Beijing, China (XNA) Nov 09, 2009

China will launch a French-made communications satellite for the Hong Kong-based APT Satellite Holding Limited in the first half of 2012.

A contract for the launch service was signed here Sunday.

The satellite, dubbed APTSTAR-7 and made by the Thales Alenia Space, will be sent into space by China's Long March 3B/E carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern China, according to a statement issued by the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), the contractor of the launch on Sunday.

The satellite, with a designed life span of 15 years, will function for the service of live television broadcast and communications in Asia, the Middle East, Australia Africa and parts of the European Union.

As the only Chinese company engaged in international commercial satellite launching services, CGWIC, a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, has launched 36 foreign satellites.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

Saint Petersburg (AFP) Nov 7, 2009

The first Russian rockets to be fired into space next year from a space centre in distant South America were Saturday to begin the long voyage to the launch site from Saint Petersburg.

Two Russian Soyuz rockets, the mainstay of its space programme, were later Saturday to leave the northern city by ship bound for the French overseas department of French Guiana ahead of their expected launch next year.

Packed in containers on board the French vessel Le Colibri, they will arrive 15 days later ahead of the first planned launches next year of Soyuz rockets from France's launch site in French Guiana.

"We are in line for the first launch in the second quarter of next year," the chief executive of French aerospace firm Arianespace Jean-Yves Le Gall told AFP.

Didier Coulon, the head of the project at the European Space Agency (ESA), said the first launch could take place as early as April.

Finally confirming the project is ready after a string of delays, he said that ...

Tehran (UPI) Nov 9, 2009

Iran is preparing to launch its second indigenous communications satellite aboard a Safir-2 (Ambassador) booster rocket, an event that will test the country's ballistic missile capabilities.

And, if it's successful, it could impact significantly on U.S.-led negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear ambitions by demonstrating the Iranians' growing mastery of missile technology.

Satellite launch vehicles such as the two-stage Safir-2, believed to be a modified Shehab-3 intermediate-range ballistic missile, are generally considered to have a potential application as an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Ten months ago Iran successfully launched the Omid 1 (Hope) satellite into orbit atop a 72-foot Safir from the Semnan Space Research Center in the Dasht-e-Kavir desert south of Tehran after at least one failure.

The new satellite, known as Mesbah (Lantern), will weigh 132 pounds, 10 times more than Omid, which burned up on re-entering Earth's atmosphere in April.

Jane's ...

Paris, France (ESA) Nov 11, 2009

The European Space Agency (ESA), on behalf of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), has announced the release of the 2009 edition of the CEOS Missions, Instruments and Measurements (MIM) database.

The CEOS database is the only official, consolidated statement of the Earth observation programmes and plans of all the world's civil space agencies.

The database features details of around 260 Earth observing satellite missions and 400 instruments, which are currently operating or planned for launch in the next 15 years - funded and operated by around 30 space agencies worldwide.

The database is the cornerstone of the efforts of CEOS coordination on gaps and overlaps to optimise global observations in support of key societal needs such as climate change information.

CEOS provides this information on-line for the benefit of the global community, to promote awareness as to the capabilities of Earth observation satellites and to develop understanding of their ...

Paris, FRance (SPX) Nov 16, 2009

Outer space security has become an increasingly important issue over recent years. For example, the global community of spacefaring nations is witnessing a sizeable increase in orbital debris from both deliberate and accidental satellite destructions.

A new report has flagged a series of recommendations to help address the orbital debris concern, and other issues that can assure enhanced security in space for all.

The report -- entitled "Towards Greater Security in Outer Space: Some Recommendations" -- has been released, made possible by information gathered during a recent workshop held in Paris, France and co-sponsored by Secure World Foundation and the L'Institut français des relations internationales (Ifri).

Collision avoidance exercises
The report puts in perspective the dynamics of current international deliberations and actions on space security and presents a set of key recommendations, among them:

+ There should be a concerted effort to establish an international ...

