News Summaries for February 3

Space Station Moves to Avoid Debris (Source: UPI)
U.S. and Russian officials changed the International Space Station's orbit to keep it clear of debris from a satellite destroyed by China. "We are diverting the orbit of the ISS to prevent a possible collision with large fragments of space debris, a decision the Russian Mission Control took together with the Johnson Space Center in Houston," a Russian Mission Control spokesman told Novosti Friday. The spokesman said the debris did not threaten the space station, and that an anti-meteorite system protected it from smaller fragments.

Insat 4B to be Launched on March 9 from Kourou (Source: UNI)
Indian communication satellite INSAT 4B has reached the European Spaceport of Kourou in French Guiana for its March 9 launch on board a Ariane five launch vehicle of Arianespace. INSAT 4B would be involved in a dual spacecraft mission of heavy liftoff Ariane five vehicle with the co-passenger being Skynet 5A secure military communications platform of the United Kingdom.

Spaceman Ad Campaign for Local Tourism Captures Prize (Source: Florida Today)
A Space Coast tourism advertising campaign that features models dressed as astronauts hitting Brevard County's hot spots hit a high note with marketing experts. The campaign earned the Space Coast Office of Tourism a Platinum Adrian Award at the 49th-annual Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International Adrian Awards. The Adrian Awards is a worldwide competition that honors advertising, public relations and Web marketing in the hospitality, travel and tourism industries.

China Launches Navigation Satellite (Source: SpaceToday.net)
A Chinese rocket launched a new navigation satellite early Saturday in that nation's first orbital launch of the year. The Long March 3A rocket lifted off from the Xichang spaceport and released the Beidou satellite, the fourth in a series of geosynchronous orbit satellites that provide a regional satellite navigation for China. The country is also developing a global navigation system called Compass that China plans to deploy starting in 2008.