Satellite News

Globalstar, Inc. announced its financial results for the three-month period ending 31 March 2013.

The first launch of a Zenit rocket after the February accident is planned for September from Baikonur.

On 29 March 2013, Canada’s first Earth Observation satellite, Radarsat-1, experienced a technical anomaly after surpassing its expected lifetime by 12 years. In the days since, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) assembled a joint CSA-industry team of engineers, who conducted an extensive investigation. Following numerous attempts to resolve the technical issue, the CSA, in consultation with its commercial distributor MDA Geospatial Services Inc. has concluded that Radarsat-1 is no longer operational after 17 years of service.

Intelsat S.A. (formerly Intelsat Global Holdings S.A.) reported financial results for the three months ending 31 March 2013.

DISH Network Corporation and EchoStar Corporation reported financial results for the first quarter 2013.

Fuelling has been completed at the Spaceport in French Guiana for Europe’s fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), readying it for a planned June launch with Arianespace’s workhorse Ariane 5 on an International Space Station servicing mission.

ESA’s Earth Observation Programme Board has selected ‘Biomass’ to become the seventh Earth Explorer mission. The satellite aims to map and monitor one of Earth’s most precious resources.

Telesat announced the start of commercial service on its new Anik G1 satellite.