Moscow, Russia (XNA) Nov 16, 2009

President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia will prioritize the development of nuclear energy, especially the use of nuclear technology in spacecraft. Medvedev made the announcement Thursday during his annual address to the Federal Assembly.

This was not the first time that Russia has suggested the development of nuclear-powered spacecraft.

Anatoly Perminov, the head of Federal Space Agency Roscosmos, said last month that the agency has planned to develop spacecraft with a megawatt-class nuclear power set.

He said the project would advance Russia's astronautic technology to a world-leading level. The project, he said, also would greatly reinforce the performance of Russia's new manned spacecraft while decreasing energy consumption.

Perminov said the draft design of the spacecraft would be finished by 2012, and at least 17 billion rubles (more than 580 million U.S. dollars) were needed for further development over the next nine years.

"This project is very serious, ...

by Cynthia O'Carroll
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Nov 16, 2009

In a partnership that exemplifies One NASA, engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. teamed up with engineers at NASA's Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers to design, build, and test five new ExPRESS Logistics Carriers, or ELCs, which will be delivered to the International Space Station.

"ExPRESS" stands for Expedite the Processing of Experiments to the Space Station.

The ELCs will provide scientists with a platform and infrastructure to deploy experiments in the vacuum of space without requiring a separate dedicated Earth-orbiting satellite, and will also serve as parking fixtures for spare International Space Station (ISS) hardware which can be retrieved robotically long after the shuttle retires.

"It took more than 100 engineers from Goddard, Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers working together over a three-year period to complete this project," said ELC Project Manager Kevin Carmack at NASA Goddard.

Engineers from the ...

Beijing, China (XNA) Nov 12, 2009

China will launch a scientific research satellite into space in the near future from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province, a spokesman with the center said Wednesday.

The satellite, "Shijian XI-01," would be carried by a China-developed Long March 2C rocket, he said.

Both the satellite and the rocket were in good condition and preparations were proceeding well, the spokesman said without giving further details.

According to a white paper published in 2006, China's Shijian, or Practice, series of satellites are designed for scientific research and technological experiments.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

Cape Canaveral FL (SPX) Nov 12, 2009

Lockheed Martin is in the final stages of preparation for Saturday's launch of a commercial telecommunications satellite for Intelsat, the world's leading provider of fixed satellite services, aboard an Atlas V booster provided by United Launch Alliance. The launch window opens at 12:48 a.m. EST and extends until 2:18 a.m.

Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services is under contract to Intelsat Ltd. to place the Intelsat 14 (IS-14) spacecraft into an injected orbit, ultimately positioned at 315 degrees east longitude.

IS-14 was built by Space Systems/Loral and will provide high-powered video and data services through its C-band and Ku-band payload, serving Intelsat customers throughout the Americas, Europe and Africa and will replace Intelsat's IS-1R satellite once it enters service.

The spacecraft also carries a hosted payload for the Internet Router in Space, or IRIS program, for Cisco Systems.

"We are fully cognizant of the importance of this launch to Intelsat ...

Baikonur, Russia (RIA Novosti) Nov 11, 2009

RSC-Energia is putting a strong effort to revive its bankrupt Sea Launch joint international project, the head of the company said on Tuesday.

The Sea Launch consortium, established in 1995, is owned by Boeing, RSC-Energia, Norway's Kvaerner ASA, Ukraine's Yuzhnoye design bureau and Yuzhmash production association. It is the only company that conducts launches from a sea-based platform near the Equator, which allows rockets to carry heavier payloads than from other latitudes.

"Boeing has paid off its Sea Launch debts and filed claims to other partners...We are taking steps to save the project so that Boeing receives dividends from it rather than putting claims against us," Vitaly Lopota said.

"We have solid prospects and have found investors," he added.

In June 2009, the provider of the Sea Launch service, California-based Sea Launch Co. LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a U.S. court.

Sea Launch told the court that its assets were valued ...

Cape Canaveral, Fla. (UPI) Nov 2, 2009

NASA has selected a tentative launch date for space shuttle Atlantis' 11-day flight to the International Space Station from the Kennedy Space Center.

