Satellite News

Arianespace has been chosen to orbit the Al Yah 3 telecommunications satellite, built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, for the operator Al Yah Satellite Communications company PrJSC (Yahsat).

The fifth development model (M5) of the Vinci rocket engine designed by Snecma (Safran), has successfully completed its ground firing tests. Vinci is a new-generation cryogenic rocket engine – fuelled by liquid hydrogen and oxygen – intended for the upper stages of the upcoming Ariane 5 ME and Ariane 6 launch vehicles.

Rocket: Falcon 9; Payload: AsiaSat 6/Thaicom 7; Date: 7 September 2014, 0322 UTC; Launch site: Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China. Approximately 32 minutes after lift-off, the AsiaSat 6 spacecraft successfully separated from the launch vehicle.

Rocket: Chang Zheng 4B; Payload: Yaogan-21, Tiantuo-2; Date: 8 September 2014, 0322 UTC; Launch site: Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, China. The satellites were successfully launched into preset orbit, Chinese state media reported.

Arianespace has announced four new contracts for satellites to be launched by Ariane 5 ECA. These latest orders bring the number of commercial and governmental launch contracts signed to date this year to 11, including six satellites to be launched by Ariane 5 ECA and three dedicated Ariane launches.

Preparations are in full swing at Baikonur for a launch of Proton M to orbit the Russian Loutch [Luch, aka Olymp] satellite. The launch of Proton M/Briz M integrated launch vehicle is tentatively scheduled for late September. It will be Proton’s 5th mission in 2014.

SpaceX will reportedly try to launch AsiaSat 6 aboard a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on 7 September between 0450 and 0804 UTC.

Firefly Space Systems announced that it has joined the Autodesk Cleantech Partner Program, which will allow the company to begin designing and advancing the next-generation of cleaner burning rockets.