Satellite News

The launch of NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory, which will produce the highest-resolution maps of soil moisture ever obtained from space, has been delayed to a targeted launch date of 31 January pending completion of minor repairs to the United Launch Alliance Delta II launch vehicle.

European Space Propulsion (ESP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne, recently received a contract from Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space for the initial development of a new electronic controller for the XR-5 Hall Thruster. The contract was issued under the European Space Agency (ESA)-sponsored Neosat programme, an initiative strongly supported by the UK Space Agency.

Northrop Grumman Corporation reported financial results for the fourth quarter and the year 2014.

Preparations are moving forward for next month’s Vega flight from Kourou, with its Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle (IXV) passenger now integrated in the lightweight launcher’s payload fairing.

NASA’s SMAP launch was scrubbed today due to a violation of upper level wind constraints. Launch managers have initiated a 24-hour recycle and rescheduled lift-off of the United Launch Alliance Delta II/SMAP mission from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency have rescheduled the postponed launch of an H-2A rocket carrying a backup information-gathering radar satellite.

The U.S. Air Force awarded a US$383 million contract for more launch services to United Launch Alliance, bringing the total value of the contract to $4.08 billion.

Alliant Techsystems Inc. (“ATK”) reported operating results for the third quarter of its Fiscal Year 2015, which ended on 28 December 2014.