Satellite News

The U.WS. Air Force Space Command’s Space and Missile Systems Center has determined that the Space Exploration Technologies Corporation’s (SpaceX) on 29 September 2013 launch of its Falcon 9 v1.1 launch vehicle will count toward SpaceX’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) certification.

Satmex (owned by Eutelsat Communications), Boeing and Raytheon announced that the all-electric propulsion Satmex-9 satellite being built by Boeing will carry a hosted payload enabling the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enhance aviation safety. The FAA payload is the first in a series of WAAS commercial space missions.

Four of the six instruments that will fly on the first Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-Series (GOES-R) were delivered to Lockheed Martin in Denver for integration onto the spacecraft bus this month. This marks the beginning of a new phase in the development of the GOES-R satellite scheduled for launch in early 2016.

Airbus Defence and Space will deliver the radar antenna and electronics for the Republic of Korea’s new Earth observation satellite, Kompsat-6. The contract was signed with LIG Nex1 Co. Ltd, which is accountable to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) for handling all aspects of the radar sensor.

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ending 31 December 2013.

DigitalGlobe, Inc. reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ending 31 December 2013.

Thales Alenia Space has won the contract awarded by French defence procurement agency DGA to provide operational support for the Syracuse 3, Athena-Fidus and Sicral 2 space systems.

A prototype radar that will help Europe to develop capabilities in space-debris surveillance is performing above expectations, and is showing its capability to detect objects in low orbits, ESA said.