Satellite News

The SES-6 satellite, designed and manufactured for SES by Astrium, has left Astrium’s facility in Toulouse, France, after completion of its final integration and test campaign and is now en route to Baikonur, Kazakhstan, in preparation for its launch on a Proton vehicle.

The first of six instruments that will fly on GOES-R, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s next-generation of geostationary operational environmental satellites, has been completed seven months before its scheduled installation onto the spacecraft.

ATK reported operating results for the fourth quarter and Fiscal Year 2013, which ended on 31 March 2013.

Iridium Communications Inc. reported financial results for the first quarter of 2013.

Telesat Holdings Inc. announced its financial results for the three month period ending 31 March 2013.

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.