Satellite News

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2C; Payload: Shijian-8; Date: ; Launch Site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. The recoverable satellite has successfully entered orbit and will conduct a range of space experiments, Xinhua news agency reported.

After two weeks of delays, the Space Shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew are on their way to the International Space Station after lifting-off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 1515 UTC. The shuttle reached orbit some nine minutes later.

Harmonic Inc. announced that Telenor Satellite Broadcasting is upgrading and expanding its network with new satellite uplinks powered by Harmonic’s IP-based headend solutions.

SES Astra said it will launch Astra2Connect, a fully satellite-based interactive and low-cost broadband Internet access to serve the residential market, small and home offices as well as small and medium enterprises.

SES Astra has signed a second transponder contract with the public Polish television TVP (Telewizja Polska SA).

Intelsat was selected by Reti Radiotelevisive Digitali (RRD) to support the first commercially available Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) mobile TV service in Europe, operated by 3 Italia.

Siemens Business Services has signed a three year contract with Eutelsat for satellite capacity over the UK, continental Europe and the Middle East on behalf of the BBC.

Paradigm Secure Communications Ltd., a subsidiary of EADS Space, has signed an export contract to deliver military satellite communications services to the Netherlands Ministry of Defence.