Satellite News

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. announced that Optus is expanding its network with two additional SkyEdge satellite hub stations and thousands of VSATs.

Stratos Global Corporation announced that CIP Canada Investment, Inc. has acquired beneficial ownership of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Stratos through a Plan of Arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act for a cash purchase price of C$7.00 per share.

Boeing said it has successfully completed a series of Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) system tests as part of the development of a new operational sensor for the U.S. Space Surveillance Network.

XCOR Aerospace, Inc. announced that it has successfully completed its first series of tests on a new 250-N (56 lbf) thrust rocket engine.

Alliant Techsystems said it recently demonstrated a critical capability of its liquid oxygen (LOX)/Methane rocket engine by igniting it in a vacuum chamber. The successful ignition test was designed to demonstrate the viability of a LOX/Methane rocket engine for a lunar ascent mission.

NASA has selected Boeing as the prime contractor to produce, deliver and install avionics systems for the Ares I rocket that will launch the Orion crew exploration vehicle into orbit.

Technicians and engineers in NASA’s space shuttle programme plan to test the engine cut-off (ECO) sensor system onboard space shuttle Atlantis by pumping super-cold liquid hydrogen into the external fuel tank.