Satellite News

MSG-1 (also called Meteosat-8) has broken all records for longevity, logging 19 years, 7 months and 12 days in orbit to date. MSG-1 was launched back in August 2002, followed by MSG-2, MSG-3 and MSG-4 in December 2005, July 2012 and July 2015, respectively.

Astra Space, Inc. and LeoStella LLC announced a contract for Astra to provide multiple Astra Spacecraft Engines for LeoStella satellites. Astra is expected to begin delivering the propulsion systems later this year and into 2023.

Building on the strategic partnership that Axiom Space and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. signed in September, and following Mitsui’s investment in Axiom Space, the partners have initiated the formation of a joint venture in Japan to accelerate on-orbit services to commercial and government customers. This partnership builds on both Axiom’s in-space capabilities and Mitsui’s global industrial reach.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) recently awarded the largest RL10 contract ever to Aerojet Rocketdyne to deliver 116 RL10C-X engines for its Vulcan Centaur rocket.

Airbus Defence and Space has announced the acquisition of DSI Datensicherheit GmbH (DSI DS), a German-based company that provides cryptography and communication systems for Space, Airborne and Naval & Ground that is certified by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).

Thales Alenia Space and the start-up AIKO S.r.l. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop advanced software for space systems.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is likely to launch seven satellites during the current year and the expenditure towards the realisation of satellites is nearly Rs 490 crore [INR 4.9 billion, US$64.3 million], the Parliament was informed.

The Kosmos-2554 military satellite launched from the Plesetsk spaceport on 7 April was delivered into orbit at the designated time, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.