Satellite News

At Space Launch Complex 4 on Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the static test fire of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for the upcoming Jason-3 launch was completed on 12 January (UTC).

New dates have been set for three delayed Russian rocket launches.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a contract from Lockheed Martin Corporation to supply its LN-200S fibre-optic Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) for the LM 300 satellite bus.

Kymeta Corporation and Intelsat S.A. said they will combine Intelsat’s space-based communication with Kymeta’s antenna technology to bring high speed connectivity to cars on a global basis.

“ISRO’s Second Vehicle Assembly Building (SVAB) is being realised as an additional integration facility, with suitable interfacing to a second launch pad at Sriharikota, even as the space agency plans to increase its launch frequency to more than 12 missions per year.” (Business Standard)

“Several projects have recently appeared on the scene, all planning to use low earth orbiting satellites (LEO) to change the dynamics of how internet access is delivered to underserved regions of the globe.” (New Electronics)

“Farewell, Philae. The space lander that touched down on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (and in our hearts) in November 2014 has not responded to a last-ditch attempt to wake it, and it now looks almost certain that the lander is permanently sleeping.” (New Scientist)