Satellite News

EchoStar Communications Corp. plans to change its name to Dish Network Corp.

Innova, S. de R.L. de C.V. and SKY Brasil Servicos Ltda. announced that they have reached an agreement with Intelsat Corporation, and an affiliate, to build and launch IS-16. a new 24-transponder satellite.

Engineers have confirmed the cause of the attitude disturbances on GOES-12 (GOES-East) that started after the North/South manoeuvre.

Russia successfully conducted preliminary tests of an engine for the first stage of the new-generation Angara carrier rocket, the Khrunichev State Research and Production Center said.

The launch of NASA’s space shuttle Atlantis will take place no earlier than 8 December at 2043 UTC. Officials were to decide today whether to fly with sensors that provide erroneous readings or to postpone the launch until January 2008. A decision hadn’t been announced at the time of writing.

Iridium Satellite announced that Lee Demitry has joined the company as the executive vice president for Iridium NEXT, the company’s next-generation satellite constellation programme.

NASA has announced plans to use a flotilla of more than 40 high altitude balloons to study radiation in the Earth’s Van Allen Belts.

Thales Alenia Space and NPO-PM are finalising an industrial co-operation agreement to co-develop a high-power telecommunications satellite platform, the two companies said.