Satellite News

Rocket: Pegasus XL; Payload: eight CYGNSS satellites; Date: 15 December 2016, 1337 UTC; Launch site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA. For the first phase of the launch, CYGNSS and the Pegasus rocket were carried into the atmosphere beneath Orbital ATK’s “Stargazer” L-1011 carrier aircraft. They were released from the plane at approximately 11.7 km, and then the Pegasus motors ignited, carrying CYGNSS to its intended 35 degree orbit.

Europe’s own Galileo satellite navigation system has begun operating, with the satellites in space delivering positioning, navigation and timing information to users around the globe. Several contracts regarding the system’s operation have been signed.

ESA has handed over ownership of the Orion European Service Module test article to NASA at the agency’s Plum Brook facility – marking the end of individual testing for the structure.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. plans to build a global real-time communications satellite network by 2020, a senior company executive said. Sun Weigang, chief engineer at CASC, said the Hongyan satellite system will be composed of 60 small satellites operating in low orbits and 20 ground stations around the world.