SB&T From Around The World Updates

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www.satellitetoday.com : Astrium, Cisco Form IP Space-Based Routing Technology Partnership

July 16, 2010 | Satellite Today | Staff Writer

[Satellite TODAY 07-16-10] Astrium Services and Cisco have entered into a technology partnership agreement to study the applications of space-based IP routers, the companies announced July 15.
The partnership initially will focus on studying the space-based router that Cisco is testing on Intelsat 14 and how to apply Astrium’s communication service and payload processing capabilities to better support its customers. Astrium’s military satcom provider subsidiary, Paradigm, will work with Cisco on the first in a series of studies to be completed by January.
Through this joint technology study, Astrium Services said it would look to provide a more diverse range of telecommunication services in remote areas that require rapid data transfers. These would include crisis management situations, remote medical emergencies and mobile military operations.
“Our partnership with Cisco is a natural step in ensuring that we remain at the cutting edge of innovative satellite services, providing our customers with both greater capacity and flexibility,” Astrium CEO Eric Béranger said in a statement.

 

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http://www.bbc.co.uk : EU boosts hi-tech research budget

20 July 2010 Last updated at 14:41 GMT

The EU has announced 6.4bn euros (£5.4bn) of funding for scientific research and innovation next year - a 12% increase on this year's allocation.

The programme is aimed at creating more than 165,000 jobs and developing "a more competitive and greener Europe", the European Commission says.

Health research is one of the priorities in the EU funding programme

The focus is on tackling climate change, energy projects, food security, health and Europe's ageing population.

Grants will be awarded to about 16,000 research bodies and businesses.

A Commission spokesman told BBC News: "No existing research projects will be downgraded… and the extent of the projects funded in 2012 and 2013 will still increase significantly."

 

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http://www.physorg.com : Iran aims to send man into space in nine years

July 23, 2010

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Friday that Iran plans to send a man into space by 2019 as a blow to Western powers pressing Tehran over its nuclear programme, state news agency IRNA reported.


President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, pictured in June 2010, said Friday that Iran plans to send a man into space by 2019 as a blow to Western powers pressing Tehran over its nuclear programme, state news agency IRNA reported.

"Iran was due to send man into space by 2024 but in response to threats and Security Council resolutions against Iran, the plan was pushed forward by five years and the project will be launched in 2019," Ahmadinejad said.

Telecommunication Minister Reza Taghipour said this month that Iran plans to launch a new satellite, Rasad 1, in the last week of August.

The minister had previously said that during the current Iranian year to March 2011, new satellites capable of transmitting data and images would be launched.

(c) 2010 AFP

 

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10762634

http://www.bbc.co.uk : China considers big rocket power

26 July 2010 Last updated at 13:02 GMT

By Anatoly Zak Science reporter

Engines on China's Long March-5 will develop 120 tonnes of thrust

Chinese engineers are considering a new super-powerful engine for the next generation of space rockets, say officials.

According to Li Tongyu, general manager of the marketing department at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), engineers are currently studying a rocket engine capable of generating thrust of 600 tonnes.

If China succeeds in the development of such power, it would increase the nation's capabilities in space by orders of magnitude.

Wiki : Long March 5

Long March 5 (LM-5, CZ-5, or Changzheng 5) is a Chinese next-generation heavy lift launch system that is currently under development by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). Currently, six CZ-5 vehicle configurations[1] are planned for different missions, with a maximum payload capacity of 25,000 kg to LEO and 14,000 kg to GTO. The Long March 5 will have the second largest "carrying capacity factor" of any rocket after Boeing's Delta IV Heavy.[2] The CZ-5 rocket is due to be first launched in 2014 from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan island.

