Government/Military

NASA assigned crews for space shuttle missions STS-130 and STS-131. The STS-130 mission will deliver a third connecting module to the International Space Station and a seven-windowed cupola to be used as a control room for robotics. The STS-131 mission will deliver research and science experiment equipment, a new sleeping area and supplies to the...

Two European Space Agency (ESA) satellites are flying in formation to study Earth and its environment, ESA announced. ERS-2 and Envisat are flying in formation for the second time. The constellation includes ERS-2, ESA’s veteran spacecraft, and Envisat, the largest environmental satellite ever built, ESA announced. Both carry Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instruments that provide...

[Satellite Today 12-5-08] Arrowhead Global Solutions, the government services division of CapRock Communications, has launched a managed network services based on commercial X-band satellites, Arrowhead announced Dec. 5.     To operate the service, which is targeted at the military and intelligence community, Arrowhead is making investments in X-band teleport infrastructure and satellite capacity, including signing...

[Satellite Today 12-04-08] Vizada has linked up with Eclipse to offer mobile satellite services to the European military community, the companies announced Dec. 4.      The two partners have begun providing services to the French Navy, including activation of the SwiftBroadband service on a Dassault Falcon 50M maritime surveillance aircraft. As part of their deal,...

[Satellite Today 12-03-08] Khrunichev has lost the Kazsat-1 satellite, the head of the Russian national space agency, Talgat Musabayev, announced to Russian press officials Dec. 2.     “The KazSat-1 satellite went completely out of control on Nov. 26 and has not responded to any commands. That’s it. It’s gone,” he said.     According to a...

[Satellite Today 12-02-08] Ambient Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) testing was completed on the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Sensor (VIIRS) for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS), Raytheon Co. announced Dec. 2.     According to Raytheon, the testing verified that the flight unit operates in a space-like configuration without emitting or being susceptible to electro-magnetic...

[Satellite Today 12-02-08] NASA, in coordination with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has selected Lockheed Martin Space Systems to build the satellites for NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) program, NOAA announced Dec. 2.     Lockheed Martin will design, develop and deliver the GOES-R series of spacecraft and provide pre-launch, launch and...

While the satellite sector generally remains in good health, a financial crisis that has cast a huge shadow over the globe also threatens the necessary funding that many companies will need as they look to expand their operations and capitalize on new technology and initiatives. There are warning signs already present. WorldSpace, filed for Chapter...

Updated — November 30, 2008 – 5:30 p.m. EST Legend: + Targeted For | *No Earlier Than (Tentative) | **To Be Determined 2008 Launches Date: Dec. ** Mission: TacSat-3 Launch Vehicle: Orbital Sciences Minotaur Rocket Launch Site: Wallops Flight Facility – Goddard Space Flight Center Description: NASA will support the Air Force launch of the...

Bad Florida Weather Forces Endeavour To Divert To Edwards Air Force Base Fickle Florida weather that forced Space Shuttle Endeavour into a West Coast landing yesterday, a cranky and reluctant system to convert urine into drinking water, a lost tool bag, a challenging cardio workout hauling seven tons of new furnishings out of a cargo...