Finance

[Via Satellite 06-26-2014] Dauria Aerospace successfully launched two Perseus M spacecraft into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on June 19, 2014 aboard a Kosmotras Dnepr rocket. These two satellites will co-locate with Dauria’s upcoming DX1 spacecraft and eight Perseus O imaging satellites to form the Perseus space monitoring and remote sensing constellation, which will track and...

[Via Satellite 06-25-2014] Aerojet Rocketdyne successfully performed a series of hot-fire tests on a Bantam demonstration engine made entirely through additive manufacturing. The engine consisted of only three additive-manufactured components: the injector and dome assembly, the combustion chamber, and a throat and nozzle section. This engine is normally comprised of dozens of parts. This liquid...

[Via Satellite 06-24-2014] Surrey Satellite Technology Limited’s (SSTL) medium resolution Earth observation satellite for the Republic of Kazakhstan, KazEOSat 2, was successfully launched into sun-synchronous orbit onboard a Kosmotras Dnepr rocket from the Russian launch pad in Yasny on Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 7:11 p.m. local time. The ground station in Kazakhstan’s capital of...

[Via Satellite 06-23-2014] Spaceflight successfully deployed 11 Planet Labs Dove Earth-imaging satellites from a Kosmotras-operated Dnepr launch vehicle. This launch follows two major launches in the past year: the April 2013 deployment of Planet Labs’ Dove 1 and Dove 2 satellites from an Orbital Sciences’ Antares launch vehicle, and the launch of Planet Labs’ Flock...

[Via Satellite 06-19-2014] Two of the largest shareholders in Arianespace, Airbus Group and Safran, announced an equally owned joint venture for launch vehicles in development. “This is a major milestone for the European launcher industry,” said Stéphane Israël, chairman and CEO or Arianespace. “The initiative by Airbus Group and Safran, our two largest industry shareholders,...

[Via Satellite 06-18-2014] Marc Eisenberg, CEO of Orbcomm, confirmed that the recent delays of the company’s next launch have not caused tension with its relationship with SpaceX. After setbacks caused by a helium leak on the Falcon 9, followed by additional time on Orbcomm’s behalf to recheck its satellites, the launch was reset for Friday...

[Via Satellite 06-18-2014] United Launch Alliance (ULA) signed commercial contracts with multiple U.S. companies to investigate the development of next-generation liquid oxygen/hydrocarbon first-stage propulsion concepts. In collaboration with ULA, the Research and Development (R&D) activities will consist of technical feasibility analyses, high fidelity plan development, schedule, cost and technical risk identifications and cost estimations, supporting...

[Via Satellite 06-16-2014] The launch of Measat’s Measat 3b satellite carrying NewSat’s Jabiru 2 payload has been rescheduled for September 2014 due to a delay from the co-passenger spacecraft, Optus Networks’ Optus 10 satellite. Jabiru 2 will provide coverage across Australia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Optus 10 and Measat 3b, with...

[Via Satellite 06-13-2014] The Space Systems Loral (SSL)-built satellite for AsiaSat, the AsiaSat 8, arrived at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, where it will be prepared to launch on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle. Preparations are underway for a July launch, which will be the first SpaceX launch for both AsiaSat...

[Via Satellite 06-12-2014] In a move to capture the ever-growing small satellite market, Lockheed Martin resurrected the Athena rocket family to provide dedicated small satellite launches. Constructed by Lockheed Martin and Alliant Tech Systems (ATK), the Athena 1 and the Athena 2 are back on the market with at least one other iteration under development....