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Switzerland's Contraves Space has delivered the first flight model of the 5.4-m-diameter payload fairing it developed for Lockheed Martin's Atlas 5 launch vehicle. This 3,725-kg first flight unit, a 20.4-m-long "short" version, is due to fly in 2003 on the first Atlas 5/500 series launcher.
Editor's note: Contraves developed the composite fairing for the Atlas 5 based on its experience with Ariane 5's 5.4-m-diameter fairings. Longer versions, up to 26-m-tall, were designed for the heaviest versions of the launcher, the Atlas 5H, which is no longer planned to be developed.

Great-Britain's Astrium Ltd. has delivered the 45th and last Spelda dual launch structure for Ariane 4 to Arianespace. It will be stored until its use on one of the last Ariane 4 flights in late 2002 or early 2003.
Editor's note: Ariane 5's Speltra dual launch launch structures and Sylda 5 dual launch adapters are built by Astrium GmbH in Germany. Astrium Ltd. will continue manufacturing dual payload attach fittings (DPAF) for Boeing's Delta 2 launch vehicles.

Other Energiya's launch vehicle programs currently underway are the Polyot air-launched booster for Vozdushniy Start and the Aurora, a vehicle proposed for launch from Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, if sufficient funding can be raised to complete the Asia Pacific Space Center launch complex.

The first flight of Lockheed Martin's new Atlas 5/401 launch vehicle (AV-001) has been postponed from May 9 to mid-June at the earliest and could even slip to July due to delays in the delivery of its payload, Eutelsat's Hot Bird 6, according to International Launch Services. A firm launch date will be announced after the satellite, built by Alcatel Space, has completed its thermal vacuum testing.
Editor's note: Alcatel Space denies any delay in the preparation of Hot Bird 6. The announcement comes a few days after the maiden flight of Atlas 3B, which reportedly demonstrated 85% of the Atlas 5 technologies on February 21, and while the first "wet rehearsal" of the AV-001 vehicle on its launch pad in Cape Canaveral, due on February 28, has been postponed.

The 11th Ariane 5G was successfully launched from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, and lofted European Space Agency's €2.4-billion Envisat polar platform onto Sun-synchronous orbit. This mission, designated V145, had been postponed since October 2001 after a launch mishap on the 10th Ariane 5 launch on July 12, 2001. Arianespace plans four more Ariane 5 flights in 2002, including the maiden flight of the Ariane 5ECA upgraded version, in August, with the ESC-A upper stage able to deliver 10 metric tons to geostationary orbit.
Editor's note: The 8-ton Envisat is the largest and heaviest satellite ever built in Europe, it is also the largest civilian Earth observation satellite ever developed outside Russia. The previous Ariane 5 flight delivered its payload onto a lower-than-planned orbit due to an incident during the ignition of its upper stage's Aestus engine. The mishap resulted from traces of water in the propellant lines. To allow the flight resumption, tighter prelaunch processes have been established and a new, more robust ignition sequence was developed for the Aestus engine. The qualification of this new sequence was completed on February 27.

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Arianespace, CNES and the National Space Development Agency of Japan, are discussing a possible mutual backup launch capability for European and Japanese government missions onbord their Ariane 5 and H-2A launch vehicles. Compatibility between Europe's Ariane 4 and Japan's H-2 vehicles has been discussed since 1993 and between Ariane 5 and the H-2A since 1999. NASDA's Large Scale Deployable Reflector Experiment (LDREX) payload, initially due to fly atop the first H-2A, eventually flew on an Ariane 5G in December 2000. Similarly, the Ariane 5 is proposed as a backup vehicle for the launch of Japan's MT-Sat 1R meteorology and air traffic control satellite in 2003.
Editor's note: No backup launch agreement is considered for commercial payloads.

