Satellite News

Preparations are under way for fire tests of the Universal Rocket Module (URM-1) for the planned Angara family of Russian launch vehicles.
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The launch of a U.S. National Reconnaissance Office payload aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy scheduled for 14 January, 0049 UTC from Space Launch Complex-37 has been delayed 24 hours.
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has received an order from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) to launch the Korea Multipurpose Satellite-3 (KOMPSAT-3, a.k.a. Arirang 3).
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Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) announced its Falcon 9 launch vehicle was successfully raised to vertical on 10 January 2009, at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) in Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA — two days ahead of schedule.
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United Launch Alliance was awarded a US$96 million contract to launch an Atlas 5 rocket for a future mission to carry a spy satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

The Hotbird 10 satellite for Arianespace’s initial Ariane 5 mission of 2009 was delivered to French Guiana, arriving aboard a chartered cargo jetliner that completed its transatlantic trip from Europe.

Arianespace announced that it has signed a contract with Intelsat.

Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall at a press conference outlined the company’s goals for 2009 and reviewed the trends of the launch services industry.