April 2004

Space Watch
Week of March 29-April 2, 2004

Welcome to Space Watch. This is the inaugural launch of a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in civil, military and commercial space. Please check back each week for the latest news!

Civil Space

Brownback, Mikulski Support Hubble Telescope
Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) introduced Senate Resolution 324, to promote the Hubble Space Telescope. Recently, NASA has decided to cancel the telescope mission because of funding concerns. Brownback and Mikulski wish to "examine all possible options for safely carrying out the planned servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope and assess alternative servicing methods." With the space shuttle grounded after the Columbia disaster in February 2003, Hubble has been left unattended with no way for the space agency to repair the telescope. (Space News, 3/29/04)

Canada to Consider Mission to Mars
Canadian Space Agency chairman Marc Garneau announced that Canada may consider its own Mars missions in the near future. In 2007, a meteorological station from Canada will be sent aboard the Phoenix lander to the Red Planet. Canada's space agency suffers from a severe lack of funding, which may hinder progress on any future missions, whether to the moon or Mars. (The Montreal Mirror, Page 8, 3/30/04)

Russia Interested in Lengthening Space Missions
The Russian space agency announced that it will be looking for ways to lengthen space missions to cut down on costs associated with launches. Current missions have averaged in six months length; proposals to double that amount of time to a year may be considered. Such proposals come after the grounding of the American space shuttle program. The Russian space agency spokesman, Sergei Gorbunov, noted that the astronauts and cosmonauts health will not be negatively affected because of the lengthened time in space. (http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/03/30/space.russia.reut/index.html, 3/30/04)

British Scientist Proposes European Missions to Moon, Mars
Dr. Ian Crawford, a scientist at London's Birkbeck College, will propose to the Royal Astronomical Society National Astronomy Meeting that Europe consider manned missions to the moon and Mars. Crawford's proposal was initially included in the Royal Astronomical Society journal Astronomy and Geophysics, April issue. Crawford feels that manned missions to the moon should be focused on, initially. He says that missions to Mars should be preceded by European moon missions and the launch of robotic technology to the Red Planet to carry out experiments. (www.spacedaily.com/news/mars-base-04f.html, 4/1/04)

New Members to ESA
Greece and Luxembourg announced that they will be joining the European Space Agency (ESA) by December 1, 2005, as full members. The two counties will be the newest members to the agency and will serve in an observer status from now until actual admission into the body. Greece and Luxembourg will attend all ESA meetings and learn more about its space programs. (SpaceDaily.com, 4/2/04)

 

Military Space

Near Field Infrared Experiment (NFIRE) - Space Weapon?
Approximately $68 million has been set aside for the creation of the Near Field Infrared Experiment (NFIRE) satellite. This program will gather information about exhaust plumes left from rocket launches. Military officials have claimed that the satellite will be merely for defensive purposes. However, a small kill vehicle to be placed inside the satellite with the capability to disable or destroy a nearby missile or satellite leads critics of the program claim that it may be the first step toward weaponizing space. (www.spacedaily.com/news/bmdo-04k.html)

More Money for SBIRS Program?
Air Force officials noted to members of Congress that their request for $508 million in 2005 would not be enough. SBIRS, the Space Based Infrared System program, will consist of four geosynchronous-orbiting satellites. Problems with electromagnetic interference have hampered the project on the ground. Lockheed Martin also announced that it was awarded the contract to modify batteries on the first two satellites. The project is expected to be completed by late 2010. (Space News, 3/29/04)

Air Force Space Acquisition Study to be Held
Thomas Young, a former NASA official and former COO of Martin Marietta Corporation, will be leading a study to investigate reforms suggested by another panel he led in 2003. These reforms were for the U.S. Air Force in the "Report of the Defense Science Board/Air Force Scientific Advisory Board Joint Task Force on Acquisition of National Security Space Programs," released as part of the 2003 study. The reforms suggested changes in Air Force space policies. Young wants to ensure that changes are being made. (Space News, 3/29/04)

