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August 2004
Space Watch
Week of August 2- 6, 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.
If you are interested in receiving a weekly email update version of Space Watch, please send an email to spacewatch@eisenhowerinstitute.org with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. Space Watch will be sent out every Friday.
Civil Space
Japan Considers Direction of Space Program
Japan's space program has recently suffered some significant set backs. Last year, Japan's first interplanetary mission failed to enter Mars'orbit after a five year journey to the planet. That nation's launch vehicle, the HII-A rocket, has failed several times, and there are some within the country calling for Japan to scale back its space program.
(Steve Sherman, http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=C67F2B07-2518-4B3A-88D13893E5248E0A&title=Japan%27s%20Space%20Program%20Suffers%20Setbacks&catOID=45C9C787-88AD-11D4-A57200A0CC5EE46C&categoryname=Science%20%26%20Tech, 8/2/04)
Russia and Kazakhstan Plan Joint Space Center
Russia and Kazakhstan expect to complete an agreement on the development of a space center in Baiterek, Kazakhstan by the end of the year. The center would serve as a launch point for heavy, medium and light rockets. (http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=4665285&startrow=1&find=space 8/2/04)
MESSENGER Takes Flight
On the morning of August 3, 2004, NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft began its 6 year exploratory mission to Mercury. The spacecraft, loaded with advanced technologies, will seek to provide scientists with a more complete picture of the composition of the planet.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/mercury-04i.html, 8/3/04)
China Looks Toward the Moon
China, with the goal of sending an unmanned mission to the moon by 2007, has initiated the development of a lunar exploration craft. The ship will be named Chang'e 1, and China intends for it to orbit the moon for 12 months.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040803113426.c0p973bx.html, 8/3/04)
Astronaut and Cosmonaut Take Walk in Space
US Astronaut Michael Finke and Russian Cosmonaut Gennady Padalk spent 6 hours outside the ISS installing navigation and communications equipment necessary for docking of the European Cargo Vessel that is expected to be launched next year. The vessel will transport oxygen, water, fuel and provisions to the space station.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040803075643.k451vdsf.html, 8/3/04)
Potential Delays in Mission to Pluto
NASA is concerned that a work stoppage at the Los Alamos National Laboratory that began on July 15th, when two classified disks were reported missing, might delay the planned mission to Pluto. A three week launch window had been scheduled for January 2006. Los Alamos is to provide pellets of plutonium to act as batteries for the mission.
(Brian Berger, http://space.com/scienceastronomy/pluto_losalamos_040803.html, 8/3/04)
Russia Asks US to Pay for Flights
Russia has requested that the United States pay for future use of the Soyuz spacecraft. Under the ISS program, the US and Russia have agreed to split the costs, but because of the grounding of the Space Shuttle, Russia has been the main source of transport to the ISS. On these grounds, Russia believes it has fulfilled its obligations under the agreement. (http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/08/04/bc.eu.gen.russia.spaces.ap/index.html , 8/4/04)
NASA Plans for Rescue Shuttles
As part of new safety precautions following the Columbia tragedy, NASA will have rescue Shuttles ready for launch during the next two Space Shuttle missions. For the Discovery launch, which is scheduled for spring 2005, NASA will have the Shuttle Atlantis capable of staging a rescue mission forty five days after start of the mission. On the second mission a rescue launch would be possible in fifty-eight days.
