Satellite News

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2C; Payload: Yaogan 6; 22 April 2009, 0255 UTC; Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China. The remote sensing satellite was successfully placed into its target orbit, Chinese media reported.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. performed the second captive firing test (CFT) for the first stage flight model tank of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle on 22 April at the Tanegashima Space Center.

The Boeing Company reported results for the first quarter of 2009.

Northrop Grumman Corporation reported first quarter 2009 results.

Vietnam’s first telecommunications satellite, Vinasat-1, has leased out 70 percent of its capacity just one year after its launch on 19 April 2008, according to operator Vietnam Telecom International (VTI).

NASA’s Glenn Research Center and Boeing employees have won the 2008 NASA Software of the Year Award for the development of a general-purpose programme used to perform trajectory optimisation and performance studies for a wide variety of vehicles including aircraft, rockets, satellites and interplanetary vehicles.