Satellite News

XCOR Aerospace announced it has completed the latest test series for the liquid hydrogen engine it is developing for United Launch Alliance (ULA). This is an important milestone in the long-running LH2 (liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen) programme. It is also a step toward running the engine in a fully closed cycle mode.

Space Systems/Loral (SSL) announced that the contract award previously reported was for the Indonesian satellite operator, PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN).

The upcoming Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), a satellite designed to monitor and warn of harmful solar activity that could impact Earth, recently cleared two major reviews and remains on track to launch 23 January 2015.

During its meeting at the European Space Astronomy Centre, near Madrid, on 19 November, the SPC gave the green light for the flotilla of spacecraft to continue their key scientific endeavours for at least another two years.

Alcatel-Lucent is joining Inmarsat as a technology partner for the development of the first fully integrated aviation telecommunications network across the European Union (EU). The network is scheduled to enter commercial service by the end of 2016.

Ground operations are in full swing at Baikonur to process the Proton M integrated launch vehicle for the launch of the European communications satellite, Astra-2G.

ViaSat has reportedly decided to launch its ViaSat-2 satellite aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket in 2016.

Alliant Techsystems Inc. (“ATK”) and Orbital Sciences Corporation announced that the two companies have set 27 January 2015 as the new date for their separate, special stockholder meetings in connection with the proposed transaction to spin off ATK’s Sporting Group business and immediately thereafter, merge ATK’s Aerospace and Defense Groups with Orbital.