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[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...

[Via Satellite 08-14-2014] An Atlas 5 rocket launched DigitalGlobe’s WorldView 3 remote sensing satellite into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services and subcontractor United Launch Alliance conducted the mission. The multi-payload, high-resolution satellite is capable of collecting 680,000 square kilometers of imagery per day. Equipped with the Ball...

[Via Satellite 08-13-2014] United Launch Alliance (ULA) president and CEO Michael Gass is stepping down from his leadership position effective immediately. Tory Bruno, formerly Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of strategic missile defense systems, has been appointed as the new CEO. Gass said he will support Bruno for the next several months as...

[Via Satellite 08-07-2014] Small satellite launch company Firefly Space Systems has recruited General Astronautics to join the startup’s strategic team. In this role, General Astronautics will help guide Firefly to new opportunities, assist in engaging government and industry, and provide long term strategic planning. Firefly is developing a dedicated SmallSat launch vehicle dubbed Firefly Alpha....

[Via Satellite 08-06-2014] Generation Orbit Launch Service successfully completed a captive-carry test flight for its Flight Bed Experiment (GO-FET) from Florida’s Cecil Spaceport. The three-hour test met all primary and secondary objectives using a Learjet 35 carrier aircraft with a standardized pod integrated to a wing hardpoint. The primary purpose of the test was to...

[Via Satellite 08-05-2014] SpaceX has announced its plans to build a private spaceport in Brownsville, Texas. The news came on Aug. 4 from Gov. Rick Perry’s office.  The company, which already has property in the state, had been eyeing the state’s coast for a launch site. “SpaceX is excited to expand our work in Texas...

[Via Satellite 08-04-2014] United Launch Alliance delivered the United States Air Force’s seventh Global Positioning System (GPS 2F-7) satellite to space on Friday Aug. 1, 2014 aboard an Atlas 5 rocket. An RD-180 engine supplied by RD Amross powered the Atlas 5 booster. Aerojet Rocketdyne’s RL10A-4-2engine was used for the Centaur upper stage. “This launch...

[Via Satellite 07-31-2014] Airbus Group and Safran have selected a chief executive officer and outlined the board of directors for their new 50-50 joint European launch venture. Alain Charmeau the current head of operations at space systems for Airbus Defence and Space was appointed to CEO, while Safran’s Deputy CEO & COO Marc Ventre was...