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In addition to the economy of scale which could result from the introduction of the M-5 Lite, other options include the replacement of the first stage, based on the 71.5-ton, two-segment M-14 solid rocket motor, by an improved version with a filament wound composite casing or by a 66-ton monolithic SRB-A currently used as strap-on booster on the H-2A. A redesigned M-34 third stage is also proposed.
Editor's note: The M-5 has been launched three times since February 1997 at a cost of about US$50 million each. The last launch, on February 10, 2000 , was a failure. Four more flights are currently planned through 2005. Earlier in the program, a shorter air-launched version of the M-5 was considered by ISAS but not developed.

The U.S. Defense Advanced Projects Agency has reportedly selected six industrial teams for study contracts worth US$1-2 million each regarding its Responsive Access, Small Cargo & Affordable Launch (Rascal) system, according to the NASA Watch website. The awardees would be Coleman Aerospace, Delta V (with Alliant Techsystems, A-Squared and I-Squared), Northrop Grumman (with Orbital Sciences Corp.), Pioneer Rocketplane (with HMX), Space Access and Space Launch Corp. (with Scaled Composites). The objective is to design a two-stage vehicle able to loft 75-kg payloads to low-Earth orbit for US$10,000/kg with short notice. The concept must be based on a Recoverable Launch Vehicle as booster stage and an Expendable Rocket Vehicle as upper stage.
Editor's note: A US$70-million budget is considered to build and fly a demonstrator by 2006.

The U.S. Defense Advanced Projects Agency is about to award study contracts for the proposed Responsive Access, Small Cargo & Affordable Launch (Rascal) system able to loft 75-kg of payload to low-Earth orbit for US$750,000 with short notice. Up to five concepts could be selected to compete for a US$70-million contract to build and fly the demonstration vehicle by 2006.
Editor's note: Proposed concepts could be based on a reusable first stage and an expendable upper stage.

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U.S. Army's Space & Missile Defense Center has awarded a 4-month, US$0.6-million contract to Coleman Research Corp., a subsidiary of L-3 Communications, to study the development of a new family of target launch vehicles on behalf of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Enhanced Target Delivery System (ETDS) program. A similar contract with Lockheed Martin Space Systems was announced on March 27.
Editor's note: Coleman Research Corp. provides Hera target launch vehicles, derived from Minuteman ballistic missiles upper stages, to SMDC.

The U.S. Navy's Strategic Systems Programs has exercised a series of options, worth US$52.5 million, on a contract with Northrop Grumman Marine Systems for launcher subsystem support on Trident 2 (D5) sea-launched ballistic missile systems deployed onbord U.S. Navy and British Royal Navy submarines through June 2005.

U.S. Army's Space & Missile Defense Center has awarded a 4-month, US$0.6-million contract to Lockheed Martin Space Systems to study the development of a new family of target launch vehicles on behalf of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Enhanced Target Delivery System (ETDS) program. ETDS vehicles will have to be able to launch larger and heavier target payloads for future ballistic missile defense testing in order to address more complex engagement scenarios, including launches from remote, unimproved land-based sites, as well as from sea-based and air-based platforms. The study will also focus on mission flexibility, decreased launch cycle time, and "realistic emulation of current and projected threat systems."
Editor's note: Lockheed Martin Astronautics has previously been in charge of launching Integrated Flight Target (IFT) payloads for ballistic missile defense interception tests onboard decommissioned Minuteman 2 intercontinental ballistic missiles refurbished under the Multi-Service Launch System (MSLS) program. Orbital Sciences Corp. took over this activity in December 2001 with its Orbital Suborbital Program/Target Launch Vehicle (TLV), another Minuteman 2 derivative. Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space is also responsible for U.S. Navy's Trident 2 (D5) sea-launched ballistic missile systems.
Update: Another ETDS study contract was awarded to Coleman Research Corp., a subsidiary of L-3 Communications (see March 29).

