Satellite News

Two of the Tactical Satellite-3’s trio of payloads may be called secondary, but their importance to the success of the spacecraft’s year-long mission is primary, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory said.

The mission of Russia’s automatic research spacecraft Fobos Grunt to the Martian moon of Phobos is being delayed for two years, as the spacecraft is not ready, Interfax reported citing an “informed source.”

The European-built Node 3 module for the International Space Station will be shipped to NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, on 17 May.

Integral Systems, Inc. reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2009.

In an editorial published recently by Space News, Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall addresses satellite operators’ increasing pressure to encourage new providers for what Mr. Le Gall called an “already overcrowded launch services sector.”

On 11 May, Space Shuttle Atlantis will launch with a crew of seven to visit the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and carry out the fifth and final servicing mission. The replacement and repair of several instruments will see Hubble equipped to continue its programme of discovery well into the next decade, ESA said in a statement.

NASA’s Langley Research Center has awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman to support the design, manufacture, assembly, test and calibration of the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System, or CERES, Flight Model 6 instrument.

The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) said it has received all necessary approvals from the U.S. Government and has completed the acquisition of U.S.-based Universal Space Network (USN), a provider of telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) services.