Satellite News

Oxia Planum has been recommended as the primary candidate for the landing site of the ExoMars 2018 mission. ExoMars 2018, comprising a rover and surface platform, is the second of two missions making up the ExoMars programme, a joint endeavour between ESA and Russia’s Roskosmos. Launch is planned for May 2018, with touchdown on the Red Planet in January 2019.

The U.S. Air Force’s 3rd Space Operations Squadron accepted satellite control authority of the Wideband Global Satcom-7 satellite here 13 October following a three month launch and early orbit checkout period.

Iridium Communications Inc. announced that it has successfully conducted the first ever voice and data ground test call over the next-generation Iridium Certus broadband network, currently under development. Iridium Certus is the new global broadband capability being introduced on Iridium NEXT.

Space Systems/Loral (SSL) was selected to provide a communications satellite to Azercosmos, the national satellite operator of Azerbaijan. Under a strategic agreement with Intelsat, the satellite will be located at the 45 degrees east orbital location where it will provide service in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) has signed a satellite procurement contract with APT Satellite Company Limited (APT Satellite), a Hong Kong based satellite operator, for the Apstar-6C satellite programme, which is the second DFH-4 platform based communications satellite to be delivered by CGWIC to APT Satellite following Apstar-9.

Russia’s Federal Space Agency Roskosmos will propose a joint satellite system to India on Tuesday, a source from the agency said.

Lockheed Martin reported financial results for the third quarter 2015.

Inmarsat has signed a contract to provide high-speed inflight connectivity services for passengers onboard Lufthansa’s European continental fleet.