Satellite News

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin will announce a decision on a space shuttle mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope on 31 October.

The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F-17 Block 5D-3 spacecraft, built under contract for the U.S. Air Force by Lockheed Martin , is undergoing final preparation for a launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base on 4 November.

Alcatel Alenia Space announced that it will develop and supply the S-Band Formation Flying Radio Frequency (FFRF) sensor for the PRISMA mission.

Lockheed Martin said it shipped the second Pointing & Control Assembly (PCA) for the second geosynchronous orbit (GEO-2) satellite in the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) programme to Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems.

Boeing said that Spectrolab, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, has produced its two millionth multi-junction, gallium-arsenide solar cell.

The first instrument aboard MetOp-A has been switched on and has successfully acquired data.

NASA’s Mercury-bound MESSENGER spacecraft came within 2,990 km of the surface of Venus early this morning during its second planetary encounter. The spacecraft used the tug of the planet’s gravity to change its trajectory significantly, shrinking the radius of its orbit around the Sun and bringing it closer to Mercury.

Alcatel Alenia Space announced that it will develop and deliver on-board and ground segments equipment for the LISA Pathfinder programme.