News Summaries for November 16

Progress on Soyuz Launches from European Spaceport (Source: Itar Tass)
The Russian Federal Space Agency will submit to the government a bill on ratifying an agreement on the launch of Russia’s Soyuz boosters from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana. A long-term agreement was signed in 2003. Russia has planned to begin to assemble a launching pad for Soyuzes in Kourou in early August 2007. “At present, equipment for this is being produced at a full drive." All disputes have been settled and necessary documents signed. A first group of Russian specialists will be sent to French Guiana in May-June 2007, Klimov said.

“There have already been four orders for the launch of Soyuzes from Kourou. Of course, rockets cannot be blasted off until a launching pad is built.” The project’s costs are estimated at 344 million euros. Russia will get 130 million euros. The first launch of a Soyuz booster from Kourou is scheduled for late 2008.

U.S., China, Russia Play Power Politics in Space (Source: World Politics Watch)
The Bush administration recently published an unclassified version of its new National Space Policy. Like the 2005 National Defense Strategy and the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review, the new policy stresses the vital interest of the United States in remaining a major space power. Although it acknowledges the value of international cooperation in space and the right of "free passage" for all countries' satellites and other space-based objects, the policy reaffirms the intent to protect U.S. space capabilities by all available means.

The new policy will likely intensify Chinese and Russian fears that the United States intends to deploy weapons in space such as interceptor missiles, orbiting lasers, and massive metal rods that could rain down upon earth-based targets (nicknamed "metallurgical nukes" by Chinese defense analysts and "rods from god" by their more religious American colleagues). In particular, Chinese and Russian officials have expressed alarm that the United States wants to acquire the means to orchestrate attacks in space against Chinese and Russian reconnaissance satellites and long-range ballistic missiles, whose trajectory takes them through the lower atmosphere.

Japan's GX Rocket Plans Up In The Air (Source: Daily Yomiuri)
The Education, Science and Technology Ministry's panel in charge of coordinating Japan's space development policy has released an interim evaluation report urging that the secondary engine for the planned GX rocket--a next-generation launch vehicle--be completely revamped. The Committee on Space Development approved in late October a report drafted by a subcommittee, noting that an engine powered by liquefied natural gas and used for the second-stage rocket of the two-stage launch vehicle should be redesigned from scratch.

The second-stage rocket engine has been developed by the ministry's Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in the nation's first joint public-private launch vehicle development project. The panel said the planned LNG-fueled engine, whose design has yet to be finalized, should be replaced with another version packed with more advanced technology. The nation's space program should set its sights on earning a respected reputation abroad, the panel added.