Saturday, January 30, 2016
Thursday, January 28, 2016
NATO Land Forces Commander,Lt.Gen. John W. Nicholson,to Succeed Campbell in Afghanistan
NATO Land Forces Commander to Succeed Campbell in Afghanistan: President Barack Obama intends to nominate the U.S. Army commander of NATO land forces to succeed Army Gen. John F. Campbell as the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Pentagon Press
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
NATO's Exercise Allied Spirit IV:Winter Warfare Challenge
NATO's Exercise Allied Spirit IV is now underway in Bavaria,Germany at the Hohenfels Training Area.The snowy landscape provides a challenging setting for the more than 2400 troops from Canada,Italy,Germany,Latvia,Slovenia,the UK and the US who are participating in the high intensity drills.Combat scenarios being enacted include conventional forces engagement;guerilla warfare;and defending against a chemical weapons attack.They are intended to train brigade and battalion level commands for real world battlefields.*
Leading the major exercise is Italy's Garibaldi Brigade,being the brigade headquarters for Allied Spirit.The Michigan Army National Guard is lead advisor in the higher command echelon.Other US troops participating are the US Army's 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 173rd Airborne Brigade.Besides the Michigan National Guard,Army National Guard troops from Louisiana,Ohio,Washington,DC and California are honing their skills at Hohenfels as well.*
It is our hope to not only learn from our allies,but also demonstrate the US overall support of the NATO mission,said Michigan Army National Guard Colonel Clark C. Barret,Commander,NATO Rapid Deployment Corps-Hohenfels (NRDC-H).The NATO allies show they can work together to resolve potential threats,safeguarding the freedom and security of its members through political and military means,which is a fundamental principal of the most successful military alliance in history,COL Barret added.*
Hohenfels confronts the soldiers with extreme cold and snow,varied terrain and obstacles,testing their ability to respond to simulated threats and challenging all levels of command with decision making and overall operational planning,US Army Europe said.
Leading the major exercise is Italy's Garibaldi Brigade,being the brigade headquarters for Allied Spirit.The Michigan Army National Guard is lead advisor in the higher command echelon.Other US troops participating are the US Army's 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 173rd Airborne Brigade.Besides the Michigan National Guard,Army National Guard troops from Louisiana,Ohio,Washington,DC and California are honing their skills at Hohenfels as well.*
It is our hope to not only learn from our allies,but also demonstrate the US overall support of the NATO mission,said Michigan Army National Guard Colonel Clark C. Barret,Commander,NATO Rapid Deployment Corps-Hohenfels (NRDC-H).The NATO allies show they can work together to resolve potential threats,safeguarding the freedom and security of its members through political and military means,which is a fundamental principal of the most successful military alliance in history,COL Barret added.*
Hohenfels confronts the soldiers with extreme cold and snow,varied terrain and obstacles,testing their ability to respond to simulated threats and challenging all levels of command with decision making and overall operational planning,US Army Europe said.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
SecDef Carter,Australian PM Turnbull Hold Talks;Latest OIR Air Campaign Results
On 18 January,US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and the new Australian Prime Minister,Malcolm Turnbull,laid a wreath together at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery,Virginia.Later,the two leaders held defence cooperation talks at the Pentagon.Joining them were Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford and Australian Minister of Defence Marise Payne.They discussed recent developments in Iraq and Syria and the need to continue the close collaboration on the security issues in the Asia Pacific Region,the Pentagon said.Mr.Carter expressed appreciation for Australia's contributions to the anti-ISIL Operation Inherent Resolve coalition and their continued support in Afghanistan.He also said he looked forward to Australia's participation in the meeting of several OIR defence ministers in Paris on 20 January.
Besides Mr.Carter and Ms. Payne,those attending the Paris meeting will be defence ministers from Germany;France;the UK;the Netherlands; and Italy.Canada's defence minister,Harjit Sajjan,was not invited.Canada is pulling its CF-18 fighter jets out of OIR in accordance with a campaign promise made by the new Prime Minister,Justin Trudeau.A spokesman for Mr.Sajjan denied that was the reason Canada wasn't invited,saying they have often not been included in past meetings.*
On 19 January,the latest report on the OIR air campaign was issued.In Syria,attack and fighter aircraft conducted three airstrikes:
near Ayn Isa,2 sorties struck separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed a fighting position;
near Hasakah,a sortie destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
In Iraq,21 airstrikes were conducted,among them being:
near Mosul,5 sorties struck an ISIL tactical unit and headquarters and destroyed a heavy machine gun,4 fighting positions and a cash collection point;
near Ramadi,9 sorties struck an ISIL tactical unit,damaged a petroleum truck and lubrication tank,and destroyed 2 fighting positions,a sniper position,a tactical vehicle and a tunnel entrance.
