Satellite News

The U.S. Air Force GPS IIR-20(M) satellite successfully transmitted for the first time a GPS signal in the L5 frequency band.
Other Posts:Harris Receives NPOESS ContractImproved Satellite Broadband On British TrainsUpdate: Next Ariane 5 launch rescheduledStarsys completes antenna pointing system for GeoEye-1Cartosat-2A launch planned for end of AprilReport: Russian Company To Build Kazsat-2Sirius Steps Beyond Radio To Offer Backseat TVMeasat-3 to commence in-orbit testing

The launch of the latest U.S. weather satellite aboard a Delta IV from Cape Canaveral was delayed from 28 April to mid-May after a leak was detected in the rocket’s first stage.

The Lockheed Martin Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) team has submitted its proposal for the programme’s follow-on production phase and has completed a major Preliminary Design Review (PDR) milestone with the U.S. Air Force.

With the additional checks related to the flight worthiness of the Herschel telescope now completed, ESA and Arianespace have set the launch date of Herschel and Planck for 6 May 2009.
Other Posts:Chinese babies named after country’s first lunar satelliteU.S., British Governments To Develop Comprehensive Satellite View of AntarcticaILS to launch Inmarsat satellite on Proton next springHead of Taiwan’s space agency detained over illegal spendingSatCon to provide Class K components to satellite subcontractorsAMC-18 Begins OperationsIridium Satellite LLC results 2008New launch date for GOCE planned for March 2009

India will launch a radar spy satellite from Sriharikota on 20 April between 1100 and 1130 UTC, a senior Indian Defense Ministry official was quoted as saying.
Other Posts:Globecomm subsidiary receives VSAT orderESA wants at least EUR9 billion from member statesDirecTV Launches Arabic-Language Programming PackageYahsat to raise US$1.2 billion for satellite financingSlingPath Unveils Satellite Newsgatherings Training CourseTwo new patents awarded to MSVSirius Launches Aftermarket Tuner For Backseat TVT-Systems books Eurobird 9 transponder

The head of the U.S. spy satellite agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, has announced his resignation, a spokesman said.
Other Posts:NASA, m2mi to work on nanosat constellationIPSTAR opens its 11th gateway in The PhilippinesU.S. lawmakers start hearing on satellite export rules reformRestructuring, part I: GE leaves SES GlobalChina Plans Satellite Navigation SystemAsia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited results 2007Next Zenit-3SL launch planned for OctoberESA Provides Satellite Photos To Google Earth

The U.S. administration has approved the purchase of new spy satellites and will buy more commercial imagery from the private sector to plug immediate gaps in satellite coverage.

GOCE’s highly sensitive gradiometer instrument has been switched on and is producing data. Forming the heart of GOCE, the gradiometer is specifically designed to measure Earth’s gravity field with unprecedented accuracy.