(John Kelly, http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/shuttle_backups_040804.html, 8/4/04)
Russia Seeks to Solve Problem of Fatigue
Seeking to combat the problem of fatigue caused by the stress of working in a zero gravity environment, Russian scientists have turned to weightlifter Vladimir Savelyev. The weightlifter will lift a 24kg weight over 1 million times during a 100 day time-period. If his nervous and physical system stays healthy, the program may be incorporated into the cosmonaut training program. (http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=4679639&startrow=1&find=space, 8/5/04)
New Cost Estimate Makes Hubble Rescue Unlikely
NASA's recently released updated cost estimates for Shuttle's return to flight, $900 million more than initial estimates, combined with efforts in Congress to slash Bush's budget request for NASA makes it increasingly unlikely there will be any money to fund a rescue mission to Hubble. NASA engineers say that with the telescope's gyroscopes and batteries wearing out, a mission must be made by the end of 2007 to avert total system failure. (Phil Berardelli, UPI, http://www.spacedaily.com/news/hubble-04l.html, 8/5/04)
DoE and NASA To Work on Nuclear Reactors in Space
NASA and the Department of Energy's Naval Reactors Program have agreed to work jointly on designing and operationalizing civilian nuclear reactors for space under the auspices of NASA's Project Prometheus. The project aims to develop the first primarily nuclear-powered spacecraft, called the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter (JIMO), which will enable it to carry more scientific instruments, transmit more data and maneuver more frequently while in orbit. (http://www.spacedaily.com/news/nuclearspace-04g.html, 8/6/04)
Commercial Space
Zero-G for $100,000
Russia plans to unveil a model of a sub-orbital tourist ship at World Expo 2005. The ship would allow tourists to travel above the stratosphere and also provide space views. The total trip is expected to last one hour and would cost $100,000 per passenger.
(http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=4640445&startrow=11&find=space, 7/27/04)
IATA completes Agreement with Space Imaging
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has completed an agreement with Space Imaging that will make it the exclusive distributor geospatial products generated by the IKONOS satellite, as well as the Indian Remote Sensing and Landsat satellites. The technologies are expected to increase air transport safety and efficiency.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/eo-04zzzj.html, 8/4/04)
Potential Security Applications for EGNOS Tested
Security applications for The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) satellite navigation system (the first stage in the Galileo system) are being tested in Athens. The project, named INStANT Olympic, is exploring how the system might be used to manage security for large events like the Olympics.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/terrorwar-04u.html, 8/2/04)
Spanish Telecom Satellite Launched
On August 3, 2004, Russia launched the Spanish telecommunications satellite Amazonas into orbit. The Satellite will provide Spain, Portugal and France with telephone, internet and digital television access.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040805123140.dweo2jk0.html, 8/5/04)
Second Competitor for X-Prize
The da Vinci Project has scheduled the first launch of it Wild Fire Mark VI craft for October 2, 2004. This announcement follows the July 27th, 2004 announcement of the SpaceShipOne team that their craft would make its first flight on September 29th, 2004.
(Tariq Malik, http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/davinci_xprizeupdate_040805.html, 8/5/04)
Military Space
Lockheed Martin Delivers First Space Payload of SBIRS High
Lockheed Martin has completed the first payload for the US Air Force of the Space-Based Infrared System High (SBIRS High) and sent it to be integrated with a host satellite to be launched into a highly elliptical orbit (HEO). The payload is primarily intended to detect and track ballistic missile launches. (http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=fec&ci=15578&rsbci=0&fti=111&ti=0&sc=400, 8/6/04)
Credits
Compiled by Alex Gordon
Edited by Suzanne Vogel
Space Watch
Week of August 9 - August 13, 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.
If you are interested in receiving a weekly email update version of Space Watch, please send an email to spacewatch@eisenhowerinstitute.org with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. Space Watch will be sent out every Friday.
Civil Space
Hubble's STIS Stops Functioning
Hubble's Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) stopped working on August 3, 2004. It is believed that a malfunction in the power converter is responsible for the shutdown, and it is not yet known whether the problem can be fixed.
(Robert Roy Britt, http://www.space.com/news/hubble_glitch_040807.html 8/7/04)
NASA to Build Super Computer
NASA is developing the Space Exploration Simulator supercomputer that will increase NASA's processing capacity tenfold. The new system will allow scientists to run advanced computer models required for research into planetary formation or solar physics, as well as allow NASA to meet mission-critical requirements associated with the resumption of manned shuttle missions.
