Satellite News

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2F; Payload: Shenzhou 10; Date: 11 June 2013, 0938 UTC; Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. The crewed Shenzhou spacecraft entered its designated orbit nine minutes after lift-off.

Astrium has been awarded the Payload Module contract for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) future astronomy mission Euclid, due for launch in 2020.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has closed its investigation into the proposed acquisition of rocket engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne by aerospace company GenCorp Inc.

GlobeCast and SES announced that they are providing services to Orange Romania for the launch of a satellite Direct-to-Home TV package this month.

Rocket: Soyuz-2.1b; Payload: Kosmos 2486; Date: 10 June 2013, 1837 UTC; Launch site: Plesetsk, Russia. “The spacecraft separated from the booster rocket in a routine mode,” a spokesman for the Russian defence ministry’s space defence forces was quoted as saying.

NOAA has officially returned the GOES-13 spacecraft to normal operations, after tests showed a micrometeoroid, likely hit the arm for the solar array panel on 22 May knocking the spacecraft off its geostationary balance.

SES said that mobile 3G networks in Africa are set to benefit from new-generation Newtec modems including S2 Extensions technology that boost the performance and efficiency of the SES-5 satellite backhaul infrastructure.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Arianespace S.A. have concluded a memorandum of understanding (MOU) pertaining primarily to implementation of joint proposals relating to commercial space rocket launches.