May 2021 Space News

China's Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft docks with space station core module at record-breaking speed, delivers supply for upcoming crewed flight mission Global Times 30 May 2021 -- China has not only successfully launched its Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft for the country's first Tianhe space station core cabin supply mission on Saturday, but also tested and performed an ultra-fast yet smooth automatic docking of the cargo ship with the Tianhe module - within only eight hours after launch - early on Sunday, achieving yet another spectacular milestone during the country's recent epic advancements on almost all fronts in the space sector within a month.
China launches cargo spacecraft to dock with space station module People's Daily 30 May 2021 -- China launched the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-2 on Saturday, which is scheduled to dock with the space station core module Tianhe to deliver supplies, equipment and propellant.
China's cargo craft successfully docks with space station module PLA Daily 30 May 2021 -- China's cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-2, carrying supplies, equipment and propellant, successfully docked with the space station core module Tianhe on Sunday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
MDA Test Does Not Intercept Target MDA 29 May 2021 -- The U.S. Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, conducted Flight Test Aegis Weapon System 31 Event 1 on May 29, 2021.
China launches cargo spacecraft to dock with space station module PLA Daily 29 May 2021 -- China launched the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-2 on Saturday, which is scheduled to dock with the space station core module Tianhe to deliver supplies, equipment and propellant.
US military fails to intercept test missile target amid struggling air-defense systems Press TV 29 May 2021 -- An American warship has failed to intercept a medium-range ballistic missile test target, according to the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), which did not reveal the location of the weapon testing.
Department of Defense Press Briefing on the President's Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Budget for the Missile Defense Agency DoD 28 May 2021 -- Navy Vice Admiral Jon A. Hill, director, Missile Defense Agency; Michelle C. Atkinson, director for operations
Space-Based Capabilities Critical to U.S. National Security, DOD Officials Say DoD News 24 May 2021 -- Space-based capabilities are vital to U.S. national security in today's era of de-stabilizing challenges from Russia and undeniable strategic competition with China, the Defense Department's principal director for space policy told a House Armed Services Committee panel today.
Virgin Galactic Completes First Human Spaceflight from Spaceport America, New Mexico Virgin Galactic 22 May 2021 -- Virgin Galactic today completed its third spaceflight and the first ever spaceflight from Spaceport America, New Mexico. Today's flight sees New Mexico become the third US state to launch humans into space.
First detailed images from the Pléiades Neo 3 satellite Airbus 20 May 2021 -- Today, Airbus released a first collection of sharp images at 30cm native resolution from the Pléiades Neo 3 satellite, recently safely launched and secured in orbit. The successful acquisitions and delivery of these first images are the start of a new era for both commercial and government geospatial applications requiring a high level of accuracy and the ability to see fine details.
Defence announces Space Division Australia DOD 19 May 2021 -- Defence will establish a Space Division headquarters within the Royal Australian Air Force in early 2022, with personnel from all areas within Defence reflecting the importance of the Space domain.
China's space station core module Tianhe completes in-orbit tests People's Daily 19 May 2021 -- China's space station core module Tianhe has recently completed its platform function tests and entered the orbit to rendezvous and dock with the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Tuesday.
China successfully launches new ocean observation satellite PLA Daily 19 May 2021 -- China sent a new ocean-monitoring satellite on Wednesday into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
Tianhe core module finishes in-orbit performance checks, ready for docking with cargo spacecraft Global Times 18 May 2021 -- The Tianhe core module cabin, the first section for China's space station project, has completed in-orbit performance checks with all systems in good condition.
Tianzhou-2 to send 2nd part of China's space station into orbit Global Times 17 May 2021 -- Following China's Tianwen-1's successful landing on Mars on Saturday, the fervor over China's space journey has yet to fade amid the rolling out of the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft to the launch site, igniting another round of cheers for the upcoming mission to send the second section of China's space station into orbit after the first - the Tianhe core module cabin - was sent to space in late April.
China prepares to launch Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft People's Daily 16 May 2021 -- The combination of the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft and the Long March-7 Y3 carrier rocket has been transported to the launching area of the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province on Sunday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
China in world's leading position on interplanetary exploration: Xi Global Times 15 May 2021 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent warm congratulations and sincere greetings to the personnel involved in the Saturday feat.
China succeeds in first Mars landing People's Daily 15 May 2021 -- The lander carrying China's first Mars rover has touched down on the red planet, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) confirmed on Saturday morning.
