December 2016

The 11th Arianespace mission of 2016 has been given the go-ahead for lift-off from the Spaceport in French Guiana on 21 December, carrying the Star One D1 and JCSAT-15 satellites for deployment into geostationary transfer orbit. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2016122001

Lockheed Martin has completed assembly of NOAA’s GOES-S weather satellite and is now beginning critical mechanical and environmental testing of the spacecraft. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2016122002

The James Webb Space Telescope is undergoing testing to make sure the spacecraft withstands the harsh conditions of launch, and to find and remedy all possible concerns before it is launched from French Guiana in 2018. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2016122003

Inmarsat has successfully completed the first flight trials for Iris Precursor, a ground-breaking project to enhance and modernise air traffic management over European airspace. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2016122004

http://www.satellitetoday.com/telecom/2016/12/20/oneweb-announces-1-2-billion-funded-capital-led-softbank-group/

http://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2016/12/20/vector-space-systems-tests-first-stage-engine-secures-rocket-factory/

http://www.satellitetoday.com/telecom/2016/12/20/esa-inmarsat-complete-flight-trials-european-atm-modernization-project/

http://www.satellitetoday.com/broadcasting/2016/12/20/idc-announces-new-video-broadcast-network-mexico/

http://www.satellitetoday.com/technology/2016/12/20/bigleaf-networks-announces-automatic-optimization-satellite-connectivity/

Rocket: Atlas V 431; Payload: EchoStar XIX (aka Jupiter 2); Date: 18 December 2016, 1913 UTC; Launch site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA. EchoStar XIX deployed its solar arrays on schedule and is successfully performing post-launch manoeuvres according to plan. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2016121900