Satellite News

Rocket: PSLV-C40; Payload: Cartosat-2F, plus 4 microsatellites and 26 nanosatellites; Date: 12 January 2018, 0359 UTC; Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, India. The successfully launched the 710 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for Earth observation and its 30 co-passenger satellites with a combined lift-off mass of about 613 kg.

International Space company (ISC) Kosmotras and Planet have signed an agreement to launch 12 Dove-series satellites, says a statement published on the website of GK Launch Services, a company established by Glavkosmos (a subsidiary of Russia’s Roskosmos State Space Corporation) and Kosmotras.

The GovSat-1 spacecraft has arrived at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. GovSat-1 is the first satellite of GovSat, which is a brand operated by a joint venture between the Government of Luxembourg and the world-leading satellite operator SES. It is scheduled for launch at the end of this month on board a SpaceX flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket.

The U.S. Air Force’s Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit Flight-4 (SBIRS GEO-4) satellite has completed encapsulation at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2D; Payload: SuperView 1-03, SuperView 1-04 [Gaojing-1-03, Gaojing-1-04]; Date: 9 January 2018, 0324 UTC; Launch site: Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China. Officials declared the launch a success.

ISRO has set the launch of the Earth observation Cartosat-2F satellite for 12 January. The Indian space agency had earlier planned to launch the Earth observation satellite on 10 January.

Arianespace signed an agreement to launch two satellites for Intelsat. This continues the longstanding relationship between Intelsat and Arianespace that dates back to 1983.

ArianeGroup and its Arianespace subsidiary have announced an order for 10 Ariane 5 ECA launchers – the last of their kind.