Zhurong sends back signals, marking success of Tianwen-1's landing on Mars Global Times 15 May 2021 -- Tianwen-1, China's first interplanetary expedition, has spectacularly conquered a new major milestone, with its lander-rover combination successfully soft-landing at the planned site in the southern part of a vast plain known as Utopia Planitia on Mars on early Saturday morning, Global Times learned from the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
CISA Launches a Space Systems Critical Infrastructure Working Group CISA 13 May 2021 -- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) today announced the formation of a Space Systems Critical Infrastructure Working Group, a mix of government and industry members that will identify and develop strategies to minimize risks to space systems that support the nation's critical infrastructure.
China's private space company aims to launch a foreign satellite in 2022 Global Times 13 May 2021 -- China's leading private space enterprise is planning to complete an international satellite launch in 2022, which will be the first international space launch done by a Chinese private space company.
Modernization Investments Needed to Protect the Space Domain, Space Force Chief Says DoD News 12 May 2021 -- The United States is a spacefaring nation, which depends on access to space and freedom to maneuver in space. However, there's a potential for conflict in space that could affect the lives of every American, said the chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force.
Australia Appoints Its First Space Commander VOA 10 May 2021 -- A senior female air force officer whose childhood idol was iconic Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong will become Australia's first space commander.
NASA Probe to Leave Asteroid's Orbit, Bring Back Samples VOA 10 May 2021 -- A probe from the U.S. space agency NASA is scheduled later Monday to fire its thrusters and leave the orbit of the asteroid Bennu, beginning a two-year journey back to Earth, complete with samples from the asteroid's surface.
Long March 5B developers dismiss hazard hype on rocket debris re-entry Global Times 10 May 2021 -- The US' fussiness over China's Long March-5B debris' re-entry, fully displayed in Western media reports that spared no effort in painting a "catastrophic aftermath," has mounted to a new high as NASA's newly appointed chief Bill Nelson openly criticized China's "lack of transparency" and "failure to act responsibly" over the event.
China refutes NASA chief's attack over rocket landing, opposes double-standards Global Times 10 May 2021 -- China conducted close monitoring and tracking work throughout the re-entry of the Long March-5B Y2 carrier rocket remnants on Sunday, and had shared a relevant forecast via international cooperation mechanisms, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday, refuting NASA chief Bill Nelson's accusation of China's lack of transparency and failure to "act responsibly" over the event.
China's rocket debris falls to Earth as 'accurately predicted' Global Times 09 May 2021 -- China's space authority announced on Sunday that remnants from China's Long March-5B Y2 carrier rocket reentered the Earth's atmosphere, most of it burning up on entry, with some remnants falling in the Arabian Sea.
Chinese Rocket Safely Re-Enters Earth's Atmosphere Over Indian Ocean VOA 09 May 2021 -- The remnants from an out-of-control Chinese rocket have safely reentered Earth's atmosphere over the Indian Ocean, according to Chinese state media.
On-Time Delivery Top Priority at Space Development Agency DoD News 07 May 2021 -- Cost, performance and delivery drive acquisition across the Defense Department, typically in equal measure. But the Space Development Agency has prioritized delivery above all else in its effort to get satellites into space that will deliver non-line-of-sight targeting to warfighters across the globe.
China Says Rocket Debris Unlikely to Cause Damage VOA 07 May 2021 -- Debris from a large, out-of-control Chinese rocket that is expected to reenter the atmosphere this weekend is unlikely to cause damage, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Friday.
There Must Be Rules for How We Use Space, Defense Leaders Say DoD News 06 May 2021 -- With more nations using space for both commercial and defense purposes, there must be rules that allow everybody to operate safely — and to be able to identify what's going to be considered a threat, say defense leaders.
'Western hype': Pentagon tracking 'out-of-control' Chinese rocket Press TV 06 May 2021 -- The Pentagon says it is tracking a large Chinese rocket that is "out of control" and expected to plunge back through the atmosphere this weekend.
White House Says US Space Command Tracking Chinese Rocket Sputnik 05 May 2021 -- White House spokesperson Jen Psaki on Wednesday said US Space Command is tracking China's Long March 5B (Chang Zheng 5B, or CZ-5B) rocket.
Spacecom Aims to Ensure Space Domain Is Protected, General Says DoD News 03 May 2021 -- U.S. Space Command supports the geographic combatant commanders by defending the space assets used by all commands that are vital to missile warnings and tracking; these include GPS and space-based sensors. Spacecom is also a geographic combatant command since its territory extends from 100 kilometers above the Earth into space.

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