SDC thread for resurrection : Latest on Chinese 'Long March 5' 25 tonne payload rocket

 

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spaceflightnow.com : Sea Launch post-bankruptcy plan wins court approval

BY STEPHEN CLARK
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: July 27, 2010

A Delaware bankruptcy court confirmed Sea Launch's plan to reorganize under majority Russian ownership Tuesday, clearing a key hurdle on the firm's path to emerge from bankruptcy later this year.

File photo of a Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket prepared for liftoff. Credit: Sea Launch/Kevin Brown

The milestone ruling came 13 months after Sea Launch filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2009.

The plan calls for Energia Overseas Ltd., a subsidiary of the Russian aerospace giant Energia, to purchase 85 percent of the stock in Sea Launch for $140 million in cash. The unsecured creditors, or firms that acquired a stake in Sea Launch in exchange for owed debts, will collectively hold 15 percent ownership in the reorganized launch business.

 

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http://www.federalspace.ru : Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Сhairs a Government Meeting

:: 30.07.2010

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin chaired a Government meeting on Thursday to discuss the list of federal targeted programmes to be included in the 2011 budget.

In 2011, we will begin implementing policy measures to create the Vostochny space centre in the Amur Region, to support the pharmaceutical industry and domestic and foreign tourism, and to create the foundation of an information society. We will approve targeted funding to support the machine-tool industry and to create next-generation diesel engines.

We plan to allocate 3.5 billion roubles for Vostochny, 3.23 billion roubles for the pharmaceutical industry, 3.1 billion roubles for the Information Society programme, 2 billion roubles for the development of domestic and foreign tourism, 2.28 billion roubles for the development of the machine-tool industry and instrument manufacturing, and more than 1 billion roubles for the creation of next-generation diesel engines.

 

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http://www.bbc.co.uk : Race to launch Moon landing probe

13 August 2010 Last updated at 00:55 GMT

By Anatoly Zak Science reporter

Russia's four-legged lunar platform will release an Indian-built rover

A modern-day space race to land an unmanned probe on the Moon is emerging between Russia and India on one side and China on the other.

After months of negotiations, Russian and Indian engineers have started working on a robotic mission together.

This would see the landing of a small four-wheeled rover on to the surface of the Earth's celestial neighbour.

It is set to launch in 2013, to roughly match the scheduled lunar landing of China's Chang'e-3 spacecraft.

Whichever team gets there first, it would be the first human hardware to function on the lunar surface since the Soviet Luna-24 spacecraft returned to Earth with Moon's soil samples in 1976.

http://www.russianspaceweb.com : Luna-Glob/Luna-Resurs

Above: The architecture of the Luna-Resurs (left) and Luna-Glob spacecraft as of August 2010. Credit: IKI / NPO Lavochkin

 

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www.africanews.com : Africa: AU to establish African space agency

Posted on Monday 9 August 2010 - 10:50
John Afful Jnr, AfricaNews reporter in Takoradi, Ghana

Ministers in charge of Communications and Information Technologies in Africa have commenced a process that would lead to the establishment of a regional space agency in cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The project which would be known as the African Space Agency is aimed at focusing on the development of common space policy for the African continent.

In a statement, AU Ministers agreed to work jointly with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa to finalise action on the draft convention on cyber legislation and support its implementation in member-states.

In furtherance to the statement, the AU would coordinate with the International Telecommunications Union and with all development partners to continue activities on harmonisation of policy and regulations in Africa based on the platform created by HIPSSA project.

 

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en.rian.ru : Bengaluru Space Expo-2010 opens in India's Silicon Valley

05:11 25/08/2010

India's international space exhibition Bengaluru Space Expo-2010 opens on Wednesday in Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) known as the Silicon Valley of India.

"The main focus of the Bengaluru Space Expo 2010 is to showcase the latest technological advancements, related products and technical services. It will provide a platform for space agencies, specialists, entrepreneurs and space industry heavyweights to display their visions to the decision makers," the exhibition's official website says.