Navy Admiral Suggests Defense of Satellites
U.S. Navy Admiral James Ellis, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, suggested to participants at the National Space Symposium that the United States needs to implement a satellite defense program sooner rather than later. Ellis noted that American dependence upon its satellites for various functions has increased over recent years. Various protection programs have taken longer and cost more money than anticipated. (www.space.com/news/nss_stratcom_040330.html)

 

 

Commercial Space

2003 Not a Space Hardware Odyssey for France
French space hardware companies noted a twelve percent decrease in sales in 2003. France is home to EADS Astrium and Alcatel Space, Europe's two largest manufacturers of satellites. The producers of Ariane-5 rocket components are also located in France. Pascale Sourisse, president of Alcatel Space, noted that the United States spends twenty times as much on military space applications than France. GIFAS, the French aerospace industries association, noted that they expect 2004 to be a better year. (Space News, 3/29/04)

Credits

Written by John Sannar

Edited by Suzanne Vogel

Space Watch
Week of April 5-9, 2004

Welcome to Space Watch. This is the inaugural launch of a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in civil, military and commercial space. Please check back each week for the latest news!

Civil Space

Europe Wants to Send Astronauts to ISS
European Space Agency (ESA) manned flight director Joerg Feustel-Bueechl announced that his organization is in talks with the Russian Space Agency to possibly send a European astronaut to the International Space Station sometime next year. U.S. businessman Gregory Olson is also slated to visit the ISS aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft at the same time. Soyuz only has three spaces available for astronauts, one of which must be occupied by a Russian cosmonaut. (www.spacedaily.com/2004/040402143809.b0wve9ja.html, 4/2/04)

Shuttle Repairs Could Cost $700 Million
Sean O'Keefe, NASA administrator, told members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation subcommittee, that the final cost of implementing changes recommended by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board may cost between six hundred and seven hundred million dollars. The recommendations include improving thermal tiles on the underside of the shuttle and implementing a method to check the shuttle for damage during its mission. (http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/04/02/shuttle.safety.reut/ ,4/2/04)

NASA May Hold Competition To Design CEV
Since Bush's announcing the retirement of the Shuttle program in January, NASA has begun to devise a plan for a new crew exploration vehicle (CEV). The future CEV is meant to provide for longer-duration flights that would be capable to going into deep
space and Mars. The development effort could lead to "a celestial version of an airplane designers' fly-off," in order to produce the best-performing design. NASA has never held a competition to design alternate flying spacecrafts leading many NASA engineers to oppose the plan. (http://www.spacedaily.com/news/rocketscience-04i.html, 4/2/04)

France, Russia Discuss Closer Space Partnership
French President Jacques Chirac visited Titov Space Center in Russia on Saturday. Titov is the top secret control center for all Russian satellites. This visit marks the beginning of several new French-Russian space initiatives, including an agreement between Russia and the European Space Agency to launch Russian Soyuz rockets from a launch pad in French Guyana. The visit will conclude with meetings between Chirac and Russian President Vladimir Putin, where they will discuss other international security issues.
(http://www.space.com/news/russia_france_040404.html,4/4/04)

NASA to Consider Robot Repairs to Hubble
NASA is reviewing several proposals to prolong the life of the Hubble space telescope. Without servicing trips by the Shuttle, the telescope is expected to reenter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up during reentry around 2013. Proposals include attaching a propulsion module to the telescope to raise it up to a higher orbit. (www.space.com/news/hubble_robotic_040405.html, 4/5/04)

ISS Crew Rotation
This week the crew of Expedition 9 received its final certification for flight and they will be rotating with the Expedition 8 on the International Space Station. The launch is planned for April 18, Commander Gennady Padalka of Russia, Flight Engineer Mike Fincke of the United States and European Space Agency astronaut Andre Kuipers of the Netherlands will all be on board. The sound turned out to be the movement of the Canadarm2 robotic arm, calming Mission Controls concerns. (http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iss-04j.html, 4/5/04)

