Viasat books Falcon Heavy launch – Satellite News Digest
Viasat Inc. announced it selected SpaceX to launch one of its ViaSat-3 satellite missions. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018102502
Iridium Communications Inc. results Q3 2018 – Satellite News Digest
Iridium Communications Inc. reported financial results for the third quarter of 2018. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018102503
In-flight broadband via LEO tested – Satellite News Digest
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. announced its key role in the first-ever demonstration of an in-flight aircraft communicating at broadband speeds with a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite system. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018102504
ICON launch date delayed until further testing – Satellite News Digest
NASA and Northrop Grumman have once again delayed the launch of the agency’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, to conduct further pre-launch testing on the Pegasus rocket. Upon completion of the testing, a new launch date will be established. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018102400
Russia reportedly concerned about OneWeb – Satellite News Digest
Oneweb is reportedly relinquishing its majority stake in a joint venture with Russia’s Gonets after objections from Moscow, citing security concerns. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018102401
The Boeing Company (Defense, Space & Security) results Q3 2018 – Satellite News Digest
The Boeing Company reported third-quarter financial results. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018102402
Lockheed Martin Corporation (Space Systems) results Q3 2018 – Satellite News Digest
Lockheed Martin reported third quarter 2018 financial results. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018102403
Hubble moving closer to normal science operations – Satellite News Digest
NASAA is optimistic that a backup gyroscope (gyro) can be used to operate the Hubble Space Telescope. The backup gyro was turned on after the spacecraft entered safe mode due to a failed gyro on 5 October but was incorrectly returning extremely high rotation rates. The rotation rates have since reduced and are now within…
GOES-17 begins move to its new operational position – Satellite News Digest
NOAA’s GOES-17 satellite is getting ready to move to its new location at 137.2 degrees west. For the past seven months, the satellite has been in a temporary position – at 89.5 degrees west – known as its on-orbit checkout location. Since then, scientists have been testing and calibrating GOES-17’s instruments. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018102301
C-Band Alliance increases its FCC proposal to 200 MHz – Satellite News Digest
The C-Band Alliance (CBA) announced that up to 200 MHz of mid-band (C-band downlink) spectrum could be cleared, dependent upon demand, under its updated proposal to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opening new spectrum to support 5G wireless deployment while protecting current users. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018102302