Satellite News

Northrop Grumman Corporation has submitted a proposal to the United States Air Force for the next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) III programme.

On 28 March, China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) signed a Framework Agreement with Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT LTD) for the procurement and in-orbit delivery of two communications satellites, NigComSat-2 and -3.

The Sentinel-3A Earth observation satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor on behalf of the European Space Agency for the European Commission’s Copernicus programme, has reached the stage when all its instrument are operating and transmitting their scientific data, in line with the expectations for this global ocean and land monitoring mission.

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. announced that it has signed two contracts with a combined value of EUR4.3 million with Thales Alenia Space for four subsystems to be installed on the Sentinel-6A, -6B, -3C, and -3D environmental monitoring satellites, part of Europe’s Copernicus programme.

The Russian logistics spacecraft Progress MS-02 with cargo onboard has successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on 2 March, 1758 UTC after two days in free flight.

NASA’s Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) recently took another major step toward demonstrating the capabilities of a new propellant that is safer to handle on the ground and more efficient for thrusters in space. The GPIM spacecraft has passed a major flight readiness milestone marking the successful completion of functional and environmental testing of its systems and software, and is on track for launch in early 2017.

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced its new Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) programme, which is to develop technologies that would enable co-operative inspection and servicing in GEO and demonstrating those technologies on orbit within the next five years.

The ESA-Roskosmos ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and the Schiaparelli entry, descent and landing demonstrator are well on their way following the 14 March launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, ESA said.