Satellite News

After days of silence, Chinese officials have confirmed that the destruction of the country’s Fengyun 1C weather satellite was the result of an anti satellite (ASAT) weapon test.

The Space capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE-1) launched by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C7) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota on 10 January 2007 was successfully recovered on 22 January after being manoeuvred to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and descend over Bay of Bengal about 140 km East of Sriharikota.

ESA’s Columbus laboratory, scheduled for launch to the ISS on shuttle mission STS-122 in October/November 2007, last month successfully passed its Flight Operations Readiness Review.

GeoEye announced the delivery of the camera for its next-generation commercial imaging satellite to General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems in Gilbert, Arizona for integration into the satellite.

Alcatel Alenia Space said it enjoyed an exceptional year in 2006, signing contracts for the construction of 57 communications and observation satellites, including 48 Globalstar satellites.

The U.S. military so far has tracked at least 32 pieces of debris that resulted from the disintegration of Fengyun-1C, which allegedly was caused by a Chinese anti satellite (ASAT) weapon test.

Intelsat Corporation has awarded Space Systems/Loral a contract to manufacture Intelsat 14, a new, high-power C- and Ku-band fixed satellite service (FSS) satellite.

The first test article of the LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, the Development Model of the On Board Computer, recently arrived at the prime contractor facilities of Astrium Ltd, Stevenage, UK.