Satellite News

RRSat Global Communications Network Ltd. announced its financial results for the third quarter ending 30 September 2006. It was the RRSat’s first such report as a publicly listed NASDAQ company.

Inmarsat Holdings Ltd. reported financial results for the third quarter 2006.

The third modernised Global Positioning System (GPS) Block IIR satellite built by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force is set for launch aboard a Delta II rocket on 16 November from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. According to latest forecasts, there is only a 30 percent chance that weather conditions will be acceptable for lift-off.

SES Americom’s Americom-18 (AMC-18) satellite was recently delivered to Kourou, French Guiana to be readied for its Ariane 5 ECA launch on 8 December.

The companies involved in what appears to be a manufacturing error concerning Optus D1 have stayed silent so far. Neither manufacturer Orbital Sciences nor operator Optus released any statements regarding what’s wrong with the recently launched satellite.

Lithium Technology Corporation has received a purchase order from Lockheed Martin for 1070 ultra high power lithium-ion cells to be used for the Atlas V Launch Vehicle. The order is valued at US$171,200.