Satellite News

Orbital Sciences has promoted Michael E. Larkin to the position of Executive Vice President and General Manager of its Space Systems Group (SSG).

The Space Foundation will honour the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) with the 2008 John L. “Jack” Swigert, Jr., Award for Space Exploration.

The DirecTV Group, Inc. reported financial results for the fourth quarter and the year 2007.

Communications satellite-based television broadcaster Sky Perfect JSAT Corp. is in the final stage of talks on acquiring smaller satellite operator Space Communications Corp. controlled by the Mitsubishi group, Jiji Press reported.

COM DEV USA, LLC, a subsidiary of COM DEV International Ltd. , announced that it has reached an agreement with L-3 Communications to acquire the Passive Microwave Devices product line of L-3 Communications Electron Technologies Inc. for US$12.2 million.

The public apparently is slowly being prepared for a special anti-satellite test the United States may perform. According to Aviation Week & Space Technology, officials are studying the possibility of shooting down the errant USA 193 (NRO-L21) spy satellite.

EADS Astrium and OHB Technology AG will likely build a satellite for Germany’s first independent mission to the moon, Financial Times Deutschland reported.

The U.S. Air Force has awarded a US$288 million contract extension to Boeing Co. and a US$210.4 million contract extension to Lockheed Martin Corp. to maintain the infrastructure needed to launch satellites and other payloads into space, the Defense Department said.