Satellite News

Rocket: Chang Zheng 3B/G2; Payload: Belintersat-1/ChinaSat-15; Date: 15 January 2016, 1657 UTC; Launch site: Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China. The satellite was built by CGWIC, China, for the Belarusian satellite operator Belintersat.

Roskosmos plans to develop a natural-gas-powered rocket engine. The federal space exploration programme for 2016-2025 guarantees funding for the project.

NASA has awarded three cargo contracts to ensure the critical science, research and technology demonstrations are delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) from 2019 through 2024. The agency unveiled its selection of Orbital ATK of Dulles, Virginia; Sierra Nevada Corporation of Sparks, Nevada; and SpaceX of Hawthorne, California.

The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center awarded the first two Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) for shared public-private investments in Rocket Propulsion System (RPS) prototypes.

JAXA’s ASTRO-H satellite, developed with institutions in Japan, the US, Canada and Europe, is ready to be mounted on an H-IIA rocket for launch on 12 February.

At Space Launch Complex 4 on Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the static test fire of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for the upcoming Jason-3 launch was completed on 12 January (UTC).

New dates have been set for three delayed Russian rocket launches.

China will conduct more than 20 space missions this year, including a manned one and the maiden flights of two rockets, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CAST).