An international business conference on space technologies will be held during the Space Expo 2010 involving representatives from Russia, Europe, the United States, Nigeria and other countries.

http://www.bsxindia.com : Bengaluru Space Expo 2010

India has made major strides in space research, development and its application for the socio-economic upliftment. The main focus of the Bengaluru Space Expo 2010 is to showcase the latest technological advancements, related products and technical services. It will provide a platform for space agencies, specialists, entrepreneurs and space industry heavyweights to display their visions to the decision makers.

The Expo would facilitate joint venture, technology transfer, marketing arrangements and will also provide opportunities to network with the who’s who of Space Industry from all over the world. The Exhibition would also be showcasing Asia’s achievements and prospects for space sector. India has made major strides in space research, development and its application for the socio-economic upliftment.

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com : Europe, Japan weigh cargo return from space station

BY STEPHEN CLARK

Posted: August 27, 2010

The European and Japanese space agencies are considering upgrades to outfit their robotic space station servicing spacecraft to return cargo to Earth, potentially laying the groundwork for crewed capsules by the 2020s.

Officials expect decisions on the new spacecraft by next year.

Neither space agency has started development of a piloted spaceship, but both organizations have started designing re-entry vehicles that would bring supplies back to Earth. The ability to return cargo from the space station -- down-mass in space-speak -- will be severely curtailed once the space shuttle is retired next year.

The organizations are studying concepts to update the Automated Transfer Vehicle and H-2 Transfer Vehicle for roundtrip journeys to the International Space Station.

Both re-entry vehicles could debut by the end of this decade, giving the agencies a roundtrip transportation system capable of shepherding pressurized cargo, possibly including plants and small animals.

Artist's concept of the Advanced Re-entry Vehicle. Credit: ESA

The European Space Agency awarded a contract to EADS Astrium in July 2009 for an 18-month study of an Advanced Re-entry Vehicle. Worth 21 million euros, or $27 million at contemporary exchange rates, the contract covers Astrium analysis and studies of a beefed up capsule with a heat shield that could survive a fiery return to Earth and land in the ocean.

Di Pippo said the first launch of the ARV cargo carrier is planned for 2017 or 2018, slightly later than last year's announced target of 2016.

Artist's concept of Japan's proposed HTV-R spacecraft. Credit: JAXA

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is refining concepts for a recoverable HTV that could be launched as soon as 2016.

In a presentation to the Japanese government's Space Activities Commission earlier this month, officials outlined three designs for the HTV-R spacecraft.

JAXA says it need to start more advanced development of the HTV-R system in 2011 to launch the first spacecraft in the mid-2010s.

 

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www.thehindubusinessline.com : Arianespace keen to widen launch window with ISRO

Madhumathi D.S.

Bangalore, Aug. 29

Arianespace, the big brother of global satellite launch providers, plans to co-market its long-term associate ISRO's PSLV, as a future ‘back-up' for its third rocket, the new light-lift Vega, according to Arianespace's Chairman and CEO, Mr Jean-Yves Le Gall. Vega is due to be tested this year.

His company also wants to include ISRO's bigger GSLV rocket in their old joint-marketing agreement once the GSLV reaches commercial stage, Mr Le Gall told Business Line. He was in Bangalore for the just-ended CII-ISRO conference — the Bengaluru Space Expo 2010.

 

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www.spacenews.com : First Flight of European Soyuz Delayed Again

Mon, 6 September, 2010

By Peter B. de Selding

PARIS — The European version of Russia’s Soyuz rocket will not make its inaugural flight until the spring of 2011 and may be further delayed depending on which of two government customers is selected for the flight, the head of Europe’s Arianespace launch services consortium said Sept. 7.

Arianespace Chief Executive Jean-Yves Le Gall said the Hylas consumer broadband satellite owned by Avanti Communications of London, which had been set for the inaugural Soyuz flight from Europe’s Guiana Space Center spaceport, will now be launched in late November as a co-passenger on Europe’s Ariane 5 ECA heavy-lift rocket.

