Satellite News

Rocket: PSLV-C20 (core-alone); Payload: SARAL, SAPPHIRE, NEOSSat, AAUSAT3, BRITE, UniBRITE, STRaND; Date: 25 February 2013, 1231 UTC; Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, India. The rocket injected the 409-kg Indo-French satellite SARAL first into orbit about 18 minutes after lift-off, followed by the other six satellites in about four minutes. The total payload mass was 668.5 kg.

Orbital Sciences Corporation successfully conducted an extended-duration “hot fire” test of the first stage propulsion system of its new Antares medium-class rocket.

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin two fixed-price contracts totalling US$120 million to procure long lead parts for the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth next generation Global Positioning System satellites, known as GPS III.

MultiChoice Africa has signed new multi-year contracts with Eutelsat Communications to boost the offer of its DStv pay-TV service.

Almost ten million households still have no access to broadband in the EU, according to the Digital Agenda for Europe scorecard. Although 95.7% of EU households are connected, only 78.4% in rural areas actually have access to broadband. In order to tackle the digital divide, the European project SABER (SAtellite Broadband for European Regions) has been initiated to provide local and regional authorities with practical guidance on connecting residual user demand with public funds and quality satellite solutions.