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 The Legendary Soyuz Booster
Soyuz has been launched 1736 times through snow,fog,high wind and more. Learn more... Go there now |  Spectacular Video - The Last Space Shuttle Night Launch
View The Video Here! Go there now |  Apollo In Their Own Words
Interspace News celebrates Apollo's 40th Birthday with the words of the key players Go there now | |
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 Jiuquan, Gansu Province, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China will launch a remote-sensing satellite, "Yaogan IX" in the coming days from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province, an official at the center said Thursday. The satellite would be sent into space aboard a Long March 4C carrier rocket, the official said, without specifying the exact date. Currently, the satellite and rocket are in good condition, according to the official. Its predecessor, "Yaogan VIII," was launched from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province in December |  Beijing, March 4 (Xinhua) -- China's first lunar probe program had been delayed as the country had to wait for the belated arrival of an imported component, an official in charge of the country's moon probe mission said here Thursday. Hu Hao, deputy director of the moon probe project, made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua prior to the third session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature. "The delayed delivery of imported components for the project happened from time to time," said Hu, an NPC deputy. "Our efforts in space probe are affected by other countries due to our relatively weakness in technology." About 20 percent of components of China's first lunar probe, the Chang'e-1 satellite, were imported, and the chip used in the Satellite's CCD camera arrived more than six months behind the schedule, he said. He said that not all domestically-developed instrument can meet the special requirements for exploration in outer space. "To make breakthrough in fields like the aerospace projects, we must redouble our efforts in the research and development of core technologies and basic advanced components," he said. China sent its first lunar probe Chang'e 1 into space in 2007. Previous reports said China planned to launch the Chang'e-2, the country's second lunar probe, at the end of 2010. Read A Related Story In The Robotic Spaceflight Section - Click Here |  Moscow - A Proton-M carrier rocket bearing three Glonass satellites was launched from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan early on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Space Forces said. "A Proton-M carrier rocket with three Glonass satellites was successfully launched from a launching pad at the Baikonur space center on March 2 at 0:19 Moscow time [22:19 GMT, March 1]," Alexei Zolotukhin said. Glonass - the Global Navigation Satellite System - is the Russian equivalent of the U.S. Global Positioning System, or GPS, and is designed for both military and civilian use. Both systems allow users to determine their positions to within a few meters. Russia currently has a total of 22 Glonass satellites in orbit, but only 16 of them are operational. The system requires 18 operational satellites for continuous navigation services covering the entire territory of Russia and at least 24 satellites to provide navigation services worldwide. MOSCOW, March 2 (RIA Novosti) |  El Segundo, Calif. -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and its customer NASA today announced that the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) K-L program successfully completed its system-level Critical Design Review (CDR) and Production Readiness Review (PRR) in El Segundo on Feb. 19. When TDRS satellites K and L join the operational TDRS constellation on orbit, they will provide voice, data and communications relay services to Earth-orbiting spacecraft, such as the International Space Station, several launch vehicles and the Hubble Space Telescope. The CDR and PRR bridge the design and manufacturing stages of the TDRS program. The reviews validate that the TDRS K-L system design will meet NASA's requirements, is backed with solid analysis and documentation, and will operate effectively when the satellites launch in 2012 and 2013. Based upon this successful review, Boeing will begin assembly of the K and L satellites. "The K-L series of spacecraft are critical for ensuring the continued availability of high-bandwidth communications necessary for the success of many NASA missions," said TDRS Project Manager Jeff Gramling at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "This is a major step toward developing a new generation of tracking and data relay satellites that will deliver high-resolution images, video, voice and data from Earth-orbiting spacecraft to the ground for vital Earth- and space-science missions," said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. "The extraordinary effort by the NASA and Boeing members of the TDRS team to conduct these successful reviews is a testament to the enduring partnership between Boeing and NASA." The CDR and PRR, held from Feb. 16 to 19, were attended by NASA project, program and headquarters... |  -- Arrival of Pathfinder Engine to Kick Off Three-Month Testing Process for Taurus II First Stage Propulsion System -- Dulles, VA-- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) and Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: GY) company — two of the world’s leading space technology corporations — today announced the initiation of the AJ26 rocket engine testing process for Orbital’s Taurus® II medium-class launch vehicle with the delivery of a “pathfinder” engine to NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The AJ26 is Aerojet’s liquid-fuel rocket engine that Orbital will use to power the first stage of the Taurus II space launch vehicle currently in development. The pathfinder engine will be used to verify test stand interfaces, engine handling processes, and test configurations prior to the commencement of the series of “hot fire” tests that are planned to begin in April. “Our team is very excited to begin the ground testing of the AJ26 engine here at Stennis, one of the great rocket engine testing facilities in the world,” said Mr. J.R. Thompson, Orbital’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “We have worked with NASA’s Stennis staff and our Aerojet partner to develop and install facility upgrades to accommodate our particular needs, and we are pleased with the results. Each of the AJ26 engines that will be used aboard our Taurus II rocket will come through the Stennis facility for pre-launch acceptance testing prior to being integrated with the rocket. We expect this extensive testing process and related activities will provide the Stennis Space Center with a meaningful boost in on-site activity.” Aerojet’s Vice President of Space Programs, Ms. Julie Van Kleeck, said, “Aerojet is proud to be taking this important step toward the first flight of Orbital’s Taurus II rocket. We understand the importance of... |  - Astrium has successfully completed qualification tests on the Dispenser for the second-generation satellites of the Globalstar constellation
- The new Dispenser will enable the Soyuz launcher to carry six satellites beneath its fairing, paving the way for the launch of four Galileo satellites by Ariane 5 in 2012
- The composite technology developed by Astrium has reduced the weight of the seven-metre structure to a mere 550 kg
