Satellite News

Stellar Exploration Inc has congratulated The Planetary Society on the completion of the first test light of Lightsail, culminating in the deployment of its solar sail.

More than 100 days after it launched, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite has reached its orbit position about 1.6 million km from Earth.

COM DEV International Ltd. announced a new order to develop ferrite switch networks for an environmental satellite for a European customer. The initial Authorisation to Proceed (ATP) is valued at C$1.2 million, and is expected to lead to a full contract valued in excess of C$5 million. Work will be carried out at the company’s facilities in the United Kingdom through to the end of fiscal 2017.

Thales Alenia Space Belgium, the Belgian subsidiary of Thales Alenia Space, was chosen by OHB to supply electronics for the ExoMars 2018 mission to explore Mars.

Exoplanets, plasma physics and the X-ray Universe are the topics chosen by ESA to be considered for the fourth medium-class mission in its Cosmic Vision science programme, for launch in 2025.

European and Chinese scientists have recommended the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer as their candidate for a collaborative science mission for launch in 2021.

Following successful completion of on-orbit testing, the U.S. Navy accepted the third Lockheed Martin-built Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite.

ESA’s goal of removing a derelict satellite from orbit is picking up pace, as a mission design is assembled to be put before European ministers next year for approval.