Satellite News

Sea Launch and Intelsat have signed a multiple launch services contract for five missions on the Sea Launch system, scheduled for execution beginning in late 2010 through 2012.

Russia will put into orbit three GLONASS navigation satellites on 25 December (local time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Roskosmos said.

The dual-satellite payload for Arianespace’s sixth mission of 2008 is beginning its integration process with launcher hardware as preparations move forward for the year-end flight of Hotbird 9 and W2M at the service of Europe’s telecommunications operator, Eutelsat.

Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven-member crew lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 0055 UTC on 15 November to repair and remodel the International Space Station.

NASA’s J-2X rocket engine successfully completed its critical design review last week at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama/USA.

After its 9-hour-12-minute mission, a Proton M/Briz M released the Astra 1M satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The satellite will eventually go into operation at 19.2 degrees East for SES Astra of Luxembourg.

Rocket: Proton M/Briz M; Payload: Astra 1M; Date: 5 November 2008, 2044 UTC; Site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The rocket lifted off as planned.

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2D; Payload: Chuang Xin 1-02, Shiyan Weixing 3; Date: 5 November 2008, 0015 UTC; Site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. The launch had not been previously announced.