Satellite News

SpaceX has rescheduled the launch of SES-8 aboard a Falcon 9 to 3 December.

Lockheed Martin has completed on-orbit testing of the second Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite and handed over spacecraft operations to the U.S. Navy. The handover also includes acceptance of three MUOS ground stations that will relay voice and high-speed data signals for mobile users worldwide.

SiriusXM announced that Sirius FM-6, the newest addition to its satellite fleet, has been successfully placed in orbit and was declared ready for service.

The LEOSWEEP project (‘Improving Low Earth Orbit Security With Enhanced Electric Propulsion’), coordinated by the engineering and technology group SENER, has been selected during the last call of the European Commission’s 7th Framework Program. SENER will lead a consortium of 11 institutions comprised of companies, research centres and universities of the EU and Ukraine that will work jointly on the project during three years.

Willis Group Holdings announced that Inmarsat has extended the exclusive appointment of Willis’s Inspace team to act as its space risk management adviser and placing broker. This encompasses Inmarsat’s entire in orbit satellite fleet as well as its future launches.

Copernicus, the EU’s new Earth Observation System, was approved by the European Parliament’s Industry Committee last week. Replacing the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme, it will have a EUR3.79 billion budget for 2014-2020. Its data will serve many purposes, including monitoring climate change and protecting public security.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a decree to establish a state corporation that will consolidate spacecraft developers and manufacturers.