Satellite News

Rocket: Chang Zheng 4C; Payload: Yaogan XX (Yaogan Weixing-20); Date: 9 August 2014, 0545 UTC; Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China.

China is preparing for the launch of an experimental recoverable moon orbiter, according to the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence.

The Space Data Association (SDA), established by satellite operators to improve the safety and efficiency of space operations, announced that the United States Department of Defense (U.S. DoD) has signed an agreement with the SDA to participate in the DoD’s Space Situational Awareness Data Sharing Program, the first such agreement with a non-satellite operator.

Loral Space & Communications Inc. announced that the trial court on 8 August 2014 issued decisions on the post-trial motions filed in the breach of contract and patent infringement lawsuit brought by ViaSat, Inc. (ViaSat) against Loral and Loral’s former subsidiary, Space Systems/Loral, LLC (SSL).

TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. has been selected as a channel partner by O3b Networks. TCS will make O3b’s high-performance satellite services available to U.S. government customers through its contract vehicles and directly to commercial TCS customers.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. announced that its RT Logic subsidiary was awarded a US$1 million follow-on contract to provide ground system components for the USAF GPS OCX programme, bringing RT Logic’s total OCX contract awards to over US$4 million.