Satellite News

Arianespace received a contract to launch the Helios 2B military reconnaissance satellite in the first half of 2009, Arianespace announced Sept. 25. Helios 2B is part of a second-generation defense and…

SES Astra TechCom has been selected to participate in Vietnam’s first public satellite project Vinasat-1.

SkyTerra Communications, Inc. announced that it has completed the closing of the previously announced transactions to consolidate the ownership and control of Mobile Satellite Venture LP (MSV).

Motient Corporation (MNCP) announced the close of the transactions that will consolidate the ownership and control of TerreStar Networks Inc. under Motient, and will consolidate the ownership and control of Mobile Satellite Ventures LP (MSV) and its corporate general partner under SkyTerra.

Orbital Sciences has pulled out of the Rocketplane Kistler team that was recently awarded one of two Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) contracts by NASA.

The U.S. Air Force has reportedly decided to phase out Lockheed Martin Corp.’s US$6.2 billion Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite programme while ramping up spending for another programme, the Transformational Communications System (TSAT).

China’s seed-breeding satellite, Shijian-8, successfully landed in Sichuan Province after a 15-day flight in space. The recoverable satellite was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwest China desert on 9 September.

Rocket: Delta II (7925); Payload: GPS IIR-15(M); Date: 23 September 2006, 1850 UTC; Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA. The satellite was put in its target orbit about 68 minutes after lift-off.