Satellite News

China’s Zhongxing-9A [ChinaSat 9A] communications satellite, launched atop a Chang Zheng 3B rocket, did not reach its planned orbital destination on 18 June. The rocket lifted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 1611 UTC.

SES announced that, following a significant anomaly, the company is in the process of transferring capacity from its AMC-9 satellite.

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its 40th flight (PSLV-C38), will launch the 712-kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for Earth observation and 30 co-passenger satellites into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO) on 23 June 0359 UTC.

OHB Italia Spa and Arianespace announced the signature of the launch contract for the Italian Space Agency’s PRISMA (PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa) satellite. [Not to be confused with a Swedish satellite named Prisma that was launched in 2010.–Ed.]

SpaceX said the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket with BulgariaSat-1 aboard, previously scheduled for today, was delayed to no earlier than 23 June.

Thales Alenia Space confirmed its acquisition of a minority stake in French company Airstar Aerospace, a leader in the construction of airships and flexible structures of all types and operating at all altitudes.