Satellite News

Boston University announced it has received an eight-year, US$42.5 million contract from NASA to study Earth’s radiation belts, a region which can be dangerous to astronauts and orbiting satellites.

The U.S. National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP) command, control and communications segment (C3S) acceptance testing has been completed two months early.

Lockheed Martin announced the proposed sale of its ownership interests in Lockheed Khrunichev Energia International, Inc. (LKEI) and ILS International Launch Services, Inc. (ILS) to Space Transport Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

NASA is targeting a possible launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on Friday, 8 September because of a problem associated with one of the spacecraft’s electricity-producing fuel cells.