Satellite News

According to various reports, Sea Launch’s decision to file for Chapter 11 was also caused by the company’s inability to pay a US$52-million arbitration ruling against it.

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems has provided the communications link for NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission launched on 18 June 2009. The mission will use General Dynamics-made transceivers to communicate with ground control as it maps and studies the lunar environment.

On 19 June 2009 a first stage for the South Korean space launch vehicle (KSLV-1) manufactured and shipped by Khrunichev Space Center in Moscow was delivered by a big AN 124 100 “Ruslan” aircraft from Russia to the South Korean port city of Pusan, from where the stage will be transported by sea to the Naro Space Center.
Other Posts:Comtech Telecommunications Corp. Receives $1.9 Million OrderDataPath acquires SWE-DISH Satellite Systems ABNorthrop Grumman-built cryocooler on Ibuki operationalSatellite collision may endanger Hubble repair missionMaxwell Technologies to provide Gaia computersGeoeye Debuts On Nasdaq MarketAvanti Signs Satweb DealEU Commission approves proposed SES Astra-Eutelsat joint venture

The world’s largest civilian telecommunications satellite, TerreStar 1, has made initial contact with its Ariane 5 ECA heavy-lift vehicle in preparations for lift-off from the Spaceport in French Guiana on 1 July.
Other Posts:Sea Launch lofts Galaxy 18 for IntelsatEuropean Commission to co-found TANGODelay of the day: THEMISAstrium to study new Vega upper stageSES Americom initiates programming delivery on AMC-21IDC Wins ESA DealQinetiq To License Pop-up Antenna Via AndrewTooway to launch in France, Spain, Bulgaria

After a four and a half day journey from the Earth, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, has successfully entered orbit around the moon. Engineers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center confirmed the spacecraft’s lunar orbit insertion at 1027 UTC on 23 June.
Other Posts:Techstart Chosen As Distributor For International Communications GroupEuroconsult predicts huge growth for satellite marketProton returns to flight with Uragan launchIAI to build Amos-4MITEQ Introduces New Line Of Bias Tees And DC BlocksTv Computer SoftwareTandberg Revenues Up In Third QuarterUkraine interested in co-operation with ESA

The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, successfully completed its most significant early mission milestone today with a lunar swingby and calibration of its science instruments. The satellite will search for water ice in a permanently shadowed crater at the moon’s south pole.
Other Posts:Ariane 5 Mission Set For March 10National Guard To Receive Mobile Satellite TransceiversLoss of both solar arrays knocked out NigComSat 1The Boeing Company (Integrated Defense Systems) results Q1 2009Mitsubishi, Arianespace Join For Launch ServicesSpaceX Draco thruster performs long-duration firing and restartMDA to provide ground system for high-res satellite programRussia orders SSTL satellite platform equipment

GIOVE-A, the first test satellite for Europe’s Galileo navigation system, is to remain in service for a further 12 months.
Other Posts:Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. results Q2 2006Inmarsat, Solaris awarded European S-band licensesJason-2 getting ready for launch, fuelling milestone metTelenor Teams With Telemar For Marine CommunicationsThird AEHF flight structure completed ahead of scheduleThrane & Thrane To Introduce Aero-SBRussia’s Teleport-Services To Use Gilat’s Skyedge Broadband For University SystemProgress M-65 de-orbited

Northrop Grumman Corporation has delivered the first of two Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites to the U.S. Air Force’s Cape Canaveral Air Station for launch preparation.
Other Posts:Military Communications Programs Making ProgressSSTL geostationary mini-satellite platform milestone completedHerschel and Planck launch postponedDirect TV Mas ReviewIBEX pre-launch detailsATK awarded contract for Orion launch abort motorsRRSat Global Communications Network Ltd. results Q1 2007ESA Exec: Agency Facing Three Main Challenges