Satellite News

Orbital Sciences Corporation said that it has been selected by SES New Skies of The Netherlands, to design, build and deliver the NSS-9 commercial communications satellite.

During its first relay test since reaching Mars in March, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) used its radio payload, called Electra, in a two-way link with NASA’s Mars Exploration Rover Spirit.

All systems are operating as expected on the first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) payload following a successful on-orbit checkout by a joint U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin team.

Alcatel Alenia Space announced that Proteus, the flight-proven multi-mission Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) platform developed in co-operation with the French space agency CNES, has been selected by NASA to be part of their Rapid Spacecraft Development Office (RSDO) catalogue.

Engineers are ready to begin integrating the scientific instruments into ESA’s Planck satellite. The pair of instruments will allow the spacecraft to make the most precise map yet of the relic radiation left behind by the formation of the Universe.

An article in People’s Daily may shed some light on China’s somewhat surprising decision to develop its own global satellite navigation system, and even gives some technical details regarding the Beidou satellites.

ProtoStar Ltd., a Bermuda corporation with principal U.S. operations in San Francisco, said it moved a step closer to its Asian satellite service by successfully closing on US$210 million in financing to purchase and launch its first satellite.

The Lockheed Martin GPS III team announced the successful completion of a System Requirements Review (SRR) for the U.S. Air Force’s next generation Global Positioning System Space Segment programme, known as GPS Block III.