Those participating in the Syria raids were Australia;Bahrain;Belgium;Canada;France;Jordan;Saudi Arabia;Turkey;the UAE;the UK;and the US.Those taking part in the Iraq raids included Australia;Belgium;Canada;Denmark;France;Jordan;the Netherlands;the UK;and the US.*
In Iraq,Australian and New Zealand troops continued training the Iraqi Army to better combat Daesh,the Arab term for ISIL,at the Taji Military Complex.
Besides Mr.Carter and Ms. Payne,those attending the Paris meeting will be defence ministers from Germany;France;the UK;the Netherlands; and Italy.Canada's defence minister,Harjit Sajjan,was not invited.Canada is pulling its CF-18 fighter jets out of OIR in accordance with a campaign promise made by the new Prime Minister,Justin Trudeau.A spokesman for Mr.Sajjan denied that was the reason Canada wasn't invited,saying they have often not been included in past meetings.*
On 19 January,the latest report on the OIR air campaign was issued.In Syria,attack and fighter aircraft conducted three airstrikes:
near Ayn Isa,2 sorties struck separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed a fighting position;
near Hasakah,a sortie destroyed an ISIL fighting position.
In Iraq,21 airstrikes were conducted,among them being:
near Mosul,5 sorties struck an ISIL tactical unit and headquarters and destroyed a heavy machine gun,4 fighting positions and a cash collection point;
near Ramadi,9 sorties struck an ISIL tactical unit,damaged a petroleum truck and lubrication tank,and destroyed 2 fighting positions,a sniper position,a tactical vehicle and a tunnel entrance.
Those participating in the Syria raids were Australia;Bahrain;Belgium;Canada;France;Jordan;Saudi Arabia;Turkey;the UAE;the UK;and the US.Those taking part in the Iraq raids included Australia;Belgium;Canada;Denmark;France;Jordan;the Netherlands;the UK;and the US.*
In Iraq,Australian and New Zealand troops continued training the Iraqi Army to better combat Daesh,the Arab term for ISIL,at the Taji Military Complex.
Friday, January 15, 2016
NASA Awards International Space Station Cargo Transport Contracts
NASA Awards International Space Station Cargo Transport Contracts: NASA has awarded three cargo contracts to ensure the critical science, research and technology demonstrations that are informing the agency’s journey to Mars are delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) from 2019 through 2024. The agency unveiled its selection of Orbital ATK of Dulles, Virginia; Sierra Nevada Corporation of Sparks, Nevada
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
NATO Exercise Platinum Lion:Building a Single Force at Novo Selo
US Marines from the Black Sea Rotational Force are exercising in Bulgaria with Bulgarian and Romanian troops in Exercise Platinum Lion 16-2.Some 350 soldiers from the three NATO allies are drilling together from 7-15 January with the aim of increasing readiness and demonstrating their collective ability to operate as a single force committed to protecting the sovereignty of NATO allies and other European partners.*
Although the BSRF Marines are rotated into and out of Eastern Europe,their M1A1 Abrams tanks are now permanently based at the Platinum Lion site,the Novo Selo Training Area.On 8 January,the Marines in these M1A1s conducted manoeuvers with the Bulgarians in their T-72 tanks,in a scenario of repulsing an armoured attack.
Also on 8 January,Marines with the Combined Arms Company,BSRF and Romanian forces conducted patrols.The Marines in addition rehearsed an Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System breech.The APOBS is used to clear a footpath through a wire or minefield obstacle for personnel.
On 7 January,the BSRF Marines,Bulgarian and Romanian troops had spent the afternoon familiarising themselves with each of the three country's weapons and vehicles.*
The BSRF is headquartered at Mihail Kogalniceanu Military Base,Romania.It is an element of US Marine Forces Europe and Africa.
Although the BSRF Marines are rotated into and out of Eastern Europe,their M1A1 Abrams tanks are now permanently based at the Platinum Lion site,the Novo Selo Training Area.On 8 January,the Marines in these M1A1s conducted manoeuvers with the Bulgarians in their T-72 tanks,in a scenario of repulsing an armoured attack.
Also on 8 January,Marines with the Combined Arms Company,BSRF and Romanian forces conducted patrols.The Marines in addition rehearsed an Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System breech.The APOBS is used to clear a footpath through a wire or minefield obstacle for personnel.
On 7 January,the BSRF Marines,Bulgarian and Romanian troops had spent the afternoon familiarising themselves with each of the three country's weapons and vehicles.*
The BSRF is headquartered at Mihail Kogalniceanu Military Base,Romania.It is an element of US Marine Forces Europe and Africa.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
NASA Identifies Target Asteroid for Redirect Mission - intensive planning for forays into deep space
In a draft report dated 23 November 2015,NASA's Formulation Assessment and Support Team for the Asteroid Redirect Mission,a group of government and academic solar system exploration experts that provide timely inputs for mission requirement formulation,revealed that NASA has identified a reference target asteroid for the mission.It is known as Near Earth Asteroid 2008 EV5 (the 5 is formally rendered as a subscript numeral).Final target selection will be made approximately a year before launch.2008 EV5 provides a valid target that can be used to help with formulation and development efforts,so was the main NEA around which the FAST group focused its attention.2008 EV5 is about 400 meters in diameter and has a reflectance spectrum consistent with carbonaceous chondrite meteorites (meteorites are small pieces of asteroids or comets that enter the atmosphere and reach Earth's surface).