Congressional Support for Bush Space Plan
Senators Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Don Nickles (R-OK) drafted an amendment to keep NASA funding for 2005 at the level requested by the Bush administration. All other non-defense and homeland security agencies are projected to be kept at 2004 funding levels. NASA has requested $16.244 billion for the fiscal year 2005, hoping to keep on track to put astronauts back on the moon and eventually on Mars. Despite an overall lack of Congressional support for increased NASA funding, some senators and representatives have insisted upon increasing funding. (www.spacedaily.com/news/spacetravel-04n.html, 4/6/04)

Chinese Lunar Mission to Include Robotic Rover
China National Space Administration (CNSA) officials stated that work on a lunar rover is underway, as part of the country's High Tech Research and Development Program. Work on a rover began in 1999 at Tsinghua University. Officials stated that the rover will have infrared sensors on the front of it to identify obstacles while on the moon. China hopes to land the rover on Mars by 2010. (http://www.space.com/astronotes/astronotes.html, 4/8/04)

Russian Space Status
According to a recent survey by RIA Novosti, a majority of Russians are interested in sustaining Russian Space power. With the end of the Mir orbital stations, many Russians believed it would loose its leadership position. Now many are optimistic that the country will be able to remain a major space power. (http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=4164517, 4/8/04)

Mars Rovers Granted an Extension
NASA Mars rover project manager Firouz Naderi told sources that the Spirit and Opportunity projects have been granted a five month extension until September 13. Both missions have already fulfilled all of their primary objectives. NASA also uploaded new software to the rovers, hoping that it would give them an opportunity to travel farther without instructions from Earth. Both rovers are going to be sent to investigate nearby craters for more signs of water. (http://us.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/04/08/mars.rovers/index.html, 4/9/04)

 

Commercial Space

Russia Limits Foreign Competition
By prohibiting foreign military satellite launches by Russian rockets, Russia is limiting space competition. The regulation does allow for launches covered by bilateral agreements, such as the German Government's SAR-Lupe radar reconnaissance satellites and the French Helios optical reconnaissance satellite. Foreign governments are interested in using Russian rockets because they are less expensive than US, European or Japanese vehicles. However, the Russian policy may raise the price of using Russian vehicles to launch the Koreasat 5 satellite and Britain's two Skynet 5 spacecraft, due to the costs of negotiating government-to-government agreements.
(http://www.space.com/spacenews/businessmonday_040405.html, 4/5/04)

FAA Gives License to Space Travel Advocate
The Federal Aviation Administration gave Scaled Composites of Mojave, California a one-year license to launch a rocket plane. The rocket plane, called SpaceShipOne, has been able to reach heights of 12.9 miles in test flights. Scaled Composites is hoping that this project will lead to a viable space tourism option. Additionally, the company is vying to win the X Prize, an international award to the first person or company able to produce a commercial application able to travel to 62.5 miles in altitude. (http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/04/08/rocket.license.ap/index.html, 4/8/04)

Credits

Compiled by John Sannar & Shira Lowinger
Edited by Suzanne Vogel

Space Watch
Week of April 12-16, 2004

Welcome to Space Watch. This is a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in civil, military and commercial space. Please check back each week for the latest news!

Civil Space

43rd Anniversary of Gagarin Spaceflight
All throughout Russia on April 12, the nation rejoiced and celebrated the forty-third anniversary of the first ever manned spaceflight by Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Some of the celebrations included a special prize instituted in the Smolensk Region to mothers who have four or more children, and who are known for their outstanding social achievements. The prize, named after Gagarin's mother Anna Gagarina, was presented to a mother of five boys, all of whom are participating in outer space studies. Other celebrations included the April 7th birthday of Gagarin's first schoolteacher Nina Kondratenko, as well as the announcement of the selection of an elite group of student from the Siberian Aerospace University to participate in a three-hour flight on a training model of an orbital spaceship. (ITAR-TASS News Agency, 4/12/04)

Taikonaut Proclaims Gagarin as Hero
The first Chinese taikonaut, Yang Liwei, proclaimed his enthusiasm for the future of the Chinese space program in a Monday interview with Russian news agency ITAR-TASS. Liwei was in attendance at a reception for Cosmonautics Day at the Russian Embassy in Beijing, China. Liwei called Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin a hero and sees many similarities between the first cosmonaut and himself. "Gagarin was the trailblazer in outer space, and in this sense I can regard myself as his successor," said Liwei. (ITAR-TASS News Agency, 4/12/04)

