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Updated version HIGHLIGHTS IN SPACE TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS 2011 A REPORT COMPILED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASTRONAUTICAL FEDERATION (IAF) IN COOPERATION WITH THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PEACEFUL USES OF OUTER SPACE, UNITED NATIONS. 28 March 2012 Highlights in Space 2011 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 5 I. OVERVIEW 5 II. SPACE TRANSPORTATION 10 A. CURRENT LAUNCH ACTIVITIES 10 B. DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES 14 C. LAUNCH FAILURES AND INVESTIGATIONS 26 III. ROBOTIC EARTH ORBITAL ACTIVITIES 29 A. REMOTE SENSING 29 B. GLOBAL NAVIGATION SYSTEMS 33 C. NANOSATELLITES 35 D. SPACE DEBRIS 36 IV. HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT 38 A. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION DEPLOYMENT AND OPERATIONS 38 2011 INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION OPERATIONS IN DETAIL 38 B. OTHER FLIGHT OPERATIONS 46 C. MEDICAL ISSUES 47 D. SPACE TOURISM 48 V. SPACE STUDIES AND EXPLORATION 50 A. ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS 50 B. PLASMA AND ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS 56 C. SPACE EXPLORATION 57 D. SPACE OPERATIONS 60 VI. TECHNOLOGY - IMPLEMENTATION AND ADVANCES 65 A. PROPULSION 65 B. POWER 66 C. DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT 67 D. MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES 69 E. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DATASETS 69 F. AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS 72 G. SPACE RESEARCH FACILITIES AND GROUND STATIONS 72 H. SPACE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS & MEDICAL ADVANCES 74 VII. SPACE AND SOCIETY 75 A. EDUCATION 75 B. PUBLIC AWARENESS 79 C. CULTURAL ASPECTS 82 Page 3 Highlights in Space 2011 VIII. GLOBAL SPACE DEVELOPMENTS 83 A. GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES 83 B. COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES 84 IX. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 92 A. GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS AND ORGANISATIONS 92 B. EUROPE 94 C. AFRICA 101 D. ASIA 105 E. THE AMERICAS 110 F. THE MIDDLE EAST 115 G. INDIAN OCEAN AND THE PACIFIC 117 X. INDUSTRY 119 A. APPOINTMENTS 119 B. AWARDS 122 GLOSSARY 123 CONTRIBUTORS 129 Page 4 Highlights in Space 2011 INTRODUCTION This publication has been compiled from reports prepared for the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and covers the period from 1 January to 31 December 2011. The report was prepared by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) including input from the technical committees of the IAF. Information within this publication has been partly prepared with information from outside sources. Where this is the case, a citation is provided which can be accessed by clicking on the link marked >> . This publication is available in English only. This 2011 review of latest developments in space science, technology, space applications, international collaboration and space law has the aim to inform a broad worldwide audience of recent advancements in the manifold field of outer space. We hope that “Highlights in Space 2011” can significantly contribute to all the efforts undertaken by the United Nations family, in particular the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, in attempting to disseminate information on space activities and on the benefits involved to all nations of the world. Page 5 Highlights in Space 2011 I. OVERVIEW The year 2011, which marked 50 years of human spaceflight, was a year of major changes and achievements in space. The year saw the retirement of NASA's Space Shuttle after its final flight in July 2011, and the launch of China's first space station module, Tiangong-1, in September. The Zenit- 3F and Long March 2F/G carrier rockets made their maiden flights, while the Delta II Heavy made its last. A total of 84 orbital launches were attempted in 2011, with 78 being reported as successful; 80 launches reached orbit. 35 launches were conducted using Russian and former Soviet rockets, whilst China conducted 19 launches, and the United States 18. Europe conducted five launches, India and Japan launched three rockets each, and Iran conducted one launch. Seven manned spaceflights – four Soyuz and three Space Shuttle missions – were launched in 2011, carrying a total of 28 astronauts and cosmonauts into orbit. Six orbital launches failed in 2011, four of which failed to achieve orbit and the remaining two reached lower orbits than expected. The final flight of the space shuttle took place, marking a turning point in space transportation, with the bold announcement of a new Heavy Launch Vehicle by NASA. The Shuttle played a crucial role in the construction of the International Space Station. After 13 years of construction work, the International Space Station reached a measure of completeness in 2011. In March, the space shuttle Discovery delivered NASA's final contribution to the assembly of the orbiting lab, a new room called the Permanent Multipurpose Module. While Russia may attach one more module in the coming years, construction is now seen as over- the orbital outpost