Satellite News

There is ongoing confusion over the number of Proton-M launches that Kazakhstan will allow from the Baikonur cosmodrome in 2013. According to latest reports, Kazakhstan has permitted only 12 of 17 Proton-M rocket launches requested by Russia.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has selected Surrey Satellite Technology US LLC (SST-US) to investigate cost reduction and augmentation of the current GPS constellation through the application of the small satellite approach.

Earlier this month during a semi-weekly contact with the spacecraft, the Kepler project team detected an increase in the amount of torque required to spin one of the three remaining reaction wheels. This increase in friction occurred before the 11 January 2013 quarterly roll, and persisted after the spacecraft roll and several momentum desaturations of the reaction wheels.

RapidEye announced a positive update on the health and lifespan of its satellites. In addition, Michael Oxfort has been appointed to lead the development of the company’s data continuity strategy.