to supply the US with six engines for Atlas V carrier rockets and four engines for Antares launch vehicles in 2021, according to information posted on the state procurement website.
China Successfully Test-Launched New CZ-8 Carrier Rocket, Aerospace Corporation Says Sputnik 22 Dec 2020 -- China successfully test-launched its next-generation CZ-8 (Long March 8) medium-lift carrier rocket on Tuesday, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) said.
China's new carrier rocket Long March-8 makes maiden flight PLA Daily 22 Dec 2020 -- China's new medium-lift carrier rocket Long March-8 made its maiden flight on Tuesday, sending five satellites into planned orbit, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
China Announces Plans to Allow International Access to Giant Radio Telescope VOA 21 Dec 2020 -- China has announced it will allow access by international scientists to its massive radio telescope — the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, or FAST, in southwestern Guizhou province. It is now the largest and only instrument of its kind in the world following the recent collapse of a Puerto Rico-based observatory.
China's Chang'e-5 retrieves 1,731 grams of moon samples People's Daily 20 Dec 2020 -- China's Chang'e-5 probe retrieved about 1,731 grams of samples from the moon, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
Presidential Message on the First Birthday of the United States Space Force The White House 20 Dec 2020
Space Force Personnel to be Called Guardians DoD News 19 Dec 2020 -- Soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and Guardians. That's the line-up for personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and America's newest armed service — the U.S. Space Force.
Remarks by Vice President Pence at the Space Force's 1st Birthday Celebration The White House 18 Dec 2020
Space Force Leader to Become 8th Member of Joint Chiefs DoD News 18 Dec 2020 -- The Joint Chiefs of Staff will grow by one member when Space Force Gen. John "Jay" Raymond joins the highest-ranking military, deliberative body in the Defense Department on Dec. 20.
One And Only Satellite Launch This Year From Russia's Far Eastern Cosmodrome RFE/RL 18 Dec 2020 -- Russia has hailed what it says was the first and only commercial launch this year from a space center in the country's Far East that has been plagued by cost overruns and delays.
UK Space Directorate Expresses Concern About Alleged Anti-Satellite Missile Test by Russia Sputnik 17 Dec 2020 -- The head of the UK Space Directorate, Air Vice-Marshal Harv Smyth, on Thursday accused Russia of conducting a new space test of anti-satellite weapons and expressed concern in this regard, following a similar statement by the US Air Force Space Command.
Chief of Space Operations Emphasizes the Importance of Partnerships DoD News 17 Dec 2020 -- Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. "Jay" Raymond spoke today at TechCrunch's Space 2020 virtual event.
Chang'e-5 completes lunar trip, more space missions planned Global Times 17 Dec 2020 -- On the freezing grassland in Siziwang Banner, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, a Chinese national flag was placed right next to the re-entry capsule of Chang'e-5 lunar probe, whose epic predawn landing on Thursday provided the perfect climax to China's latest moon missions—an epic moon sample return mission.
Xi congratulates complete success of Chang'e-5 mission Global Times 17 Dec 2020 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday congratulated the complete success of the Chang'e-5 mission that brings back the country's first samples collected from the moon.
Xi congratulates complete success of Chang'e-5 mission PLA Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday congratulated the complete success of the Chang'e-5 mission that brings back the country's first samples collected from the moon.
Chang'e-5 lands in North China, concludes epic lunar round trip Global Times 17 Dec 2020 -- Carrying around 2 kilograms of lunar samples, China's Chang'e-5 safely landed at its designated landing area in Siziwang Banner, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region around 2 am Thursday, bringing the craft's epic round trip between Earth and its celestial neighbor located some 380,000 kilometers away to a perfect conclusion.
Chang'e 5's reentry capsule lands with moon samples People's Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- China's most sophisticated and challenging space adventure – the Chang'e 5 robotic lunar mission – ended successfully early Thursday morning with its load of rocks and dust from the moon landing on the grasslands in northern China.
China's spacecraft brings home moon samples PLA Daily 17 Dec 2020 -- The return capsule of China's Chang'e-5 probe touched down on Earth in the early hours of Thursday, bringing back the country's first samples collected from the moon, as well as the world's freshest lunar samples in over 40 years.
China's Chang'e 5 Successfully Returns to Earth Carrying Lunar Samples Sputnik 16 Dec 2020 -- Named for a mythological goddess of the moon, Chang'e 5 is a part of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Programme. China began the project in 2003, and four years later saw its first spacecraft launched.
