Satellite News

Space Systems/Loral (SSL) announced that the Anik G1 satellite, designed and built for Telesat, has arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where it will be launched aboard a Proton Briz M vehicle provided by International Launch Services (ILS).

Arianespace announced a launch services contract with Intelsat S.A. for the launch of three satellites through 2017.

Sea Launch AG and EchoStar Satellite Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corp., have announced that Sea Launch has been identified as the intended launch services provider for the launch of a satellite from the ocean-based Odyssey launch platform in 2015.

Aerojet announced that its Delta II second stage engine, the AJ10-118K, successfully passed a requalification test of its ablative chamber at Aerojet’s J4 altitude simulation test facility in Sacramento.

Astrotech Corporation, a leading provider of commercial space services, announced that its Astrotech Space Operations (ASO) subsidiary has been awarded a NASA task order contract to provide payload processing services for the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite at ASO’s Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, facility.

The first launch of Russia’s new Soyuz-2.1V lightweight rocket, previously scheduled for early 2013, is now likely to be delayed until the second half of 2013, its manufacturer TsSKB Progress said.

Boeing recently shipped its fifth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellite, which will provide the U.S. Air Force with faster transmission of airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance imagery, to Cape Canaveral in Florida for this year’s planned launch.

Both primary payloads for Vega’s second flight have arrived at French Guiana, positioning them for integration on the light-lift launcher – which has marked another step in preparation for its mission in April from the Spaceport.