Space Program to Test Einstein Relativity Theory
An idea first conceived by Stanford scientists in 1959 to test Albert Einstein's theory of relativity is finally set to come to fruition with the launching of a project completed by Stanford and Lockheed Martin. Gravity Probe B will be shot into an eighteen-month orbit on April 19, 2004 from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base. The probe's four gyroscopes will measure how the spinning of the Earth twists time around itself. Dr. C.W. Francis Everitt, Stanford physicist and project leader says that, despite critics' claims that the project is by now outdated, it is still able to provide critical information regarding the general theory of relativity. From this experiment, physicists are expecting three major conclusions. The probe should provide measurements on the ways in which matter warps space-time to produce gravity, the ability to calibrate energies of quasars through the black holes, and perhaps it may even find evidence of new forces in the universe.
(http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/13/science/space/13GRAV.html, 4/13/04)

France Continues Development of Microsatellite Technology
Demeter, the first of the Myriade generation of French microsatellites, will be launched on June 29. The satellite, weighing as little as 120 kg, will study the electromagnetic disturbances created by earthquakes. The French Space Agency hopes that such microsat technology will offer scientists fast, cheap access to space based research. Costs are reduced as the microsatellites "piggyback" on greater-sized launch vehicles. The second Myriade satellite, Parasol, is scheduled for launch in October 2004. (http://www.spacedaily.com/news/microsat-04g.html, 4/13/04)

NASA Workers Afraid to Voice Safety Concerns
In a 145-page report issued Monday, an assessment of NASA workers found that many are still afraid to voice their safety concerns and feel they are unappreciated by their superiors. The review comes fourteen months after a piece of foam insulation tore off of the shuttle Colombia resulting in the tragic accident that killed seven astronauts during re-entry on February 1, 2003. The survey, conducted by Behavioral Science Technology, Inc., does mention NASA's commitment to safety, but says the agency "has not yet created a culture that is full supportive of safety (and) open communication." NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe believes that this very tentative attitude contributed to the Columbia shuttle disaster. "They're afraid of becoming rendered ineffective and being moved to a different job, which for somebody at NASA, is equivalent to being fired," said Astronaut James Wetherbee. (http://us.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/04/13/nasa.culture.ap/index.html, 4/13/04)

China-EU Space Talks Establish Steering Group
European Space Agency officials and Chinese representatives met on April 7th to further develop plans for cooperative space activities. At the meeting, the two delegations agreed to establish a "High-Level Steering Group on China-EU Space Co-operation." Under a 2003 agreement, China can now participate in the GALILEO Program, and the establishment of the steering committee is a further step in the direction toward further cooperation and research/development opportunities for the partnership.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-04s.html, 4/13/04)

More Questions Surround Sedna
When scientists discovered Sedna last month, they had reason to believe that the distant object may potentially have a satellite or a moon of its own because of its slow rotation rate. More recent imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope, however, does not show the body as having one. Now, questions about why Sedna's rotates so slowly are confounding astronomers. It is possible that the satellite of Sedna could have been behind the distant body while Hubble photographed the area. Yale researcher David Rabinowitz stated that if Sedna has a satellite, it may be as much as ten times smaller than the body itself.
(http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=96&e=20&u=/space/weirdobjectbeyondplutogetsstranger, 4/15/04)

 

Military Space

Putin Calls for Demilitarization of Space
In a speech marking the 43rd anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's space flight, Russian President Vladimir Putin again declared his support for the demilitarization of space. Putin however also noted that until steps were taken to enforce demilitarization, Russia would continue to protect its outer space security interests. In February, Russia tested new missile technology that, if deployed, could potentially evade a missile defense system. (http://www.space.com/news/putin_space_040412.html,4/12/04)

