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VIENNA, Austria - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged peaceful use of outer space Monday as the United Nations opened a conference on the subject. "We cannot view the expanse of space as another battleground for our earthly conflicts," Annan said at the opening of the third Unispace conference. High on the agenda: Adopting the Vienna Declaration on guidelines for use and protection of outer space. The last Unispace gathering was 17 years ago.
SRIHARIHOTA, India (Reuters) - India entered an elite club of commercial satellite launching nations Wednesday when a rocket blasted off from a southern seaport with two foreign payloads.
The Pentagon will try again next month to test an anti-missile system to protect troops and bases against ballistic missiles being stockpiled by hostile forces. Officials have concluded that the failure of the last attempt, in March, was caused by a faulty thruster nozzle, The Washington Post reported. It said the prime contractor, Lockheed Martin, has been working feverishly to correct design flaws. The government assessed Lockheed $15 million after the test failure last month, which was the sixth consecutive failure for the system known as Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). It is intended to shoot down enemy missiles at the edge of space. The THAAD program has cost more than $3.2 billion. It is intended to protect troops against missiles that could carry nuclear, biological or chemical warheads. The new threat is from short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles that fly farther, faster and higher than the cheap and inaccurate Scuds that Iraq used in the 1991 Gulf War.
A US missile warning satellite launched by the troubled Titan rocket programme is in the wrong orbit, according to the US Air Force. The $250m Defence Support Programme satellite went up without a hitch from Cape Canaveral on Friday on board the unmanned Titan 4B rocket.
FULL STORY at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_316000/316520.stm
(IDG) -- The U.S. Space Command is planning a massive $1.8 billion upgrade project for the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center, Colorado Springs, Colo., that will lay the systems integration groundwork for a future national missile defense system.
Industry sources expect the command to issue a solicitation in July for the Integrated Space Command and Control (ISC2) contract to provide hardware and software upgrades, future communications architecture planning and various information technology services to the Cheyenne Mountain complex, the location of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) network operations center. The contract is expected to be awarded in February 2000 and will span 15 years.
Known as the "Mountain," the Cheyenne Mountain complex collects data from a worldwide network of satellites, radar systems and other sensors and processes that data on sophisticated computer systems to warn of ballistic nuclear missile or air attacks against North America. In addition, the center will be the focal point for command and control of the Defense Department's future National Missile Defense program to intercept and destroy incoming missiles before they reach the United States.
FULL STORY at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_316000/316520.stm
BEIJING (AP) -- China today criticized a U.S. missile-defense bill that was passed with overwhelming support by the Senate.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said the missile defense programs the United States is considering are counterproductive for arms control and disarmament and will "have an impact on global strategic balance."
"China expresses its grave concern," Sun said.
The bill, passed by the Senate 97-3 on Wednesday, would commit the United States to building a national defense against limited ballistic missile attack "as soon as technologically possible." A version of the bill was scheduled to be taken up today by the House of Representatives.
The national missile defense program supported by the Senate would use similar technology to a theater missile defense system that the United States and Japan are studying for East Asia.
China fears the system could spark a costly arms race, would strengthen U.S. military alliances with Japan and South Korea and may be used to protect Taiwan, thereby obstructing reunification.
Over the past month, senior Chinese leaders have spoken out against the proposed regional anti-missile system. On Monday, Premier Zhu Rongji said China was firmly opposed to it.
China views the island of Taiwan as part of its territory and considers reunification a strategic goal. Taiwan and the mainland have been ruled separately since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.
The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization and the U.S. Army conducted the PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile Seeker Characterization Flight (SCF) test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., today at 6:55 a.m. Preliminary test data indicate the test was successful.
Objectives included the collection of data and analyses of the system/missile capability to detect, track, and close with the target, the PAC-3 missile seeker data in a flight environment, and the missile closed-loop homing guidance performance in flight. While not a specific objective of the SCF, the PAC-3 missile intercepted the HERA reentry vehicle target.
