Satellite News

U.S. orbital launch provider Rocket Lab has confirmed plans to expand its launch capability by developing a U.S. launch site, with four U.S. space ports shortlisted to launch the Electron rocket.

A 3-D printed titanium dome for satellite fuel tanks completed final rounds of quality testing this month, ending a multi-year development programme at Lockheed Martin.

Rocket: Soyuz 2.1a; Payload: Progress MS-09; Date: 9 July 2018, 2151 UTC; Launch site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The Progress cargo spacecraft docked to the International Space Station (ISS) less than four hours after lift-off, completing this fast-track orbital rendezvous attempt for the first time.

Rocket: Chang Zheng 3A; Payload: Beidou 2-G8 [?]; Date: 9 July 2018, 2058 UTC; Launch site: Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China. The navigation satellite was placed in a geostationary transfer orbit.

Beijing-based space launch company LandSpace recently revealed that its Suzaku No. 2, the largest privately-owned rocket developed in the country so far, will be launched in 2020.

Iridium Communications Inc. announced an updated launch date for the seventh Iridium NEXT launch.

Aerojet Rocketdyne successfully fired its AR-22 booster rocket engine 10 times in 240 hours at NASA Stennis Space Center, demonstrating the feasibility of rapidly recycling the engine to enable a reusable launch vehicle capable of high-tempo, aircraft-like flight operations.

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2C/SMA; Payload: PRSS-1 and PakTES-1A; Date: 9 July 2018, 0356 UTC; Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. After entering orbit, PRSS-1 is in good condition with its solar panels unfolded smoothly, according to CAST.