That leaves the first Soyuz flight open. Le Gall said the candidates are now the French government’s Pleiades high-resolution optical Earth imaging satellite and two demonstration models of Europe’s Galileo navigation and timing program.

The introduction of the medium-lift Soyuz rocket to the Guiana center has been delayed on multiple occasions, with the arrival and construction of a mobile gantry being the main cause of the delays.

In a press briefing here during the World Summit for Satellite Financing, Le Gall said the launch pad is completed and will be ready to support flights starting early next year. But he said it is not clear whether the ground segment for the Pleiades satellite will be ready until the spring.

If the two Galileo demonstration satellites are selected for the inaugural Soyuz flight, the launch could occur in the spring. Galileo officials have said they do not want to launch their spacecraft on the Soyuz inaugural flight. Le Gall had said that the 18-nation European Space Agency has indicated this is no longer a problem.

 

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www.spacemart.com : EU not doing enough to support space sector: Astrium head

by Staff Writers
Paris (AFP) Sept 6, 2010

The EU executive commission is not providing sufficient support to the European space industry, currently locked in close competition with its US counterpart, the head of French space group Astrium said in an interview published on Monday.

"Every country is backing its industry, except Europe," argued Astrium chairman Francois Augue in the French financial paper Les Echos.

"If Brussels implements the policy that is being developed, it will ultimately mean the end of Europe's space industry presence on the world scene."

The European Commission wants to boost competition in the EU aerospace sector notably by supporting small and medium-sized companies. It has awarded a contract to German firm OHB to build 14 satellites for the European geo-positioning system Galileo.

 

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timesofindia.indiatimes.com : Boeing offers Isro tech help for 2016 manned space trip

Prashanth G N, TNN,

Sep 6, 2010, 06.28am IST

BANGALORE: The Indian Space Research Organisation has an offer too tempting to resist: Boeing has said it is ready to collaborate and offer technological know-how to Isro for its human space flight programme, scheduled tentatively for 2016.

This will include construction of a crew vehicle to the International Space Station (ISS), journey to the station and re-entry into earth's atmosphere, which is the most crucial aspect of the programme.

Dr Vivek Lall, vice-president and India country head, Boeing Defense, Space and Security told TOI: "Boeing has initiated discussions with Isro to offer our support to India's human space flight programme. With our legacy in space exploration design, development and integration, we believe we can provide value-added assistance to India's national programme."

Lall added: "We plan to submit a formal request to the US Department of State to enable us to proceed down this path should our services be accepted."

 

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www.esa.int : Global space event in the Golden City

7 September 2010


Prague: the Golden City

This month the International Astronautical Congress will be held in Prague for the first time in 33 years. The global event highlights the growing activities in space industry, science and education in the Czech Republic — ESA's newest Member State.

The 61st International Astronautical Congress (IAC) will take place in Prague from 27 September to 1 October. The annual congress encourages the advancement of space knowledge and enables the global space community to share its experience and deepen worldwide cooperation.

The event spotlights the long space research and development history and ambitions of the Czech Republic, which joined ESA in 2008.

The Czech Space Office (CSO) was established in 2003, when the country became one of the first to join ESA's Plan for European Cooperating States (PECS).

www.iac2010.cz : 61st International Astronautical Congress

 

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www.bbc.co.uk : The ever growing flock of space 'birds'

By Jonathan Amos

15:03 UK time, Wednesday, 8 September 2010

The space above us is about to get a lot more crowded.

A fascinating report from Euroconsult [220KB PDF], a research and analyst firm specialising in the satellite sector, has released a forecast for how many "birds" it expects to see fly between now and the end of the decade - 1,220 satellites.

That's a lot of spacecraft...and a lot of rockets that will be needed to put all those satellites in orbit.

It works out at an average of 122 satellites per year, which is up significantly on the average annual rate of 77 satellites seen in the 2000s.

