Satellite News

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed a contract with Arianespace to launch its GSAT-11 telecommunications satellite aboard an Ariane 5.

Virgin Galactic announced that Sky and Space Global has signed a binding launch services agreement to purchase four dedicated missions on the LauncherOne system. These flights will enable the deployment of Sky and Space Global’s initial constellation. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Blue Origin unveiled an artist’s concept of two- and three-stage versions of a rocket called New Glenn that could launch humans and satellites into orbit by the end of the decade.

Intelsat S.A. updated the in-service date for the Intelsat 33e satellite, successfully launched on 24 August 2016. The in-service date is being adjusted from fourth quarter 2016 to first quarter 2017.

SES S.A. announced the procurement of SES-17, a high throughput satellite to be built by Thales Alenia Space. SES has simultaneously entered into a long-term commercial agreement with Thales to offer FlytLIVE, a new inflight connectivity service over the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean region. SES will operate the satellite infrastructure for FlytLIVE, as well as the complementary ground network.

Boeing will build a 702 satellite, called GiSAT, with a new digital payload offering twice the capacity of previous digital payload designs.

Rocket: Atlas V; Payload: OSIRIS-REx; Date: 8 September 2016, 2305 UTC; Launch site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA. The Atlas V launched the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft into a hyperbolic trajectory away from Earth where it will begin a seven-year mission to return an asteroid sample.

The four spacecraft to be orbited on Arianespace’s first launch of Galileo navigation satellites by Ariane 5 have begun their processing at the Spaceport in preparation for a November lift-off from French Guiana.