Satellite News

NASA’S Marshall Space Flight Center Director David King recently presented four contractor companies with the 2006 NASA Marshall Contractor Excellence Award.

Two companies are implementing an ESA-supported project to introduce a solution for alarm monitoring and video surveillance via satellite to meet the increasing demand for security systems from the government and corporate market.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to give domestic and foreign clients free and unlimited access to civilian navigation services of the GLONASS navigation satellite system.

A small satellite that was developed by small and medium size manufacturers in Higashi-Osaka (East Osaka), Osaka Prefecture, will be launched in summer 2008, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

Telesat Canada has reached an agreement with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) to operate MDA’s Radarsat-2 for the lifetime of the satellite. The long-delayed spacecraft is currently expected to be launched aboard a Proton in August 2007.

Bigelow Aerospace said it has been informed by its launch provider ISC Kosmotras that additional testing of the Dnepr rocket and its ground equipment is being required by Russian authorities, resulting in a four-week delay.