Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense

December 20, 2012

Europe launches major British military satellite
Paris (AFP) Dec 20, 2012
A European rocket has launched a major satellite designed to expand telecommunications for the British military from the Kourou space base in French Guiana, flight operators said. Skynet 5D - the fourth in Britain's new generation of Skynet military satellites - was taken aloft by a heavy Ariane 5 at 2149 GMT on Wednesday, Arianespace said in an Internet feed of the launch. The 4.8-tonne satellite was partnered by a second payload, Mexsat Bicentenario, a 2.9-tonne telecoms satellite for the Me ... read more

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Commentary: Geopolitical malignancy The only democracy Egypt has known in 5,000 years of recorded history lasted six years - from 1946, when the World War II British protectorate came to an end, until 1952 when Col. Gamal Abdel Nasser and his Free Officers movement dethroned and exiled King Farouk. ... more		US to deploy newest weapons to Asia-Pacific The United States plans to deploy some of its newest warships and other high-tech weapons to the Asia-Pacific as part of a strategic shift to the region, a US defense official said Wednesday. ... more		Outside View: Ticking time bombs To most observers, irrespective of "sequestration" that would remove an additional $500 billion from defense spending over the next decade, the most dangerous of ticking time bombs at the Pentagon is budgetary. ... more
				Rights focus urged for EU-Russia summit Human rights advocates are urging the European Union to demand at this week's summit in Brussels that Russia relent on its internal crackdown on dissents. ... more		Ruag picks up Rosebank Engineering Swiss technology group Ruag has bought Rosebank Engineering, which specializes in life-cycle maintenance, repairs and overhaul services for the Australian air force. ... more

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Japan's Abe voices security concerns Pacific maritime security will be high on the agenda of Shinzo Abe, Japan's next prime minister, when he meets U.S. President Barack Obama. ... more		Iraq president 'improving' in hospital: doctor President Jalal Talabani, a key figure in Iraqi politics for decades who has sought to bridge political and sectarian divides, was showing "improvement" in hospital on Wednesday, a doctor said. ... more		SPHEREx completes first full sky infrared map of the cosmos CoDICE instrument returns first-light particle data for IMAP mission Webb maps carbon rich atmosphere on distorted pulsar planet		UN, Europe, Russia warn Israel over settlements The United Nations and all UN Security Council powers except the United States on Wednesday condemned Israel's heightened settler construction in the Palestinian territories as a threat to flagging peace efforts. ... more
				Outside View: The Foggy Bottom puzzle Dated August 2012, Foreign Affairs, a publication of the Council on Foreign Relations, published a special edition comprising nine contributions on the Iranian nuclear bomb, tellingly titled "Solving the Persian Puzzle" and therefore paraphrasing Kenneth Pollack's work of art Iranian regime apology "The Iranian Puzzle." ... more		Integrated soldier kits for more troops A 10th infantry regiment of the French army will be using integrated individual soldier kits early next year. ... more

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Europe launches major British military satellite

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