Satellite News

Space Flight Laboratory (SFL), a provider of complete microspace missions based at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS), has been contracted by GHGSat Inc. of Montreal to develop the GHGSat-C1 and C2 greenhouse gas monitoring satellites.

Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic announced Virgin Orbit, a new commercial space company, and the appointment of Dan Hart as the first President of the newly created company. Virgin Orbit will offer launch services for small satellites via the LauncherOne system. Virgin Orbit’s activities were previously conducted as a division of Virgin Galactic.

Telesat announced its consolidated financial results for the three month and one year periods ending 31 December 2016.

Rocket: Atlas V 401; Payload: NROL-79; Date: 1 March 2017, 1750 UTC; Launch site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, USA. The payload was probably placed in a 1,120-km x 63 degrees orbit for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

Aerojet Rocketdyne recently completed hot-fire acceptance testing of eight auxiliary engines that will be used on the first flight of NASA’s Orion spacecraft with the Space Launch System rocket, slated to launch in 2018.

GomSpace A/S has been selected by and has entered into a procurement contract with the UK company Sky and Space Global (UK) Ltd. to develop and deliver a constellation of satellites within a four-year period.