Satellite News

A successful re-ignition of the Ariane 5 upper stage engine performed during the most recent mission has consolidated Ariane 5’s readiness for the launch of the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle, ESA said.

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) may bid for the new Commercial Orbital Transportation Services demonstration (COTS) contract, a report suggests.

NASA announced it will conduct a new competition for funding that remains in the agency’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Project after a final decision to terminate its funded agreement with Rocketplane Kistler (RpK).

SpaceX has successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for its first Falcon 9 / Dragon mission as part of the NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) demonstration programme.

On 23 October, 1538 UTC, the Esperia STS-120/10A Mission, will take off from the NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre, in Florida. Onboard the Space Discovery Shuttle will be Node 2, the interconnecting unit developed in Italy by Thales Alenia Space.

Rocket: Delta II 7925-9.5; Payload: GPS IIR-17(M); Date: 17 October 2007, 1223 UTC; Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA. Following a nominal 1 hour and 8 minute flight, the rocket successfully deployed the spacecraft.

NASA senior managers completed a detailed review of space shuttle Discovery’s readiness for flight and selected 23 October as the official launch date, despite an independent panel’s recommendation to first replace three thermal tiles on the shuttle.

China’s Chang’e 1 moon probe is to be launched between 22 and 25 October, several Chinese state media reported.