Satellite News

Aerojet has signed an agreement to integrate Russian-built thrusters into Aerojet’s satellite propulsion systems, GenCorp Inc. announced Dec. 6. Aerojet will integrate Russian-built…

The space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on 10 December, 0247 UTC on one of the most complex missions ever to the International Space Station.

Rocket: Ariane 5 ECA; Payload: WildBlue 1, AMC 18; Date: 8 December 2006, 2208 UTC; Launch Site: Kourou, French Guiana. The two U.S. communications satellites were successfully placed in geostationary transfer orbit.

Norsat International Inc. and Sat-Comm Ltd., a UK-based designer and manufacturer of Satellite Newsgathering (SNG) equipment for the broadcast industry, have entered into a reseller partnership.

Talks to conclude a contract to manage Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system project are set for more delays, EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said.

General Dynamics was awarded a US$23.3 million contract by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center to support research and development efforts on the Alternative Infrared Satellite System (AIRSS) programme.

The Measat-3 communications satellite is scheduled for launch aboard an ILS Proton M/Briz M from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on 11 December 2006 at 1828 UTC.

NASA managers have postponed the launch of space shuttle Discovery until 10 December (UTC) because of low cloud cover during the launch attempt on 8 December.