The PAC-3 missile is a high velocity, hit-to-kill missile and is the next-generation PATRIOT missile being developed to provide increased defense capability against advanced theater ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and hostile aircraft.
The first two PAC-3 missions consisted of missiles with special instrumentation packages in place of the seeker and the missions were structured to verify critical systems and missile performance prior to conducting target intercept flight tests. This SCF mission is the first flight test of a PAC-3 missile with a seeker. The remaining PAC-3 missions will consist of 16 PAC-3 missiles intercepting different classes of targets.
Lockheed Martin Vought Systems, Dallas, Texas, is the prime contractor responsible for missile development. The seeker is produced by Boeing North America, Duluth, Ga.
TOKYO (AP) -- North Korea has deployed medium-range missiles at a launch site near its border with China, a newspaper said today, quoting U.S. and Japenese military sources.
The report -- which Japanese officials refused to confirm or deny to The Associated Press -- came about seven months after North Korea fired a missile over Japan that landed in the Pacific Ocean.
That was believed to be a Taepodong missile capable of striking any part of the Japanese archipelago. Its firing prompted the United States, Japan and South Korea to review their defense systems amid deep concerns over the North's missile program.
Japan's Sankei newspaper quoted unidentified U.S. and Japanese sources saying North Korea has deployed Rodong missiles, with a range of up to 620 miles, near the border with China.
The paper said a major North Korean missile factory is located near the Rodong missile site in Yongodong, an area north of Pyongyang near the Chinese border. A total of about 30 Rodong missiles have been deployed in several unidentified sites in North Korea, the report said.
Japan's Self-Defense Agency refused to comment on the report.
In January, Japanese media reported that North Korea was building at least five underground launch sites for long-range Taepodong missiles near its borders with China and South Korea.
North Korea has said the rocket it fired in August launched a satellite, but Japan has dismissed that claim. Recently, Pyongyang said that it is preparing to launch another satellite.
The Rodong was last test-launched in 1993. The single-stage, liquid-fuel missile can carry a 450-pound warhead. North Korea also is reportedly developing an upgraded Rodong with a range of up to 940 miles.
Currently, American and North Korean officials are meeting in New York to discuss U.S. concerns about an underground construction site in North Korea that the Clinton administration believes may involve nuclear weapons development.
William Perry, the U.S. government policy coordinator on North Korea, arrived in Beijing today at the start of an Asian visit that will allow him to discuss the reclusive Communist country with Chinese, South Korean and Japanese officials.
ND Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what contingency plans he has for dealing with the effects of premature re-entry of the space probe Cassini. (70455)
Mr George Howarth
The Home Office is the led government department for satellite incidents. Arrangements are in place to track satellites and advise local authorities and emergency services of any possible impact in the United Kingdom so that local response arrangements can be activated.
Current advice is that the space probe Cassini is unlikely to collide with Earth and is still less likely to hit this country.
My officials will, however, continue to monitor the situation.
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8th February 1999
From: Hansard, Monday 8 February 1999
Column: 50
Cassini Space Probe
Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential environmental risks of NASA's Cassini Space Probe. [69215]
Mr. Battle: Before launch, NASA have commissioned two independent risk assessments, and scientists of the European Space Agency, of which the UK is a member, independently evaluated the mission. The spacecraft design meets demanding safety criteria set by the United Nations and independent US health and safety organisations.
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WA8
US Anti-Ballistic Missile Programmes
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government: How many British defence firms are participating in United States anti-ballistic missile, ballistic missile defence and related programmes; and how many jobs depend on it.[HL742]
Lord Gilbert: The Memorandum of Understanding under which UK firms are able to participate in the US ballistic missile defence programmes provides for both government to government agreements, called Letters of Offer and Acceptance, and for contracts to be established between the US and UK firms and universities. No records are maintained by Her Majesty's Government as to the number of British defence firms involved and thus the number of jobs that might depend on any such involvement are unknown.