Air Force to Initiate Space Surveillance Program
The US Air Force (USAF) is moving on in its efforts to acquire the capability to monitor foreign satellites and other possible threats to US space assets with the Space Based Surveillance System (SBSS). A $235 million contract was awarded to prime contractor Northrup Grumman who is being given support by Boeing and Ball Aerospace. The SBSS plan included the ability to use a network of satellites to monitor objects in space, such as foreign satellites or space debris, through electro-optical sensors. The Air Force Space Command expects that by 2012 the full SBSS system will be operational. The goal of the SBSS is to provide the USAF with a constant picture of space activities so that it can provide better protection of friendly spacecraft. This "space situation awareness," as Under Secretary of the Air Force Peter Teets called it, is one of the highest priorities for the USAF. (Jane's Defence Weekly, 4/14/04)

Credits

Compiled by Matt Pelligrino, Matt Treadgold & John Sannar
Edited by Suzanne Vogel

Space Watch
Week of April 19-23, 2004

Welcome to Space Watch. This is a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in civil, military and commercial space.
Please check back each week for the latest news!

Civil Space

Astronauts Launch into Space Aboard Soyuz
A three-man crew shot into space aboard a Russian Soyuz TMA-4 spacecraft early Monday morning in route to the International Space station. Departing from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Russian commander Gennady Padalka, American Michael Fincke, and Dr. Andre Kuipers from the Netherlands will be performing various experiments in space, including medical tests and geographical monitoring. Dr. Kuipers, representing the European Space Agency, will return with the crew who have been on the ISS since October. The departure comes amid growing tension between the Russians and the Americans over the increasing financial burden the Russians have assumed after the United States grounded it's space fleet after the Columbia disaster last February.
(www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A23146-2004April19.html, 4/19)

International Space Station Has Worms
Russian space agency officials announced that three million Caenorhabditis Elegans worms have been sent from the Baikonur launch facility up to the International Space Station (ISS). It is hoped that the worms will provide insight on how humans react to long-term radiation exposure and weightlessness. The experiment was carried aboard the same rocket that carried the new crew to the ISS, consisting of American E.M. Fincke, Dutchman Andre Kuipers, and Russian Gennady Padalka. Nathaniel Szewczyk, from NASA's Ames Research Center, noted that worms are more sensitive to space than humans are. He stated that "if the worm spends 10 days exposed to cosmic radiation and weightlessness, it will be the equivalent of 10 years in space for a human."
(http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040419083533.751zvkg2.html, 4/19)

NASA Turns Down Russian Space Duration Proposal
Officials at NASA rejected a Russian proposal that would help save costs associated with the International Space Station (ISS) by prolonging mission times, keeping astronauts and cosmonauts in space for up to one year. NASA spokesman Robert "Doc" Mirelson noted that the American agency felt that the timing for such a measure would be inappropriate, given that details on the effects of long-term space duration are still limited and that the station is already at a reduced operation situation. Russia also hopes to send "Space Tourists" on missions at least once a year.
(http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/nasa_year_040419.html, 4/19)

Space Tourists Potential Conflict Between US and Russia
Controversy has begun to stir yet again between NASA and Rosaviakosmos over seats aboard the Soyuz rockets that carry the three person crew to the International Space Station every six months. As evidenced by this week's third member of the trip to the ISS, a Dutch research named Andre Kuipers, Russia is open to filling seats aboard Soyuz capsules with space travelers other than NASA astronauts. Russia is using the Soyuz as a form of space commerce, generating funds for the cash strapped Rosaviakosmos through awarding seats on Soyuz capsules to wealthy space tourists, such as aspiring space tourist Greg Olsen of New York, who is in training to fly in one year.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iss-04q.html, 4/21)

ESA Limits Price on Cargo Vehicle
Officials at the European Space Agency stated that they plan to have an agreement with EADS Space Transportation, based in Bremen, signed by June. EADS will develop a cargo vehicle, the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), for launch to the International Space Station, with a first launch to occur by mid next year. The ATV will carry fuel, water, and various supplies to the station. The contract is estimated to be worth 925 million euros.
(http://www.space.com/spacenews/businessmonday_040419.html, 4/19)

