Res Communis

Possible Nuclear Power for Chandrayaan II

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

From SatNews Daily:

The Big Nuke Question For Chandrayaan II

India plans to power some parts of the Chandrayaan II, the nation’s next unmanned mission to the moon, with nuclear energy and the feasibility studies are being carried out by Indian Space Research Organisation and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. . . .

. . . [Madhavan Nair] said, “the safety aspects are being worked and safety is crucial when it is launched from ground level to the orbit. To work out the safety, we have to work on new technologies and the feasibility studies will help in developing those,” Nair said. On the use of nuclear power in the deep space probe, he said “we need nuclear power in those missions which are outside out solar systems but the challenges are very many.” Asked whether laws relating to use of space will allow use of nuclear power, he said, “we have to take utmost care in launching from to ground to the orbit and this aspect we will work out in future.” [Full Story]

Federal Register: ITAR Notices to Congress

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) published Notifications to the Congress of Proposed Commercial Export Licenses, as required by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (74 Fed. Reg. 41177-41180):

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of State has forwarded the attached Notifications of Proposed Export Licenses to the Congress on the dates indicated on the attachments pursuant to sections 36(c) and 36(d) and in compliance with section 36(f) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776).

Notifications for two communications satellites are included:

May 21, 2009.

Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Dear Madam Speaker: Pursuant to Section 36(c) of the Arms Export Control Act, I am transmitting, herewith, certification of a proposed license for the export of defense articles and defense services in the amount of $50,000,000 or more.

The transaction contained in the attached certification involves the permanent export of a commercial communications satellite to the United Kingdom. This notification is for the export of the satellite and associated launch support equipment only.

The United States Government is prepared to license the export of these items having taken into account political, military, economic, human rights and arms control considerations.

More detailed information is contained in the formal certification which, though unclassified, contains business information submitted to the Department of State by the applicant, publication of which could cause competitive harm to the United States firm concerned.

Sincerely,
Richard R. Verma,
Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs.

Enclosure: Transmittal No. DDTC 022-09.

May 21, 2009.

Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Dear Madam Speaker: Pursuant to Section 36(c) of the Arms Export Control Act, I am transmitting, herewith, certification of a proposed technical assistance agreement to include the export of technical data, defense services, and defense articles in the amount of $50,000,000 or more.

The transaction contained in the attached certification involves the export of technical data, defense services, and hardware to support the Proton launch of the SIRIUS-5 Commercial Communication Satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

The United States Government is prepared to license the export of these items having taken into account political, military, economic, human rights and arms control considerations.

More detailed information is contained in the formal certification which, though unclassified, contains business information submitted to the Department of State by the applicant, publication of which could cause competitive harm to the United States firm concerned.

Sincerely,
Richard R. Verma,
Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs.

Enclosure: Transmittal No. DDTC 023-09.

Federal Register: Notice of Modifications for the GOES Data Collection Platform Radio Set (DCPRS) Certification Standards at 300 bps and 1200 bps

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency published a Notice of Modifications for the GOES Data Collection Platform Radio Set (DCPRS) Certification Standards at 300 bps and 1200 bps in today’s Federal Register (74 Fed. Reg. 41127-41128):

SUMMARY: NOAA is making a change to the certification standards for the transmitters that participate in the GOES Data Collection System (DCS). The primary purpose of this change is to enhance the flexibility of the system, to provide better messaging capabilities, additional system capacity, improve timing and frequency stability, and conform to the regulations for out-of-band emissions specified by the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA). The GOES DCS will operate under new certification procedures that will allow new data collection platforms to use a frequency channel with half the current bandwidth (.75 Hz), though existing platforms will continue to use frequency channels with 1.5 Hz bandwidth until suitable replacements are ascertained. The owners of the existing platforms are invited to upgrade their units as soon as possible. New data collection platforms will be assigned a narrow band channel in the restructured GOES DCS. These new certification standards may be reviewed on the NOAA Web site: http://noaasis.noaa.gov/DCS/docs/DCPR_CS2final.doc.

