Satellite News

Russia’s 24-satellite navigational and global positioning system, GLONASS, will be fully deployed by 2010, the country’s defence ministry said. This is one year later than previously announced.

Russia plans to orbit at least 30 telecom satellites and launch probes to Mars and Venus under the federal space programme (FSP) for 2006-2015, according to Vitaly Davydov, deputy head of the Russian Space Agency.

Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Space Technology sector has been recertified as meeting Level 5 standards for software development set by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) for Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI).

China will strengthen co-operation with the international community in the space industry, said Jin Zhuanglong, deputy director of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. Air Force (USAF) Space Command have issued new common federal launch safety standards designed to create consistent, integrated space launch rules for the U.S.

The launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on its STS-115 mission to the International Space Station is being postponed because of Tropical Storm Ernesto. A new launch date has not been set.