September 2 News Items

India Launches Communications Satellite (Source: SpaceToday.net)
India successfully launched a communications satellite in the return to flight of a launch vehicle that failed in its last launch over a year ago. The GSLV lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on India's east coast, placing the INSAT-4CR spacecraft into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The launch was scheduled to take place two hours earlier, but the countdown was halted because of a last-second computer problem that eventually was resolved. The launch is the first for the GSLV since a July 2006 launch failure that was traced to a problem with a propellant regulator in one of the rocket's four liquid-propellant strap-on stages. This was the largest satellite launched by an Indian rocket to date. The launch is the third this year by India, with two more launches planned before the end of the year.

Brits and Russians Plan Spacecraft Response to Apophis Asteroid Threat (Source: Spaceports Blog)
The Russian Federal Space Agency plans a system of protection of the Earth from asteroid Apophis. The UK-based space firm EADS Astrium too is planning a bid to develop a spacecraft, known as Apex or Apophis Explorer, which would reach the asteroid in January 2014. According to the Planetary Society, more than 100 teams worldwide are developing plans for Apophis missions. Prompted by computations by specialists, who say that asteroid Apophis is bound to fly at a 40,000-kilometer distance from the Earth in 2029, and there is a risk of it colliding with the Earth in 2036, space agencies around the world are beginning to take the threat seriously.

Apophis is a 300-metre-wide asteroid and is still millions of kilometres away. But, in 2029, its orbit will take it worryingly close to Earth – closer than many satellites. When it does, its orbit around the Sun will be affected and just a tiny shift of just a few hundred kilometres could mean Apophis returns in 2036 to slam into Earth, creating unimaginable death and destruction.

China Implementing Space Debris Mitigation Measures (Source: Space News)
The Chinese government is implementing a wide series of measures to reduce the amount of debris left in orbit by Chinese rockets and satellites, and to develop a space-surveillance tool to determine what is in orbit, Chinese space-debris experts said. The measures, some of which already have been put into place, include techniques already adopted by some other space powers to reorbit retired satellites out of the geostationary orbital arc and to render Chinese rocket upper stages passive in orbit by emptying their fuel tanks to prevent the threat of explosion and debris propagation.

Lawsuit Claims Globalstar Knowlingly Misled Investors (Source: Space News)
A new lawsuit claims Globalstar Inc. misled investors about the health of the company's satellite constellation before a November stock offering. The complaint also says one or more former Globalstar employees who have been interviewed on the subject are willing to back up the allegation. The complaint is the latest in a series of securities class-action lawsuits filed since Globalstar's February disclosure that its 40-satellite constellation's S-band payload, which permits two-way voice communications, was degrading faster than expected and might not survive beyond 2008. While L-band data service would continue, Globalstar's stock began to fall sharply following the announcement that the more-profitable voice service might cease functioning.

Congressman to Root Out NASA Complaints Himself (Source: Space News)
A congressman with a key role in NASA oversight says he is investigating some whistleblowers' complaints himself because he does not trust NASA Inspector General (IG) Robert Cobb with the job. Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.), chairman of the House Science and Technology subcommittee on investigations and oversight, said rather than give tips on possible violations at the agency to the inspector general, he has instructed his investigators to tackle complaints on their own. Miller, as well as Sen. Bill Nelson, (D-Fla.), chairman of the Senate Science Committee, and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), a former Missouri state auditor, called for Cobb's resignation in early June and asked President Bush to fire him. Cobb has said he will not resign.

Hughes Seeks Arbitration in Dispute with SeaLaunch (Source: Space News)
Hughes Network Systems (HNS) is asking the American Arbitration Association to force SeaLaunch to refund $44.4 million in payments made before HNS decided to cancel its SeaLaunch contract and use an Ariane 5 rocket to loft the Spaceway 3 satellite. HNS, in an Aug. 10 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), says the company was within its rights to cancel the contract because of launch delays following Sea Launch's January 2007 failure. Spaceway 3 had been scheduled for a May launch on Sea Launch. It successfully was launched Aug. 14 aboard an Ariane 5 vehicle. Sea Launch argues that the failure-related delays in its schedule are covered by the launch agreement with HNS and cannot be used to terminate the contract unilaterally.

Group Aims to Broker Capacity on Hobbled Satellites (Source: Space News)
A group of former satellite-industry officials has formed a new company whose business model is to sell cut-rate capacity aboard damaged or aging satellites owned by the major fleet operators to create a new business for small thematic television channels. The Green Satellite, based in Switzerland, is raising funds in a bid to take unused and unwanted capacity off the hands of the major satellite owners, rebrand it and sell it at a much lower cost. The business model is similar to what occurs in other industries including clothing and wine, in which branded manufacturers sell their excess production to third parties that agree not to use the brand name and are free to sell for low prices.

ATK Gets $681 Million Shuttlee Motor Contract Modification (Source: Space News)
Alliant TechSystems (ATK) Launch Systems Group of Brigham City, Utah, received a contract modification valued at $681 million for continued delivery of space shuttle reusable solid-rocket motors, NASA announced Aug. 29. The modification extends ATK's current contract to ensure NASA has the solid-rocket boosters it needs to fly the 14 shuttle missions manifested between now the fleet's planned September 2010 retirement to complete construction of the international space station.

Faulty Valve Pushes Back Atlas 5 Launch (Source: Florida Today)
An Atlas 5 rocket launch is being delayed about a week to allow teams more time to replace a fuel valve that froze up during the failed launch of a similar rocket earlier this year. The military communications satellite will be launched at 8:10 p.m. Sept. 21 from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. The launch was delayed from Sept. 13. The next Atlas V will carry the first of five Wideband Global Satellites, which will provide as much communication power as the entire present system. The Atlas delay is not expected to move the Sept. 26 launch of the Dawn spacecraft on a $450 million mission to the asteroid belt.

Space Experts Meet to Address ORS Warfighter Needs (Source: USAF)
More than 70 senior leaders and experts from across the Services, joint agencies and Intelligence Community came together Aug. 28 to discuss the way ahead for Operationally Responsive Space. The objective -- a clearly defined joint process for identifying and developing ORS requirements and capabilities; how they are integrated and deconflicted; and ways to create, follow and use common standards. "It was very productive," said Army Col. Dave Cox, Future Warfare Center deputy director, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. "The right people were in the room to discuss how to apply the right resources to support the joint warfighter, and to identify the best organization to figure out the joint process for requirements." The ORS concept is to provide joint force commanders space and space-related capabilities on orbit, quickly to meet urgent operational needs.