Satellite News

Rocket: H-2A; Payload: IGS-2A(?) [classified intelligence-gathering satellite]; Date: 11 September 2006, 0435 UTC; Launch Site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan. The satellite was released into its planned orbit about 16 minutes after lift-off.

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2C; Payload: Shijian-8; Date: ; Launch Site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. The recoverable satellite has successfully entered orbit and will conduct a range of space experiments, Xinhua news agency reported.

After two weeks of delays, the Space Shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew are on their way to the International Space Station after lifting-off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 1515 UTC. The shuttle reached orbit some nine minutes later.

NASA again delayed the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-115) for 24 hours, this time because of a troublesome fuel sensor. The shuttle had been earlier been cleared for launch today despite a suspect fuel cell.

Astrium has chosen Arianespace to launch the SATCOMBw-2a and SATCOMBw-2b military communications satellites.

The next Ariane 5 launch, previously scheduled for 19 September, will be delayed until the end of the month.

NASA is targeting a possible launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on Friday, 8 September because of a problem associated with one of the spacecraft’s electricity-producing fuel cells.

NASA has delayed Wednesday’s launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis on its STS-115 mission to the International Space Station.