Brazil plans to launch its next VLS launch vehicle carrying a small payload in 2006, with a heavier satellite being launched in 2008, as part of its recovery programme in the aftermath of the explosion of a VLS at Alcantara in August last year, which killed 21 people.
The European Space Agency has awarded EADS Astrium the contract to build the near-infrared spectrograph (NIRSpec) for the NASA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). One of the three main instruments of the telescope, NIRSpec is a 200kg (440lb) spectrograph designed to detect radiation from the most distant galaxies and which can observe 100 objects simultaneously. The JWST is scheduled to be launched in 2011 and will incorporate a 6.6m (21.6ft)-diameter deployable telescope.
Kazakhstan and Russia are to develop a new space complex, Baiterek, to launch a range of heavy, medium and small satellite boosters from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Construction costs are estimated at $220 million and work will start in 2005, says Kazakh president Danial Ahmetov.
The International Space Station Expedition Crew 9, Gennadi Padalka and Mike Fincke, completed their third operational spacewalk from the Pirs airlock on 3 August, to install new antennas and laser reflectors that will be used in the docking of European ATV cargo carriers, and to retrieve two external experiments.
Vitrociset has won a €50 million ($60.2 million)European Space Agency contract to act as prime contractor and systems integrator for the ground segment in Kourou, French Guiana of the Vega launcher being developed by ELV. Owned 70% by Avio and 30% by Italian space agency ASI, ELVis developing the Vega under a contract awarded in February 2003 by French space agency CNES on behalf of ESA.
NASA has exercised an option to extend for two years the Space Shuttle flight operations contract, valued at $3.6 billion, with the Boeing/ Lockheed Martin United Space Alliance, to September 2006.
Source: Flight International
