Satellite News

Arianespace’s second Soyuz mission from French Guiana has been given the launch go-ahead, moving preparations into their final phase for lift-off with six satellite passengers.

The launch of ESA’s IXV Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle on Europe’s new Vega rocket is now in detailed planning, a major step towards the craft’s flight in 2014.

The U.S. Air Force said its first Advanced Extremely High Frequency military communications satellite is successfully progressing through the initial phases of on-orbit testing.

Lockheed Martin delivered the U.S. Navy’s first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on 15 December, where it will be prepared for a 16 February 2012 lift-off aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle.

Moog Inc. announced that it has acquired Bradford Engineering B.V., The Netherlands. The purchase price is approximately EUR10 million in cash.