News Summaries for December 19

Astronauts Complete Retraction of Solar Panel (Source: SpaceToday.net)
Astronauts retracted a troublesome solar array on Monday during an unscheduled fourth EVA outside the Space Station. The EVA, added to the schedule only on Saturday, allowed the astronauts to help with the retraction after previous efforts to have the panel retract automatically failed. The astronauts primarily tugged on guide wires that got stuck in grommets on array segments as they retracted. Discovery is scheduled to undock with the Station on Tuesday, with a landing in Florida on Friday afternoon.

Russian Rocket Puts German Satellite Into Orbit (Source: RIA Novosti)
A Russian Cosmos 3M booster launched from the Plesetsk spaceport in northern Russia has put Germany's SAR-Lupe satellite into orbit. In 2003, Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport signed a contract on the launch of five SAR-Lupe satellitesfor Germany until 2009. The German satellite system is designed to provide high-resolution radar images to NATO military commanders in Europe. It offers spatial resolution of less than 1 meter, and allows imaging at night and through clouds.

S. Korea To Launch Infrared Satellite in 2012 (Source: Space News)
South Korea plans to launch a civil-military satellite carrying high-resolution optical and infrared sensors in 2012, a new spacecraft to be added to the nation's already ambitious satellite- and launch-vehicle development program, Korean government officials announced Dec. 19.