Paris, 24 February, 2010 – Astrium has successfully completed qualification testing on the Dispenser for the second-generation satellites of the Globalstar constellation. The qualification commission headed by Arianespace has ended the Dispenser’s development phase, making it possible to finalise series production for the first flight modules that were developed in parallel.. The Dispenser is the structure that holds the satellites in place during the launch and ensures their positioning at a precisely-timed moment during the mission. The attachment and separation fittings are sophisticated pyrotechnic devices based on patented Astrium technology. The new Dispenser will allow the Soyuz launcher to carry six satellites for the Globalstar-2 constellation beneath its fairing. Astrium is the European leader in the development of Dispenser systems that can accommodate varied satellite payloads. The company is also recognised worldwide for its expertise in the development of composite structures for launch vehicles and satellites and the manufacturing of antenna reflectors. “Following this successful qualification, we... |  SDSC Space Center - Indian Space Research Organisation successfully conducted the static test of its largest solid booster S200 at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota today (January 24, 2010). The successful test of S200 makes it the third largest solid booster in the world, next to the RSRM solid booster of Space Shuttle and P230 solid booster of ARIANE-5. The S200 solid booster will form the strap-on stage for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) which is currently under advanced stage of development for launching 4 ton class of communication satellites. S200 solid booster contains 200 tonnes of solid propellant in three segments. The motor measures 22 meter long and 3.2 meter in diameter. The design, development and successful realisation of S200 solid booster were a pure indigenous effort involving Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram and Satish Shawan Space Centre (SDSC) at Sriharikota with the participation of Indian Industries. The S200 solid booster derived its heritage from the solid boosters developed earlier for the ISRO launch vehicle programme. The preparation and casting of S200 solid booster segments were carried out at the newly established Solid Propellant Plant (SPP) at SDSC, Sriharikota. Todays successful test of S200 is a major milestone in the solid rocket motor programme of ISRO and a vital step in the development of GSLV Mk III. |  The Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST) has released its 2010 Review of U.S. Commercial Space Transportation Developments & Concepts. The annual report, which is published each January, describes current and future commercial space activities related to human spaceflight training services, reusable and expendable launch vehicle (RLV/ELV) development, licensing of spaceports, space tourism and initiatives related to enabling technologies. FAA/AST is responsible for the licensing and regulation of commercial space launch and reentry activities within the United States. The office is also charged with encouraging, facilitating, and promoting the fledgling U.S. commercial space industry. The full 128 page report for 2010 is available in pdf form via the following link: Information generated by the FAA/AST can be found on their website at:
Read More... |  Canoga Park, Calif., Feb. 10, 2010 – Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has completed the initial step in certifying the RS-68A rocket engine by successfully hot-fire testing the first certification engine. The RS-68A is an upgrade of the RS-68, a liquid-hydrogen/liquid-oxygen booster engine that will provide increased thrust and improved fuel efficiency for the Delta IV family of launch vehicles. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company. “The RS-68A certification engine ran very well, and we obtained the data we needed to proceed with additional tests,” said Jim Tibble, RS-68A engine development project manager, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne. “Development testing is complete, certification testing has started and it’s an exciting time. We will be reviewing data to fully analyze engine performance, to verify compliance with requirements, and to ensure 100 percent mission success as we proceed through the certification process for this next-generation rocket engine.” During the hot-fire test at John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, the first RS-68A certification engine successfully burned for 190 seconds, with operating time split between 102 percent and 55 percent power levels. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne will hot-fire test the first RS-68A certification engine a minimum of 12 times through February and follow that with a similar series of hot-fire tests on its second certification engine in March and April. Engine design certification review and acceptance of flight readiness are currently planned for July 2010. Like the RS-68, three RS-68A engines will be used to boost a Delta IV Heavy rocket, but each RS-68A engine will provide 702,000 pounds of thrust, or 39,000 more pounds of thrust than a single RS-68 engine. Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc., a part of Pratt & Whitney, is a preferred provider of high-value propulsion, power, energy and innovative system solutions used in a... |  Baikonure - Kazakhstan will not name Russia as a privileged supplier of satellites and will announce international tenders after the launch of its KazSat-2, the head of the Kazakh space agency said on on Fefruary 2. Kazakhstan launched its first satellite, KazSat-1, in June 2006; however, its control systems failed last June. Astana is set to launch KazSat-2 in December 2010. "KazSat-2 will be made at the Khrunichev R&D center in Russia under a contract signed in 2006, and over 86% of work to build the satellite has already been performed," Talgat Musabayev said. KazSat-1 was to have a lifespan of 12.5 years. It was equipped with 12 active transponders, including four for TV-broadcasting and eight for fixed telephone services. Musabayev said his agency, Kazcosmos, had taken measures to improve KazSat-2 characteristics and enhance its security and control systems. He also said a feasibility study had already been developed for the production and launch of KazSat-3. Astana is also planning to invest $100 million in a project to use Russia's Zenit booster rocket, Musabayev said. He said the investment would be used to pay for the initial stake, upgrade Zenit and a loan to replenish the company's floating capital. "Taking into account the key role Zenit is playing in the maintenance of Baikonur at a time when Russia is moving to its own launch centers and foreign companies are contesting the stake, the issue of Kazakh participation in the commercial use of the Zenit carrier rocket should be settled as soon as possible," the Kazakh official said. Russia has the Plesetsk and Kapustin Yar launch centers in the country's north and south,... |
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| See all Commercial News in the Commercial Archive Commercial Updates are compiled by Interspace News from various sources and posted on a continual basis. Previous reports are available in the Commercial Archive which are accessible from anywhere on the site by selecting Commercial from the left side menu bar and then Clicking Commercial Archive. If You have any questions, comments, or additions and corrections we would love to hear from you. Please e-mail the author at: Robert@Interspacenews.com |
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