DefenceTalkDue to resource constraints caused by sequestration, Air Force Space Command has directed the 21st Space Wing to prepare to discontinue operations at the Air Force Space Surveillance System by Oct. 1. Final decisions on all Fiscal Year 2014 budget issues will be made over the next few weeks. By discontinuing operations, the AFSSS would […]https://www.defencetalk.com/usaf-space-command-discontinues-space-surveillance-system-48760/

DefenceTalkJapan is planning to launch satellites to monitor the world’s oceans, a report said Sunday, as Chinese government ships plied waters around islands controlled by Tokyo and claimed by Beijing. The Cabinet office plans to launch nine satellites in the next five years to counter piracy and monitor the movements of foreign ships intruding into […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-to-launch-satellites-to-monitor-oceans-48296/

DefenceTalkA mock-up of Russia’s new piloted spacecraft will be showcased in August at the MAKS airshow near Moscow, Russia’s space chief said Friday. The new craft, being developed by the Russian spaceship manufacturer RKK Energia, is expected to make its maiden flight in 2018. “At the MAKS airshow, we will soon see the mock-up of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-to-unveil-new-piloted-spacecraft-at-maks-airshow-48156/

DefenceTalkAn Air Force program at Hanscom Air Force Base that continually provides critical imagery to warfighters and first responders, is also reducing costs. Eagle Vision consists of five deployable satellite downlink stations that collect, process and distribute commercial satellite imagery in nearly real time. The data not only can be used to highlight areas of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/satellite-program-finds-savings-while-providing-critical-imagery-48091/

DefenceTalkChina successfully launched its fifth manned spacecraft on Tuesday afternoon, announced Zhang Youxia, chief commander of China’s manned space program. Shenzhou-10, atop an upgraded Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China late Tuesday afternoon and entered its designated orbit minutes later. Three astronauts, two male and one […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-successfully-launches-shenzhou-10-spacecraft-48087/

DefenceTalkRussia plans to launch for more satellites for the GLONASS navigation system by the end of this year, the Aerospace Defense Forces head said on Saturday. “Three GLONASS satellites are scheduled to be launched on board of a Proton carrier rocket in July from the Baikonur space center and another one is planned to be […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-set-to-launch-4-glonass-satellites-this-year-48073/

DefenceTalkThe Russian military will launch a new reconnaissance satellite from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia on June 8, a space industry source said. “A Russian military satellite will be launched on board a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket from the Plesetsk launch site on June 8,” the source, who asked to remain anonymous, told RIA […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-to-launch-new-spy-satellite-in-june-48018/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. government believes a Chinese missile launch this week was the first test of a new interceptor that could be used to destroy a satellite in orbit, a U.S. defense official told Reuters on Wednesday. China launched a rocket into space on Monday, but no objects were placed into orbit, the Pentagon said on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-sees-china-missile-launch-as-test-of-muscle-47808/

DefenceTalkSenior Defense Department officials testified yesterday before Congress highlighting the activities the department has undertaken to save an estimated $1 billion and provide a balanced national security space program. Gil I. Klinger, deputy assistant secretary of defense for space and intelligence, and Douglas L. Loverro, deputy assistant secretary of defense for space policy, appeared before […]https://www.defencetalk.com/dod-officials-detail-1-billion-in-space-program-savings-47630/

DefenceTalkSan Javier Air Base (Murcia) was selected to conduct the trials and demonstrate that satellite communications are suitable to operate Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPASs) and integrate them into civil airspace. The DeSIRE project (Demonstration of Satellites enabling the Insertion of RPAS in Europe) is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European […]https://www.defencetalk.com/esa-eda-flight-demo-on-remotely-piloted-aircraft-systems-insertion-into-civil-airspace-47620/