Satellite News

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has signed a contract with Orbital Sciences Corporation (Orbital) to launch up to two cargo missions to the International Space Station (ISS) under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) programme.

A Proton M/Briz M is to launch the Yamal-401 communications satellite for Gazprom Space Systems at 0016 UTC on 15 December from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. It will be the 400th launch of a Proton.

Boeing and NASA recently completed the Ground Segment Critical Design Review and set the baseline design for the company’s Commercial Crew Transportation System, moving a step closer to the planned early 2017 voyage to the International Space Station.

Engineers are getting their first look at the Lockheed Martin -built Orion spacecraft following its successful flight test and recovery on 5 December.