News & Events

Yamal 401 satellite during construction. Photo: ISS Reshetnev [Via Satellite 08-28-2014] Russian satellite manufacturer ISS-Reshetnev has completed building the Yamal 401 telecommunications satellite. Fabricated for Gazprom Space Systems, the satellite is slated to launch on a Proton rocket. Yamal 401 is the third satellite ISS-Reshetnev has built on its heavy-class Express-2000 bus. The 2976-kilogram spacecraft…

The Alcântara Launch Center (CLA) Receiving equipment. Photo: AEB [Via Satellite 08-28-2014] Brazil’s Institute of Aeronautics and Space (IAE) plans to conduct a sounding rocket test at the Alcântara Launch Center in São Luis, Maranhão on Aug. 29. Launch VS-30 V13, designated Operation Fox, is the first Brazilian space vehicle to use liquid propellant. Orbital…

KCA Deutag’s T-210Dreco 2000E Oil Rig in Oman. Photo: KCA Deutag [Via Satellite 08-28-2014] KCA Deutag has expanded its contract with Signalhorn for maintenance of its satellite and terrestrial network in Oman. Due to the requirements of KCA Deutag’s business, rigs must be constructed at a significant distance from terrestrial communications. Signalhorn’s previous contract was…

Artist’s rendition of Cosmo-SkyMed. Photo: Thales Alenia Space [Via Satellite 08-28-2014] Thales Alenia Space has received an $87 million contract from the Italian Space Agency for the Second Generation Cosmo-SkyMed Earth Observation (EO) satellite program. The contract is split between Thales Alenia Space Italia and Telespazio. Thales Alenia Space Italia will use approximately $57 million…

An Airbus Zephyr test flight. Photo: Airbus [Via Satellite 08-28-2014] Airbus Defence and Space has completed a nonstop 11-day flight test of its Zephyr 7 High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS). The Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) runs on solar power, making the shorter winter days a much more challenging test. The vehicles were also controlled and monitored…

Saber Astronautics’ Predictive Interactive Group Interface (PIGI). Photo: Saber Astronautics / Delta-V [Via Satellite 08-26-2014] Delta-V, a new space industry accelerator, hopes to create a $1 billion commercial space industry in Australia. Ranked by the World Bank as a high-income country with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $1.561 trillion in 2013, Australia has high…

Falcon 9 on the launch pad. Photo: SpaceX [Via Satellite 08-27-2014] SpaceX has decided to reschedule the launch of AsiaSat 6, previously slated for today, in order to review all potential failure modes and contingencies. The company expects the inspection will take one to two weeks to complete. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, said that…

Artist’s view of Galileo Satellites 5 & 6. Photo: ESA / J Huart [Via Satellite 08-27-2014] The European Space Agency (ESA), having established control of the latest two Galileo satellites launched Aug. 22 by an Arianespace Soyuz rocket into an unintended orbit, is preparing to continue using the satellites. Intended for a circular Medium Earth…

A WorldView 3 image of Madrid at 40-cm resolution. Photo: DigitalGlobe [Via Satellite 08-27-2014] DigitalGlobe has released the first images from its high-resolution satellite WorldView 3, launched on Aug. 13 aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket. The satellite carries an Exelis super-spectral imaging system comprised of a sensor, a telescope and a…

Iridium’s Satellite Network Operating Center. Photo: Iridium [Via Satellite 08-27-2014] Iridium has completed its Launch and Early Operations (LEOP) control center for Iridium NEXT. Located next to the Iridium Mission Control Center, the LEOP facility will be used to manage the NEXT constellation, test on-orbit functionality, and maneuver and monitor satellites as they are transferred…