Satellite News

Rocket: Chang Zheng 3B/E; Payload: Chinasat 11 [Zhongxing 11, ZX 11, SupremeSat 2]; Date: 1 May 2013, 1606 UTC; Launch site: Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China. The satellite was sent into the preset orbit, Xinhua reported.

The second Vega mission from French Guiana (VV02) has entered its final preparation phase as the lightweight launcher is readied for a lift-off on 4 May UTC with a trio of satellites as its payload.

Sierra Nevada Corporation’s (SNC) Space Systems announced that its Hybrid Rocket Motor propelled Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo (SS2) sub-orbital vehicle on its first ever powered flight. SNC’s hybrid propulsion system is the largest hybrid ever used for space vehicle propulsion.

NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) Observatory recently completed the Thermal-Vacuum (TVAC) phase of environmental testing at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California.

NASA’s is preparing to operate its Kepler spacecraft after the failure of a reaction wheel, which is now expected to occur “sooner rather than later”.

On 29 March 2012, the science team for NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope learned that the defunct Kosmos 1805 spy satellite would pass too close for comfort on 4 April. An evasive manoeuvre was successfully performed.