Russia, Sweden to boost space cooperation

Putin has invited Sweden to increase its cooperation with Russia on its Glonass satellite navigation system

by Staff Writers Stockholm, Russia (RIA Novosti) Apr 29, 2011

Russia and Sweden agreed on Wednesday to improve cooperation in the space industry, including their intention to launch Swedish satellites using Russian carrier rockets. The two countries signed a relevant declaration during Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's visit to Stockholm.
The sides also agreed to jointly use ground facilities to gather information for operating their own orbital objects and those of third countries.
Sweden and Russia will also cooperate within a Russian space research project to monitor the Earth's polar regions. The project envisions using a new satellite cluster, called Arktika, to provide environmental monitoring data for accurate weather forecasts and to aid national socio-economic development.
The system is scheduled to begin operating in 2015. The cost of the project is estimated at 30 billion rubles ($1.23 billion).

NASA Orbiter Reveals Big Changes in Mars' Atmosphere

A newly found, buried deposit of frozen carbon dioxide - dry ice - near the south pole of Mars contains about 30 times more carbon dioxide than previously estimated to be frozen near the pole.

by Staff Writers Pasadena CA (JPL) Apr 25, 2011

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has discovered the total amount of atmosphere on Mars changes dramatically as the tilt of the planet's axis varies. This process can affect the stability of liquid water, if it exists on the Martian surface, and increase the frequency and severity of Martian dust storms. Researchers using the orbiter's ground-penetrating radar identified a large, buried deposit of frozen carbon dioxide, or dry ice, at the Red Planet's south pole. The scientists suspect that much of this carbon dioxide enters the planet's atmosphere and swells the atmosphere's mass when Mars' tilt increases. The findings are published in this week's issue of the journal Science.
The newly found deposit has a volume similar to Lake Superior's nearly 3,000 cubic miles (about 12,000 cubic kilometers). The deposit holds up to 80 percent as much carbon dioxide as today's Martian atmosphere. Collapse pits caused by dry ice sublimation and other clues suggest the deposit is in a dissipating phase, adding gas to the atmosphere each year. Mars' atmosphere is about 95 percent carbon dioxide, in contrast to Earth's much thicker atmosphere, which is less than .04 percent carbon dioxide.

US Space Wing sharpens focus on contested environment

A graphic depicting satellites and their orbits demonstrates how the space around Earth is contested and congested.

by Staff Writers Schriever AFB CO (SPX) Apr 25, 2011

During the summer of 1861, a pair of competing visionaries ushered in the concept of aerial reconnaissance when they successfully piloted gas-filled balloons hundreds of feet into the air. In separate events, John LaMountain and Thadeus Lowe viewed Confederate troop encampments and reported their findings to Union Army officers. As soon as Confederate soldiers learned their adversaries had developed eyes in the sky, they quickly developed strategies to shoot them down - ushering in the concept of contested air space.
While time and technology have served to transform the domains of contention, 150 years later the notions of contested space and cyberspace have become such strategically important concepts that the 50th Space Wing Commander, Col. Wayne Monteith, included them in the wing's revised vision statement. The terms have also been accentuated in the Air Force motto.
"It's about recognition," said Col. Michael Finn, commander, 50th Network Operations Group. "We enable information for the warfighter and national security decision makers. So we have to recognize a shift in thinking about the information domain, from one that is support centric, to one that is about preserving our freedom of action in the domain, while denying our adversary the same when called upon to do so."