Finance

[Via Satellite 08-25-2014] The Aug. 22 Soyuz launch originally celebrated as the beginning of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) fast-paced deployment of the Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is now the subject of investigation after officials discovered the two satellites did not reach their intended orbits. The first two Full Operational Capability (FOC) satellites,...

[Via Satellite 08-25-2014] The United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (AFSPC) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) on a new booster as well as a potential new launch system for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. Conclusions drawn from the RFI process may constitute sufficient market research for a follow-on...

[Via Satellite 08-25-2014] On Aug. 22, SpaceX conducted a test of a reusable rocket in McGregor, Texas. The rocket, a three-engine version of the Falcon 9R, experienced an anomaly resulting in automatic termination by its flight termination system. SpaceX said in a statement that detecting vehicle anomalies during testing is the purpose of its Research...

[Via Satellite 08-25-2014] Lockheed Martin has finalized the purchase of Astrotech Corporation’s Space Operations business, first announced in May 2014. Now complete, Astrotech Space Operations is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, and will report to the company’s Space Systems business area. Astrotech Space Operations has assisted more than 300 launches, providing final testing...

**Update: On Saturday Aug. 23, 2014, Arianespace discovered that the satellites were injected into the wrong orbit. Further details will come soon.** [Via Satellite 08-22-2014] Following a one-day weather-induced delay, Arianespace has launched Galileo satellites 5 and 6 for the European Space Agency (ESA). A Soyuz rocket carried the spacecraft to Medium Earth Orbit (MEO),...

[Via Satellite 08-22-2014] Sea Launch is reducing its head count among staff at both its Nyon, Switzerland headquarters and at Energia Logistics’ Long Beach, Calif. site to compensate for the lack of launches this year. Sea Launch is also temporarily taking its Launch Commander and Odyssey vessels out of service, a move the company said...

[Via Satellite 08-21-2014] Small satellite launch company Firefly Space Systems has teamed up with Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) and ANSYS to conduct rocket simulations using the Stampede supercomputer. Firefly will use TACC’s supercomputer to run ANSYS software analysis for simulations of rocket subsystems. According to the company, this method reduces the amount of time...

[Via Satellite 08-19-2014] During the 181st spacewalk for assembly and maintenance of the International Space Station (ISS) Russian cosmonauts Alexander Skvortsov and Oleg Artemyev released by hand a 1-kg Peruvian nanosatellite dubbed Chasqui 1. Students at the National University of Engineering in Peru built the satellite for the purpose of gaining experience in satellite manufacturing...

[Via Satellite 08-18-2014] Aerojet Rocketdyne has conducted the third and final hot-fire test for the Low Earth Orbiting Nanosatellite Integrated Defense Autonomous System (LEONIDAS) at the Air Force Research Laboratory located at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The test fired up the first stage solid propellant rocket motor (LEO-46) for 73 seconds, generating close...

[Via Satellite 08-15-2014] Arianespace’s dual launch of Measat 3b and Optus 10 has been scheduled for Sept. 11. The launch was delayed from June 6 when Optus Networks requested additional time to verify its satellite. Measat 3b was placed in storage at Europe’s Kourou spaceport. Arianespace has moved the Ariane 5 rocket into the spaceport’s...