Satellite News

Space Systems/Loral (SSL) announced that the contract award previously reported was for the Indonesian satellite operator, PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN).

The upcoming Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), a satellite designed to monitor and warn of harmful solar activity that could impact Earth, recently cleared two major reviews and remains on track to launch 23 January 2015.

During its meeting at the European Space Astronomy Centre, near Madrid, on 19 November, the SPC gave the green light for the flotilla of spacecraft to continue their key scientific endeavours for at least another two years.

Airbus Defence and Space has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the development and construction of the service module for Orion, the future U.S. human space capsule. The contract is worth around EUR390 million. The service module will provide propulsion, power supply, thermal control and the central elements of the life support system of the capsule.

NASA’s InSight mission has begun the assembly, test and launch operations (ATLO) phase of its development, on track for a March 2016 launch to Mars. The lander, its aeroshell and cruise stage are being assembled by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.

Two new commercial satellites will carry sensor payloads developed by Raytheon to deliver images of unprecedented depth and detail, the company said.

Europe’s Philae lander was busily conducting experiments on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko with just hours of onboard battery life left. It is estimated that the probe will have gathered at least 70 to 80% of the scientific data expected during the mission’s primary phase, possibly up to 90%, before running out of power. An attempt to move the lander into a more favourable position was at least technically successful. Whether it will prolong the lander’s life remains to be seen.

The final day of fuelling of the Astra 2G spacecraft was completed on schedule today in Baikonur. Joint operations are on schedule to begin tomorrow to support the ILS Proton launch of SES’s Astra 2G on 27 November at 2124 UTC. This will be the 400th Proton launch since its first flight in 1965 and the 7th Proton mission this year.