January 2018

SES announced that the new SES-15 spacecraft has been operational at the 129 degrees West orbital position since 1 January. As planned, the all-electric satellite took six months to reach its orbital position and to successfully complete its testing. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018011502

Rocket: Chang Zheng 3B/YZ-1; Payload: two Beidou satellites; Date: 11 January 2018, 2318 UTC; Launch site: Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China. The navigation satellites were deployed into medium Earth orbit by the Yuanzheng-1 upper stage. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018011400

Rocket: Chang Zheng 2D; Payload: LKW-3 (Land Survey Satellite-3); Date: 13 January 2018, 0710 UTC; Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, China. The observation satellite was placed into a Sun-synchronous orbit. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018011401

Rocket: Delta IV; Payload: NROL-47; Date: 12 January 2018, 2211 UTC; Launch site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, USA. The rocket lifted off successfully after several delays. Owing to a news blackout the outcome of the launch was not immediately known. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018011200

Rocket: PSLV-C40; Payload: Cartosat-2F, plus 4 microsatellites and 26 nanosatellites; Date: 12 January 2018, 0359 UTC; Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, India. The successfully launched the 710 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for Earth observation and its 30 co-passenger satellites with a combined lift-off mass of about 613 kg. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018011201

http://www.satellitetoday.com/technology/2018/01/12/university-north-carolina-prepares-launch-ocean-monitoring-payload/

http://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2018/01/12/telesat-celebrates-launch-first-leo-satellite/

http://www.satellitetoday.com/newspace/2018/01/12/iceye-successfully-launches-sar-microsatellite-pslv/

http://www.satellitetoday.com/telecom/2018/01/12/norwegian-space-center-orders-new-ais-microsatellite/

http://www.satellitetoday.com/broadcasting/2018/01/12/verizon-quietly-planning-launch-ott-platform/