Satellite News

Rocket: Vega; Payload: Sentinel-2B; Date: 7 March 2017, 0149 UTC; Launch site: Kourou, French Guiana. The first stage separated 1 min 55 sec after lift-off, followed by the second stage and fairing at 3 min 39 sec and 3 min 56 sec, respectively, and the third stage at 6 min 32 sec. After two more ignitions, Vega’s upper stage delivered Sentinel-2B into the targeted Sun-synchronous orbit. The satellite separated from the stage 57 min 57 sec into the flight.

International Launch Services (ILS) announced the availability of a 5 meter diameter payload fairing (PLF) for use with both the Proton Briz M and Proton Medium launch systems for commercial launch services beginning in first quarter of 2020.

Eutelsat Communications announced the conclusion of a contract with Blue Origin for a launch on the New Glenn rocket that is expected to initiate flights in 2020.

China Great Wall Industry Corporation (“CGWIC”), a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science & Technology Corporation, and APT Satellite Company Limited (“APT (HK)”) and APT Mobile SatCom Limited(“APT Mobile”) formally recently signed the Apstar-6D Satellite In-orbit Delivery Procurement Contract, and a Letter of Intent of procurement of a Global High-throughput Satellite Communication System(“Letter of Intent”).

The European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency (GSA) has selected Eutelsat Communications for the development, integration and operation of the next-generation EGNOS payload on a future Eutelsat satellite.

Aireon has announced that Thales has officially begun the testing and validation of the Aireon space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data.