Gravity Probe B Satellite to Test Einstein Theories
NASA launched the Gravity Probe B satellite Tuesday in an effort to test Albert Einstein's theory on the warping of space-time. In 1916, Einstein proposed that the fabric of space and time could be curved when affected by a large celestial body, such as the Earth. Similar theories suggest that the rotation of the Earth itself may also bend space-time. On its 18-month mission, theory predicts that the satellite's instrumentation will detect small but measurable shifts in the orientation of the satellite due to the spin and mass of the Earth. While the results should provide conclusive support or rejection of Einstein's hypotheses, it is widely expected to prove him right. The $750 million dollar satellite was originally considered during the Eisenhower administration, thus marking the longest development of any mission in NASA history. (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=624&ncid=753&e=1&u=/ap/20040420/ap_on_sc/einstein_satellite, 4/20/04)

Space Junk A Risk to ISS
On February 28, the Russian Cosmos 2383 satellite broke apart in space. The Cosmos satellite was operated by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Reasons why the satellite broke apart are still unknown. The larger pieces of debris decayed out of orbit and into the atmosphere, burning up completely. Smaller pieces of debris have remained in orbit and could be potentially harmful to the International Space Station, located in an orbit near the new space debris.
(www.space.com/astronotes/astronotes.html, 4/21)

Boehlert Warns About Lack of Discussion on Bush Space Plan Before Election
House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) warned a group of aerospace executives and engineers that the likelihood of President Bush's January space plan being approved before the November elections is rather low. Boehlert felt that an increase in funding for NASA, as proposed by the administration, would be unwise, given other spending priorities and the current budget situation. Boehlert did announce that he appreciated the president's leadership on NASA planning and his exploration proposals.
(www.spacedaily.com/news/spacetravel-04p.html, 4/22)

ISS Gyroscope Down
NASA officials announced that one of the gyroscopes on the outside of the International Space Station has failed. They noted that the space station cannot be controlled without the use of at least two gyroscopes. Only one other is in operation; and, an EVA will need to be scheduled soon to fix the recently failed gyroscope. Apparently, only a switch on the outside of the station will have to be fixed, putting the gyro back into full operation. (www.spacedaily.com/2004/040422224524.ctl7e3kh.html, 4/23)

Military Space

Joint Military Testing Operation at Dryden Flight Research Center
NASA, in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force and Blacksky Corporation, announced completion of testing on a new aerospike rocket engine. On this type of rocket, the engine is able to change the flow of exhaust throughout flight, improving upon its ability to maneuver in flight. The standard bell-shaped rocket engine is only optimal at launch. Further testing on aerospike engines may lead to an eventual application for them. Various other companies and organizations participated in the testing and the events leading up to the testing, which occurred at the U.S. Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center.
(www.universetoday.com/am/publish/aerospike_engine_tested.html?2042004, 4/20)

Important Dates

April 24, 2004: 14th Anniversary of Hubble Space Telescope

Credits

Compiled by Matt Pelligrino, Matt Treadgold & John Sannar
Edited by Suzanne Vogel

Space Watch
Week of April 26-30, 2004

Welcome to Space Watch. This is a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in civil, military and commercial space.
Please check back each week for the latest news!

Civil Space

Brownback Leads Hearing on International Space Exploration Programs
Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), as chair of the Science, Technology, and Space Subcommittee, led a hearing on international space exploration programs, on Tuesday. Brownback and others wanted to know where the United States actually stands with other nations in space plans, given President Bush's bold new vision for space. The Senator noted that other countries are becoming more interested and able to send spacecraft into space. He noted that he worried about the United States losing its lead in space capabilities. (http://www.space.com/astronotes/astronotes.html, 4/30)


Mars Express Radar Instrument Postponed
The European Space Agency's Mars Express program has been advised to hold off on deploying the MARSIS radar instrument. Computer models warn that the radar booms could come close to and damage other vital parts of the spacecraft. The booms are supposed to unwind from an accordion-like position into a straight line. Simulations that took place last year indicated that problems would be unlikely to occur, with the radar instrument unlikely to swing back and forth, causing damage to the spacecraft. ESA officials want to make sure that the radar instrument will not damage the spacecraft or be subjected to extreme stress during deployment. (http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/mars_express_radar_delayed.html?2942004, 4/30)

