Satellite News

A bright spiralling light spotted in skies across Australia’s east coast just before local dawn on 5 June has sparked a UFO frenzy. The phenomenon has been linked to the inaugural flight of SpaceX’s Falcon 9, and the company may possibly have to answer some questions what actually happened to their second stage after it successfully achieved orbit.
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When Gazprom Space Systems in January announced the order of two satellites from Thales Alenia Space, it also somewhat vaguely stated that part of the deal was a “supplier guarantee to provide for investment crediting of the project on the world financial market on beneficial terms. This will allow to attract foreign investments to the Russian orbital constellation development.” What could the last sentence possibly mean?

When the U.S. Government Accountability Office recently published a report highlighting possible problems with the GPS constellation in future years, reactions ranged from “accuracy not in danger” (U.S. Air Force) to “close to breakdown” (The Guardian). Which is true? In a nutshell: neither. Or both.

In an editorial published recently by Space News, Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall addresses satellite operators’ increasing pressure to encourage new providers for what Mr. Le Gall called an “already overcrowded launch services sector.”

Hardly surprising, North Korea’s recent Unha-2 rocket launch stays in the news. Especially interesting is a picture taken of the rocket by a commercial U.S. spy satellite shortly after lift-off of the vehicle. In related news, Japan reportedly plans to locate parts of the rocket on the ocean floor.