It is possible to identify 6 distinct candidate 10-m scale boulders for collection on 2008 EV5's surface by visual inspection of radar images.There are likely millions of 10-cm scale cobbles on 2008 EV5,and 3,000 1-5m boulders would be expected on the surface of 2008 EV5.One of the candidate boulders is located near the South Pole of the asteroid;the location of the others is uncertain at this time.
Radar observations show that 2008 EV5 has a top-like shape with an equatorial bulge.
Initial dynamic modeling indicates that 2008 EV5 began its existence as part of a much larger body in the Asteroid Belt (likely diameter greater than 100 km) and migrated inward across the inner main belt over many millions of years until it reached a planetary gravitational resonance that drove it into the NEA population.Besides robotic boulder collection,2008 EV5 will be used for an enhanced gravity tractor asteroid deflection demonstration (Earth defence).*
The ARM has two segments:the Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission and the Asteroid Redirect Crew Mission.The ARRM mission is planned for an end of 2020 launch.The Solar Electric Propulsion-powered robotic spacecraft will intercept the asteroid,land on it and retrieve a boulder with its robotic arm,then fly the boulder to a Selenocentric Distant Retrogade Orbit at a height of 45,000 km above the Moon.In late 2025,the Orion spacecraft will be launched on the Space Launch System rocket to carry out the Asteroid Redirect Crew Mission and will rendezvous and dock with the robotic spacecraft.The 180-day crewed mission will entail spacewalking astronauts exploring the redirected boulder, collecting and packing samples of the boulder for return to earth.That high above the Moon,they will be farther out in space than any previous astronauts and,far from the Earth's protective Van Allen Belts,exposed to higher levels of solar and cosmic radiation,but have new spacesuits and spacecraft shielding to deal with that.Psychologically,they may be affected by how distant Earth will be-small enough to cover it with your thumb.*
Before all this,an uncrewed Orion mission,Exploration Mission-1,will be launched to the Moon on the SLS in 2018;and then the first Orion crewed mission,EM-2,to a lunar orbit.NASA's Orion program is an incremental deep space exploration process beginning in cislunar space and building to journeys to the Martian system,including the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos as well as Mars itself.The agency is welcoming international participation along the lines of the International Space Station,which is currently researching and testing solutions to the challenges posed by deep space exploration.
It is possible to identify 6 distinct candidate 10-m scale boulders for collection on 2008 EV5's surface by visual inspection of radar images.There are likely millions of 10-cm scale cobbles on 2008 EV5,and 3,000 1-5m boulders would be expected on the surface of 2008 EV5.One of the candidate boulders is located near the South Pole of the asteroid;the location of the others is uncertain at this time.
Radar observations show that 2008 EV5 has a top-like shape with an equatorial bulge.
Initial dynamic modeling indicates that 2008 EV5 began its existence as part of a much larger body in the Asteroid Belt (likely diameter greater than 100 km) and migrated inward across the inner main belt over many millions of years until it reached a planetary gravitational resonance that drove it into the NEA population.Besides robotic boulder collection,2008 EV5 will be used for an enhanced gravity tractor asteroid deflection demonstration (Earth defence).*
The ARM has two segments:the Asteroid Redirect Robotic Mission and the Asteroid Redirect Crew Mission.The ARRM mission is planned for an end of 2020 launch.The Solar Electric Propulsion-powered robotic spacecraft will intercept the asteroid,land on it and retrieve a boulder with its robotic arm,then fly the boulder to a Selenocentric Distant Retrogade Orbit at a height of 45,000 km above the Moon.In late 2025,the Orion spacecraft will be launched on the Space Launch System rocket to carry out the Asteroid Redirect Crew Mission and will rendezvous and dock with the robotic spacecraft.The 180-day crewed mission will entail spacewalking astronauts exploring the redirected boulder, collecting and packing samples of the boulder for return to earth.That high above the Moon,they will be farther out in space than any previous astronauts and,far from the Earth's protective Van Allen Belts,exposed to higher levels of solar and cosmic radiation,but have new spacesuits and spacecraft shielding to deal with that.Psychologically,they may be affected by how distant Earth will be-small enough to cover it with your thumb.*
Before all this,an uncrewed Orion mission,Exploration Mission-1,will be launched to the Moon on the SLS in 2018;and then the first Orion crewed mission,EM-2,to a lunar orbit.NASA's Orion program is an incremental deep space exploration process beginning in cislunar space and building to journeys to the Martian system,including the Martian moons Phobos and Deimos as well as Mars itself.The agency is welcoming international participation along the lines of the International Space Station,which is currently researching and testing solutions to the challenges posed by deep space exploration.
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