Satellite News

The Sea Launch and Energia Logistics teams have initiated the automated L-72 hour launch countdown sequence at its equatorial launch site on 14 August. Launch operations are now underway at the Equator, at 154 degrees West longitude.

The launch of an Atlas V carrying the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office NROL-36 payload is being rescheduled following a range instrumentation issue that developed during the initial launch attempt on 2 August.

Engineers working on NASA’s Dawn spacecraft are assessing the status of a reaction wheel after onboard software powered it off on 8 August.

The Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites participated in a test of the next generation of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) weapon system, designated FTM-16 E2a, when a Standard Missile-3 Block 1B interceptor successfully engaged a short-range ballistic missile target on 10 May.

The second of four main instruments to fly aboard NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) has been delivered to NASA. The Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) will enable the telescope to accurately and precisely point at the correct, intended objects for it to observe. The FGS is packaged together as a single unit with the Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) science instrument.

NASA has selected the Norwegian Space Centre (NSC) of Oslo, Norway, for combined data support services for NOAA’s Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Program.

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. said it has successfully completed the deployment of the first 10,000 VSATs (Very Small Aperture Terminals) with Optus as part of NBN Co’s Interim Satellite Service.

Digital Television has changed the way we interact by providing so many choices for content. What does the future hold for the ATSC and DVB digital standards, and what is the natural progression of digital technology?