Satellite News

Airbus Defence and Space has successfully completed the development and design phase of the Grace-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment follow-on) satellites. Following delivery of the highly stable satellite structures, the building phase of the two NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) research satellites has begun. The Grace-FO mission is based on an US-German co-operation agreement executed by JPL and the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ-Potsdam).

NASA has selected nine science instruments for a mission to Jupiter’s moon Europa, to investigate whether the mysterious icy moon could harbour conditions suitable for life.

Another Ariane 5 has completed its initial build-up at the Spaceport in French Guiana, marking a major milestone in preparations for Arianespace’s third heavy-lift mission of 2015 – which will orbit the European MSG-4 meteorological satellite and Brazilian Star One C4 telecommunications relay platform during July.

The Indian cabinet gave its approval for the continuation of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) programme for 15 operational flights (PSLV-C36 to PSLV-C50).

The launch area the Plesetsk cosmodrome is being refurbished with the purpose of guaranteed reliable and safe launches of defence satellites, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Japan’s unmanned cargo spacecraft HTV “Kounotori”, which delivers supplies to the International Space Station (ISS), may be redesigned to save cost and for multipurpose use.

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Geospace Science and Technology Branch, received U.S. patent (#8976245) for the Optical Orbital Debris Spotter – a compact, low power, low cost, local space debris detection concept that can be integrated into larger satellite designs, or flown independently on-board nano-satellite platforms.

SpaceX’s Dragon cargo craft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 1642 UTC, about 250 km southwest of Long Beach, California, marking the end of the company’s sixth contracted cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station.