Satellite News

NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) project passed its Mission Confirmation Review on 4 October. As a result, NASA has given approval for the development and 2013 launch of the MAVEN mission. Lockheed Martin is the industry partner for the mission and will design and build the spacecraft and perform flight operations.
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After nine years of scanning the sky, the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) space mission has concluded its observations of the cosmic microwave background, the oldest light in the universe.
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Mexico plans to launch three satellites that will be used for national security and to expand telecommunications capabilities, President Felipe Calderon was quoted as saying by EFE news agency.
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China’s second unmanned lunar probe, Chang’e-2, was manoeuvred to correct its trajectory on the Earth-moon transfer orbit on 2 October.
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Integral Systems, Inc. has been selected by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) to provide the primary and backup satellite control systems for the Vinasat-2 satellite.
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After completing its primary mission to map the infrared sky, NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, has reached the expected end of its onboard supply of frozen coolant. Although WISE has ‘warmed up,’ NASA has decided the mission will still continue. WISE will now focus on asteroids and comets.
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On 13 September, and eight days ahead of schedule, the SBIRS ground team completed the GEO Interim Operations Ground Segment System integration testing for Missile Warning Message Certification at the Interim Test Center in Boulder, Colorado.

Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) has signed contracts with ISS-Reshetnev and Thales Alenia Space France on the development of three spacecraft: two Direct-To-Home satellites, Ekspress-AT1 and Ekspress-AT2, and the telecommunications satellite Ekspress-AM8.