Satellite News

The second modernised Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-M) satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin, has been declared fully operational for military and civilian navigation user.

There is some confusion about the names of the two Shijian experimental satellites launched by China on 23 October, as well as that of a weather satellite to be put in orbit later this year.

Science Applications International Corporation announced it won a cost-plus award fee contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory and Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/VS) with a ceiling value of approximately US$25 million, and a 29-month period of performance.

The Sea Launch team has initiated a 72-hour countdown in preparation for the launch of the XM-4 broadcast satellite on 26 October. Lift-off is planned at the opening of a 58-minute launch window at 2349 UTC.

Astrium and ESA’s teams at ESA’s European Space Operations Center in Darmstadt, Germany, have proceeded to the check-out of MetOp-A and confirmed that all systems are operating nominally.

Sinosat-2, China’s long-delayed first direct broadcast satellite, will be launched aboard a Chang Zheng 3B on 29 October from the Xichang launch centre, according to Xinhua news agency.

China is to launch its second geosynchronous meteorological satellite aboard a Chang Zheng 3A from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre at the end of this year.

Nallatech, a provider of high-performance FPGA computing solutions, announced its collaboration for developing a test platform for space borne processing with Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Space Technology sector.