Satellite News

NASA senior managers selected 8 June as the official launch date for space shuttle Atlantis.

Rocket: Soyuz-FG/Fregat; Payload: four Globalstar satellites; Date: 29 May 2007, 2031 UTC; Launch site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Launch service provider Starsem confirmed that the Fregat upper stage accurately injected the four satellite dispenser into the targeted circular low Earth orbit of 920 km x 52 degrees at 2218 UTC.

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2D; Payload: Yaogan 2 (Remote Sensing Satellite No. 2); Date:25 May 2007, 0712 UTC; Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. The previously unannounced launch was successful, Chinese state media said.

Alliant Techsystems conducted a successful test firing of NASA’s Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM) as part of continuous testing to improve performance and ensure safety of the Space Shuttle, which also transfers improvements into the shuttle-derived first-stage of the Ares I crew launch vehicle.

NASA this week wrapped up six months of system requirements reviews for the Orion spacecraft, the Ares launch vehicles and other support systems, bringing together the Constellation Program’s list of basic capability needs.

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems has successfully completed the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) of the Near Field Infrared Experiment (NFIRE) and has turned satellite control authority over to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited has signed a Launch Services and Dual Launch Study Agreement with ILS International Launch Services (ILS).

Bigelow Aerospace said it has been informed by its launch provider ISC Kosmotras that additional testing of the Dnepr rocket and its ground equipment is being required by Russian authorities, resulting in a four-week delay.