Satellite News

International Launch Services (ILS) successfully placed the SES-6 satellite into a super-synchronous transfer orbit (SSTO). With this launch, ILS completed its second SSTO mission with the Proton vehicle. In related news, SES announced an anchor customer for the new spacecraft.

Arianespace’s Ariane 5 mission with its heaviest payload ever has been given the “go” for lift-off from French Guiana on a 5 June flight to service the International Space Station with Europe’s fourth Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV).

NASA’s next scientific satellite, which is scheduled for launch 26 June, will provide the most detailed look ever at the sun’s lower atmosphere or interface region.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has authorised a US$343.3 million direct loan to Asia Satellite Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (AsiaSat) to finance the purchase of two communications satellites designed and built by Space Systems/Loral LLC (SSL).

Rocket: Proton M/Briz M; Payload: SES 6; Date: 3 June 2013, 0918 UTC; Launch site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Payload separation was scheduled for 4 June, 0049 UTC (too late for this issue).

The launch of IRNSS-1A, the first Indian navigation satellite, will be delayed two weeks. The spacecraft was previously scheduled for launch onboard PSLV-C22 on 11 June 2013 at 1931 UTC from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

China’s Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft is scheduled to be launched in the middle of June, a spokesperson for the country’s manned space programme was quoted as saying. An exact date was not given.

Sea Launch AG has announced that the Failure Review Oversight Board (FROB) issued its final summary report of findings on 31 May following its review of the investigation into the cause of the failed launch attempt of the IS-27 spacecraft on 31 January 2013.