Satellite News

No more than five Proton-M rockets may be launched from Baikonur (Kazakhstan) before the end of this year if the launches resume in September as currently planned.

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2C; Payload: Shijian 11-05 [Shi Jian 11-05, SJ 11-05]; Date: 15 July 2013, 0927 UTC; Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. The experimental satellite was successfully placed into its target orbit.

Orbital Sciences, one of NASA’s two partners participating in the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) programme, announced it is now targeting a mid-September launch window for its demonstration flight to the International Space Station.

Aerojet Rocketdyne and NASA successfully completed a series of hot-fire tests on a liquid-oxygen/gaseous hydrogen rocket injector assembly built using additive manufacturing technology [a.k.a. “3D printing”].

The space agencies of Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine have confirmed their intention to develop the Baiterek [also: Baitarek] rocket, a modernised Zenit launch vehicle.

ESA has approved the final design for a next-generation rocket, Ariane 6. ESA ministers gave political approval for the scheme in Naples, Italy, last November. The objective of Ariane 6 is to maintain guaranteed autonomous access to space for Europe, while minimising exploitation costs and suppressing any support to exploitation.

India’s INSAT-3D weather satellite for Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 mission has completed its initial pre-launch checkout at the Spaceport in French Guiana, and is now being readied for fuelling.

NASA recently testing a pressurised, large cryogenic propellant tank made of composite materials. The composite tank will enable the next generation of rockets and spacecraft needed for space exploration, the agency said.