It's one more indication I guess of just how important space has become.

In money terms, Euroconsult reckons the manufacturing and launch of those 1,220 satellites will generate revenues of some $194bn worldwide.

 

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http://www.esa.int : Vega launcher production contracts signed by ESA, Arianespace and ELV

8 September 2010


Antonio Fabrizi, ESA Director of Launchers and Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace

As Vega’s development is coming to an end with the qualification flight scheduled in 2011, two contracts were signed to allow the project to move on to the next phase.

Yesterday ESA and Arianespace signed the work order for production of the first Vega launcher, after qualification, as part of the Vega flexibility demonstration flights frame contract signed in December 2009.

At the same ceremony, Arianespace and the ELV company (European Launch Vehicle, Avio Group) concluded a frame contract for five launch vehicles with a firm order for one.

Antonio Fabrizi, ESA Director of Launchers, Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace and Francesco De Pasquale, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ELV SpA, signed the contracts during a ceremony in Paris, France.

 

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www.spacenews.com : U.S. Regulators Approve Energia’s Purchase of Sea Launch

Fri, 10 September, 2010

By Peter B. de Selding

PARIS — The U.S. government has approved the purchase by a Russian space hardware builder of commercial launch service provider Sea Launch Co., an event that should trigger the flow of cash to the launch operator in the coming weeks, Sea Launch President Kjell Karlsen said Sept. 10.

Karlsen said the interagency U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) on Sept. 9 gave its approval for the purchase of Sea Launch by Energia, a large Russian space hardware manufacturer that has long been a Sea Launch shareholder and contractor.

Chicago-based Boeing Co., which had been Sea Launch’s general contractor and principal shareholder, will remain a Sea Launch supplier but otherwise has ended its management role in the company, which has been in U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.

Karlsen said wrapping up the regulatory filings will enable Sea Launch of Long Beach, Calif., to set what is known as an “effective date” for leaving Chapter 11 status and receiving $155 million from Energia. Of this amount, $15 million has been reserved to pay Sea Launch’s unsecured creditors as well as adviser and legal fees from the Chapter 11 process.

The remaining $140 million will be in equity and will be used to make catch-up payments to Sea Launch suppliers. Sea Launch then will begin preparing to return to service by refurbishing and recertifying the command ship and ocean-going platform that together comprise Sea Launch’s mobile launch base.

 

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www.dnaindia.com : ISRO gearing up to launch eight spacecraft annually

Published: Tuesday, Sep 14, 2010, 17:19 IST

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to launch eight spacecraft annually to increase revenue and meet global technology demand, a top official of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) said today.

"Right now, we have four launches including GSLVs and PSLVs per year. The process is on to launch eight spacecraft a year to meet global demand," VSSC director PS Veeraraghavan told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Chennai.

On steps taken by ISRO to double the number of launches, he said, "We need to increase throughout in getting various subsystems from industries and then increase our own internal work."

He also said that ISRO planned to set up its third launch pad for human space mission.

 

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en.rian.ru : Kazakhstan to join Russia-Ukraine space program

20:20 16/09/2010

Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Russia will work together as part of the Cosmotrans space cooperation project, Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Andriy Klyuyev said on Thursday.

The project provides for the joint use of Kazakhstan's Baikonur space center.

Kazakhstan and Ukraine signed a space cooperation agreement during Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev's recent visit to Ukraine.

"It [Cosmotrans] used to be a Ukrainian-Russian project, but now it is a tripartite project between Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan," Klyuyev said.

The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers also expects to sign contracts with Kazakhstan to deliver Ukrainian-built An-148, An-158 and An-74 airplanes, he said.

PYATYHATKI (Kiev Region) September 16 (RIA Novosti)

 

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www.spaceref.com :NASA Awards Launch Services Contracts

Source: NASA HQ

Posted Thursday, September 16, 2010

NASA has announced the awards for the NASA Launch Services (NLS) II Contract. The award will provide a broad range of launch services for NASA's planetary, Earth-observing, exploration and scientific satellites.

