FRUSTRATING ZOMBIE SATELLITE STILL ADRIFT IN SPACE - The so-called Galaxy 15 zombie satellite that lost contact with ground controllers on Earth in April is still adrift in space, with engineers keeping a close eye on the wayward satellite as it approaches two other spacecraft this month. The Galaxy 15 satellite is currently drifting along a stable and predictable path, according to its communications satellite fleet operator Intelsat. The main focus now is preventing Galaxy 15 from interfering with other nearby satellites, including two of Intelsat's own, though no collisions are expected. More (Source: MSNBC - Jul 10)
IRAN PLANS NEW SATELLITE LAUNCH IN LATE AUGUST - Telecommunication Minister Reza Taghipour said on Wednesday that Iran is expected to launch a new satellite, Rasad 1, in the last week of August, the Mehr news agency reported. "Rasad 1 (Observation) satellite is expected to be launched into space on the back of a domestic carrier during the period marking the government week (last week of August)," Taghipour said. More (Source: - Jul 8)
LAUNCH DELAYED FOR SATELLITE TO WATCH SPACE DEBRIS - The launch of a new U.S. Air Force space surveillance satellite has been delayed due to a software problem in a rocket similar to the one that will lift the satellite into orbit. The Space-Based Space Surveillance satellite was scheduled to lift off Thursday from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. No new launch date has been set. Air Force officials said Tuesday that tests revealed a software problem on another Minotaur IV rocket. No other details have been released. More (Source: The Associated Press - Jul 7)
NORWEGIAN SATELLITE TO LAUNCH IN AUGUST - The first Norwegian satellite is to be launched this summer in order to keep track of maritime activities in the High North. The AIS (Automatic Identification System) is used by ships and Vessel Traffic Services around the world as a short-range coastal traffic system. Every seagoing ship weighing 300 tonnes or more must be fitted with the technology to allow authorities to track movements and to avoid collisions with other boats. Modern systems also allow ship-to-ship and ship-to-land communication via VHF signals, although this is only currently possible within the field of vision. More (Source: IceNews - Jul 5)
PSLV TO BE LAUNCHED ON JULY 12 - After a two-month delay, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C15) is ready for a launch on July 12 from the spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The flight was to take place on May 9 but was postponed because of a drop in the pressure in the vehicle's second stage. More (Source: The Hindu - Jul 4)
NEW US SATELLITE TO MONITOR DEBRIS IN EARTH ORBIT - A new U.S. Air Force satellite will provide the first full-time, space-based surveillance of hundreds of satellites and thousands of pieces of debris that could crash into American and allied assets circling the Earth. If all goes as planned, the Space-Based Space Surveillance satellite, scheduled for a July 8 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., will have an unobstructed, around-the-clock view of the increasingly heavy traffic in Earth orbit — something the Air Force doesn't have now. More (Source: The Associated Press - Jul 4)
RUSSIAN SUPPLY SHIP DOCKS AT SPACE STATION ON 2ND TRY - An unmanned Russian cargo ship that missed its first chance to dock at the International Space Station last week tried again Sunday – this time successfully linking up with the orbiting lab. The Progress 38 cargo ship docked flawlessly at 12:17 p.m. EDT (1617 GMT) while flying without the safety net of a remote control system that allows cosmonauts inside the space station to take command of incoming supply ships using a joystick should they veer off course. More (Source: Space.com - Jul 4)
SUPPLY SHIP FAILS TO DOCK WITH SPACE STATION - Russian Mission Control says an unmanned space capsule bring supplies to the International Space Station has failed in a docking attempt. The Progress space capsule is carrying food, water, food and other supplies for the orbiting laboratory. Mission Control spokesman Valery Lyndin was not immediately available for comment, but his secretary confirmed Russian media reports Friday that the docking had failed. It was not immediately clear when another docking might be attempted. More (Source: The Associated Press - Jul 3)
NASA EXTENDS ITS SHUTTLE COUNTDOWN - The end of the space shuttle era will end a little later. NASA announced Thursday that the launching of the last space shuttle flight was now intended for early next year. With two flights remaining, the shuttles had been scheduled to be retired by September. But the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, which was to be taken to the International Space Station next month, ran into technical difficulties, pushing that mission to late November. That flight has now been further pushed back, to Feb. 26, 2011. More (Source: New York Times - Jul 3)
Previous Next
