Satellite News

OHB SE has acquired GEOSYSTEMS GmbH, one of the leading companies for the analysis and processing of sensor data from Earth observation satellites.

Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the Italian space agency (ASI) to conduct a feasibility study for the PRISMA Second Generation (PSG) hyperspectral Earth observation system. It will be leading a consortium that includes Leonardo, Telespazio (the joint-venture between Leonardo (67%) and Thales (33%), e-GEOS and SITAEL.

The fourth Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) built by L3Harris Technologies has been successfully integrated into NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-U (GOES-U), completing the series of advanced weather sensors for the GOES programme, slated to launch in 2024.

On 19 February 2022, German NewSpace company ConstellR successfully launched their first thermal infrared Earth observation system into space for global water monitoring. The payload was launched from Wallops Island, Virginia, part of the Northrop Grumman resupply mission to the International Space Station.

The latest Cygnus resupply vessel has successfully docked to the International Space Station (ISS). The 17th Cygnus operational mission was launched by an Antares 230+ rocket from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia, on 19 February.

Northrop Grumman Corporation’s SpaceLogistics announced a launch agreement for its Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) spacecraft, and the sale of its first Mission Extension Pod (MEP).

Rocket: Falcon 9; Payload: 46 Starlink satellites; Date: 21 February 2022, 1444 UTC; Launch site: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, USA. The satellites were released in a single batch about an hour after launch.