Satellite News

Russia has “taken under control” the operation of 11 American GPS sites and ensured they cannot be used for military purposes, as Washington and Moscow show no progress in negotiations on setting up Russian GLONASS stations on U.S. territory. However, as this step will not affect accuracy or operation of the GPS, it is regarded as a symbolic act.

The U.S. Department of State published regulations that it said will fundamentally change the nature of U.S. export controls on satellites and related parts and components.

Russia will bar the United States from using Russian-made rocket engines for military satellite launches, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said, retaliating for sanctions on high-tech equipment which Washington has imposed over the Ukraine crisis.

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims has lifted the preliminary injunction which had barred the Air Force and ULA subsidiary United Launch Services from purchasing Russian rocket engines.

Hispamar Satelites, SES DTH do Brasil and Eutelsat Brazil LTDA have won the rights to use Brazilian orbital slots for 15 years, the National Telecommunications Agency, or Anatel, said.

United Launch Alliance said that “ULA and the U.S. Department of Justice filed motions to dissolve the preliminary injunction supporting ULA’s earlier statements that the purchase of the RD-180 engines from our suppliers and partners, RD AMROSS and NPO Energomash, does not violate the Ukraine sanctions.

U.S. sanctions against Russia are expected to have no immediate affect on satellite launches aboard Proton and Atlas V rockets. The United States recently restricted exports of high-tech defence products to Russia, and a U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge issued an injunction prohibiting United Launch Alliance from proceeding with plans to buy Russian-made RD-180 rocket engines

SpaceX announced that they are filing a legal challenge to the U.S. Air Force’s latest Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) contract with United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin.