Satellite News

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch an Israeli radar satellite aboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in August from Sriharikota, The Hindu reports.

Rocket: Minotaur 1; Payload: NFIRE (Near Field Infrared Experiment); Date: 24 April 2007, 0648 UTC; Launch Site: Wallops Island, USA. Approximately nine minutes after lift-off, the Minotaur I deployed the spacecraft in its targeted 250 km x 450 km x 48.2 degrees orbit.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (the new operator of Japan’s H-IIA rocket) and Arianespace S.A. have agreed to combine their commercial satellite launch services.

Rocket: PSLV-C8; Payload: AGILE (Astro-rivelatore Gamma a Immagini Leggero), AAM (Advanced Avionics Module); Date: 23 April 2007, 1000 UTC; Launch Site: Sriharikota, India. The rocket on its first major commercial mission successfully launched the Italian Space Agency’s astronomy satellite into a 550 km circular orbit, inclined at 2.5 degrees.

The launch of a U.S. Air Force Minotaur 1 rocket carrying the Missile Defense Agency’s Near Field Infrared Experiment (NFIRE) satellite has been postponed until no earlier than 2:48 a.m., Tuesday, 24 April, 0648 UTC.

Globalstar, Inc. announced that 20 May 2007 (UTC) is the scheduled date for the first launch of four Globalstar first-generation ground spare satellites.

Rocket: Dnepr; Payload: 14 satellites; Date: 17 April 2007, 0646 UTC; Launch Site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The rocket successfully deployed the satellites into a 640 km Sun-synchronous orbit.

Bigelow Aerospace said it has been informed by its launch services provider, ISC Kosmotras (”ISCK”), that the launch of the Genesis II spacecraft aboard a Dnepr will be delayed by as much as four weeks.