Satellite News

Rocket: Ariane 5 ECA; Payload: Intelsat 37e, BSAT 4a; Date: 29 September 2017, 2156 UTC; Launch site: Kourou, French Guiana. The successful mission delivered an estimated payload lift performance of 10,838 kg to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2C; Payload: three Yaogan-30-01 satellites; Date: 28 September 2017, 0420 UTC; Launch site: Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) decided to postpone the launch of the third Epsilon Launch Vehicle (Epsilon-3) with the Advanced Small-size Radar Satellite (ASNARO-2) on board to 12 November 2017, from the Uchinoura Space Center.

The U.S. Air Force released a final Request for Proposal for an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Launch Service supporting the Air Force Space Command (AFSPC)-52 mission.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems successfully completed a system Critical Design Review for the SBIRS GEO-5 and GEO-6 satellites on 8 September.

Rocket: Proton M/Briz M; Payload: AsiaSat 9; Date: 28 September 2017, 1852 UTC; Launch site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan. At the time of writing this, the Briz M had finished the second of five burns planned for this mission.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope now is planning to launch between March and June 2019 from French Guiana, following a schedule assessment of the remaining integration and test activities. Previously Webb was targeted to launch in October 2018.

GomSpace A/S, a subsidiary of GomSpace Group AB, and the Spanish company AISTECH have signed a framework delivery agreement for the supply of up to 100 nanosatellite platforms for a value of up to EUR12.5 million.