Satellite News

China will launch the first of eight satellites to monitor environment and natural disasters from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center this week, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

ESA’s Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) will undock from the ISS this week prior to be being destroyed in a controlled operation over the Pacific, the agency said.

The two Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites being built by prime contractor Northrop Grumman Corporation for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) have successfully completed acoustic testing.

Lockheed Martin announced that the U.S. Air Force has certified readiness for dedicated operational utility evaluation and trial period operations of the first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO-1) payload and associated ground system.

The International Space Station’s orbit has been adjusted to avoid space garbage from a defunct Russian spy satellite, Russia’s Mission Control Center (MCC) confirmed.

Globalstar, Inc. announced that satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space has begun production assembly, integration and testing of the first Globalstar second-generation flight model satellites.

The 5-satellite RapidEye constellation is ready for launch from Baikonur on 29 August 2008.

NASA’s newest observatory, the Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope, or GLAST, has begun its mission of exploring the universe in high-energy gamma rays. The spacecraft and its instruments passed their orbital checkout with flying colours, the agency said.