Satellite News

Lloyd’s has launched a new multi-million-pound space insurance policy for the emerging private spaceflight industry.

PSLV-C48, which is the 50th mission of PSLV, will launch RISAT-2BR1 from the First Launch Pad (FLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. The launch is tentatively scheduled at 0955 UTC on 11 December 2019, subject to weather conditions.

Spaceflight announced that together with Hypergiant SEOPS, it will be launching three CubeSats from the International Space Station (ISS) and Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft in early January.

Officials at JAXA have struck a deal with Tokyo-based venture firm Space BD to arrange for different microsatellites to be launched on the same rocket.

Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the Egyptian operator Nilesat to build the Nilesat-301 geostationary communications satellite, winning the contract against an international field of competitors.

JAXA’s Hayabusa2 asteroid probe set off on its return voyage to Earth on Tuesday by activating its electric propulsion system.

The Enhanced Polar System Recapitalisation (EPS-R) Payload programme reached a major programme milestone completing a successful Delta Critical Design Review (CDR). Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (NGAS) is the EPS-R Payload developer via an approximately US$410 million contract awarded in February 2018 that runs through December 2023.

The launch of Boeing’s uncrewed Orbital Flight Test to the International Space Station, as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, now is targeted for 1159 UTC on 19 December 2019.