Satellite News

Space Shuttle Endeavour touched down at Kennedy Space Center, Florida/USA, at 1632 UTC today, ending its mission to the International Space Station.

NASA will announce the selection of a contractor for the upper stage element of the Ares I rocket on 28 August.

Rocket: Ariane 5 ECA; Payload: Spaceway 3, BSAT-3A; Date: 14 August 2007, 2344 UTC; Site: Kourou, French Guiana. The satellites were accurately injected into the correct transfer orbits about 30 minutes later.

A new launch date has officially been announced for Japan’s Kaguya (SELENE) lunar probe.

NASA has signed a US$1.8 billion contract with Alliant Techsystems, known as ATK, for the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the first stage of the Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles.

China may have to delay the launch of its Chang’e I moon probe, tentatively scheduled for September, because of a rather unusual reason–a ship collision.

The space shuttle Endeavour and its seven-member crew lifted off at 2236 UTC Wednesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The astronauts are on their way to the International Space Station for an assembly mission, designated STS-118.

The Indian cabinet has approved a contract with Arianespace for launching INSAT 4G at a price not exceeding US$67.5 million.