Satellite News

Rocket: H-IIA; Payload: Hayabusa 2, Shin’en 2 (Abyss 2), ARTSAT2:DESPATCH; Date: 3 December 2014, 042 UTC; Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center.

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announced the successful completion of a major milestone relating to the Reaction Control System (RCS) propulsion risk reduction for the Dream Chaser Space System, known as Milestone 15a.

Europe’s fifth Galileo satellite, one of two delivered into a wrong orbit by VS09 Soyuz-Fregat launcher in August, has transmitted its first navigation signal in space on 29 November. It has reached its new target orbit and its navigation payload has been successfully switched on.

On 1 December 2014, the Russian Space Communications Company (RSCC) proceeded with deorbiting the DBS Bonum-1 satellite to move it to a graveyard orbit. In 2010 the satellite’s active services ended, and so did the propellant onboard.

Airbus Group N.V. and French aerospace and defence company Safran SA have formally inaugurated a joint venture named Airbus Safran Launchers, the two companies said.

A compromise defence policy bill in U.S. Congress would bar United Launch Alliance from using Russian RD-180 engines unless they were bought before Moscow’s invasion of the Crimean Peninsula this year.