Satellite News

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. announced the major expansion of its Tai Po Earth Station in Hong Kong.Other Posts:HughesNet passes 500,000 subscriber markSatellite TV Brings the World TogetherTivuitalia to use Astra capacity for DTTSES Astra Gets Ready for Vietnamese ProjectRRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. results 2008RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd. results Q3 2010Orbcomm’s subscriber base grew 56 percent last yearChunghwa, SingTel still discussing ST-2

The European Space Agency, Arianespace and the European Commission announced that the launch of the first two satellites of Europe’s global navigation satellite system Galileo is planned to take place on 20 October. Meanwhile, European officials said they had cut the costs of the project.

The U.S. Air Force’s Space Development and Test Directorate, in concert with the Operationally Responsive Space Office, marked a major milestone on 20 May as the ORS-1 space vehicle is approved to ship to NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia, for integration with a Minotaur I launch vehicle.

Russian prosecutors said that criminal proceedings have been launched against Roskosmos officials who were responsible for the loss of three GLONASS satellites last year.

International Launch Services (ILS)successfully carried Telstar 14R/Estrela do Sul 2 into orbit on an ILS Proton for Telesat.

Rocket: Ariane 5 ECA; Payload: GSAT-8, ST-2; Date: 20 May 2011, 2038 UTC; Launch Site: Kourou, French Guiana. At 27 min 08 sec after main engine ignition, ST-2 separated from the upper stage, followed by GSAT-8 at 31 min 17 sec.
Other Posts:Why Satellite TV is Better Than Cable TVThales Alenia Space wins contract for Sentinel-3Nigcomsat-1 to be handed over after IOT completionMSV selects Nortel for hybrid satellite-terrestrial network trialHughes for sale – reportGlobalstar Plans IPOSpaceX’s Draco thruster completes qualification testingThales Alenia Space begins development of Sentinel 1B and 3B

Rocket: Proton M/Briz M; Payload: Telstar 14R/ Estrela do Sul 2; Date: 20 May, 1915 UTC; Launch Site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Separation of the satellite from the rocket is expected on 21 May, 0428 UTC (too late for this issue).
Other Posts:Saft to power Atlas V and Delta IVIntegral to upgrade JSAT ground system for JCSAT-11First SBIRS-GEO satellite continues to be testedHarris completes review of GOES-R ground segmentGlobalstar buys Brazilian gatewaysBolivia, China sign satellite launching agreementTwo new patents awarded to MSVSonicview IHUB Serial Number in IPCONFIG Now Mandatory

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd., a provider of essential information solutions, announced that it has signed contract amendments with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for the Design Phase of the Radarsat Constellation Mission (RCM).
Other Posts:NASA to announce contractor for Ares upper stage next weekMDA To Study Joint Canadian-Italian Hyperspectral MissionEADS (Astrium) results Q1 2008Comparing Direct TV and Dish Network Sports PackagesSun TV to migrate to IS-17Boeing delivers 25th Sea Launch payload accommodation packageArianespace to launch Vinasat-2No Galileo agreement in sight, report