has become the most expensive structure ever built. We can look forward to a decade or more of discoveries and innovations from the ISS laboratories operating in the unique environment of microgravity. Looking at NASA, from ending its 30-year-old space shuttle programme, to launching another epic mission to Mars, 2011 was a historic year. The space shuttle programme ended when Atlantis touched down shortly before dawn on July 21. Atlantis's flight was the 135th space mission for the shuttle programme which began to take shape in 1972 and first launched to orbit in 1981 – two other shuttles flew in the year: STS-133 Discovery and STS-134 Endeavour. The shuttle helped to make spaceflight more routine. NASA is now dependent on Russian Soyuz vehicles to take its astronauts to and from low-Earth orbit. A new, private space race is taking off and the agency hopes private companies can take over this orbital taxi service by about 2017. In March, NASA’s Glory spacecraft was launched, but failed to reach orbit after a mechanism failed to properly separate the fairing. The rest of the year was reasonably successful for the agency. It launched three different planetary missions, rendezvoused with the asteroid Vesta and executed a comet flyby. Page 6 Highlights in Space 2011 The MESSENGER spacecraft began to orbit Mercury after spending three years navigating there. Also taking photos, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has provided images of the Moon’s far side in much detail. In June, NASA and Argentina’s space agency CONAE launched Aquarius, a satellite that measures salt concentrations in our oceans from space, information needed to fill gaps for climate models. NASA reported that its Dawn spacecraft had started to orbit around its targeted asteroid Vesta on July 15. This mission will help find out the processes that played a role in the formation of the early Solar System and has returned spectacular images from the massive asteroid. The Juno mission took off in August. Its voyage to Jupiter will take five years. NASA launched the twin GRAIL spacecraft on 10 September, both arriving in lunar orbit over the New Year. 26 November saw the launch of the Mars Science Laboratory – a major mission for NASA. MSL is carrying NASA’s rover Curiosity to Mars to help aid scientists in research for future human missions. The rover will monitor radiation on the surface of Mars after it arrives in August 2012. Upon arrival in August 2012, Curiosity will hunt for signs of life in Gale crater. The rover carries 10 instruments to help it answer this question, including equipment designed to identify organic compounds. NASA's budget was trimmed further in 2011. The agency may get just $17.4 billion in fiscal year 2012, down from $18.5 billion in 2011. After months of uncertainty, Congress later restored funding for the threatened James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The telescope is slated to launch in October 2018. The ESA/NASA Hubble Space Telescope logged its one millionth science observation during a search for water in an exoplanet's atmosphere. Closer to home, Hubble also discovered a new moon of Pluto. The European Space Agency’s GOCE satellite reached its ambitious goal of mapping Earth’s gravity with unprecedented precision. In two short years, the sophisticated satellite has collected the measurements needed to record the ’geoid’ reference shape of our planet. Otherwise, and aside from ISS activities including an ATV freighter launch and European astronauts on board the ISS, the European Space Agency had a notable year. The 21 October 2011 liftoff of Soyuz flight VS01, marked the first Soyuz launch from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, carrying the first two Galileo In-Orbit Validation satellites - Europe's emerging global navigation system. ESA missions Herschel, Cryosat, Proba-2 and Mars Express made important discoveries and observations. The Cluster mission suffered a near total loss but European software experts revived the craft. The ERS satellite mission was declared complete after 20 years. With continuing developments through 2011, the first ESA Vega launch campaign aimed at an early 2012 liftoff. China conducted 19 launches in the year, a record for the nation and placing it second behind Russia in terms of liftoffs. Page 7 Highlights in Space 2011 China published a white paper late in the year detailing its future plans and outlining its 2011 successes. Talking about its Beidou satellite navigation system, the white paper said that it has become one of the world's four core system suppliers , and will gradually provide regional and global navigation and positioning service as well as strengthened compatibility and interoperability with other satellite navigation systems. Indeed many launches were aimed at building this navigation system. In September, China launched its first space station module, Tiangong-1, which was placed into orbit by a Long March 2F/G carrier rocket flying from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. Although no manned missions to the space station were conducted in 2011, the unmanned Shenzhou 8, launched as November dawned, docked twice with the module to test its systems ahead of planned 2012 manned dockings.