TIANZHOU-1 COMPLETES FIRST TIANGONG-2 REFUELLING, CLEARING WAY TO SPACE STATION - China's first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1, has successfully completed its first refuelling of the Tiangong-2 space lab in orbit, marking a huge step forward in the country's plans for a large, modular space station. The transfer of propellant in microgravity to Tiangong-2 was the primary objective for the Tianzhou-1 mission, with the first steps of the refuelling initiated on Sunday. Success of the 29-step, five-day process was declared by Zhang Youxia, commander-in-chief of China's manned space programme, shortly after 7 pm in Beijing on Thursday.   More
(Source: gbtimes - Apr 28)

THE FIRST SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM FLIGHT WILL PROBABLY BE DELAYED - It's looking likely that the first flight of NASA's new heavy lift rocket, the Space Launch System, will slip beyond its November 2018 launch date. The space agency has yet to announce any official schedule changes. But a recent report by NASA's Office of Inspector General, along with dates provided by internal sources, an agency-wide schedule review currently in progress, and welding challenges involving the core stage liquid oxygen tank, all point to a probable delay.   More
(Source: The Planetary Society - Apr 27)

CHINA'S CARGO CRAFT DOCKS WITH SPACE LAB - China's Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft performed an automated docking with the country's orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab Saturday (April 22), according to the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center. The robotic Tianzhou-1 was lofted atop a Long March-7 Y2 rocket Thursday evening (April 20) from Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China's Hainan province.   More
(Source: Space.com - Apr 26)

TRUMP CONGRATULATES RECORD-BREAKING ASTRONAUT ON INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION - President Donald Trump called the International Space Station on Monday to congratulate astronaut Peggy Whitson for staying in space longer than any other American. Whitson, who has been at the ISS for 534 days and counting, is scheduled to stay there for at least another five months. Her record surpasses that of fellow American astronaut Jeff Williams. "That is an incredible record to break, and on behalf of our nation," Trump said during a call to the ISS on Monday morning, "and frankly on behalf of the world, I would like to congratulate you."   More
(Source: CNBC - Apr 25)

2 SOPS SAYS GOODBYE TO GPS SATELLITE - At 25-years old, Global Positioning System Satellite Vehicle Number 27 completed its time in orbit before the 2nd Space Operations Squadron said goodbye via final command and disposal here April 18. SVN 27 was launched in 1992, meaning it performed more than triple its design life of 7.5 years. “The most interesting thing about this process for me, was the ability to do some experimentation and advance training prior to the disposal,” said 1st Lt. Cameron Smith, 2 SOPS bus subsystem analyst. “Experimentation started in mid-March which consisted of advance training opportunities and vehicle component validation. This was very exciting and new to a lot of people in 2 SOPS.”   More
(Source: Schriever Air Force Base - Apr 25)

ISRAELI HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS LAUNCH NANO-SATELLITE INTO SPACE - A nano-satellite built by Israeli high school students was launched to the International Space Station on April 18. Named for Israel’s national bird, the Duchifat-2 (in English, Hoopoe-2) nano-satellite was one of 28 student-built nano-satellites sent into space, to be released from the space station in about six weeks’ time. More than 80 Israeli teenagers from around the country – in grades 9-12 – came to Herzliya Science Center to help build the tiny 1.8 kilogram (4-pound) CubeSat satellite, a type of miniaturized satellite for space research.   More
(Source: ISRAEL21c - Apr 24)

CHINA’S FIRST UNMANNED SPACE CARGO SHIP DOCKS WITH CHINESE SPACE STATION - China’s first unmanned space cargo ship Tianzhou 1, which was launched Thursday, successfully docked with the country’s orbiting Tiangong 2 space station on Saturday, China national central television reported. The cargo spacecraft was built to carry fuel, materials and other supplies for the construction of the Chinese space station due for completion around 2020.   More
(Source: The Japan Times - Apr 24)

FIRST BULGARIAN COMMUNICATION SATELLITE IS READY TO BE LAUNCHED IN SPACE - The first Bulgarian communication satellite by the Geostationary orbit BulgariaSat-1 finished all main procedures for montage and tests by the company Space Systems/Loral (SSL) in Palo Alto, California successfully, Dnevnik announced. The installation is being currently prepared for transportation to the platform for launching in Cape Canaveral, Florida, said the company “Bulgaria Sat”.    More
(Source: Novinite.com - Apr 23)

TWO NEW CREW MEMBERS ARRIVE AT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION - After a six-hour flight, NASA astronaut Jack Fischer, KG5FYH, and cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin, RN3FI, of the Russian space agency Roscosmos arrived at the International Space Station at 9:18 a.m. EDT Thursday where they will continue important scientific research. The two launched aboard a Soyuz MS-04 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 3:13 a.m. (1:13 p.m. Baikonur time), orbited Earth four times, and docked at the space station.   More
(Source: Southgate - Apr 22)

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