China to Launch Weather Satellites
China will be applying space technology to assist in disaster relief efforts by launching a cluster of small satellites. The cluster will consist of small remote-sensing satellites to improve disaster mitigation and environmental screening, as reported by Luan Enjie, administrator of the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The satellites will aid China in their effort to improve social and economic development by monitoring for floods, drought, typhoons, wind storms, earthquakes, forest fires, plant diseases, and other weather and environmental disasters. This will be the first all-weather and all-time forecasting system for the region and will include cooperation from many other nations in Asia and abroad. (http://www.spacedaily.com/news/disaster-management-04d.html, 4/30)

Soyuz Returns Space Travelers to Earth
The Russian spacecraft Soyuz landed in Kazakhstan Friday April 30, 2004. The capsule carried US astronaut Michael Foale, Russian cosmonaut Alexander Kalery and Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers. Foale and Kalery had completed a six month stay in the International Space Station where they carried out over 40 scientific experiments. Kuipers joined Foale and Kalery on board the ISS on April 19th. Many worried about a helium leak on-board the Soyuz but it proved insignificant as all three men returned safely. (http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iss-04s.html, 4/30)

 

Commercial Space

Firm Awarded FAA Permit to Launch Reusable Vehicles
Mojave, California-based XCOR Aerospace announced to participants at the Space Access conference in Phoenix that it was awarded a license from the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation. The license does not allow for launch of vehicles containing passengers; however, it does allow commercial payload flights to occur after tests are finished. XCOR Government Liaison Randall Clague noted that the benefit of the license is that the company will not have to pre-plan all of its missions with the FAA, only having to seek approval for "significant changes that materially affect the safety of the uninvolved public."
(http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/xcor_granted_launch_license.html?2642004, 4/26)

 

Military Space

Russian Military Satellite Postponed
Russian military space service officials said that a satellite launch scheduled for April 26, 2004 was to go ahead as planned. Originally slated for launch in late March, the launch of a Kosmos military communications satellite was postponed again on April 25th and finally set to depart on Monday morning from the Baikonour space center in Kazakhstan. Space officials say the delays were caused by technical problems with the Ukrainian built Zenit-2 rocket, the most advanced and last rocket built during the Soviet empire. (http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040426094153.nrqz91hf.html, 4/26)

U.S. Army Investigates Energy Technology
According to US Army Col. Jim Pierson, director of Army Space and Missile Defense Command's force development integration center, the US Army is on schedule to complete a framework for use of directed energy technology by the end of September 2004. The military could use directed energy technology for missile defense and space control, emphasizing it's potential by using compression and blasting beams of laser and microwave energy at hostile targets. Pierson said in an April 22nd interview that this technology could also be used by the Army in neutralizing explosives and controlling large crowds. (SpaceNews, 4/26)

SBIRS Program to Cost More than Anticipated
According to the US Air Force, the program costs of the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) High will rise another $1 billion, making the total cost of the program exceed $8 billion. "The SBIRS program consists of four dedicated satellites in geosynchronous orbit, plus one ground spare, and two infrared sensors hosted by classified national security satellites in highly elliptical orbits" (SpaceNews 20). The latest problem to plague the SBIRS program is the vulnerability of the first infrared sensor to electromagnetic interference from radio waves. Lockheed Martin, the prime contractor for the program, has announced that they have placed additional senior level managers and engineers on the project team in hopes of making significant progress in the future. (SpaceNews, 4/26)

Monument Erected for Space Pioneer
Major Mike Adams died on November 15, 1967, when his X-15 plane lost control at an altitude of 50 miles. In memoriam, a monument will be erected May 8, marking where the United States lost its first astronaut. The monument was approved by the Bureau of Land Management after support from Eagle Scout candidate John Bodylski and aerospace historian Major Greg Frazier. The monument will stand in the Mojave Desert, where Adams' X-15 came to rest. (http://www.space.com/astronotes/astronotes.html, 4/30)

 

Credits

Compiled by Shira Lowinger, Matt Pelligrino & John Sannar
Edited by Suzanne Vogel