Satellite News

Rocket: Ariane 5 ECA; Payload: AT&T T-16 [f.k.a. DirecTV 16], Eutelsat 7C; Date: 20 June 2019, 2143 UTC; Launch site: Kourou, French Guiana. For its second launch of the year, Ariane 5 successfully placed the two telecommunications satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).

Russia’s Vostochny space centre in the Far East will start launches under the OneWeb programme in early 2020, Russia’s Center for Operation of Space Ground-Based Infrastructure (TsENKI) said.

‘Comet Interceptor’ has been selected as ESA’s new fast-class mission in its Cosmic Vision Programme. Comprising three spacecraft, it will be the first to visit a truly pristine comet or other interstellar object that is only just starting its journey into the inner Solar System.

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft recently performed another significant navigation maneuver–breaking its own world record for the closest orbit of a planetary body by a spacecraft.

HEMERIA and Thales Alenia Space have signed a partnership agreement on the nano-satellite market.