Satellite News

Space shuttle Atlantis and its crew of seven astronauts were launched on the STS-122 mission carrying Europe’s primary contribution to the International Space Station – the Columbus science laboratory.

On the occasion of the 2008 Mobile World Congress, Alcatel-Lucent, DiBcom, Eutelsat Communications, Sagem Mobiles, SES Astra, TeamCast and UDcast are joining forces to deliver the first demonstration of live Mobile TV in S-Band based on DVB-SH covering the whole FIRA premises in Barcelona.

SES has offered to buy Spacecom Communications in a cash bid it values at up to US$160 million. Spacecom however is reported not to be content with the offer.

Gazkom will launch two new Yamal-300 satellites in the first half of 2009, the telecommunications arm of Russia’s energy giant Gazprom said.

An ILS Proton M/Briz M rocket is to launch Thor 5 (a.k.a. Thor IIR) for Telenor Satellite Broadcasting on 10 February, 1133 UTC. The mission design is rather unusual for the launch of a commercial telecom satellite.

Bigelow Aerospace and Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services are engaged in discussions and converging on terms to supply Atlas V launch vehicles to provide crew and cargo transportation services to a Bigelow-built space complex, the company said.

ViaSat Inc. announced financial results for the third quarter ending 28 December 2007.

United Launch Alliance said it was recently awarded a US$505 million contract to provide launch services for three U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) satellites aboard Delta IV rockets under the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle programme.