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[Via Satellite 12-22-2016] Millennium Space Systems has completed the development of and shipped its first Altair satellite, a pre-production pathfinder spacecraft designed to demonstrate advanced avionics, guidance and control, additive manufacturing, power systems, RF communications and onboard processing technologies. Altair Pathfinder will be launched on an International Space Station (ISS) resupply mission, currently manifest in...

[Via Satellite 12-20-2016] Vector Space Systems announced the successful test of its first stage 5,000lbf engine of the Vector R launch vehicle. The engine test, which took place in Mojave, California, featured a single-piece, 3D AM printed injector developed in partnership with NASA’s Science, Technology, and Mission Directorate (STMD) Flight Opportunities, a program that extends...

[Via Satellite 12-19-2016] A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket carrying Hughes Network Systems’ EchoStar 19 satellite successfully lifted off from Space Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral, Florida on Dec. 18 at 2:13 p.m. EST. Built by Space Systems Loral (SSL) and designed with Hughes Jupiter System technology, EchoStar 19 is a multi-spot beam,...

[Via Satellite 12-13-2016] NASA has rescheduled the launch of its Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) spacecraft for no earlier than Wednesday, Dec. 14, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, during a one-hour window that opens at 8:20 a.m. EST, the agency announced on Dec. 12, the original launch date. Monday’s launch was...

After having examined the archives and done an extensive reader survey, these are our final choices for the key 30 events between 1986 and 2016 in the satellite industry.

[Via Satellite 12-12-2016] Inmarsat has signed a contract with Arianespace to launch its S-band satellite for the European Aviation Network (EAN) on an Ariane 5 heavy lift launch vehicle. EAN is an integrated satellite and air-to-ground network, developed by Inmarsat and Deutsche Telekom, which will deliver a very high capacity broadband Wi-Fi experience for passengers...

[View the story “Air Force SuccessfullyLaunches WGS 8 Coms Satellite” on Storify]

[Via Satellite 11-30-2016] Generation Orbit Launch Services is making progress with its air launch system that aims to enable nanosatellite launches nearly as often as an aircraft flies. Generation Orbit is preparing for wind-tunnel and hot-fire testing of its GOLauncher 1 (GO1), the first test vehicle in its development of a series of air-launched rocket...

[Via Satellite 12-02-2016] Iridium Communications has announced the date for the first launch of its next-generation global satellite constellation, Iridium Next. Iridium will be launching on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket on Dec. 16 at 12:36 p.m. PST. Launching from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, the Falcon 9 rocket will deliver 10 Iridium Next satellites...

It’s no secret that every launch services provider is working on new rockets. The industry has entered a time of accelerated change, with SpaceX being a far from inconsequential reason. But more factors than just SpaceX are stirring up change. Satellites, as well as operator expectations, are evolving, and as a result, launch services must...