Satellite News

Rocket: Delta IV Heavy; Payload: Orion/EFT-1; Date: 5 December 2014; Launch site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA. The uncrewed Exploration Flight Test-1 tested the Orion capsule’s systems critical to crew safety.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed the completion of the critical operation phase for the Asteroid Exploration “Hayabusa2″ mission.

Space Systems/Loral (SSL) was selected to provide a multi-mission communications satellite to Spanish satellite operator Hispasat Group. The satellite, Amazonas 5, will be used for a broad range of services in Latin America.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Airbus Defence and Space as the prime contractor to develop and construct the first Jason-CS/Sentinel-6 satellite. Jason-CS/Sentinel-6 is a mission to carry out high-precision measurements of ocean surface topography.

Alliant Techsystems Inc.and Orbital Sciences Corporation announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has unconditionally cleared the proposed merger of ATK’s Aerospace and Defense Groups with Orbital.

Emcore Corporation announced that at a special meeting, Emcore’s shareholders approved the sale of substantially all of the assets primarily related to or used in Emcore’s Space Photovoltaics business to SolAero Technologies Corp. (f/k/a Photon Acquisition Corporation), an affiliate of private equity firm Veritas Capital (“SolAero”).

The launch of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying NASA’s Orion spacecraft for Lockheed Martin was scrubbed today when, after an extended hold for ground wind conditions, the liquid hydrogen fill and drain valves on both the port and centre common booster cores did not properly close within the allotted time.

In keeping with the CNES/CSG safety regulations, the launch of Arianespace Flight 221 has been postponed due to unfavourable weather conditions over the launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana.