Satellite News

The launch of the U.S. Air Force’s Wideband Global SATCOM mission on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV vehicle has been placed on the 45th Space Wing range schedule for 8 May.

China will launch the first satellite for its high-resolution system for Earth observation in April.

A EUR438 million contract securing Europe’s access to space has been signed by Antonio Fabrizi, ESA Director of Launchers, and Bernard Chemoul, Director of both France’s CNES space agency and the Guiana Space Centre.

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. has signed a contract with the Canadian Space Agency valued at C$81 million (excluding GST/PST) to provide sustaining engineering and operational support for its robotic elements on the International Space Station (ISS) through December 2015.

Intelsat S.A. announced it has signed a multi-year agreement with Digital Networks, a provider of business-class satellite solutions to the energy sector.

Sicily’s regional environment and territory department withdrew authorisation for the construction of a contested U.S. military satellite communications system near the town of Niscemi in the southern part of the Italian island.

Rocket: Soyuz-FG; Payload: Soyuz TMA-08M; Date: 28 March 2013, 2043 UTC; Launch site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The manned Soyuz capsule separated from the rocket as planned nine minutes after lift-off.

ATK successfully tested its newly developed CASTOR 30XL upper stage solid rocket motor at the U.S. Air Force’s Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) in Tennessee.