China State Media Reports Lunar Probe Landed Back on Earth VOA 16 Dec 2020 -- Chinese state media says a lunar probe containing the first samples of moon rocks and soil since the moon missions of the 1970s has returned to Earth.
Russia tests direct-ascent anti-satellite missile USSPACECOM 16 Dec 2020 -- Russia has conducted a test of a direct-ascent anti-satellite (DA-ASAT) missile.
US Space Command Claims Russia Conducted Anti-Satellite Missile Test Sputnik 16 Dec 2020 -- The United States' Space Command on Wednesday accused Russia of testing a missile intended to target satellites in orbit.
NASA Selects Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket for Launch Services Catalog Blue Origin 16 Dec 2020 -- Today, NASA awarded Blue Origin a NASA Launch Services II (NLS II) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to launch planetary, Earth observation, exploration, and scientific satellites for the agency aboard New Glenn, Blue Origin's orbital reusable launch vehicle.
China's Yuanwang-5 returns after 3 successful monitoring missions PLA Daily 15 Dec 2020 -- The space-tracking ship Yuanwang-5 returned to the port of the China Satellite Maritime Tracking and Controlling Department on December 14 after successfully carrying out three monitoring missions in the Pacific Ocean.
Japanese Scientists Confirm Returned Asteroid Probe Contains Soil Sample VOA 15 Dec 2020 -- Scientists at Japan's space agency on Tuesday confirmed the capsule they recovered last week from their Hayabusa2 probe that had landed on an asteroid did indeed contain samples collected from that heavenly body.
Russia's Angara A5 'eco-space rocket' successfully fires payload into orbit for first time in 6 years RT 14 Dec 2020 -- The Russian Space Forces have conducted a successful second test launch of the Angara A5 heavy-lift space launch vehicle, six years after the first test flight in 2014.
Russia Successfully Test-Launches Angara A-5 Heavy Carrier Sputnik 14 Dec 2020 -- Russia's Angara-A5 heavy-class carrier rocket with a payload simulator was successfully test-launched from the Plesetsk spaceport in the country's north, the defence ministry said on Monday.
Chang'e-5 completes first orbital correction en route to Earth People's Daily 14 Dec 2020 -- China's Chang'e-5 probe on Monday completed its first orbital correction en route to Earth, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
Countdown to Chang'e-5's grand return: breaking free from moon gravity Global Times 13 Dec 2020 -- China's Chang'e-5 lunar probe has officially embarked on the journey back to Earth amid earnest expectations from fans across the world, after the spacecraft carried out another successful maneuver that allowed it to break free from the moon's gravity and enter the lunar-Earth transfer orbit.
Carrying lunar samples, Chang'e-5 executes first lunar-Earth transfer projection Global Times 12 Dec 2020 -- Having traveled around moon for about six days, the orbital module of China's Chang'e-5 lunar probe executed on Saturday its first lunar-Earth transfer projection, shifting its flight path from near-circular orbit to a higher elliptical orbit, Global Times learned from the China National Space Administration.
Chang'e-5 orbiter-returner completes orbital maneuver to prepare for return People's Daily 12 Dec 2020 -- The orbiter-returner combination of China's Chang'e-5 probe on Saturday completed an orbital maneuver, preparing to leave the lunar orbit for a trajectory that returns it to Earth, according to the China National Space Administration.
The President's National Space Policy US Dept. of State 10 Dec 2020 -- "The President's National Space Policy, released yesterday, outlines America's principles and goals regarding our national interests and activities in space."
Department of Defense Reinforces National Space Policy DoD 09 Dec 2020 -- The White House released the National Space Policy today, which highlights the Department of Defense as a key agency in implementing and achieving the nation’s goals in this important domain.
Statement from the President on the National Space Policy The White House 09 Dec 2020
Remarks by Vice President Pence at the 8th Meeting of the National Space Council | Cape Canaveral, FL The White House 09 Dec 2020
Remarks by Vice President Pence at Installation Renaming Ceremony | Cape Canaveral, The White House 09 Dec 2020
US Developing New Nuclear Systems to Power Space Missions, New Bases, Energy Chief Says Sputnik 09 Dec 2020 -- The United States is developing different versions of nuclear power to use on lunar and other space bases and for long-range interplanetary manned and unmanned probes, Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette told the National Space Council.
Russia Deployed Ground-Based Laser to Blind American Space Sensors, US Intelligence Chief Says Sputnik 09 Dec 2020 -- Russia has already deployed a ground-based laser weapon which could disable or blind US space-based sensors on orbiting surveillance satellites, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) John Ratcliffe said on Wednesday.
