Satellite News

Northrop Grumman Corporation said it was developing a robust, radiation-hardened, wireless spacecraft bus under a US$4.1 million, 21-month, first phase contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory.
Other Posts:Anik F3 launch preparations beginOrbital Rocket Delivers NFIRE SatelliteContract signed for building of GMES Sentinel-1 satelliteCMC moves to Americom C-band, AMC-18 fullSpacenet, Verizon to provide satcom network for U.S. Postal ServiceAlcatel and Lucent complete mergerShin Post Third Consecutive Quarterly LossIridium results Q2 2008

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has signed a EUR30 million contract with Astrium GmbH, Germany for the supply of a Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI) for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) EarthCARE mission.
Other Posts:SatGate takes four transponders at 31.5 degrees EastMexico tries again to to auction Ka-band licenseChina achieves ‘highest international standard’ for satellite controlBoeing TSAT technology passes ‘Spiral’ testingDISH Network Surpasses 13 Million CustomersEnvisat images available almost in real timeRRSat Files For IPOBoeing demonstrates TSAT voice, data and video services

NASA’s climatology satellite CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations), launched in April 2006, has developed a problem with one of its instruments.
Other Posts:No end in sight for Galileo talksLufthansa to revive Internet access on long flights, reportComtech Receives Equipment Order For Southeast AsiaNASA selects Small Explorer investigations for concept studiesU.S. military accepts first WGS satelliteKayser-Threde appointed EnMap system primeThales Alenia Space Wins Telenor DealSatellite Problems Threaten Globalstar Service

As a result of the OCO launch failure on 24 February, Orbital Sciences Corp. will not receive a US$5.3 million mission success incentive that the company had expected to earn and the company will incur unanticipated costs to investigate the cause of the incident.
Other Posts:PT Indosat plans Palapa DNews in briefGeoEye obtains 2008 insurance for IkonosST Electronics Introduces C-Band VSAT AntennaFoxtel Continues Digital Momentum in AustraliaDish Network Launches MobileDish Programming PackagesLawmakers Call For NASA Inspector General’s OusterIridium opens Alaska gateway

Rocket: Proton K/Block DM-2; Payload: Raduga 1(M?)-?; Date: 28 February 2009, 0410 UTC; Site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The rocket deployed the military communications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit with an inclination of about 49 degrees.
Other Posts:NASA successfully completes first series of Ares engine testsHarris Receives NPOESS ContractRadarsat-2 Passes NRC Aerospace TestGlobalstar Revenue, Profits Fall In Second QuarterIntelsat, Ltd. results Q2 2006Avanti books Falcon 9 launch for HYLASChina to launch two navigation satellites early 2007Proton M lifts off with latest Astra satellite (Part II)

Chang’e-1, China’s first lunar probe, impacted the moon at 0813 UTC on 1 March, according to sources with the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense quoted by Xinhua.
Other Posts:Ondas Expands Senior Management TeamTelesat Files Preliminary Prospectus And Registration Statement For IPOINSAT-4CR orbit raised after ‘dramatic’ launchSurprising change of Ariane 5 launch manifestEuro1080 Strikes STB DealND SatCom Wins Polish DealSmall GEO satellite under development to become Hispasat AG1Virgin Media Open To Bidding

China’s new geostationary meteorological satellite, Fengyun-2E, finished in-orbit testing at the end of February, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said.
Other Posts:Industry Canada Grants Transfer Of Authorization From TMI To TerreStar CanadaSpaceDev to provide components to SS/LNorthrop Grumman Delivers SBIRS GEO-1 PayloadNASA examines handle bar addition for JWSTLast M-V puts Solar-B in orbitNASA To Make Data Available Through GoogleETS VIII arrives in geostationary orbitOptus orders additional Gilat VSATs

ESA has announced three candidate Earth Explorer mission concepts to progress to the next phase of consolidation. This selection is part of the user-driven process that will lead to the launch of the agency’s seventh Earth Explorer satellite in the 2016 time frame.
Other Posts:THEOS launch once more delayed by drop zone issueLaunch of Genesis II further delayedNASA extends contract with RoskosmosKhrunichev says lessons learnt from Yakhta failuresLaunch of MetOp-A Postponed IndefinitelySpacehab to support pre-launch preparations for Russia’s MRM1Sea Launch Receives Hardware For Next LaunchesMSV Appoints Vice President For Federal Sales