SSI News
Eutelsat complains that its Eutelsat 25A satellite is being jammed
European commercial satellite operator Eutelsat has formally complained to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and to the Government of Saudi Arabia that its Eutelsat 25A communications satellite operated over the longitude of 25.5 degrees East in Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) is being jammed by television signal interference.
Mars Odyssey Orbiter gets into position for data relay of Mars Curiosity Rover landing
Concerns are receding that the Mars Curiosity Rover (Mars Science Laboratory) will be out of communication with Earth during its risky “seven minutes of terror” skycrane landing sequence on 6 August. This was after the orbiting spacecraft Mars Odyssey Orbiter managed to relocate itself in its orbit ready for its deta relay function. A thruster firing on 24 July achieved this move.
Profile of Paolo Nespoli, astronaut for the European Space Agency
Paolo Nespoli, an Italian astronaut for the European Space Agency, has been in orbit twice
On a sadder note: First US Female astronaut Dr Sally Ride passes away
We are sad to report that Dr Sally Ride, the first US woman to fly in space has passed away at the age of 61 after a 17 month battle Pancreatic cancer. Having joined NASA in1978, Dr Ride gained fame on her space shuttle flight aboard STS-7 Challenger in 1983 become America’s first female astronaut (she was the third woman in space). Dr Ride flew again on the STS-41G Challenger mission in 1984. Dr Ride later served on the Rodgers commission investigating the causes of the STS-51L Challenger launch disaster in 1986 which killed seven fellow astronauts. She later served on the investigation panel for the STS-107 Columbia launch-induced re-entry disaster. Before that she had gained a degrees in English/Physics and went on to do a Masters and a PhD degree in Physics.
Kanopus B and five other small satellites launched successfully by Soyuz
The Kanopus B earth observation/disaster monitoring satellite was successfully launched on a Soyuz FG-Fregat flying out of the Baikonur launch site near Tyuratam in Kazakhstan at 0641 GMT on 22 July. The satellite was built by VNII Elektromekaniki and Radioexport of Russia using avoinics built by the UK firm, Surrey Satellite Technology Limited.
H-2B successfully launches HTV-3 cargo craft and five cubesats
The Japanese cargo craft HTV-3, which is to be docked with the International Space Station, was successfully launched at 0206 GMT on 21 July from the Tanegashima launch site in Japan. The spacecraft was launched by an H-2B launch vehicle. Also aboard the flight were five scientific/experimental cubesats: RAIKO, FITSAT 1, WE WISH, F-1 and TECHEDSAT.
Progress M-015M undocks from International Space Station but fails to redock (Updated)
The Russian cargo craft Progress M-015M undocked from the space station on 22 July at 2026 GMT from the Pirs compartment on the Zvezda module. The craft was supposed to have redocked at 0158 GMT on 24 July but the vehicle fell into a passive/safe abort mode at 0123 GMT due to an unspecified reason. The undocking and planned redocking was supposed to be a test of the new KURS-NA version of the automated docking system. A second try is to be attempted at 0100 GMT on 29 July after the Japanese HTV-3 cargo craft has docked.
On a lighter note: Does James Bond show the way for NASA to remain a manned LEO launch provider?
NASA will shortly have to choose which two or three or even two and a half commercial crew systems it wishes to carry on funding development in the Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) programme. While lawmakers and even ex-Apollo astronauts note the excellent and good value progress that the commercial manned space transport firms have managed to date with the limited funds available (well compared to a government run development programme that is) they do suggest that for safety and experience reasons, the actual flight operations to low Earth orbiit (LEO) might yet be best left in NASA hands. At present NASA plans to just procure ‘seats’ aboard these craft leaving all operations to the commercial concerns themselves..
Comtech pulls plug on its AeroAstro small satellite maker division
It is sad to note that media sources are reporting the demise of the small satellite maker AeroAstro. According to the reports, Comtech Telecommunications Corp decided to shut down its AeroAstro devision after the US Navy cancelled the construction of its JMAPS mission spacecraft earlier this year.
Soyuz TMA-05M docks with International Space Station
The Soyuz TMA-05M/ISS-31SD manned spacecraft docked with International Space Station’s Rassvet module at 0451 GMT on 17 July 2012.
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