Satellite News

Roskosmos has presented its ten-year development plan to the Russian government, which includes the construction of a prototype engine that uses a nuclear reactor to propel it on expeditions into distant space.

The SENER engineering and technology group has been awarded a new contract for the Euclid scientific space probe, after being appointed leader of the satellite’s Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS/GNC).

Rocket: Falcon 9 v1.1; Payload: Jason-3; Date: 17 January 2016, 1842 UTC; Launch site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, USA. The satellite was successfully placed into a 1,295 km x 1,320 km x 66.0 degrees orbit. However, the attempt to land the rocket’s first stage on a barge failed.

A 48-hour countdown has begun for the launch of the fifth satellite of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, IRNSS-1E, on board PSLV-C31 from the spaceport of Sriharikota on 20 January.

China will send two new models of carrier rocket in the Chang Zheng series on their maiden space trips in 2016, the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASC) said.

Information Satellite Systems – Reshetnev Company said it has started developing next-generation power conditioning units for its future satellites.

On 1 January 2016, Universal Space Network, Inc. (USN), changed its name to SSC Space U.S. Inc. The purpose of the name change is to leverage the strength and global capabilities and efficiencies of USN’s parent corporation, the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC).

Rocket: Chang Zheng 3B/G2; Payload: Belintersat-1/ChinaSat-15; Date: 15 January 2016, 1657 UTC; Launch site: Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China. The satellite was built by CGWIC, China, for the Belarusian satellite operator Belintersat.