Satellite News

Rocket: Falcon 9; Payload: Dragon Demo 1; Date: 2 March 2019, 0749 UTC; Launch site: Kennedy Space Center, USA. The Dragon 2 (aka Crew Dragon) capsule docket with the International Space Station on 3 February.

Eutelsat Communications announced he successful mating of the platform and payload of the KONNECT satellite, conducted this week at Thales Alenia Space’s facilities in Cannes. This operation is a major step in the construction of the satellite, in preparation for its launch by the end of this year.

Telesat Canada announced its financial results for the three-month and one-year periods ended 31 December 2018.

Globalstar, Inc. announced financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ending 31 December 2018.

Iridium Communications Inc. reported financial results for the fourth quarter of 2018.

The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center’s Launch Enterprise Systems Directorate Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) programme name was officially changed to the National Security Space Launch programme on 1 March.

“Maxar Technologies, which will lay off more than 200 people as it seeks to return to profitability following a $1.26 billion loss, says the struggling satellite division it decided to keep will need to bring in roughly $500 million annually to break even.” (Space News)

“Israel’s Beresheet, the Jewish state’s first lunar spacecraft, successfully completed another maneuver on Wednesday at around 9:30 p.m. Israel time, according to a release by Space IL. … Earlier in the week, Beresheet experienced some technical difficulties and had to cancel a maneuver planned for the spacecraft.” (Jerusalem Post)