Satellite News

Rocket: Zenit 3SL/Block DM-SL; Payload: Intelsat 19; Date: 1 June 2012, o523 UTC; Launch site: Odyssey Launch Platform, positioned on the equator at 154 degrees West longitude in the Pacific Ocean. Sixty minutes after lift-off, the satellite separated from the rocket’s upper stage and continued its ascent toward geosynchronous orbit.

NASA said that engineers working on the new Space Launch System (SLS) can now begin developing the advanced, heavy-lift launch vehicle’s flight software using newly delivered software test bed computers from Boeing.

ATK and United Launch Alliance (ULA) conducted a successful cold-temperature ground test today of a Graphite Epoxy Motor (GEM-60) solid rocket motor used to boost ULA Delta IV launch vehicles.

exactEarth Ltd., a provider of satellite AIS data services, confirmed that its exactViewTM 1 (EV1) AIS microsatellite has arrived at the launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan and is ready for integration into the Soyuz launch vehicle.

ISS-Reshetnev specialists have finished work on the ground control centre intended for the Telkom-3 spacecraft. The satellite was built under the contract awarded by the Indonesian satellite operator PT Telekomunikasi Tbk.

Ad Astra Rocket Company and NASA Johnson Space Center have signed a Support Agreement to collaborate on aspects of safety, reliability and mission assurance related to the development of VASIMR technology.

Blue Origin successfully completed a System Requirements Review (SRR) of its orbital Space Vehicle on 15-16 May. Blue Origin is maturing the design of the Space Vehicle in partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) programme.

Telesat and Astrium Services, through its Telecom Governmental Division, announced that they are combining capabilities to meet the growing satellite communications needs of Canada’s federal agencies.