Satellite News

Aerojet said its high-power Hall Thruster Propulsion System (HTPS) has successfully initiated operation on the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) Space Vehicle #1 (SV#1) that was launched on an Atlas V rocket on 14 August. The system is now providing thrust to raise the orbit of SV#1 (a.k.a. AEHF-1) to its final geosynchronous orbit location.

Following a six-month review, the independent Engineering Review Board (ERB) chartered to examine data collected during the Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle’s (HTV-2) first flight has completed its review.

Rocket: Delta IV Heavy; Payload: NROL-32; Date: 21 November 2010, 2258 UTC; Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA. The rocket lofted a classified satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
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Rocket: Minotaur IV; Payload: U.S. Air Force Space Test Program-S26 (STP-S26; consisting of four microsatellites and two cubesats); Date: 20 November 2010, 0125 UTC; Launch Site: Kodiak Launch Complex, Alaska, USA. The rocket carried its payload into low-Earth orbit approximately 650 kilometers above the Earth.
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The URM 2 common core booster for Russia’s planned Angara rocket was successfully fire-tested on 18 November.
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NASA managers have postponed a launch status meeting and news conference planned for 22 November. The events were rescheduled after a Space Shuttle Program meeting determined more analysis is needed before proceeding toward the launch of space shuttle Discovery on its STS-133 mission.

The launch of the Delta 4-Heavy rocket with a classified U.S. reconnaissance satellite aboard from Cape Canaveral has been delayed again.

Ukraine has delivered the first stage of the Taurus II launch vehicle to the United States, a step forward in a NASA- funded Taurus II programme, Yuzhnoe design company said.Other Posts:Second H-IIB test delayedMTN Satellite Services contracts for Intelsat capacityCassini suffers brief glitch after Iapetus flybyShin reports 2007 financial results, mulls sixth satelliteWildBlue Adds Vice President Of Sales And MarketsEndeavour makes night landingThe continuing story of BEVO-1 and AggieSat-2Orbital and Rocketplane Kistler to co-operate on COTS programme