Finance

[Via Satellite 01-24-2014] A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket has successfully launched NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS L) payload. “With 43 successful missions spanning a decade of operational service and launched with a one-launch-at-a-time focus on mission success, the Atlas 5 continues to provide reliable, cost-effective launch services for our nation’s...

[Via Satellite 01-23-2014] International Launch Services (ILS) has agreed to use the Proton rocket to launch Gazprom Space Systems’ Yamal 601 satellite in 2016. As a replacement for the Yamal 202, the 5,700 kg satellite will provide fixed communications and transmission services in C-band over Europe, Northern Africa, South-East Asia and the Middle East. “We...

[Via Satellite 01-22-2014] With two commercial launches completed in 2013, the satellite industry is waiting to see how the rest of the launch market will react to SpaceX’s success. Besides this new competition, the satellite launch market is not expected to have a significant growth in the next couple of years. International Launch Services (ILS)...

“At least we still have a satellite,” said Martin Halliwell, CTO of SES, somewhat ruefully, after the first of two launch scrubs of the company’s SES 8 satellite. While he has attended more than 20

[Via Satellite 02-16-2014] Eutelsat Communications has selected International Launch Services (ILS) to launch the Eutelsat 9B satellite in 2015. Eutelsat 9B is a high-capacity Ku-band satellite based on a Eurostar E3000 platform that will provide new resources and improved performance for broadcasting at its 9 degrees East location in Europe. It will also host European...

[Via Satellite 01-15-2014] After completing associated checks, Arianespace has set a date for its next launch, VA217. The mission will use the Ariane 5 ECA to orbit the ABS 2 satellite for Asia Broadcast Satellite and the French-Italian Athena-Fidus satellite. Liftoff is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. local time in Kourou, French...

[Via Satellite 01-14-2014] International Launch Services (ILS) has received the first of two launch assignments for Intelsat slated for 2015. The satellite, Intelsat DLA-2, also known as Intelsat 31, will be launched by an ILS Proton rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, using the vehicle’s phase four performance capability. The satellite is currently under...

[Via Satellite 01-10-2014] Sky Perfect JSAT has signed a contract to launch its JCSAT 14 communications satellite with SpaceX. The launch is scheduled for the second half of 2015. JCSAT 14 will replace JCSAT 2A in geostationary orbit at 154 degrees east longitude. The satellite, which was built by SSL, is designed with 26 C-band...

[Via Satellite 01-10-2014] Spaceflight Inc. and NanoRacks are preparing to deploy multiple CubeSats from the International Space Station (ISS). The CubeSats are currently en route to the ISS onboard Orbital Sciences’ Cygnus Orb 1 resupply mission, which launched on Jan. 9, 2014. The satellites were manifest via the NanoRacks space act agreement with NASA, and...

[Via Satellite 01-09-2014] After a one-day delay, Orbital Sciences’ successful launch of the Antares rocket on Jan. 9, 2014 could be of strong importance to the satellite launch industry, not because of the payload, but for the nature of the delay. The Antares rocket liftoff was originally scheduled for Thursday Jan. 8, 2014, but was...