(Tariq Malik, http://space.com/businesstechnology/nasa_supercomputer_040809.html, 8/9/04)
Preparations for Mars Mission Move Forward
With possible launch dates for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter starting on August 10, 2005, NASA has begun with final preparations for the mission. The Orbiter will be sent to Mars to study the planet's surface, subsurface and atmosphere.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/mars-general-04u.html 8/10/04)
Robotic Mission to Hubble
NASA has begun planning a repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. With manned missions considered to be too dangerous, the mission would utilize a robot to replace the telescopes batteries, gyroscopes and some scientific instruments.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040811071520.4a84y5cu.html 8/11/04)
Russia Sends Supply Ship to ISS
On August 11, 2004 Russia sent a supply ship to the International Space Station. The Progress M-50 ship carried food, water, fuel and DVDs.
(http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=624&ncid=624&e=4&u=/ap/20040811/ap_on_sc/russia_space_station%208/11/04)
Mars Express Demonstrates Interplanetary Networking
ESA's Mars Express has for the first time relayed images from the one of NASA's Mars rovers. The transfer was possible because the crafts use the same communication protocol. The exercise is part of a series of demonstrations designed to highlight the broad range of capabilities that can be achieved through cooperation in space. The next exercise is scheduled for August 13, 2004.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/marsexpress-04u.html 8/11/04)
No Females in Space for China
Earlier in the year Chinese news media had reported that the country was recruiting female astronauts for a mission before 2010. A senior Chinese official has announced that China has no plans to send a woman into space in the near future.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040811111109.bcma8lib.html 8/11//04)
Chipset to Accelerate Communication in Space
On August 11, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials announced that a highspeed communications chipset will be used in the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System scheduled for launch in 2009. The chipset will allow for communication in space 100 times faster than existing technologies.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/chip-tech-04z.html 8/11/04)
New Technologies at NASA's Propulsion Research Center
At NASA's newly opened Propulsion Research Center, an emphasis will be placed on the development of several advanced propulsion technologies including: propellant-less systems, simulated fission engines, solar sails and ion engines.
(Tariq Malik, http://space.com/businesstechnology/propulsion_techwed_040811.html, 8/11/04)
Japan Demonstrates Solar Sails
The Japanese Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science has tested two solar sails. Solar sails, one of the propulsion technologies being studied at NASA's Propulsion Research Center, reflect light particles from the sun and have the ability to propel a craft in the opposite direction. This marks that first time a solar sail has been deployed. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3555048.stm 8/11/04)
China Seeks Cooperation with U.S. and Japan
The China National Space Administration has expressed an interest in working with other countries that have space exploration programs. The Administration, at the same time, denied that China has military interests in space.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-04zx.html 8/12/04)
India to Launch Education Satellite
India has scheduled the launch of its Edusat satellite for mid-September. The satellite will be utilized to distribute educational programming.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/india-04k.html 8/13/04)
Planetary Rovers to Have Advanced AI
Future NASA planetary rovers will receive artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that will allow them to be much more self reliant than current models. The AI systems should enable the rovers to make decisions that are currently made by mission controllers on Earth. The technology should also enable the rovers to complete missions more quickly, as they would not have to rely on the cognitive capacity of a human.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/mars-robot-04c.html, 8/13/04)
Genesis Changes Course
Now returning to Earth, NASA's Genesis spacecraft has changed its course, firing its thrusters for 50 minutes. The craft is carrying samples of solar wind particles that it is scheduled to deliver to Earth in a capsule on September 8.
(http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=624&ncid=624&e=3&u=/ap/20040812/ap_on_sc/brf_genesis, 8/12/04)
India Plans Launch of Recoverable Spacecraft
The Indian Space Research Organization has announced plans to launch a mission in 2005 to conduct zero gravity experiments in a reusable capsule. The mission will place India in an elite group with the six nations that currently have such capabilities (U.S., France, Russia, China, Japan and the European Union).