NASA has the ability to order a maximum of 70 launch services missions with a maximum cumulative potential contract value of $15 billion. The NLS II contracts are multiple award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity, spanning a 10-year period.

NASA selected four companies for awards: Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company of Denver; Orbital Sciences Corporation of Dulles, Va.; Space Exploration Technologies of Hawthorne, Calif.; and United Launch Services, LLC of Littleton, Colo.

...

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.spaceref.com : International Space Transport Association Trade Organization Launched

Source: International Space Transport Association

Posted Friday, September 17, 2010

Today at the international conference 'The regulation of suborbital flights in the European context' - with members of EU, NASA and ESA present - trade organization ISTA has been launched. One of the main goals of the International Space Transport Association is to facilitate the development of new regulations for the commercial space industry, which will help establish a more precise responsibility and liability structure, in line with UN resolution 2222-XXI Art VI*. "Commercial space has an annual global turnover of 120 billion euro and is one of the fastest growing markets. This makes a global trade organization necessary", says Ronald Heister, director general of ISTA. "Space enables enormous possibilities to improve life on earth. An industry that explores these new frontiers needs regulation alongside stimulation. ISTA will help influence and advise governments and safety organizations in the drafting of new space legislation."

...

International Space Transport Association (ISTA) is located in The Hague. Before its official launch today, businesses and organizations from countries like Canada, United States of America, Japan, Russia, India, Mexico, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden, Spain, Portugal , Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Australia, Brazil and Hong Kong have joined ISTA as members or strategic partners.

...

 

[EarthlingX]

china.globaltimes.cn : Moon landing gets timetable

Source: Global Times
02:06 September 20 2010

By Song Shengxia

The timetable for China's first manned moon landing, as well as the launch of a space station, lab and probes to explore Mars and Venus, was announced by scientists over the weekend.

...

In a visit to the country's space base in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, Saturday, Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut to voyage beyond the planet's atmosphere in 2003, revealed plans to launch the country's first unmanned space laboratory, Tiangong-1, next year, which is expected to accomplish the country's first unmanned docking with Shenzhen-8, a crucial step toward building a space station.

Both the manned spacecraft Shenzhou-9 and the unmanned Shenzhou-10 will be launched in 2012 to dock with the Tiangong space laboratory, and by around 2020 China will launch its first orbital space station, Yang said.

Meanwhile, at an aerospace engineering forum Thursday, Ye Peijian, Commander in Chief of the Chang'e Program and an academic at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said China's lunar-probe program, the country's first step toward deep-space exploration, is expected to orbit the moon, land and return to Earth by 2020.

Ye proposed that China launch its first manned moon landing in 2025, a probe to Mars by 2013 and to Venus by 2015.

...

Huang Hai, a professor at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (BUAA), told the Global Times that a space station was vital for future scientific research.

"A space station is a good platform for spacecraft and a research lab. It is the ultimate purpose of manned space technology," Huang said, adding that the cost would vary depending on the size of the station.

"China will build a smaller one, for perhaps 10 to 20 people, which is affordable for one single country," he said.

...

Weng Jingnong, a BUAA professor, told the Global Times that the priority of China's space program is to serve civilian purposes, including disaster management and environmental protection. "Given the frequent natural disasters China has experienced in recent years, it is increasingly important to use space technology to monitor extreme weather," he said.

Liu Linlin and Guo Qiang contributed to this story

 

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http://www.spacenews.com : Arianespace Heading Toward an Unprofitable 2010

Wed, 22 September, 2010

By Peter B. de Selding

PARIS — Europe’s Arianespace commercial launch consortium may report a net loss again this year following schedule delays that have kept it to just three launch campaigns since January, Arianespace Chief Executive Jean-Yves Le Gall said Sept. 21.

