Satellite News

Harris Corporation has received an US$84 million contract to produce Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3), an experimental satellite that will demonstrate new position, navigation and timing capabilities to improve the resiliency of the Global Positioning System (GPS).

The first two-line elements (TLEs) are in for debris originating from India’s anti-satellite (ASAT) test on 27 March.

All 16 RS-25 engines slated for the first four of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) missions have successfully demonstrated flight worthiness.

Northrop Grumman Corporation conducted its second ground test of a 160-cm diameter Graphite Epoxy Motor (GEM 63). The company developed this new side-mounted rocket motor to add power to the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V launch vehicle.

Apparently under pressure from the White House, NASA has resumed co-operation with its Indian counterpart ISRO reversing a recent decision to suspend it over orbital debris resulting from the recent Indian anti-satellite test.

Rocket: Soyuz 2-1a; Payload: Progress MS-11 (Progress 72); Date: 4 April 2019, 1101 UTC; Launch site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The Progress MS-11 cargo spacecraft was accurately placed on the target orbit for the ISS resupplying mission.

Rocket: Soyuz 2-1b (Soyuz ST-B) / Fregat; Payload: O3b F5; Date: 4 April 2019, 1630 UTC; Launch site: Sinnamary, French Guiana. The launch vehicle delivered the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th O3b satellites into a circular orbit during a flight lasting 2 hours and 22 minutes until final separation. Total payload lift performance was estimated at 3,198 kg.

Rocket Lab announced that it will launch three experimental research and development (R&D) satellites for the U.S. Air Force in April. The mission will lift-off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, carrying three R&D spacecraft to Low Earth Orbit aboard an Electron launch vehicle. The launch will be Rocket Lab’s second orbital mission of 2019, and fifth orbital mission overall.