Satellite News

Rocket: Safir; Payload: Navid [also Navid-e Elm-o San’at]; Date: 3 February 2012 (“before local sunrise,” exact time unknown); Launch site: unnamed military base in northern Iran.Other Posts:NASA’s Glory climate satellite ready for launch on 23 FebruaryNASA awards thermal protection contract for OrionThe Differences Between Cable and Satellite TVSES Americom launches HD SNG neighbourhoodMDA to develop instruments for planetary explorationICO Asks FCC To Modify Satellite MilestonesGPS command-and-control system upgrade scheduled for summerBoeing to complete WGS 7, start work on WGS 8

New (tentative) launch dates have been announced for a number of launches.Other Posts:New CME affects Earth’s magnetosphereIntelsat 11, Optus D2 pre-launch detailsExmar Shipmanagement Chooses SeaWave IntegratorSky Brasil, DirecTV Brasil Finalize MergerStar One C1 arrives at KourouNASA awards contract for Ares upper stage engineUkraine interested in co-operation with ESAHayabusa to return to Earth on 13 June

United Launch Alliance (ULA) announced the completion of two key milestones leading toward the certification of the Atlas V launch vehicle for human spaceflight.

ESA today signed a contract to build a further eight Galileo satellites, alongside other agreements to modify Europe’s Ariane 5 launcher to carry four navigation satellites at a time.

The DubaiSat-2 project has completed a crucial stage in its design phase, with the qualification model (QM) passing a series of rigorous tests.

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) said it has successfully test fired SuperDraco, a new engine that the company said will play a critical role in its human spaceflight plans.
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Russia plans to postpone its next manned launch to the International Space Station (ISS) by at least a month, the head of its space agency’s manned programmes was quoted as saying.
Other Posts:SEAKR’s Application Independent Processor passes in-orbit testsTwo more MetOp-A instruments start providing dataProton grounded as Ekspress AM4 rescue attempts continueUpdate: Orbital Sciences Corporation results 2008ESA Gives CryoSat UpdateDMSP Satellite Operated Without GyroCMC moves to Americom C-band, AMC-18 fullARISSat-1 completes mission

ESA’s new Vega rocket is now fully assembled on its launch pad. Final preparations are in full swing for the rocket’s inaugural flight from Europe’s Spaceport. The launch window opens on 9 February.Other Posts:Delta II brings Dawn on its way to asteroid beltWhat Are The Capabilities of HDTV To Customers?Showtime Goes On-DemandITT to split into threeChinese Anti-Satellite: Striking CommentsWinners of the SES Astra Innovation Contest announcedMDA Wins Advanced Technology ContractsArianespace to launch satellite for DirecTV Latin America