Satellite News

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced that it completed the in-orbit delivery of the Turksat-4A satellite to Turksat Satellite Communication, Cable TV and Operation Inc. Co. (Turksat A.S.) on 29 March.

The U.S. Air Force’s fourth Space Operations Squadron accepted satellite control authority of the third Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite on 21 March.

A demonstrator radar developed by Indra for detecting objects in space has successfully passed validation tests performed within the European Space Agency’s Space Situational Awareness (SSA) preparation programme.

Airbus Defence and Space will be the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) prime contractor for the development and construction of the high-precision Sentinel-5 instrument worth EUR144 million. The instrument will monitor the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere globally on a daily basis by taking measurements of trace gases and aerosols that have an impact on the climate and air quality.

Orbital Sciences Corporation announced that it has started production of 81 satellites for the Iridium NEXT programme as part of a contract between Orbital and Iridium’s prime contractor, French-Italian aerospace company Thales Alenia Space.

NASA has given a preliminary go-ahead to the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) to proceed with instrument development, vehicle construction and eventual launch of the hurricane-studying mission’s eight microsatellites.

The third Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite has begun transmitting using its protected communications payload, joining two other satellites undergoing system test in orbit with a suite of user terminals. AEHF satellites are produced by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force.

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and Dream Chaser strategic partner Lockheed Martin announced the expansion of SNC Dream Chaser spacecraft orbital vehicle manufacturing operations.