Leaders of space agencies in the five nations participating in the International Space Station (ISS) program found it is proceeding well, according to a statement they released after a meeting in Paris last week.

Leaders of space agencies from Canada, Europe, Japan, Russia and the United States met at the European Space Agency headquarters in Paris to review ISS cooperation.

The leaders stated that significant progress was achieved in the past year, seeing the ISS program advancing well since the leaders last met, in March.

They cited reestablishment of three-person ISS crews, and the resumption of construction of the space station.

That occurred thanks to U.S. space shuttles resuming flights, safely, including three flights last year employing new safety procedures to prevent or avoid a catastrophe such as occurred with Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.

BMD Contract For Sparta

The Missile Defense Agency awarded Sparta, Inc., of Lake Forest, Calif., a $154.7 million cost-plus-fixed-fee (level of effort) contract for scientific, engineering and technical assistance support as part of the national team in ballistic missile defense and related technology.

Work will be completed by January 2012.

This is a sole source contract.

Space Systems/Loral Satellite For Echostar

Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications [LORL] will build a satellite for Echostar.

SS/L will provide a new direct broadcast satellite for EchoStar Orbital Corp. II, a subsidiary of EchoStar Communications Corp. [DISH].

EchoStar XIV will provide expanded services and flexibility for DISH Network’s more than 13 million direct-to-home television subscribers.

There currently are three SS/L-built satellites on orbit in the EchoStar fleet.

EchoStar XIV is based on SS/L’s 1300 platform. Its solar arrays and lightweight batteries are designed to provide uninterrupted electrical power.

Loral Gains $51 Million In Suit

Loral Space & Communications Inc. [LORL] won a jury verdict in its contract action against Rainbow DBS Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corp.

The unanimous verdict in the Supreme Court for the State of New York will result in a judgment of approximately $51 million to Loral, the company announced.