Satellite News

Kleos space S.A. has changed launch provider for its Scouting Mission satellites which will now launch into a 37-degree inclination. Following the recent postponement of the launch of Kleos’ Scouting Mission satellites, the company investigated other available launch options with launch and mission management provider Spaceflight Inc. that would meet immediate market demand and potentially increase the value of the data collected.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has submitted its purpose-built Vulcan Centaur rocket for the U.S. Air Force’s Phase 2 Launch Services competition.

Rocket: Atlas V 551; Payload: AEHF-5; Date: 8 August 2019, 1013 UTC; Launch site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA. This marked the 80th successful launch of an Atlas V rocket, which has successfully launched and precisely delivered the entire AEHF constellation on orbit.

Rocket: Falcon 9; Payload: Amos-17; Date: 6 August 2019, 2323 UTC; Launch site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA. The satellite was deployed approximately 31 minutes after lift-off.

Rocket Lab has revealed plans to recover and re-fly the first stage of its Electron launch vehicle. The move aims to enable Rocket Lab to further increase launch frequency by eliminating the need to build a new first stage for every mission.

Spaceflight announced it has managed the procurement, integration, and mission management services for three spacecraft on Rocket Lab’s next mission aboard an Electron rocket.

Rocket: Ariane 5 ECA; Payload: Intelsat 39, EDRS-C; Date: 6. August 2019, 1930 UTC; Launch site: Kourou, French Guiana. The total performance required of the launcher was 10,661 kg, with the two satellites accounting for 9,786 kg. The payloads were injected into an optimised orbit inclined 4.5 degrees to the equator.

Rocket: Proton-M/Briz-M; Payload: Blagovest No. 14L [Kosmos-2539]; Date: 5 August 2019, 2156 UTC; Launch site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The Defense Ministry reported that stable telemetry communication has been established with the spacecraft. Its systems are operating as normal.