DATES: Start of service [October 1, 2009].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments may be provided to the NOAA GOES DCS Program Manager, at Kay.Metcalf@noaa.gov or you can contact her at 301-817-4558.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since the advent of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and the on-board transponder, environmental data from remote platforms has been collected and relayed in real time to federal and international environmental managers and scientists. Known as the GOES Data Collection System (DCS), this satellite transmission technology consists of over 20,000 Data Collection Platforms (DCPs), dedicated satellite receive and transmit capability, and ground/satellite processing and distribution equipment. Data collected from DCPs measures or monitors such varied parameters as rainfall, river stage levels, soil conditions, seismic or tsunami conditions, aircraft flight environment and fire conditions. These data are also used to verify and serve as “ground truth” for other types of remotely sensed data such as NEXRAD and satellite-derived precipitation estimates. DCS data provides fast, reliable information for flood, fire, tsunami and other disaster forecasts and warnings amounting to incalculable savings in lives and property damage.

This system provides critical support to the U.S. Corp of Engineers, U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Weather Service and other federal and state agencies to monitor and forecast the flood stages in the upper Mississippi

[[Page 41128]]

Valley. Starting in 1975, the GOES DCS opened a vast new capability to acquire the needed data in real or near-real time. Many Federal Agencies started their own systems for collecting and telemetering their data for their own use. In the recent two decades and a half, these Federal Agencies have come together to improve the tools and the system for better collection, and to modernize the storage and dissemination of the in-situ observations to all the users who desired them. This GOES Data Collection System (DCS) has become the conduit through which remotely sensed observations, the life-blood of the Agencies’ operations, must pass. The GOES DCS is now a critical Infrastructure for most of these Agencies, contributing to billions of dollars in damages being averted through flood control measures.

As the demand for remotely sensed in-situ data has increased, certain segments of the system have been threatened with saturation. The Federal Agencies as users, and the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) as the system operator, consistently strive to improve the capabilities of the GOES DCS.

Mary E. Kicza, Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services.
[FR Doc. E9-19500 Filed 8-13-09; 8:45 am]

China’s Statement at the Conference on Disarmament

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

Chinese Foreign minister H.E. Mr. Yang Jiechi made a statement at the Conference on Disarmament earlier today, August 12, 2009. This included comments on PAROS:

Outer space is the common asset of the entire mankind and to maintain security in outer space and ensure its peaceful use serves the common interests of all countries. Outer space is now facing the looming danger of weaponization. Credible and effective multilateral measures must be taken to forestall the weaponization and arms race in outer space. This is of high strategic significance and is also the common mission and responsibility of the international community. The Conference should play a key role in this regard.

In February last year” China and Russia jointly presented to the Conference the draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects. We hope that the Conference on Disarmament will soon start substantive discussions on the draft so as to contribute to improving the legal system concerning outer space and maintaining its security.

UN Monthly Statement of Treaties and International Agreements

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The United Nations Treaty Division has posted the April and May editions of the Monthly Statement of Treaties and International Agreements. The space related treaties noted are:

April -

No. 45946. Mexico and Russian Federation
Agreement between the Goverment of the United Mexican States and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation in the field of exploration and utilization of outer space for peaceful purposes. Mexico City, 20 May 1996
Entry into force: 29 November 1996 by notification, in accordance with article 9
Authentic texts: Russian and Spanish
Registration with the Secretariat of the United Nations: Mexico, 6 April 2009

May :

No. 46117. France and European Space Agency
Agreement between the Government of the French Republic and the European Space Agency on the Soyouz launch complex (SLC) at the Guyanese Space Center (GSC) and linked to the implementation of the optional programme of the European Space Agency entitled “Soyouz at CSG” and to the exploitation of Soyouz from CSG (with annexes). Paris, 21 March 2005
Entry into force: 26 December 2007 by notification, in accordance with article 15
Authentic text: French
Registration with the Secretariat of the United Nations: France, 21 May 2009

NGA Moves Foward with Commercial Imagery Order

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

From Reuters:

U.S. moving forward on new commercial imagery order
Mon Aug 10, 2009 6:51pm EDT

WASHINGTON, Aug 10 (Reuters) – The U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency on Monday said it has begun a procurement process that industry executives say could lead to new satellite imagery orders in the first half of 2010.

Sue Meisner, spokeswoman for the U.S. Defense Department agency, said NGA had issued a statement of requirements to get industry input and guide its own strategic planning process.

She said the communication was classified and gave no details. Industry executives said they expect the government to follow up with a request for proposals later this year once Congress finalizes funding for the program as part of the fiscal 2010 budget. . . [Full Story]