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_945440,00040005.htm, 8/13/04)
Commercial Space
Space Transport Corp. Rocket Launch Fails
Space Transport Corp. efforts to win the Ansari X-Prize suffered a setback when their rocket exploded on a test flight. The current leader in the competition is SpaceShipOne, which conducted a successful test flight in June.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040809211451.2kp6gfaq.html 8/9/04)
Military Space
GPS 2R-12 Begins Operations
The GPS 2R-12, the Air Force's newest GPS Block 2R position-to-location and navigation satellite has commenced operations. The spacecraft is equipped with an improved antenna panel that provides greater signal strength.
(SpaceNews, 8/9/04)
Japanese GPS System Might Be Delayed
Japan's efforts to develop a three satellite system for providing enhanced GPS navigation signals and communications might be delayed because of an inability to determine which government ministry will pay to operate the system. The Quasi-Zenith Satellite System is expected to cost the government $814 million.
(Paul Kallender-Umezu, SpaceNews, 8/9/04)
Air Force Outlines Space Strategy
Peter B. Teets, the undersecretary of the Air Force for space, recently highlights some of the key points in the soon to be released national security space strategy. The strategy emphasizes ensuring freedom of action in space by pursuing operationally responsive spacelift capabilities, revolutionary propulsion technologies, integrated space situational awareness and a collection of counterspace programs.
(Tech.Sgt., David A. Jablonski,
http://www.spacedaily.com/news/milspace-04w.html, 8/11/04)
Extra-Terrestrial Space
Russians Discover Alien Spaceship?
Russian scientists believe they have found the source of an explosion that occurred on June 30, 1908. The explosion, which transpired in Siberia and destroyed 2,000 kilometers of Siberian forest, is generally believed to be the result of meteor that exploded above the Tunguska River. At the site, the scientists believe that have discovered the remains of an alien device that caused the explosion.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040812010431.xqbwaaim.html 8/12/04)
Credits
Compiled by Alex Gordon
Edited by Suzanne Vogel
Space Watch
Week of August 16-20, 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.
If you are interested in receiving a weekly email update version of Space Watch, please send an email to spacewatch@eisenhowerinstitute.org with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. Space Watch will be sent out every Friday.
Civil Space
Cassini Finds Two New Moons
The Cassini spacecraft has provided images of two previously unnoticed moons orbiting Saturn. The moons are relatively small in size, measuring 2 and 2.5 miles across respectively.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/cassini-04zzh.html 8/17/04)
European Commission Supports Increased Funding
In a recently published report, the European Commission recommended increasing EU funding to $10 billion during the next Framework Programme (FP7), streamlining research programs and placing an increased emphasis on space and security research.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/esa-general-04t.html 8/17/04)
What Is The Mass Of The ISS?
The Russians plan to use the Progress supply ship to measure the mass of the International Space Station (ISS). According to Russian scientists, because the exact weight of the Progress is known and the thrust of its engines and the acceleration of the ISS can be calculated, the mass of the ISS can be determined.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040814100553.azj2q2ep.html 8/14/04)
White House Approves Gap Filler Satellite
The gap filler satellite would be launched in 2008 and would serve as a temporary replacement for Landsat 7, which suffered a permanent sensor glitch in May 2003. The satellite would likely be operational until 2010, when NASA is expected to launch a new generation of weather craft. (Jason Bates, Space News 8/16/04)
Very High-Power Electric Thrusters Are of Interest To NASA
NASA has funded two research teams to study the possibility of developing a new thruster system that operates at a higher power level than conventional systems. Such technologies have the potential to carry heavier payloads at greater speeds than current systems. (Ben Iannotta, SpaceNews 8/16/04)
ESA Researchers Prepare For SPECTRA Mission
In preparation for ESA's Earth Explorer mission SPECTRA, researchers working in La Mancha, Spain used the ESA's Proba spacecraft to simulate the retrieval of biophysical information as well as the data processing required for enabling geographic and atmospheric corrections. The SPECTRA mission, carrying a hyperspectral camera, would provide data on vegetation on the Earth's surface.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/eo-04zzzr.html 8/17/04)
Thermal Incubator Delivered To ISS
A protein crystal growth incubation system was delivered to the ISS by the Russian Progress supply vehicle. The system, developed by Spacehab for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), will conduct a series of protein experiments until October 2005. (http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iss-04zk.html 8/17/04)
