Satellite News

Raytheon Company was recently selected by DigitalGlobe, Inc. as the next-generation WorldView Legion satellite imaging constellation payload provider.

Rocket: H-IIA; Payload: Michibiki No. 4; Date: 9 October 2017, 2201 UTC; Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. The satellite, which will become part of Japan’s navigational Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, separated from the launch vehicle approx. 29 minutes after lift-off.

Rocket: Falcon 9; Payload: 10 Iridium NEXT satellites; Date: 9 October 2017, 1237 UTC; Launch site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, USA. The satellites were delivered into low-Earth orbit approximately one hour after lift-off.

The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying the NROL-52 mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station was scrubbed on 7 October owing to an issue with a telemetry transmitter on the launch vehicle.

The U.S. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Flight 19 ceased transmitting weather data after nearly three and a half years of operational service.

The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying the NROL-52 mission was scrubbed again due to weather.

Jena-Optronik’s RVS3000 rendezvous and docking sensor will support the autonomous approach of Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser to the ISS, making it the fourth ISS supply spacecraft to use the sensor technology from Jena.

Iridium Communications Inc. announced that it has begun live testing of the Iridium Certus service on operational Iridium NEXT satellites. Iridium Certus will be Iridium’s new broadband service, offering L-band communications connectivity through the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation.