Satellite News

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2D; Payload: Yaogan Weixing-30 (Yaogan 30, YG-30); Date: 15 May 2016, 0243 UTC; Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. The satellite has been tracked in a 628 km x 656 km x 98.1 degrees orbit.

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy will launch the NROL-37 mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on 4 June between 1800 and 2300 UTC.

The launch of GLONASS-M satellite No. 53 from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in north Russia aboard a a Soyuz-2.1b has been rescheduled from 21 to 29 May, Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems CEO Nikolay Testoyedov said.

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne achieved a major milestone under the Hydrocarbon Boost programme, which is advancing U.S. rocket engine technologies in support of next generation launch. The Hydrocarbon Boost (HCB) programme completed full power, full duration tests of the oxygen-rich staged combustion (ORSC) sub-scale preburner. Testing was conducted at the historic rocket Test Stand 2A at Edwards Air Force Base.

The second Angara-A5 rocket is scheduled to blast off from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in December, a source in the space rocket industry was quoted as saying by TASS.

Airbus Safran launchers have just begun the hot-fire testing campaign for the re-ignitable VINCI upper stage engine on the P4.1 test bench at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in Lampoldshausen. This is a key milestone for the development of Ariane 6.

The production of units for the second flight prototype of Russia’s heavy-lift Angara-A5 carrier rocket is delayed for three months due to the manufacture and testing problems experienced by the Omsk-based Polyot Production Association, which is part of the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center (Moscow), a source in the space industry was quoted as saying by TASS.

Space Systems Loral (SSL) announced that the BRIsat satellite, designed and built for PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. (BRI) has arrived at the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, where it will be launched aboard an Ariane 5 launch vehicle by Arianespace.