Satellite News

The first elements of Europe’s new Vega small launcher left Italy last week to begin their journey to Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, marking the final step towards its inaugural flight in January.Other Posts:abertis completes acquisition of Eutelsat stakeBoeing wins Ares I upper stage contractESSP certified as Air Navigation Service ProviderTDRS-1 to be shut down after 27 years in orbitAlliant Techsystems results Q2 FY 2008Orbcomm adds 25,000 billable subscriber communicatorsSES-2′s U.S. government payload testedAstra 1L in French Guiana

ESA’s first two Galileo navigation satellites are both now fuelled and checked for their launch by Soyuz from French Guiana on 20 October.Other Posts:SES Astra and YahSat appoint CEO for YahLiveChandrayaan-1: too hot to handle?SES Americom unveils SatelliteWiki.comTelevisions Are Boring Without Satellite TV EntertainmentHughes to provide Globalstar with ground network and terminal chipsSirius Expects To Be Cash Flow Positive In 2006 Fourth QuarterGive Your Family the Gift of Satellite TViDirect Technologies offers spread spectrum-enabled COTM solution

The launches of the NPP weather satellite as well as that of Intelsat 18 have been postponed.Other Posts:Thaicom 2 to save 50.5 degrees East slot?Intelsat 18 back to Sea LaunchHisdeSat to provide satcom services for Belgian militaryFalcon 9 carried small satellite, big cheeselNB Satellite TV – Why Choose Anything Else?iDirect platform for Mexican pharmacy chainCable TV or Satellite TV: Which One Has The Best Deal?TSAT competition scrapped, decision delayed — report

Eutelsat Communications announced it is initiating a new satellite programme that will significantly expand and diversify resources at its 9 degrees East location, which addresses high-growth video markets across Europe. A high-capacity Ku-band satellite called Eutelsat 9B, ordered from Astrium, will be launched to 9 degrees East East at the end of 2014. It will also carry a hosted payload for ESA’s EDRS data relay system.Other Posts:Update: Nimiq 5 launched by Proton MAPT books Chang Zheng launch for Apstar 7ATK test fires space shuttle reusable solid rocket motorGeoEye, Inc. results 2009Second Wind Orders Globalstar ModemsWho Doesn’t Want to Be a Millionaire?Shin Post Third Consecutive Quarterly LossXM Director resigns

Astrium will partner with the European Space Agency (ESA) to design, deliver and operate the European Data Relay System (EDRS). Under the terms of the agreement the partners will jointly finance the EDRS. ESA’s contract with Astrium amounts to EUR275 million.Other Posts:Access Intelligence Launches Comprehensive Satellite PortalEMS Founder Pippin DiesProton M lifts off with AsiaSat 5 (part I)Turksat 3A, Star One C2 shipped to KourouOrbcomm’s last AIS-enabled satellite kaputATK receives US$17.5 million contract for Castor 120 MotorsIran’s Rasad-1 completes missionRaytheon Earns Air Force Space Demonstration Contract

The Solar Orbiter and Euclid science missions were selected by ESA’s Science Programme Committee for implementation, with launches planned for 2017 and 2019. These two missions are medium-class missions and are the first in ESA’s Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 Plan.Other Posts:Integral Systems awarded contract for GPS next-gen control segmentHispasat Group results 2008Thales Alenia Space to provide Amos 4 ground mission segmentUkrainian DTH platform to launch on Amos 3SES Astra to provide antennas, training for VinasatChina’s CBSN To Deploy 5,000 IPStar TerminalsSkyWave D+ Service Added To PAC-C SatelliteIntegral Systems awarded contract by ProtoStar