The first tourist in space, a woman from Britain
The first tourist in space was not Dennis Tito, but this woman from Britain.
Tag: Russia
First Soyuz launch from French Guiana set for October
The first Soyuz launch from the European spaceport in French Guiana is now scheduled for October.
NASA management moves to combine SpaceX’s next two test flights of Dragon
NASA management appears ready to approve combining SpaceX’s next two test flights of the Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket into one test flight. This despite Russian opposition.
The Soyuz launchsite in French Guiana has been declared ready for its first flight
The Soyuz launchsite in French Guiana has been declared ready for its first flight.
Mock Soyuz countdown under way at Kourou, French Guiana
A mock Soyuz countdown is under way at Kourou, French Guiana.
Putin sacks the head of the Russian space agency
Putin sacks the head of the Russian space agency.
Russians say “Nyet” to Dragon docking on its next flight
The competition plays hardball: The Russians say “Nyet” to letting SpaceX’s Dragon capsule dock with ISS on its next flight.
Soviet space capsule sold for $2.9M at NYC auction
A Soviet-era Vostok space capsule, flown prior to Gagarin as a test, has sold for $2.9M at a New York auction.
Fifty years ago today
An evening pause: Fifty years ago today.
Stagnation fears haunt Russian space program
Stagnation haunts Russian space program.
Russian Spaceship ‘Gagarin’ Arrives at Space Station
Russian spaceship “Gagarin” arrives at ISS.
Russia Speeds Up Moon, Mars Plans as U.S. May Cut Spending
Russia is accelerating its space program.
“It is the first time that the government has allocated decent financing to us,” Anatoly Perminov, head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, said in a phone interview on April 2. The agency’s $3.5 billion budget for 2011 has almost tripled since 2007, reaching the highest since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. “We can now advance on all themes a bit,” Perminov said.
Unlike 50 years ago, when beating the U.S. into space marked a geopolitical victory in the Cold War, Russia is focusing on the commercial, technological and scientific aspects of space travel. President Dmitry Medvedev has named aerospace one of five industries the government plans to nurture to help diversify the economy of the world’s largest energy supplier away from resource extraction.
Astronauts head to ISS on spaceship Gagarin
Three astronauts were launched to ISS today in a Soyuz capsule the Russians have named Gagarin, in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of his flight on April 12.
Russia’s western spaceport to be ready for first launch by 2015
Russia’s launch capability continues to expand: Not only will they be able to launch rockets from French Guiana this year, it looks like Russia’s western spaceport will be ready for its first launch by 2015.
NASA Endeavour Shuttle Launch Delayed
The Daily Beast reports today that the last flight of the shuttle Endeavour has been delayed due to a schedule conflict with a Russian Progress freighter.
Note that this has not yet been confirmed by NASA.
Update from spaceref: NASA has rescheduled Endeavour’s launch for April 29.
Comparing the Earth, as seen by Russian and American satellites
Comparing the view of Earth, interpreted differently by Russian and American satellites.
114 Pictures Of The Past Meeting The Present
Russia and Israel agree on cooperation in outer space
Not bigots: Russia and Israel have agreed on a framework for cooperating in outer space.
A new Russian rocket
Russians set date for next Soyuz launch to ISS
The Russians have set the new date, April 5, for next manned Soyuz launch to ISS.