Japan's plans to build new Aegis-equipped ships, improve missile capability deemed unconstitutional People's Daily 09 Dec 2020 -- The Japanese government's plan to build two naval vessels equipped with Aegis missile interceptors has met with resistance from opposition parties who believe, along with plans to enhance missile capability, that the plans might be unconstitutional.
Space Agency Hopes to Gain Industry's Trust With Proliferated Satellite Marketplace DoD News 07 Dec 2020 -- BY The National Defense Space Architecture will include hundreds of satellites in orbit around earth dedicated to gathering targeting and tracking information and instantly transmit it to war fighters. Getting the defense industry on board with this, means gaining their trust. Part of that will require the creation of a stable market for those satellites and technologies, the director of the Space Development Agency said.
Chang'e 5 set to start journey to Earth People's Daily 07 Dec 2020 -- Lunar samples collected by China's Chang'e 5 robotic probe will soon start their journey toward Earth, according to the China National Space Administration.
Hayabusa2 Capsule With Samples From Ryugu Asteroid Delivered to Japan, Report Says Sputnik 07 Dec 2020 -- The Hayabusa2 capsule containing samples from near-Earth asteroid Ryugu has been delivered from Australia to Japan for detailed analysis, the NHK broadcaster reports.
Chang'e-5 completes China's first docking in lunar orbit Global Times 06 Dec 2020 -- After a successful liftoff from the lunar surface and rendezvous in lunar orbit, China's Chang'e-5 lunar probe docked with the orbital module on Sunday, with the lunar samples safely transferred to the return capsule, China's first successful attempt at such a maneuver made possible by cutting-edge technologies.
Chang'e-5 return capsule with Moon samples separates with orbital module: CNSA Global Times 06 Dec 2020 -- China's Chang'e-5 lunar probe's ascender successfully docked with the orbital module in lunar orbit on Sunday 5:42 am, some 380,000 kilometers away from Earth, and completed lunar soil sample transfer at 6:12 am from the ascender to the return capsule, the Global Times learnt from the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
China completes first spacecraft rendezvous, docking in lunar orbit People's Daily 06 Dec 2020 -- The ascender of China's Chang'e-5 probe successfully rendezvoused and docked with the orbiter-returner combination in lunar orbit, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Sunday.
China's Chang'e-5 Successfully Docks to Orbiting Spacecraft, Moon Samples Set for Delivery to Earth Sputnik 06 Dec 2020 -- The People's Republic of China planted its flag on the lunar surface on Thursday, successfully completing a historic mission to collect samples from the satellite's surface before lifting off to transport the material back home.
SpaceX Dragon Cargo Mission Successfully Launches For ISS From Kennedy Space Centre Sputnik 06 Dec 2020 -- The spacecraft will spend nearly one month docked on the International Space Station before it returns to Earth.
China's spacecraft takes off from moon with samples People's Daily 04 Dec 2020 -- A Chinese spacecraft carrying the country's first lunar samples blasted off from the moon late Thursday, the China National Space Administration announced.
Turkey's Space Strategy: Trilateral Cooperation With Russia, Kazakhstan is Logical, Agency Head Says Sputnik 04 Dec 2020 -- Independent access to space has become one of Turkey's national priorities under the Recep Tayyip Erdogan government. Turkey's Space Agency head, Serdar Hüseyin Yildirim, has shed light on the agency's priorities, plans, aspirations, and joint projects underway.
Chang'e-5 probe unfolds Chinese national flag, takes off from moon with lunar surface samples Global Times 03 Dec 2020 -- The Chinese national flag shines an even brighter red from moon, and from now on it will be a grand reminder for stargazers from all over the world of the excitement and inspiration we felt from Apollo missions more than half a century ago.
UAE launches satellite Falcon Eye into space People's Daily 03 Dec 2020 -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched Wednesday its fourth reconnaissance satellite, named Falcon Eye 2, aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket that lifted off from Guiana Space Center in French Guiana.
China's Chang'e-5 lands on moon to retrieve samples People's Daily 02 Dec 2020 -- China's Chang'e-5 spacecraft successfully landed on the near side of the moon late Tuesday and sent back images, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced.
European Space Agency Signs Deal to Remove Debris from Orbit VOA 02 Dec 2020 -- The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a $102 million contract with a Swiss start-up company to purchase a unique service: the first-ever removal of an item of space debris from orbit.

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