Satellite News

The 5-satellite RapidEye constellation is ready for launch from Baikonur on 29 August 2008.

NASA’s newest observatory, the Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope, or GLAST, has begun its mission of exploring the universe in high-energy gamma rays. The spacecraft and its instruments passed their orbital checkout with flying colours, the agency said.

Moog Space and Defense Group and Alliant Techsystems (ATK) have agreed to partner with ECAPS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Swedish Space Corporation to make a new low-toxicity monopropellant propulsion technology available to the U.S. spacecraft market.

A Kosmotras Dnepr launch vehicle with five RapidEye Earth observing satellites is to take off from the Baikonur launch pad, Kazakhstan, on 29 August. The launch window opens at 0715 UTC.

GeoEye-1 is scheduled to launch aboard a Delta II on 4 September at 1951 UTC, with a 1 minute 24 second launch window, from Space Launch Complex-2 at VAFB, California/USA.

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. said a group of private investors that in March 2008 agreed to buy the company said they would not close the deal at the agreed upon price of US$475 million. The company also reported its results for the second quarter ending 30 June 2008.

China will, under a recently signed agreement, help Laos develop a telecommunications satellite and a ground station, and train relevant staff, Lao newspaper Vientiane Times reported.

Angola reportedly ordered a satellite from Russia. ANGOP news agency said that the government of Angola had formalised the project.