Satellite News

ESA’s Director General has initiated a comprehensive review of all activities currently undertaken in co-operation with Russia and Ukraine. The objective is to determine the possible consequences of this new geopolitical context for ESA programmes and activities and to create a more resilient and robust space infrastructure for Europe.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, built in partnership with Northrop Grumman Corporation, is one step closer to being fully commissioned. Enabled by Northrop Grumman cryocooler technology, the system has cooled the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to its operational cryogenic temperature.

Rocket Lab USA, Inc broke ground on the construction of a rocket production complex where the company’s Neutron launch vehicle will be manufactured.

Hughes Network Systems, LLC announced that PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN), the oldest private telecommunication and information service provider in Indonesia, selected the Hughes JUPITER System to enable services on the Nusantara Lima very high-throughput satellite.

MSG-1 (also called Meteosat-8) has broken all records for longevity, logging 19 years, 7 months and 12 days in orbit to date. MSG-1 was launched back in August 2002, followed by MSG-2, MSG-3 and MSG-4 in December 2005, July 2012 and July 2015, respectively.

Astra Space, Inc. and LeoStella LLC announced a contract for Astra to provide multiple Astra Spacecraft Engines for LeoStella satellites. Astra is expected to begin delivering the propulsion systems later this year and into 2023.

Building on the strategic partnership that Axiom Space and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. signed in September, and following Mitsui’s investment in Axiom Space, the partners have initiated the formation of a joint venture in Japan to accelerate on-orbit services to commercial and government customers. This partnership builds on both Axiom’s in-space capabilities and Mitsui’s global industrial reach.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) recently awarded the largest RL10 contract ever to Aerojet Rocketdyne to deliver 116 RL10C-X engines for its Vulcan Centaur rocket.