Satellites Help Fight Forest Fires
Europe, seeking to reduce the danger of forest fires, is using satellite imagery from SPOT and Landsat to detect burn scars within fire-prone areas of Southwest France, within the Puglia and Marche regions of Italy and throughout Spain. The aim is to provide preventive measures for controlling forest fires and the limiting the damage they inflict.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/eo-04zzzt.html 8/17/04)
NASA Develops Virtual Iron Bird
NASA is developing a computer system that would contain information about almost everything there is to know about a Space Shuttle. This system, called the 'virtual iron bird' (VIB) would provide engineers with a complete picture of a spacecraft, including 3D models of parts and the history of each part.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/spacetravel-04zu.html 8/19/04)
Discovery Prepped For Mission
With a launch window that begins in March 2005, NASA is moving forward with the retrofitting of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Among the improvements to the Space Shuttle are sensors attached to the wings of the craft and wiring for a digital camera which will transmit external tank photos.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/shuttle-04t.html 8/18/04)
New Discoveries Made By Mars Rovers
The Mars Rovers have provided NASA scientists with data on several unusual rock structures, as well as further evidence that water once existed on the planet. The rock structures include pebbles that look like blueberries. The rovers also identified crumbly rock with might have undergone chemical transformations associated with contact from water.
(Kenneth Chang, http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/19/science/19mars.html 8/19/04)
Genesis To Deliver Sun Particles
On September 8, 2004, the Genesis spacecraft will release its sample return capsule. The spacecraft has been on a 27 month mission collecting atoms from the Sun and storing them on hexagonal wafers of pure silicon, gold, sapphire and diamond. The capsule will be retrieved in mid-air by a helicopter as impact with Earth would likely damage its payload. (http://www.spacedaily.com/news/genesis-04e.html, 8/20/04)
Malaysian In Space
The heads of the Russian and Malaysian space agencies are considering sending a Malaysian astronaut to the ISS before October 2007.
(http://www2.interfax.ru/eng/news/politics/040820/62868/story.html, 8/20/04)
Commercial Space
Most Reliable Spacecraft Rankings
Frost & Sullivan has a released a study ranking the most reliable commercial telecommunications spacecraft based on the relative number of on-orbit problems experienced since 1998. Lockheed Martin's A2100, with only 13% of its fleet involved in insurance claims, was the most reliable. (Jason Bates, SpaceNews 8/16/04)
Space Tourist Prepares For Flight
Russian businessmen Sergei Polonsky, scheduled to for a trip to the ISS in October, is making final preparations for the flight. The price of the ticket has been negotiated and Mr. Polonsky is training for the flight in Stellar Town just outside of Moscow.
(http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=4734537&startrow=11&date=2004-08-19&do_alert=0 8/19/04)
Intelsat Sold For $3 Billion
Intelsat Ltd. is being purchase by a group of investment funds. Founded as a multinational government consortium in 1964 between 147 nations, the company was privatized in 2001. It is being sold to Zeus Holdings Limited, an investment consortium including Apax Partners, Apollo Management, Madison Dearborn Partners and Permira for $18.75 per share. (http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/040816/intelsat_buyout_2.html 8/16/04)
Aerospace Industry Increases Hiring
The Labor Department reports that, in June, employment in the aerospace industry was 579,800. By comparison, just last February employment figures had reached a fifty year low of 568,700. (http://www.spacedaily.com/news/aerospace-04r.html, 8/20/04)
Military Space
DOD To Fund Small Rocket R&D
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is expected to award 4 companies contracts for the design of small, inexpensive rockets capable of being launched on short notice. The contracts are expected to be valued between $70 and $100 million each. (Jeremy Singer, SpaceNews 8/16/04)
Europeans To Assist With Star Wars
In a Memorandum of Understanding with EADS, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have indicated their intentions of working with the European companies to develop President Bush's missile defense system. EU governments must first approve the joint project and must also identify funding.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/bmdo-04x.html 8/17/04)
Raytheon Completes EKV For Missile Defense System
The Missile Defense Agency has received the first Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) from Raytheon. The EKV is part of the Ground based Mid-Course Defense program that is designed to intercept ballistic missile outside the atmosphere.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/bmdo-04y.html 8/18/04)
Credits
Compiled by Alex Gordon
Edited by Suzanne Vogel
Space Watch
Week of August 23-27, 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.
