Satellite News

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has signed commercial contracts with multiple U.S. companies to investigate next-generation liquid oxygen/hydrocarbon first stage propulsion concepts. In collaboration with ULA, each company will conduct technical feasibility analysis, develop high fidelity plans, identify schedule, cost and technical risks, as well as cost estimates to meet aggressive recurring cost targets. All concepts will support a first launch by 2019.

The upcoming Arianespace Soyuz mission for O3b Networks has entered its next phase of preparations, as fuelling is now underway in French Guiana with this global satellite service provider’s second batch of spacecraft – which will deliver connectivity to emerging markets worldwide.

The launch of NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 mission (OCO-2) at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California, is scheduled for 1 July. Lift-off from Space Launch Complex 2 aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket is targeted for 0956 UTC at the opening of a 30-second launch window.

Telespazio VEGA UK, together with the international consortium IDEAS+, has been awarded a contract to monitor the quality of Earth Observation (EO) data from European Space Agency (ESA) satellites and selected third party missions.