News on key developments at SupremeSAT, and general news on the Space and Satellite industry from across the web
NASA has approved an update to Juno’s science operations until July 2021. This provides for an additional 41 months in orbit around Jupiter and will enable Juno to achieve its primary science objectives. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018060700
Rocket: Chang Zheng 2D; Payload: Gaofen-6, Luojia-1; Date: 2 June 2018, 0413 UTC; Launch site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. Gaofen-6 will be mainly used in agricultural resources research and disaster monitoring, state media said. A scientific experiment satellite named Luojia-1 was sent into space at the same time. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018060200
NOAA-20, the first satellite in the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s new Joint Polar Satellite System has passed rigorous testing and is now operational. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018053000
NASA’s next mission to Mars, Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight), is scheduled to launch Saturday, 5 May (UTC) on a first-ever mission to study the heart of Mars. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018042900
Rocket: Falcon 9; Payload: Dragon/CRS-14; Date: 3 April 2018, 1230 UTC; Launch site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA. SpaceX did not attempt to recover Falcon 9’s first stage after launch. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018040300
The 12th flight of Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), GSLV-F08 with GSAT-6A as its payload is scheduled for launch on 29 March at 1126 UTC. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018032500
Rocket: Atlas V; Payload: GOES-S; Date: 1 March 2018, 2202 UTC; Launch site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA. The rocket lifted off as scheduled, and its upper stage had performed two of three planned burns at the time of writing this. Separation of the weather satellite from the Centaur upper stage was expected at…
On 23 February 2018, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was brought out of safe mode, a precautionary standby status. The mission’s team is proceeding cautiously to restore the spacecraft to full service in coming days. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018022800
Artist’s rendition of Eutelsat 172B [Via Satellite 07-31-2014] Eutelsat has announced the manufacturer and launch provider for the early add-on satellite Eutelsat 172B. The company selected Airbus Defence and Space to build the 13 kW satellite with electric propulsion for both orbit raising and station keeping using the Eurostar E3000 bus. Arianespace was chosen to…
A digital rendering of a GPS 3 satellite. Photo: Air Force [Via Satellite 07-31-2014] Lockheed Martin has awarded $25.4 million to General Dynamics for the construction of the U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System (GPS) 3 Network Communications Element (NCE) for the next two satellites in production: SV07 and SV08. The new contract makes General…