Satellite News

In December, the first GPS III satellite completed system-level Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) testing, validating Lockheed Martin’s design and manufacturing processes. Seven more GPS III satellites are following the first one in production flow at Lockheed Martin’s GPS Processing Facility in Denver.

Airbus Defence and Space has started assembling the European Service Module (ESM), a key element of NASA’s next-generation Orion spacecraft that is to transport astronauts into deep space for the first time since the end of the Apollo programme.

Orbital ATK advocated for a manned lunar-orbit outpost as the United States’ next step in human space exploration.

Clyde Space is to provide the satellites for a new pilot programme offering quick, regular and more affordable access to space.

After a five-month stay aboard the International Space Station, NASA’s two Nodes satellites were deployed on 16 May from the NanoRacks platform and into low-Earth orbit to begin their technology demonstration.

NASA has awarded a sole source contract to Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation of Boulder, Colorado, for the Thermal Infrared Sensor-2 (TIRS-2) instrument Cryocooler for Landsat 9.

The GOES-R team has begun a series of rehearsals to simulate specific steps in the deployment of the satellite, such as spacecraft separation.

The ultra-black Vantablack surface coating material has made its space debut in an optical instrument on board the Kent Ridge 1 satellite. The material’s ability to absorb virtually all incident light improves the performance of the satellite’s star tracker-based positioning control system.