Satellite News

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2C; Payload: Shijian 11-06; Date: 30 March 2014, 0246 UTC; Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. State media reported the satellite was successfully launched into preset orbit.

Eutelsat Communications has been advised by Sea Launch of a delay to the planned launch on 15 April of the Eutelsat 3B satellite.

The European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1A satellite, designed and built by Thales Alenia Space, is ready to be launched from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana, using a Soyuz-Fregat A launcher.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. and Aerojet Rocketdyne exceeded the technical range objective for the main thruster that will fly aboard the Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM). This mission will demonstrate in a space environment, a “green” propellant known as AF-M315E, to replace the highly toxic hydrazine and complex bi-propellant systems in-use today.

Andrews Space announced that they have successfully completed space qualification of their new 6U solar panel. This qualification effort extends the qualified power systems products for small satellites applications beyond batteries and satellite power management to now include solar panels.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced that it completed the in-orbit delivery of the Turksat-4A satellite to Turksat Satellite Communication, Cable TV and Operation Inc. Co. (Turksat A.S.) on 29 March.

The U.S. Air Force’s fourth Space Operations Squadron accepted satellite control authority of the third Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite on 21 March.

A demonstrator radar developed by Indra for detecting objects in space has successfully passed validation tests performed within the European Space Agency’s Space Situational Awareness (SSA) preparation programme.