Satellite News

International Launch Services (ILS) and Dauria Aerospace (Dauria), of Moscow, Russia, signed an agreement today to collaborate on opportunities to launch spacecraft utilising an ILS Proton or Angara launch vehicle beginning in the 2017 timeframe.

Shipped from Thales Alenia Space’s Cannes plant, MSG-4, the fourth and last Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) weather satellite, arrived at the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, on 29 April. Built by Thales Alenia Space for the European Space Agency and Eumetsat, the satellite is scheduled for launch on 2 July 2015.

The launch of a Proton launch vehicle with the Centenario satellite was postponed in order to investigate an anomalous condition discovered on another spacecraft and to re-confirm the flight worthiness of the Centenario satellite.

Iridium Communications Inc. announced production is complete of the qualification dispenser for the Iridium NEXT constellation’s initial launch, which will be conducted by ISC Kosmotras from the Yasny launch site in Russia using a Dnepr rocket, and qualification testing is on-track for completion in June 2015.

Rocket: Ariane 5 ECA; Payload: Thor 7, SICRAL 2; Date: 26 April 2015, 2000 UTC; Launch site: Kourou, French Guiana. Both spacecraft were deployed following their ascent from the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch zone, with Thor 7 released some 28 minutes after lift-off, and SICRAL 2 separating approximately six minutes later to complete the flight sequence.

During the final count-down operations for flight VA222 slated for today, an anomaly occurred on a conditioning equipment of the launcher.

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC’s) Space Systems and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) announce the signing of a new Dream Chaser programme co-operation.

Arianespace has established the new targeted launch date for Flight VA222, using an Ariane 5 ECA to orbit the Thor 7 and SICRAL 2 satellites.