Satellite News

The first Sea Launch of the year has been tentatively scheduled for 25 January, Interfax reported. On its first flight for SES Global, the Zenit-3SL is to loft the NSS-8 communications satellite.

The three Uragan M satellites launched on 25 December 2006, are functioning well in orbit, manufacturer NPO-PM said according to Itar-Tass.

NASA has selected for concept study development two proposals for future robotic missions to Mars. These missions would increase understanding of Mars’ atmosphere, climate and potential habitability in greater detail than ever before.

The Engineering Test Satellite VIII “Kiku No. 8″ has been successfully put into a geostationary orbit, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

Boeing and the U.S. Air Force MILSATCOM Systems Wing have exercised an US$8.4 million contract option to activate Phase II of the Enhanced Polar System (EPS) payload study.

Boeing said the team that is building the Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) system has successfully passed the System Critical Design Review (CDR) as the U.S. Air Force authorised the programme to proceed toward a December 2008 launch.

Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) has been awarded a contract to modify the former ChinaSat-8 and deliver the high-power satellite to ProtoStar Ltd. for an expected launch in 2008.

Indonesian state-owned telecommunications company PT. Telkom said it is studying possibility of ordering new telecommunication satellite from Chinese or Russian manufacturers, citing lower prices as main reason.