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.

Russia plans to conduct seven launches, six of them from Baikonur, during the period from December 2014 until February 2015, a source in the space industry was quoted as saying by Novosti news agency.

Airbus Defence and Space has signed a production contract with ELV (European Launch Vehicle, an AVIO and ASI Company), the industrial prime contractor for the European Vega launcher, to provide electronic components, including inertial navigation systems and backup units.

Spaceflight Inc. announced it has signed NovaWurks, Inc., to a launch services agreement for the eXCITe spacecraft, which NovaWurks is developing as part of the Phoenix programme for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Orbital Sciences Corporation announced new details in its plans to resume cargo flights to the International Space Station (ISS) and to accelerate the introduction of an upgraded Antares launch vehicle. These plans are expected to allow Orbital to accomplish all remaining cargo deliveries under its current Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA by the end of 2016 and with no cost increase to the space agency.