NEXT-GENERATION SATELLITE PREPARED FOR LAUNCH - The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-K) spacecraft is part of the next-generation series in the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System, a constellation of space-based communication satellites providing tracking, telemetry, command and high-bandwidth data return services.    More
(Source: NASA - Jan 12)

RUSSIA FACING NO ACCESS TO SPACE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE COLD WAR - Russia could find itself without access to space for the first time since space travel began if a property row with neighboring Kazakhstan goes unresolved. The Kremlin has formally demanded an explanation for comments by the head of the Kazakh space agency about the future of the Baikonur Cosmodrome – the main connection between earth and the International Space Station.    More
(Source: Telegraph.co.uk - Jan 11)

NASA DEAL MAY PUT INFLATABLE PRIVATE MODULE ON SPACE STATION - NASA and Bigelow Aerospace have reached an agreement that could pave the way for attaching a Bigelow-built inflatable space habitat to the International Space Station, a NASA spokesman said. The $17.8 million contract was signed in late December, NASA spokesman Trent Perrotto told SpaceNews Monday (Jan. 7). Perrotto declined to provide other terms of the agreement, except to say that it centers around the Bigelow Expanded Aerospace Module (BEAM). He said a formal announcement is in the works.    More
(Source: Space.com - Jan 10)

WILL CHINA LAUNCH AN ANTI-SATELLITE TEST SOON? - China may be gearing up to perform a controversial anti-satellite test this month, perhaps in the next week or two, some experts say. For several months, rumors have been circulating within the United States defense and intelligence communities that a Chinese anti-satellite test is imminent, says Gregory Kulacki of the Union of Concerned Scientists. It could even be conducted on Jan. 11, the date on which China performed ASAT operations in both 2007 and 2010.    More
(Source: Space.com - Jan 6)

ARIANESPACE TO LAUNCH VIETNAMESE SATELLITE - The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology has signed a contract with Arianespace to launch its VNREDSat-1A satellite. The satellite is intended for Earth observations to assist with scientific research, and will be constructed by Astrium. In the second quarter of this year, the satellite will be launched by Arianespace’s Vega rocket. The satellite will be placed into sun-synchronous orbit about 670km above the Earth’s surface. A sun-synchronous orbit means that the satellite will cross the same latitudes at the same time. That means that the same spot on the Earth being observed will have consistent lighting as the satellite orbits the Earth, making it easier to see changes over time.    More
(Source: Forbes - Jan 6)

ANOTHER COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE LAUNCHED - A fourth British military communications satellite built by Europe's aerospace company Astrium has been launched into orbit. The satellite, the fourth launched since 2007 as part of the Skynet 5 program, was sent into orbit from a facility in French Guiana under a $6.5 billion Private Finance Initiative program. "The Skynet program provides vital support to the armed forces," said Col. Mike Griffiths, head of Networks for the Defense Equipment and Support organization of Britain's Defense Ministry. "The launch of this latest satellite will deliver additional global communications capacity to support our operations."    More
(Source: UPI - Jan 3)

LONGEST-RUNNING EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE TO RETIRE - After documenting the changing face of our planet since 1984, the longest-running Earth-observing satellite, Landsat 5, will retire soon, the U.S. Geological Survey has announced. The satellite, which will be retired in the next few months, has long outlived its initial three-year mission. It has circled Earth more than 150,000 times during its nearly 29 years in space, and has snapped more than 2.5 million images of the planet's surface along the way. Throughout its prolific career, Landsat 5 has captured images of the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Chernobyl disaster, the expansion of sprawl around cities like Las Vegas, deforestation in Mexico, and even crowds descending on the U.S. capital to witness President Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration.    More
(Source: Yahoo! News - Dec 28)

ISS CHRISTMAS: ASTRONAUTS ABOARD SPACE STATION EXCHANGE GIFTS, CELEBRATE HOLIDAY - Christmas in orbit might not look exactly like the holidays on Earth, but the astronauts living on the International Space Station this holiday season try to make the orbiting science laboratory as homey as possible. The six members of the station's Expedition 34 crew, three of whom just arrived last week, will all be spending Christmas and New Years Day aboard the spacecraft, but that doesn't mean they don't get to celebrate. Hundreds of miles above the Earth's surface, the spaceflyers will eat, exchange gifts, and be merry during Christmas and when welcoming in the New Year.    More
(Source: Huffington Post - Dec 26)

NEW ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE ON INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION - At 11:37 am on Friday, the International Space Station gained three new crewmembers, bringing Expedition 34 to its full crew complement. The new crewmembers are all veteran of space station missions. They include NASA astronaut Thomas Marshburn, making his third trip to the International Space Station; Russian Cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, who’s previously spent six months on the station; and Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who helped install the station’s robotic arm.    More
(Source: Forbes - Dec 22)

Previous Next