Satellite News

Arianespace announced the signing of a launch service contract with Synspective for the launch of the satellite StriX-a (with a lift-off mass of approximately 150 kg) into a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) in 2020.#

China announced a co-operation plan for its future Chang’e-6 mission, offering to carry a total of 20-kg solicited payloads, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Rocket: Antares; Payload: NG CRS-11; Date: 17 April 2019, 2046 UTC; Launch site: Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, Wallops Island, USA. The Cygnus cargo vessel reached its target orbit approx. nine minutes after lift-off.

NSPO in Taiwan have shipped six FORMOSAT-7 satellites to the U.S. in preparation for their launch on Falcon Heavy later this year, according to SSTL, which provided the satellites’ buses.

Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI) and U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) have signed an agreement for space situational awareness (SSA) services and data. The SSA Sharing agreement enables AGI, including its Commercial Space Operations Center (ComSpOC), and USSTRATCOM to exchange SSA information and services in a streamlined process.

The redeployment of the Sea Launch space launch venture from the U.S. State of California to Russia’s Far East may be discussed soon, a Russian space industry source was quoted as saying by Sputnik news agency.

Kepler Communications, a Canadian satellite telecommunications provider, and Magellan Aerospace Corporation have signed a Letter of Intention to fly a Smart Radiator Device (SRD) on Kepler’s third satellite, scheduled for launch later this year.

Microspace missions developed and launched by Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) have achieved 100 cumulative years of on-orbit operations. Over two decades, SFL has developed 25 nano- and microsatellites that have been launched for space science, Earth observation, communication, radio frequency geolocation, environmental monitoring, technology demonstration, and ship detection.