Space agency officials said the Nov. 16 launch at 2:28 p.m. EST is dependent on the planned Nov. 14 launch of an Atlas V rocket from the nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. If the Atlas launch is delayed to Nov. 15, the shuttle's liftoff will move to no earlier than 2:02 p.m. EST on Nov. 17, NASA said.

"The STS-129 mission will focus on storing spare hardware on the exterior of the space station," NASA said in a statement. "The flight will include three spacewalks and (installation of) two platforms on the station's truss, or backbone. The platforms will hold spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttle fleet is retired."

Commander Charlie Hobaugh and his crew of five astronauts are to arrive at Kennedy at approximately 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, for final launch preparations. Joining Archambault ...

Lorraine, France (UPI) Nov 2, 2009

French scientists say the prolific virulence and growth of bacteria in space, coupled with reduced production of antibodies, might limit future space travel.

The researchers from Nancy-University in Lorraine, France, said long-term space flights might compromised by microbial hitchhikers, such as bacteria. That's because space travel appears to weaken the human immune system, while increasing the virulence and growth of microbes, they said.

"When people think of space travel, often the vast distances are what come to mind first," said Jean-Pol Frippiat, one of the report's co-authors. "But even after we figure out a way to cover these distances in a reasonable amount of time, we still need to figure out how astronauts are going to overcome disease and sickness."

Frippiat and colleagues said they based their conclusions on studies showing that immune systems of both people and animals in space flight conditions are significantly weaker than their grounded counterparts. ...

Cape Canaveral, Fla. (UPI) Nov 2, 2009

The European Space Agency says it will transfer ownership of the International Space Station's Tranquility node to the U.S. space agency.

The ceremony marking the ownership transfer is to take place at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. EST.

"Tranquility is a pressurized module that will provide room for many of the station's life support systems," NASA said in a statement. "Attached to the node is a cupola -- a work station with windows on its six sides and top. The module will be delivered to the station during space shuttle Endeavour's STS-130 mission, targeted for launch Feb. 4, 2010."

Officials said Tranquility is the last element of an ESA-NASA barter agreement for station hardware. ESA contributed the node in exchange for NASA's delivery of ESA's Columbus laboratory to the station. Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, built the module.

Moscow (AFP) Nov 2, 2009

Russia has successfully launched a Rokot rocket carrying two European satellites into space from its military spacedrome of Plesetsk, the RIA Novosti news agency reported early Monday.

"The launch of the Rokot rocket carrying SMOS and Proba-2 satellites made for the European Space Agency was successful," a Russian space official was quoted as saying.

Rokot also successfully placed both satellites in orbit, officials said.

SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) is due to collect radio signals emitted by water cells on the Earth's surface, allowing it to determine changes in the water cycle due to global warming and other climate changes.

The satellite will provide maps of soil humidity from its 758-kilometre- (470-mile-)high orbit, as well as measure ocean salinity with its 69 linked antennas.

Proba-2 is part of the Project for Onboard Autonomy, and is due to test space equipment in real spaceflight conditions.

Plesetsk, Russia (ESA) Nov 02, 2009

The second satellite in ESA's Earth Explorer series-the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission-and the second demonstration satellite under ESA's Project for Onboard Autonomy (Proba-2) were launched into orbit last night from northern Russia.

SMOS will play a key role in the monitoring of climate change on a global scale. It is the first ever satellite designed both to map sea surface salinity and to monitor soil moisture on a global scale. It features a unique interferometric radiometer that will enable passive surveying of the water cycle between oceans, the atmosphere and land.

Travelling piggyback on the launch of SMOS, Proba 2 is a follow-on to the highly successful Proba 1 satellite launched in 2001.

It will demonstrate 17 advanced satellite technologies -such as miniaturised sensors for ESA's future space probes and a highly sophisticated CCD camera with a wide angle view of about 120 degrees -while carrying a set of four science instruments to observe ...