Satellite News

The European-built Herschel telescope has begun pre-launch processing at the Spaceport in French Guiana as preparations for Arianespace’s second Ariane 5 launch of 2009 shift into full gear.

O3b Networks announced that they have completed a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of the Constellation Space Segment being built by Thales Alenia Space for O3b Networks, LLC.

Eutelsat Communications announced the full entry into commercial service of its Hotbird 9 satellite at 13 degrees East.

A U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin team announced that the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) III constellation has surpassed 200 years of on-orbit operations.

Liberty Media will invest US$530 million in financially struggling U.S. satellite radio company Sirius XM Radio, the companies said.

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. reported its results for the fourth quarter and the year 2008.

SES New Skies announced that TIBA – Telepuerto Internacional Buenos Aires, has signed a new multi-transponder, multi-year agreement for satellite capacity on the NSS-806 satellite at the orbital location of 40.5 degrees West.

NASA has awarded Aurora Flight Sciences, and its partner Vertigo Inc., a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I contract to develop an autonomous balloon launcher to operate from the surface of Mars.