Satellite News

Rocket: Atlas V; Payload: MUOS-5 [MUOS SV-3]; Date: 24 June 2016, 1430 UTC; Launch site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA. The military communications satellite was successfully deployed into geostationary transfer orbit.

Sustainable Innovations received a contract from NASA to supply a commercial-scale system to recycle helium, a resource that is in scarce supply. Ongoing rocket test operations at NASA Stennis Space Center (SSC) result in valuable helium gas being vented to the atmosphere, in addition to the substantial quantity of hydrogen gas that is flared upon completion of a rocket test cycle.

Boeing Co. has applied for a license from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to launch and operate a network of thousands of satellites.

SpaceVR, a venture-funded startup developing the world’s first virtual reality hardware and software platform enabling users to experience space firsthand using any mobile, desktop, or virtual reality device, has selected Pumpkin Space Systems Inc. (Pumpkin) as its prime contractor to build SpaceVR’s Overview 1 CubeSat bus hardware and space flight software.

Airbus Safran Launchers SAS will reportedly win European Union approval as soon as next month to take over launch-service provider Arianespace SA.