If you’re trying to avoid future collisions of satellites, something akin to a space traffic control system is likely in the offing. This year alone, dozens of spacecraft have been purposely jockeyed around to lessen the chance of running into trouble. Today it’s called the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Sharing Program, run by the U.S. [...]

PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Here at the 61st International Astronautical Congress, some 3,000 experts from around the world are discussing every facet of 21st century space activity. The theme of the gathering taking place September 27 – October 1 is “Space for human benefit and exploration” – clearly the tone of meeting too. On opening [...]

  How best to thwart Earth-threatening objects is receiving increased attention in Washington, D.C. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (Republican from California) has introduced a bill calling for the establishment of a United States Commission on Planetary Defense. Such a group would offer guidance, among a list of tasks, on neutralizing a Near Earth Object (NEO) that [...]

Absent congressional action to delay the end of the space shuttle program, the Atlantis orbiter will make its final flight to orbit at 2:20 pm EDT tomorrow.   The weather forecast for the STS-132 launch is 70% favorable.  The 12-day mission will take a Russian mini research module and other equipment and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).

Under the current plan, only two more shuttle flights remain:  STS-133 (Discovery) in September and STS-134 (Endeavour) in November.

The Subcommittee on Strategic Forces of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) cut $182 million from the $9.9 billion FY2011 request for unclassified national security space programs today.  A committee press release lists the following additions and reductions: