Satellite News

Rocket: Proton M/Briz M; Payload: Astra 1M; Date: 5 November 2008, 2044 UTC; Site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The rocket lifted off as planned.

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2D; Payload: Chuang Xin 1-02, Shiyan Weixing 3; Date: 5 November 2008, 0015 UTC; Site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. The launch had not been previously announced.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have announced the date for the next H-IIA launch.

Astra 5A (Sirius 2, GE 1E), which went out of control on 22 October 2008, is reportedly working nominally again.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has signed a contract with China Satellite Communications Corporation and China Meteorological Administration for the development and launch of Sinosat-5, Sinosat-6, three FengYun-2 satellites and five Chang Zheng 3A rockets.

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. has filed lawsuits against a group of private investors that in March 2008 agreed to buy the company but later said they they would not close the merger transaction at the price agreed upon.

Hughes Communications, Inc. announced financial results for the quarter ending 30 September 2008.

Astrium’s Skynet 5 satellite design and manufacturing team, led by Patrick Wood, FRAeS, the Skynet 5 Project Director, has received two specialist awards from The Royal Aeronautical Society, UK.