Satellite News

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2-D; Payload: Shijian-10 [SJ-10]; Date: 6 April 2016, 1738 UTC; Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. The retrievable scientific research satellite was placed in a 234 km x 267 km x 42.9 degrees orbit.

NASA provider SpaceX is scheduled to launch its eighth Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station on Friday, 8 April, at 2043 UTC.

The next pair of Galileo satellites to be orbited by Arianespace for Europe’s global satellite navigation system have arrived in French Guiana, positioning them to be readied for a May lift-off aboard a Soyuz launcher from the Spaceport.

Roskosmos has vehemently rejected reports that the Proton rocket’s Briz-M upper stage disintegrated after placing the ExoMars 2016 satellite into orbit.

The first launch from the Vostochny Cosmodrome will be held on 27 April at 0201 UTC, the Roskosmos State Corporation for Space Activities said.

Rocket: Chang Zheng 3A; Payload: Beidou 22 [Beidou Daohang Weixing 21, Beidou DW 21, Beidou-2 I6]; Date: 29 March 2016, 2011 UTC; Launch site: Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China. The navigation satellite was placed in a 200 km x 35,797 km x 55.0 degrees geosynchronous transfer orbit.

Russia may launch two or three GLONASS navigation satellites this year, a senior space industry official said. The official noted that the launches of the satellites would depend on the state of the GLONASS system.

India is planning to launch a record 22 satellites by a single rocket in May this year from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota, an official said.