Satellite News

Rocket: Falcon 9; Payload: AsiaSat 6/Thaicom 7; Date: 7 September 2014, 0322 UTC; Launch site: Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China. Approximately 32 minutes after lift-off, the AsiaSat 6 spacecraft successfully separated from the launch vehicle.

Rocket: Chang Zheng 4B; Payload: Yaogan-21, Tiantuo-2; Date: 8 September 2014, 0322 UTC; Launch site: Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China. The satellites were successfully launched into preset orbit, Chinese state media reported.

Arianespace has announced four new contracts for satellites to be launched by Ariane 5 ECA. These latest orders bring the number of commercial and governmental launch contracts signed to date this year to 11, including six satellites to be launched by Ariane 5 ECA and three dedicated Ariane launches.

Preparations are in full swing at Baikonur for a launch of Proton M to orbit the Russian Loutch [Luch, aka Olymp] satellite. The launch of Proton M/Briz M integrated launch vehicle is tentatively scheduled for late September. It will be Proton’s 5th mission in 2014.

Space Systems/Loral (SSL) was selected to provide a communications satellite for Bulgaria Sat, an affiliate of Bulsatcom, which is a telecommunications company and the largest provider of pay-TV services in Bulgaria. The satellite, which will provide Direct-to-Home (DTH) television service in the Balkans and other European regions, will be Bulgaria Sat’s first dedicated satellite.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has been awarded a contract to deliver the Es’hail 2 communications satellite to operator Qatar Satellite company (Es’hailSat) in Doha. In-orbit delivery is scheduled for the end of 2016.

Lockheed Martin announced two major upgrades to its A2100 family of satellites: side-by-side launch capability and a new mission processor.

The launch of a NASA ocean winds sensor to the International Space Station (ISS) this month inaugurates a new era of Earth observation that will leverage the space station’s vantage point in space. Before the end of the decade, six NASA Earth science instruments will be mounted to the station to help scientists study Earth, the agency said.