September 2018

Arianespace and Eutelsat Communications have concluded a long-term multiple-launch service agreement. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018091001

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has chosen Arianespace to launch its GSAT-31 and GSAT-30 telecommunications satellites. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018091002

Arianespace announced the launch services contract signature with CNES for the CSO-3 satellite, which will be launched aboard the future Ariane 6 launch vehicle – in its A62 version – from the Guiana Space Center. This option already was included in the previously-signed launch contract for the CSO-1 and CSO-2 satellites on missions using the…

Viasat Inc. announced it selected United Launch Alliance’s (ULA’s) Atlas V vehicle to launch one of its ViaSat-3 satellite missions. This is the first commercial contract ULA has directly signed since assuming responsibility for the marketing and sales of the Atlas V launch vehicle from Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services earlier this year. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018091004

Boeing announced its investment in Denver-based BridgeSat Inc., an optical communications solutions company enabling the future of connectivity in space through a network of ground stations and proprietary space terminals. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018091005

Following the launch of Aeolus on 22 August, the satellite’s instrument has been turned on and is now emitting pulses of ultraviolet light from its laser, which is fundamental to measuring Earth’s wind. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018090600

NASA’s planet-hunting Kepler space telescope has woken up from yet another slumber and begun collecting science data again, the agency said. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018090601

The first-ever mission to demonstrate an asteroid deflection technique for planetary defence has moved into the final design and assembly phase, following NASA’s approval on 16 August. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018090602

With Europe’s Galileo constellation in space now expanded to 26 navigation satellites – and Galileo Initial Services available to users world-wide – the infrastructure on the ground that controls them is undergoing a corresponding expansion. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018090603

Qualification of the two liquid propulsion engines and the solid propulsion engine for the Ariane 6 launcher passed major technological milestones over the summer of 2018. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018090500