Satellite News

A prototype structure that holds the primary mirrors for the optical element of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) passed a key readiness milestone after undergoing a series of rigorous cryogenic tests at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Northrop Grumman said.

Fengyun 1C, China’s first operational polar orbiting weather satellite, was destroyed in what appears to be a test of a Chinese anti satellite (ASAT) weapon. A report by Aviation Week & Space Technology was meanwhile confirmed by U.S. government officials.

The U.S. Air Force has awarded a US$109.7 million contract to Aerojet-General Corp., a unit of GenCorp Inc.

Rocket: Soyuz-U; Payload: Progress M-59 (Progress 24P); Date: 18 January 2007, 0212 UTC; Launch Site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Less than 10 minutes later, the cargo ship reached orbit, and its solar arrays and navigational antennas were deployed for its trip to the International Space Station.