Satellite News

The Orion crew module pressure vessel has arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and is now secured in an upgraded version of a test stand called the “birdcage” inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout (O&C) Building high bay, where the spacecraft is being prepared for a mission past the moon during Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1).

Rocket: Delta IV Medium+ (5,2); Payload: NROL-45 [USA 267; Topaz 4?]; Date: 10 February 2016, 140 UTC; Launch site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, USA. The satellite was probably deployed into into an 1,100 km x 123 degrees retrograde orbit.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced the launch time and launch window for the X-ray Astronomy Satellite (ASTRO-H) by H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 30 (H-IIA F30).

Arianespace and ViaSat Inc. have contracted for the launches of ViaSat-2 and a ViaSat-3 class satellite.

Spaceflight announced it is the first launch services provider to be awarded the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Professional Services Schedule.

Tyvak Nanosatellite Systems has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with United Launch Alliance (ULA) to serve as the primary Auxiliary Payload Customer on CubeSat Rideshare Initiative efforts through 31 December 2019.

United Launch Alliance has completed the Delta IV launch readiness review for the upcoming NROL-45 mission.

Rocket: Unha 3 [Taepodong 3, Kwangmyongsong?]; Payload: Kwangmyongsong-4; Date: 7 February 2016, 0030 UTC; Launch site: Sohae Space Center, North Korea. The satellite separated from the third stage at 0039 UTC into a 465 km x 502 km x 97.5 degrees orbit.