Satellite News

Rocket: H-IIB; Payload: HTV-5 “Kounotori”; Date: 19 August 2015, 1150 UTC; Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center. The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at about 14 minutes and 54 seconds after lift-off, the separation of HTV-5 was confirmed.

The launch of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) D6 carrying the GSAT-6 communication satellite is scheduled for 27 August, ISRO said.

Chinese scientists have successfully tested the power system of a Chang Zheng-5 rocket scheduled to serve the Chang’e-5 lunar mission around 2017.

The first flying prototype of the new Soyuz-5 carrier rocket could be built by 2022, Alexander Kirilin, general director of Samara-based Progress rocket and space company, said.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has postponed the launch of its H-II Transport Vehicle (HTV)-5 to the International Space Station to 1150 UTC on Wednesday, 19 August.

Inmarsat confirmed that the third satellite in the transformational Global Xpress (GX) programme – Inmarsat-5 F3 (I-5 F3) – has been scheduled for launch at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1144 UTC on Friday 28 August.

The build-up of another Ariane 5 began this week in French Guiana, initiating preparations for Arianespace’s fifth heavy-lift flight of 2015.

SES Government Solutions has agreed to a one year contract with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) to provide O3b Networks’ services and ground equipment to the National Weather Service Office (WSO) in Pago Pago, American Samoa.