Satellite News

Thales Alenia Space has shipped the broadband radiometer (BBR), a scientific instrument for the European Space Agency’s Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) satellite mission. Designed and built by Thales Alenia Space in the United Kingdom, it was shipped to satellite prime contractor Airbus integration centre in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

ILS announced multiple launch assignments for Proton Medium launches that will include the use of both the 4.35 meter and the new 5.2 meter payload fairing. The missions will take place beginning in late 2019 from Pad 24 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

DigitalGlobe said that the initial block of the company’s multi-satellite WorldView Legion constellation will be launched by two flight-proven Falcon 9 rockets in 2021.

Deep Space Industries announced that it has signed a contract with Astro Digital to provide several Comet water-based satellite propulsion systems. Comet is a simple electrothermal propulsion system that can be customised for nearly any small satellite application.

Iridium Communications Inc. announced that all 10 Iridium NEXT satellites for its fifth launch have arrived and are in processing at SpaceX’s west coast launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Orbital ATK announced its plan for the company’s next generation of satellite life extension and in-space servicing products.

BridgeSat announced an industry-first agreement with NASA designed to develop a commercialised laser-based free space optical communication system that could support the agency’s future missions as they transition to optical communications.

The Space Alliance formed by Thales Alenia Space (Thales 67%, Leonardo 33%) and Telespazio (Leonardo 67%, Thales 33%) announced it has officially taken a minority stake in Seattle-based Spaceflight Industries, having received all government approvals for the transaction.