The first ten Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missiles with refurbished motors have been returned to operational status on March 15 in U.S. Air Force's Malmstrom AFB, Montana. The motors of their three main stages have been emptied of their initial propellant load and cast with a new one under the Propulsion Replacement Program (PRP). The remaining 490 missiles will undergo a similar refurbishment through 2008. Total cost of the program is estimated at US$2.4 billion. The PRP is led by TRW with major contributions by Thiokol and Pratt&Whitney.
Editor's note: The first refurbished missile was delivered in April 2001. Two other TRW-led Minuteman 3 retrofit programs are underway: the Guidance Replacement Program (GRP), to replace the missiles' vintage avionics with Boeing as main subcontractor, and the Propulsion System Rocket Engine Life Extension Program (PSRE/LEP) to replace refurbish the Atlantic Research Corp. PSRE in the post-boost upper stage.

The Russian government's Security Council discussed the possibility to develop a National Missile Defense system to match current U.S. efforts in this field. Funding for the Russian Control Systems Agency, in charge of the development of early warning systems, has reportedly been increased by 25%.

  
Minuteman 2 and PLV
(U.S. Air Force/LMMS)

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Pioneer Aerospace Corp. was awarded a US$2-million contract by NASA's Johnson Space Center to develop technology for a Mars deceleration system.

China successfully launched its third prototype Shenzhou spaceship atop a Chang Zheng 2F (CZ-2F "Long March") vehicle. The 7.8-t spacecraft will orbit for several days at an altitude of 335 km and an inclination of 42.4°, conducting a series of scientific experiments before separating in three elements. The reentry capsule will return to Earth while the service module will burn in the atmopshere. The orbital section is expected to stay in orbit for up to six months. Unlike previous Shenzhou flights, in November 1999 and January 2001, Shenzhou 3 does not carry monkeys but an instrumented dummy "yuanghuang" (astronaut) to prepare for future manned missions. If the Shenzhou 3 mission is successfully completed, a first manned mission could occur in late 2003, after one or two more unmanned tests flights. Shenzhou 3 is reportedly carrying an unidentified piggyback microsatellite to be released in flight.
Editor's note: No picture was ever realeased of the Shenzhou 2 return capsule, suggesting that it might have been damaged, destroyed or lost at recovery.

Russia's Suborbital Corp. and U.S. Space Adventures Ltd. have unveiled their proposed Cosmopolis 21 (C-21) rocket-powered suborbital manned spaceplane designed to carry "space tourists" to the edge of space. The 3.5-ton C-21 spaceplane would be released by a Myasishchev M-55X "Geophysika" high altitude research plane at an altitude of 20 km. It would then ignite its solid propellant kick motor to reach a maximum altitude of 100 km, providing about 3 minutes of microgravity conditions, before reentering the atmosphere and landing on a conventional runway. The C-21, which will need US$10 million to develop, is due to begin regular flights by 2004-2005, with one pilot and two passengers. Total cost of the program would reach US$70 million with two M-55X carrier aircraft and a fleet of seven spaceplanes.
Editor's note: The C-21's propulsion is apparently provided by a refurbished ballistic missile upper stage.

The U.S. Department of Defense is studying plans to launch a National Aerospace Initiative to consolidate its R&D efforts regarding hypersonic propulsion and advanced space launch systems, according to Space News. The 25-year effort would include flight demonstration of concepts and technology about every other year. Some US$30-40 million could be allocated to begin the activities in FY2003.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation has successfully completed the second and last firing test of an improved solid rocket motor for the third stage of its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in Sriharikota Range, Uttar Pradesh. This motor, which features an optimized composite casing and nozzle and an increased propellant loading, delivered up to 85 kN of thrust (at sea level) for 112 seconds. It will be first used on the PSLV-C4 mission, in late 2002, to increase the vehicle payload capacity to geostationary transfer orbit by 70 kg.
Editor's note: PSLV-C4 will be the PSLV's first mission to GTO, carrying ISRO's 950-kg MetSat 1 meteorology satellite.

The certification process requires a qualification for 1,400 seconds of combustion. The development program suffered a major delay after a failed firing attempt on February 16, 2000, which was aborted after 15 seconds due to due to a leak of helium from a punctured tube which prevented liquid hydrogen supply to the engine.

A group of seven European and Russian engine manufacturers will jointly study and develop a large, reusable liquid oxygen/methane-fed engine, dubbed Volga, for future European advanced space transportation systems. A MoU was signed between France's Snecma Moteurs, Germany's Astrium GmbH, Sweden's Volvo Aero and Belgium's Techspace Aero, as well as NPO Energomash, KB KhimAvtomatiki and the Keldysh research center from Russia. The partners plan to invest €20 million in a preliminary 3-year definition phase, to identify operational requirements and develop relevant technologies. Two more years will be needede to develop an engine demonstrator. About €200 million will be needed to complete the development and qualification of the engine. The 4,000-kN Volga engine will be designed for up to 50 flights. Provided that sufficient funding is raised for its development, it could be available as soon as 2009.
Editor's note: The Volga is likely to be proposed for funding by the European Space Agency within its revised Future Launcher Preparatory Program which could be launched in June.

A large solid rocket motor developed by GenCorp Aerojet to serve as strap-on booster for Lockheed Martin's Atlas 5 series of launchers, failed during a qualification firing on March 15 in Sacramento, California. This 95-sec. hot firing test was the first of two qualification tests intended to clear the way for the operational use of the motor. Some 30 sec. into the test, a pressure drop was reported apparently due to a burnthrough in the motor's nozzle. However, the test is claimed to have successfully demonstrated cold temperature start-up (4°C) and a new inhibitor designed to provide softer liftoff dynamics. According to Aerojet, the mishap should not have any impact to the overall test schedule. A development firing test of the motor was successfully performed on August 30, 2001. First flight of an Atlas 5 version with strap-on boosters is due in 2003.
Editor's note: The Atlas 5 solid rocket motor does not feature any thrust vectoring capability and its nozzle is fixed, with a 7° cant. The current Atlas 5 backlog includes only one commercial spacecraft which will require strap-on boosters for launch: a 5-t Inmarsat 4 satellite in 2003/2004. All other commercial payloads assigned to the new vehicle will presumably fly atop Atlas 5/400 or 5/500 configurations. Lockheed Martin awarded a US$500-million contract to Aerojet to develop the motor in February 1999.

GenCorp Aerojet has conducted the second in a series of three horizontal hot-firing tests of a new solid rocket motor designed to serve as a strap-on booster for Lockheed Martin Astronautics new Atlas 5 series of launchers. The 18-m-tall motor, 155-cm in diameter, will be the largest monolithic solid rocket motor ever flown with a launch mass of 40,825 kg. Results of the 95-sec. test have not been released yet. The first firing est was conducted in August 2001.
Editor's note: The first Atlas 5 vehicle to fly with strap-on boosters will apparently be an Atlas 5/500 due to loft Télésat Canada's Nimiq 2 direct broadcasting satellite in December. The Atlas 5/400 will carry up to three boosters (5/431) while versions of the Atlas 5/500 have been designed with one to five boosters (5/511 to 5/551).
Watch the firing test on KCRA Channel's website (Real, WMP, QT).

The Planetary Society announces that the launch of its prototype solar sail, developed under the Cosmos 1 project, has slipped to September. This postponement was caused by many factors including delays in the production of solar arrays due to heavy snowstorms in Central Russia, longer development time to add redundancy, test mishaps and the need to replace the solar sails which had been packed for too long before the launch. A formal launch date will be set by late March.
Editor's note: The 40-kg demonstrator, built by NPO Lavochkin's Babakin Space Center, will be launched atop a converted RSM-50 Volna missile from a Russian submarine at sea.

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Tata Steel will deliver a 750-ton mobile launch platform for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) to the Indian Space Research Organisation, in Sriharikota Range, Tamil Nadu, later this month. The platform (19.2 x 19.2 x 8 m) features a special refractory lining for multiple use and cryogenic arms for on-pad fuelling of the upper stage. Under a Rs 140-million (US$3-million) contract, Tata Steel is due to build a second platform.