Satellite News

A third attempt to launch SES-9 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, Florida was scrubbed on 28 February.

China will send its second orbiting space lab Tiangong-2 into space in the third quarter of this year, which is expected to dock with a cargo ship scheduled to be launched in the first half of next year, sources from the manned space programme said.

The launch of the MUOS-5 satellite aboard an Atlas V has been delayed to no earlier than 12 May pending the outcome of the investigation into an in-flight anomaly encountered on the OA-6 mission on 22 March.

Rocket: Soyuz 2-1a; Payload: Progress MS-02 [Progress 63P]; Date: 31 March 2016, 1623 UTC; Launch site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The cargo capsule separated from the Soyuz’ third stage nine minutes after lift-off as planned. Deployment of the navigation antennas and two solar array wings was confirmed subsequently.

ULA confirmed that during the launch of the OA-6 Cygnus spacecraft aboard an Atlas V, the system experienced a premature first stage shutdown.

Rocket: Falcon 9; Payload: Dragon/CRS-8; Date: 8 April 2016, 2043 UTC; Launch site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA. The Dragon supply vessel was successfully launched on its way to the ISS, where it is expected to arrive on 10 April. In addition, an attempt to land the Falcon 9’s first stage on a sea-going platform succeeded for the first time.

European launch company PLD Space has been awarded by the Spanish Government with a US$1.56 million propulsion project called TEPREL. TEPREL (Acronym for Spanish Reusable Propulsion Technologies for Launchers) will help PLD Space to continue their liquid rocket engine programme, the first one dedicated to boost the small satellite industry in Europe. This project will help PLD Space to have a 35-kN engine qualified for flight by the end of 2017.

Airbus Group SE and Safran have signed an agreement for the second and final phase of their 50/50 joint venture, Airbus Safran Launchers.