Satellite News

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) will provide the launch services for Germany’s second-generation radar reconnaissance satellite system. The satellites, provided by OHB System AG and Astrium GmbH, will replace the current constellation and will be delivered to orbit by two Falcon 9 rockets in 2018 and 2019.

Reaction Engines Ltd have signed a contract with the European Space Agency for a EUR1 million study into the next European Launch System.

Rocket: H-IIB F4; Payload: HTV 4 ‘Kounotori 4′; Date: 3 August 2013, 1948 UTC; Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. The launch vehicle flew smoothly, and, at about 14 minutes and 59 seconds after lift-off, the separation of Kounotori 4 was confirmed.

Russia’s Rokot launcher is expected to return to flight in early September and take a Gonets communication spacecraft into orbit, Roskosmos Director Vladimir Popovkin was quoted as saying.

NASA has selected United Launch Services to launch the Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification-Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that the launch time of the H-IIB Launch Vehicle No. 4 with the H-II Transfer Vehicle “Kounotori 4″ (HTV4) onboard has been set for 3 August, 1948 UTC.

NASA has successfully completed the Space Launch System (SLS) preliminary design review.

Pre-launch checkout is now underway with Eutelsat 25B/Es’hail 1, which is one of two satellite passengers to be orbited on Arianespace’s fourth heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission of 2013.