If you are interested in receiving a weekly email update version of Space Watch, please send an email to spacewatch@eisenhowerinstitute.org with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. Space Watch will be sent out every Friday.
Civil Space
Getting Ready for Genesis
With the Genesis spacecraft scheduled to return its sample capsule to Earth on September 8, NASA has stepped up preparations for the retrieval of the canister. The capsule, containing solar wind particles, will be caught in mid-air by a helicopter as impact with earth may harm its contents.
(Tariq Malik, SpaceNews, 8/23/04)
Can A Robot Save Hubble?
The number of scientists at NASA who believe that a robot mission could successfully repair the Hubble Space Telescope is growing. With manned missions considered to be too dangerous, the mission would utilize a robot to replace the telescope's batteries, gyroscopes and some scientific instruments.
(Warren E. Leary, http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/24/science/space/24hubb.html, 8/24/04)
What Happened To Beagle 2?
A six month study has been unable to provide a definitive explanation for why the Beagle 2 mission failed. Last December, Britain lost contact with the probe while it was attempting to land on Mars. Possible causes include electronic failures, a puncture on one of Beagle's cushioning gas bags, a failure of the craft to deploy its instruments, damage to the heat shield and a broken communications antenna.
(http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10556755^29098,00.html, 8/24/04)
British Ask NASA For Help With Beagle 2
British scientists have asked NASA if it would consider allowing Britain to utilize a NASA mission to Mars scheduled for 2009 as a second attempt to land a probe on the planet. The Beagle 2 mission failed, for yet undetermined reasons, while the probe was attempting to land on the planet in December 2003.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040824133031.f4j7pkc6.html, 8/24/04)
Technology Limits Jeopardize U.S. Role On ISS
With Russia asking the U.S. to pay for flights onboard the Soyuz spacecraft, laws limiting the purchase of Russian technology could possibly force the U.S. to reduce its role on the ISS. Congress has questioned NASA on how this problem might be resolved, however NASA has not developed a viable alternative solution.
(Guy Gugliotta, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30015%202004Aug24.html, 8/25/04)
ISS Orbit To Be Adjusted
With the help of the Progress spacecraft currently docking at the ISS, the space station's orbit will be adjusted by 4km on August 26, 2004. The operation will last for 579 seconds. (http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=4763845&startrow=1&date=2004-08-25&do_alert=0, 8/25/04)
Cosmonauts Report For Training
Five cosmonauts have begun training at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Russia. The cosmonauts are preparing for the launch of a U.S. AMS-15 telecommunications satellite that is scheduled for September.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iss-04zq.html, 8/25/04)
Successful Radar Test Prepares Shuttle For Return To Flight
Radar data collected during the launch of the MESSENGER spacecraft has returned data that may facilitate NASA's return to flight. During the launch, radars tracked the separation of the spacecraft's rocket boosters. The imagery allowed NASA scientists to view debris of almost as any size as it broke away from the spacecraft.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/shuttle-04v.html, 8/26/04)
Odyssey Works Overtime
The Mars Odyssey completed its primary mission on Tuesday. Since 2002 the spacecraft had been mapping the topography of Mars and relaying information from the Mars Rovers. The Odyssey will be used in planning for a mission scheduled to land on Mars in 2008, as well as for the launch of a new orbiter in 2006.
(http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/odyssey_update_040826.html, 8/26/04)
Russia To Add Module To ISS
The Russian Federal Space Agency has announced its intention of opening a new module on the ISS before 2007. The module would be used for cargo storage as well as for sleeping quarters.
