Satellite News

ABS and Nepal Digital Cable (NDC) signed a multi-transponder agreement to deliver Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcast service into Nepal.

Rocket: Chang Zheng-2D; Payload: TanSat; Date: 22 December 2016, 1522 UTC; Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. The 620-kg satellite was sent into a 700 km x 98.2 degrees sun synchronous orbit .

Spacecom, operator of the Amos satellite fleet, announced that it has entered into a satellite procurement agreement with Boeing Satellite Systems International. The deal for Amos-17 is worth US$161 million.

Airbus Defence and Space has sent the MetOp-C payload module on its first journey. The module, which has a mass of around 2.1 tonnes, contains ten measuring instruments together with their control systems.

Rocket: Artiane 5 ECA; Payload: Star One D1, JCSAT-15; Date: 21 December 2016, 2030 UTC; Launch site: Kourou, French Guiana. This was the 11th and final launch of the year for Arianespace, the seventh with Ariane 5 in 2016, as well as the heavy-lift launcher’s 76th consecutive success and its 90th launch overall.

EUMETSAT and NOAA have signed the plan that will implement the Joint Polar System (JPS).

GomSpace ApS and Aerial & Maritime Ltd, both subsidiaries of GS Sweden AB, have entered into a turn-key delivery contract, whereas GomSpace will design, deliver, launch and commission a constellation of satellites into a low-inclination Equatorial orbit.

Rocket: Epsilon-2; Payload: Exploration of energisation and Radiation in Geospace (ERG) “ARASE”; Date: 20 December 2016, 1100 UTC; Launch site: Uchinoura Space Center, Japan. The launch vehicle flew as planned, and at approximately 13 minutes and 27 seconds after lift-off, the separation of ERG was confirmed.