Satellite News

The European Space Agency (ESA) has chosen OHB System AG as prime contractor for a new programme called PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars), with Thales Alenia Space as a partner.

Telesat and Global Eagle Entertainment Inc., a provider of satellite-based connectivity services to global mobility markets, have agreed to collaborate in optimising the capabilities of Telesat’s LEO system to serve broadband requirements of maritime and aeronautical markets.

According to Frost and Sullivan’s recent analysis, Small-satellite Launch Services Market, Quarterly Update Q1 2018, there will be an estimated 11,631 launch demands for new constellation installations and replacement missions by 2030, which could take the market past the US$62 billion mark.

The spacecraft of the BepiColombo mission to Mercury have arrived safely at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, marking the start of six months of preparation to ready the craft for launch.

Eutelsat Communications reported revenues for the Third Quarter and Nine months ending 31 March 2018.

Rocket: Falcon 9; Payload: Bangabandhu Satellite-1; Date: 11 May 2018, 2014 UTC; Launch site: Kennedy Space Center, USA. The spacecraft was deployed into a geostationary transfer orbit approximately 33 minutes after lift-off.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) announced Aerojet Rocketdyne as a strategic partner for the RL10 upper stage engine for ULA’s next-generation Vulcan Centaur rocket following a competitive procurement process.

Rocket: Chang Zheng 4C; Payload: Gaofen-5; Date: 8 May 2018, 1828 UTC; Launch site: Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China. The launch vehicle inserted the hyperspectral imaging satellite into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 705 kilometers.