NASA PLANS TO LEAVE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION TO EXPLORE DEEPER SPACE - In the interest of saving money, NASA is planning to cut its ties to the International Space Station, which has maintained a continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit for 15 years. According to ARS Technica, NASA's head of human spaceflight said the agency plans to leave the space station as soon as possible. Earlier this year, the U.S. Congress agreed to extend funding for the ISS from 2020 to 2024.    More
(Source: Chron.com - Dec 11)

ISRO TO LAUNCH 6 SINGAPOREAN SATELLITES ON DECEMBER 16 - India will be launching six Singaporean satellites weighing a total of around 625 kg on December 16 evening through its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket, a senior official said. "It is a commercial launch. The rocket is expected to blast off from the Sriharikota rocket port at 6 pm on December 16. The Indian rocket will be carrying six satellites all from Singapore," a senior official of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), preferring anonymity, told IANS on Thursday. According to him, the major luggage for the PSLV rocket will be the earth observation satellite called TeLEOS, weighing around 400 kg.    More
(Source: NDTV - Dec 11)

CHRISTMAS DELIVERY: SPACE STATION GETS 1ST US SHIPMENT IN MORE THAN HALF-YEAR, PRESENTS ABOARD - The International Space Station accepted its first U.S. shipment in more than half a year early Wednesday, receiving Christmas presents and much-needed groceries for the resident astronauts. "There's much rejoicing on the ground," Mission Control radioed. NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren (CHELL LEND-grin) used the space station's big robot arm to grab the capsule and its 3 ½ tons of cargo. The operation went smoothly, thanks to all the practice Lindgren put in. He operated the crane via joy sticks, joking earlier this week, "I knew those hours playing video games would come in handy!"   More
(Source: US News - Dec 10)

CHINA LAUNCHES NEW COMMUNICATION SATELLITE - China on Thursday morning put a new communication satellite into orbit from the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The "ChinaSat 1C" satellite was launched at 0:46 a.m. and carried by the Long March-3B carrier rocket. It will provide high-quality voice, data and radio and TV transmission services.   More
(Source: Xinhua - Dec 10)

ARIANESPACE MARKS MILESTONES... LAST LAUNCHES OF THE YEAR + LAST TWO GALILEO SATELLITES TO SOAR - The two spacecraft for Arianespace’s latest Soyuz launch at the service of Europe’s Galileo satellite-based navigation system—and the company’s record 12th mission overall in 2015—have been integrated at the Spaceport in preparation for their December 17 liftoff from French Guiana. During activity in the Spaceport’s S3B clean room facility, the spacecraft pair was mated with their dispenser, which will deploy the satellites by firing a pyrotechnic system for separation in opposite directions at the orbital insertion point.   More
(Source: SatNews Publishers - Dec 10)

LATEST GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM SATELLITE GOES LIVE - The newest Global Positioning System replenishment satellite went into operation Tuesday night, five weeks after ascending to space from Cape Canaveral atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket. The GPS 2F-11 navigation spacecraft was launched Oct. 31 into a circular orbit 11,000 nautical mile high and tilted 55 degrees to the equator. GPS 2F-11 has assumed Plane E, Slot 2 of the network. The new bird took the place of GPS 2R-10 satellite, launched in 2003. The Lockheed Martin-built satellite has outlived its 7.5-year design life and will shift to an alternate role within the constellation for its remaining years.   More
(Source: SpaceFlight Now - Dec 10)

AMERICAN SATELLITE STARTED TRANSMITTING 46 YEARS AFTER BEING ABANDONED IN 1967 - An American satellite, abandoned in 1967 as a piece of Space Junk has begun transmitting again after 46 years. Lincoln Experimental Satellite refers to a series of satellites designed and built by Lincoln Laboratory at MIT between 1965 and 1976, under USAF sponsorship, for testing devices and techniques for satellite communication.   More
(Source: The Vintage News - Dec 10)

JAPAN TO CONTINUE SPACE STATION PROJECT UNTIL 2024 - Japan announced Tuesday it intends to remain part of the U.S.-led International Space Station project when it is extended until 2024, hoping to strengthen its alliance with the United States as China advances into space. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced for the first time Japan's planned participation in the four-year extension proposed by the United States. Of the 15 countries participating in the ISS, Russia and Canada have already expressed intent to remain in the project, while European members have yet to decide.   More
(Source: Kyodo News - Dec 9)

NASA TV TO COVER LAUNCH OF TIM PEAKE KG5BVI - The next three crew members bound for the International Space Station are set to launch on Tuesday, December 15. NASA Television will provide full coverage of the launch beginning at 10:00 UT. UK astronaut Tim Peake KG5BVI, along with Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP and Tim Kopra KE5UDN, will launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 11:03 UT (5:03 p.m. Baikonur time) for a six-month stay on the orbital complex. The three will travel in a Soyuz spacecraft, rendezvous with the space station and dock to the Rassvet module at 17:24 UT NASA TV coverage of docking will begin at 16:45 UT   More
(Source: AMSAT-UK - Dec 9)

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