Satellite News

RemoveDEBRIS carried out a test of its onboard vision-based navigation (VBN) system on 28 October.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. has been awarded a contract by Sky Perfect JSAT Corporation (SJC) to design and build gateways for SJC’s new High Throughput Satellite (HTS) network. The JCSAT-18 HTS satellite, launching in 2019, will deliver broadband and mobile communication services to Asia Pacific and Eastern Russia.

Rocket: H-IIA; Payload: “IBUKI-2” (GOSAT-2), KhalifaSat; Date: 29 October 2018, 0408 UTC; Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. The launch and flight of H-IIA F40 proceeded as planned.

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2C;M Payload: CFOSAT (China-France Oceanography Satellite), seven secondary payloads; Time: 29 October 2018, oo43 UTC; Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. CFOSat’s solar array deployed successfully 32 minutes later.

Rocket Lab has signed a contract with Internet of Things (IoT) start-up Fleet Space Technologies to launch two satellites that will form the foundation of a global IoT communications constellation.

The 2.5 m long boom carrying the magnetometer sensors onboard ESA’s BepiColombo Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) has been successfully deployed. The sensors are now prepared to measure the magnetic field on the way to Mercury.

A privately developed Chinese rocket failed to reach orbit after lifting off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on 27 October.

SSL has shipped two Earth observation satellites to Vandenberg Air Force Base where they will be launched on Spaceflight’s first Sun Synchronous dedicated rideshare mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle.