Satellite News

The RapidEye Constellation of five SSTL-built Earth Observation satellite were launched into a 630km Low Earth Orbit on a Dnepr launch vehicle from Baikonur in Kazakhstan on 29 August 2008.

Telesat announced that its new Telstar 19 VANTAGE high throughput satellite (HTS) is fully operational at 63 degrees West and has entered commercial service.

Rocket: Chang Zheng-3B/Y1; Payload: Beidou-3M11, Beidou-3M12 [Beidou-35, Beidou-36]; Date: 24 August 2018, 2352 UTC; Launch site: Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China. The twin satellites entered Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) orbit more than three hours after the launch.

The U.S. Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Directorate achieved a major programme milestone on 21 August successfully delivering the first GPS III satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida to begin launch processing.

The Kepler spacecraft went into sleep mode after successfully downloading Campaign 18 data, NASA said.

Powered by Aerojet Rocketdyne propulsion, OSIRIS-REx’s long-awaited approach of Asteroid Bennu has officially begun. With the asteroid now in sight, the spacecraft’s onboard thrusters will begin to conduct a number of approach manoeuvres to match Bennu’s orbital velocity to prepare for arrival on 3 December.

China will launch its first solid-propellant rocket developed by a Chinese private company late this year.

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has confirmed the successful commissioning in-orbit of the RemoveDEBRIS spacecraft, which was deployed from the International Space Station on 20 June 2018.