Satellite News

The Boeing Company reported third quarter financial results.

Boeing said that Spectrolab, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, has produced its two millionth multi-junction, gallium-arsenide solar cell.

There is some confusion about the names of the two Shijian experimental satellites launched by China on 23 October, as well as that of a weather satellite to be put in orbit later this year.

The second modernised Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-M) satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin, has been declared fully operational for military and civilian navigation user.

Alcatel Alenia Space announced that it will develop and deliver on-board and ground segments equipment for the LISA Pathfinder programme.

NASA’s Mercury-bound MESSENGER spacecraft came within 2,990 km of the surface of Venus early this morning during its second planetary encounter. The spacecraft used the tug of the planet’s gravity to change its trajectory significantly, shrinking the radius of its orbit around the Sun and bringing it closer to Mercury.

The first instrument aboard MetOp-A has been switched on and has successfully acquired data.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has announced 16 December as date for the launch of its eleventh H-IIA rocket.