Satellite News

The third Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite built by Lockheed Martin has been encapsulated into its payload fairing in preparation for a lift-off aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on 18 September.

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) for the competitive design phase of CHEOPS science satellite, which will improve mankind’s understanding of exoplanets – planets orbiting distant stars outside our solar system. The contractor selection for the implementation phase is planned by mid-2014 and the launch is scheduled late 2017.

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. said that it has started work under three Authorisations to Proceed (ATP), totalling approximately C$5 million to provide multiple communications satellite subsystems.

Ground controllers have been unable to communicate with NASA’s long-lived Deep Impact spacecraft. Last communication with the spacecraft was on 8 August 2013. Deep Impact mission controllers will continue to uplink commands in an attempt to re-establish communications with the spacecraft.

Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) and Hummerlton Security Services (HSS) announced that they have signed a multi-transponder agreement on ABS-2 and ABS-3 satellites. The capacity agreement will provide additional connectivity for HSS to expand its business network and infrastructure for its growing business in Africa.

Aerojet Rocketdyne announced that it is celebrating the 30-year anniversary of its first Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) mission.