(http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1182372&PageNum=0, 8/27/04)
NASA Discusses Future Probe Missions
This week NASA is hosting the Second International Planetary Probe workshop at the Ames Research Center. Discussions will focus on the new technologies and the potential they might have for future missions.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/news/nasa-04zc.html, 8/26/04)
Shuttle To Be Mission Ready In Spring
On August 26, 2004, NASA reported that it has completed the redesign of the shuttle initiated after the Columbia tragedy. NASA expects that the shuttle will be mission ready by next spring.
(http://www.spacedaily.com/2004/040826235348.5zysnuzx.html, 8/27/04)
Commercial Space
Trip Into Space Cancelled
The Russian Space Agency rejected Sergey Polonsky's application for traveling onboard a Soyuz spacecraft in October. It is reported that medical issues are the reason why Mr. Polonsky was not permitted to make the trip. Polonsky will be replaced by a military cosmonaut. The remaining passengers are Russian pilot Salizhan Sharipov and flight engineer Leroy Chiao of the United States. (James Oberg, http://msnbc.msn.com/ID/5771461/, 8/20/04)
Harris Corporation Awarded $1 Billion NRO Contract
The US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has selected Harris Corporation to fulfill an estimated $1 billion, 10 year contract for the of provision operations, maintenance and support services for the agency's global communications and information systems.
(http://www.spacewar.com/news/2004/milplex-082704-1632-49.html, 8/27/04)
Russian Space Agency Reviews Energomash
After a recent visit to Energomash, the Russian Space Agency is concerned that the company's production facilities are on verge of becoming obsolete. Despite these shortcomings, Energomash is one of Russia's leading space raft engine manufacturers and the company is involved in several international projects.
(http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=4770934&startrow=1&date=2004-08-26&do_alert=0, 8/26/04)
Military Space
MDA Considers Removal Of "Kill Vehicle"
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has decided to re-evaluate the design of the Near Field Infrared Experiment (NFIRE) satellite. There is a possibility that a sensor which collects data on a rocket's smoke plume could be removed, as it has caused some to allege that the system is a precursor to a space-based missile interceptor.
(Jeremy Singer, SpaceNews, 8/23/04)
Air Force Space Programs Improve
The Task Force on Acquisition of National Security Space Programs has reported the Air Force's management of space programs has improved over the last year. However, the Task Force also noted that many of the recommendations it had made in 2003 have not been implemented, and that the Air Force should make efforts to comply with these standards. The early warning missile contract falls into this second category.
(Renae Merle, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30323-2004Aug24.html, 8/25/04)
Japan Approves launch of Spy Satellites
The Japanese media reported that the Japanese government has approved the launch of two spy satellites. The first would be launched in 2005 and would have the capability of providing high resolution images. The second, to be launched in 2006, would use radar to analyze topography. (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=753&e=1&u=/ap/20040825/ap_on_sc/japan_spy_satellite, 8/25/04)
Russia Not Interested In Space Weapons
Russian announced at the plenary session of the Disarmament Conference that, at least in the short term, it has no plans for the development of space based weapons.
(http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=4771177&startrow=1&date=2004-08-26&do_alert=0, 8/26/04)
China Wants Arms Control Agreement For Space
At the United Nations Conference on Disarmament, China called for the establishment of a legally binding agreement for the prevention of the weaponization of space. China, in a joint paper with Russia, recognizes that verification will be the largest hurdle to achieving an effective treaty. (http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-04zzb.html, 8/27/04)
Boeing Back In Business With Air Force
Boeing has received a $54 million contract for the launch of four Air Force satellites. Air Force relations with Boeing have been suspended since 1998 when Boeing improperly used Lockheed Martin Corp. documents in the pursuit of an Air Force contract. This marks the second time an exception has been made to the suspension.
(http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rup27.4aug27,0,7413479.story?coll=la-headlines-business, 8/27/04)
Credits
Compiled by Alex Gordon
Edited by Suzanne Vogel