In an interview, Le Gall said the Evry, France-based consortium has secured approval of its shareholders for a capital increase of 50 million euros ($65 million), and perhaps more, with the funds to be moved to Arianespace’s books by the end of the year.

...

Despite having performed a record seven launches of the Ariane 5 vehicle in 2009, Arianespace reported a loss of 71.2 million euros on sales of 1.03 billion euros.

Le Gall declined to speculate on the revenue total for 2010 beyond saying that current plans are to conduct three more Ariane 5 ECA launches, each carrying two commercial telecommunications satellites, by the end of the year. “We will likely be close to break-even this year depending on how the rest of the year goes, but I don’t want to speculate on a precise figure,” he said.

In addition, Arianespace is managing the launch of six second-generation Globalstar mobile communications satellites aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket, with the launch scheduled for mid-October from the Russian-run Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Three more Soyuz launches of Globalstar satellites are scheduled for 2011, also from Baikonur.

With funding from the 18-nation European Space Agency (ESA) and a loan from the European Investment Bank, Arianespace plans to commercialize Russia’s Soyuz from Europe’s Guiana Space Center in French Guiana starting in 2011.

The inaugural Soyuz flight has been delayed repeatedly, for numerous reasons related to construction of a new, Soyuz-dedicated launch pad and, more recently, a debate over which satellite will be the inaugural passenger.

...

 

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http://www.thalesgroup.com : Thales Alenia Space wins contracts to built payloads for Russia's Express AM8, AT1 and AT2 satellites

Cannes, September 22, 2010

– Thales Alenia Space announces tri-partite contracts with RSCC (Russian Space Operator) and JSC “ISS – Reshetnev Company” to supply the Express AM8, AT1 and AT2 communications satellite payloads.

Thales Alenia Space will be the communications payloads supplier. The satellite will be based on an Express 1000 platform provided by JSC “ISS – Reshetnev Company” and the satellites will be integrated and tested in ISS’ premises, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

Express AM8 will operate at 14°W for a 15 years lifetime. The payload power is about 5.9 kW. AM8 will carry 24 active C-band transponders covering Europe-Africa and America, 16 active Ku-band transponders covering Europe-Asia, Africa, North and South America and 2 active L-band transponders.

Express AT1 will operate at 56°E for a 15 years lifetime. The payload power is about
5.6 kW. AT1 will carry 32 active Ku-band transponders over West and East Russia.

Express AT2 will operate at 36°E for a 15 years lifetime. The payload power is about
3 kW. AT2 will carry 16 active Ku-band transponders over West Russia.

“Cooperation with Russia is strategically important for Thales Alenia Space who does plan to continue to involve Russian space industry and expertise on a larger and deeper level” declared Reynald Seznec, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space. “For AM8, AT1 and AT2 satellites, Thales Alenia Space has proposed to its customer and to the Russian Authorities to further deepen existing collaboration and develop a new industrial partnership”, he added.

Thales Alenia Space has a history of successful cooperation of more than 15 years with Russia since the SESAT programme. RSCC is a very important customer to Thales Alenia Space and for a great number of its satellites, Thales Alenia Space has provided payloads, which were integrated with Russian platforms: Express-A1, Express-A2, Express-A3, Express-A4, Express-AM11, Express-AM22, Express-AM2, Express-AM3, Express-AM33, Express-AM44 (all with ISS), plus Express-MD1 and Express-MD2 (with Khrunichev).

The partnership with the Russian industry began in the early 2000's when Thales Alenia Space and ISS started joint marketing of satellites based on ISS' Express-1000 platform. The combination of ISS and Thales Alenia Space products and skills to serve this strategic partnership has recently triggered two important projects on the international market, namely Amos 5 and Telkom 3. With these tri-partite contracts announced today, the strategic cooperation between Thales Alenia Space and ISS is further reinforced and once again proven to be a successful one.