Satellite News

The Eutelsat 9B satellite of Eutelsat Communications has been fully powered up and is now providing TV services to homes across Europe. The satellite has replaced Eutelsat 9A to broadcast a diverse line-up of over 350 channels, of which 100 in High Definition, to cable, DTH and DTT homes.

Airbus Defence and Space has officially handed over the LISA Pathfinder spacecraft to the European Space Agency (ESA) following a successful review from the Agency.

Orbital ATK said it hopes to announce within the next six to eight weeks its first contract for a new “in-space” service using a specialised spacecraft to dock with older satellites and keep them in orbit.

Arianespace’s second launch of the year will orbit the Eutelsat 65 West A satellite for the international operator Eutelsat Communications. Lift-off is scheduled for 9 March, as early as possible in a three-hour launch window that opens at 0520 UTC.

Avio has completed and delivered the CPPS (Chemical Propulsion Subsystem) for the EDRS-C geostationary satellite. A commission including OHB, the prime contractor of the satellite, ESA (European Space Agency) and Airbus DS, both end customers, controlled the conformity of the propulsion module and authorised its shipment.

Chang’e-3, China’s first lunar lander, has been operating on the moon for over two years, the longest time for an active probe, according to a Chinese scientist.

Last month SSTL commenced manufacture of its first small geostationary platform, the GMP-T.

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. has received an Authorisation to Proceed from Airbus Defence and Space for the development of multiple communication subsystems to be integrated into the Inmarsat-6 mobile communication satellites.