Satellite News

Rocket: Ariane 5 ES; Payload: ATV-2 “Johannes Kepler”; Date: 16 February 2011, 2151 UTC; Launch Site: Kourou, French Guiana. After the successful flight and separation from the rocket, the European Automated Transfer Vehicle deployed its solar panels.

The United Arab Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) has signed a contract with Kosmotras (ISCK) for the launch of the United Arab Emirates’ second remote sensing satellite, DubaiSat-2.

The Intelsat New Dawn satellite is scheduled to be launched on 29 March 2011 from Arianespace’s launch site in Kourou, French Guiana. Intelsat New Dawn is the first ever African private sector communications satellite.

The U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin-led Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) team has finished final installations on the first geosynchronous (GEO-1) satellite and successfully completed the spacecraft’s final factory confidence test in preparation for delivery to the launch site.

O3b Networks Ltd announced that it has appointed Steve Collar as chief executive officer.

Euroconsult announced the findings of its just-published report “Government Space Markets, World Prospects to 2020.” According to the report, government spending on space hit a number of major milestones in recent years, including a historic peak in combined government spending of US$71.5 billion in 2010. However, after 10 years of spending increases across the globe, this trend is about to come to a halt. According to Euroconsult, public space programme financing will slow dramatically in the next five years due to several factors.