AND
The following question was tabeled to the EU Council of Ministers recently:
Question by Patricia McKenna (H-0088/99)
Subject: US breaching UN Conventions
What opinion does the Council have of, and how does it intend to react to, plans by the US Administration to deploy anti-ballistic missiles, in breach of the 1972 Anti-ballistic Missile Treaty*, and to the fact that the US Administration is developing, and is likely to deploy, weather-modification weapons** in breach of the 1977 ENMOD Convention (Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques)?
*US Administration announcement of 20 January that it had asked Congress for an additional USD 6.6 billion for the budget for national defence against military attack.
**'Weather as a force multiplier, owning the weather in 2025', presented to Air Force 2025, Col. Tamzy House et al., Air University, USA, August 1996.
http://www.au.af.mil/au/2025
Security at RAF Fylingdales has been stepped up with the installation of a new high security electric fence.
The new fence, the cost of which has not been revealed, will detect and deter illegal entry to the early warning station.
The need to enhance physical security was highlighted last year when criminal damage had to be repaired at public expense after peace campaigners illegally broke into the site.
The electric fence conforms to all national and international safety standards and according to a spokesman for RAF Fylingdales, "presents no danger to the general public".
Extensive on-site tests confirmed that the new fencing has no effect on the operation of the space tracking radar at he RAF station.
Fylingdales' Station Commander, Wing Commander Chris Romney, explained: "We set up a section of the fence, charged it up, put in various positions closer to the radar and further away and examined the effects on the radar. The whole idea of the fence is that it gives a powerful pulse to deter an individual and this particular type of fence is used in civilian circles - it's not a military fence."
Russell Hoffman of the "Stop Cassini Homepage" called Colette Brown, DoE, and confirmed that the November 4 deadline was a misprint and that the correct deadline date is now stated as January 4, 1999.
OSS intends to prepare Environmental Impact Statements for the future Europa Orbiter and Pluto/Kuiper Express missions. We have posted the announcements from the October 7, 1998 Federal Register, in Adobe .pdf format, at http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oss/announce/OP_NOIs.pdf
Interested parties are invited to submit written comments to NASA on or before December 18, 1998, to assure full consideration during the scoping process. Comments must clearly identify to which NOI they are directed, i.e., Europa Orbiter or Pluto-Kuiper Express.
Column: 291
Ballistic Missiles
Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 27 October 1998, Official Report, column 112, if he will list the areas of common interest the United Kingdom has with the United States of America in connection with ballistic missile defence research; and if he will give the establishments at which the research is undertaken.
Mr. George Robertson: The areas of common interest the UK has with the USA in connection with ballistic missile research are many, the most significant being, performance of radars and other sensors, the guidance of interceptors, understanding the characteristics of ballistic missiles, the effective interception of ballistic missile warheads, and operating in coalition with Allies in air defence. The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency leads the programmes, working in close partnership with UK industry.
Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has carried out during his review of ballistic missile attack risks to the United Kingdom; and when he plans to produce his report. [57916]
Mr. George Robertson: Britain's approach to Ballistic Missile Defence was considered as part of the Strategic Defence Review. Supporting Essay 5, published as part of our report on the Strategic Defence Review, set out our conclusion that the risk to Britain from the ballistic missiles of nations of concern was many years off. This conclusion was based on a careful review and assessment of the intelligence information available to the Ministry of Defence from a variety of sources. As indicated in the Essay, we are continuing to monitor the position, and remain in close touch with our Allies.
Separately, we have undertaken a detailed review of other capabilities required to maintain a coherent national defence response to the risks posed by nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, also referred to in the discussion of defence responses to proliferation in Supporting Essay 5. The conclusions of this review will be given to the House shortly.
Column: 112
Star Wars
Mr. Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what involvement Britain has in the continuing US SDI-star wars programme. [55788]
Mr. George Robertson: Britain's involvement in the US SDI-star wars programme (now known as Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD)) consists of research into BMD technologies where there is a common interest.
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