Satellite News

Preparations for the first landing of the X-37B are underway at Vandenberg Air Force Base, the U.S. Air Force said.

Thales Alenia Space, the prime contractor, and its partner OHB-System have signed an Authorisation To Proceed (ATP) with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) system.
Other Posts:Skylink now uses three Astra transpondersBroadband satellite market may escape economic malaise, reportEnjoy Improved Entertainment With Dish TVESA’s MEX to relay Phoenix dataGeoEye Makes Final Debt Payment For Purchase Of Space ImagingTelesat says Boeing knew about faulty solar arrays — WSJSpirent simulates Japan’s Quazi Zenith Satellite SystemArianespace, ESA sign agreement on launch service procurement

The U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin have successfully completed the system-level Critical Design Review (CDR) for the third and fourth geosynchronous (GEO) satellites under the SBIRS Follow-On Production Program (SFP).
Other Posts:Successful re-ignition of third Hayabusa ion engineGilat Satellite Networks to be sold, reportHoneywell completes CDR for GPS componentsSS/L to build backup for AsiaSat 5Boeing demonstrates TSAT encryption systemAriane 5 launches Spanish, German satellitesGeoInformation Group Adds Thermal Mapping To Imagery PortfolioNASA confirms 8 June as STS-117 launch date

The two satellites launched aboard an Ariane 5 on 26 November are reported to be in good health.
Other Posts:Badr-4 (Arabsat 4B) pre-launch detailsComparing Cable Services and Service Using Satellite DishesU.S. Navy shoots down defunct spy satelliteDish Network Offers Superior EntertainmentOptus selects Gilat for broadband satellite network expansionLaser Instrument on Chandrayaan-1 activatedLightSquared triggers cooperation agreement with InmarsatOrbcomm announces AIS agreement with Lloyd’s List Intelligence

Japan’s Hayabusa probe, which landed on asteroid Itokawa in 2005, failed to fire a metallic bullet to collect debris. The glitch was now traced back to a software error.
Other Posts:NASA extends contract with RoskosmosCOM DEV awarded contract to continue work on Radarsat constellationThe Convenience of Satellite TVPratt & Whitney tests thruster for unmanned lunar landerGetting the HD Experience You’re Craving Demands the Right DecisionsT-VIPs Wins Russian Space DealDelay of the day: KaguyaEMS to develop new Inmarsat phone

Russia’s Rocket and Space Corporation Energia plans to build an “orbital pod” designed for sweeping up satellite debris from space, Roskosmos confirmed on its Facebook page.
Other Posts:ATK builds support structure for James Webb Space TelescopeWireless Consumers To Have More Choices Through FCC RulingDMSP Flight-18 completes acoustics test milestoneDelay of the day: Delta II/DawnCharges Result In Boeing Second Quarter LossNetcom Africa signs deal with SES World SkiesHarris achieves AEHF NMT communications with Milstar satelliteWorldSpace gains access to US$2 million in interim DIP financing

The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft carrying two U.S. astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut back to Earth from the International Space Station landed safely in Kazakhstan.
Other Posts:Sierra Nevada sets up Space Systems businessLoral Space & Communications Inc. results Q1 2008Globecomm Systems results 2Q FY 2007The Benefits of Using Direct TV Satellite DishesTsSKB Progress begins development of Soyuz 1Lockheed Martin Completes End-To-End Test Of Space-Based Infrared SystemUpgrades of Globalstar ground stations has startedArianespace announces revenue increase

As part of the procedure to realise ESA’s series of Earth Explorers, two new mission proposals have been selected for further development. The missions, called FLEX and CarbonSat, now vying to be the eighth Earth Explorer, both address key climate and environmental change issues.
Other Posts:Satellite TV 101: The Common Benefits of Sports ChannelsLockheed Martin completes acoustic test of first AEHF satelliteMotient/MSV/SkyTerra/TerreStar consolidation IIIntelsat, Ltd. results Q3 2009EADS (Astrium) results H1 2009DVB approves DVB-SH specificationPatent issued to MSV on satellite-terrestrial communications systemsSatellite TV Piracy and Its Prevention