Launch

Community-based space platform SpaceChain successfully tested its second blockchain node in space, launched into orbit on Oct. 25, 2018, by a CZ-4B Y34 rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, Xinzhou, China. The node is embedded with SpaceChain’s operating system, SpaceChain OS, and can perform blockchain-related functions on the Qtum blockchain — such as running smart contracts and...

Iridium launched its Iridium Certus broadband service for commercial customers, the first new capability activated from the company’s $3 billion Iridium Next satellite replacement program. Iridium Certus is a platform designed for the development of specialty global broadband service applications, offering on-the-move internet and voice access. Iridium has finished its global testing phase, including beta trials...

Although the U.S. warned against it, Iran’s attempt to launch a satellite failed on Tuesday. The rocket launching the satellite did not achieve escape velocity. According to Reuters, Iran’s telecoms minister stated that a second launch would be attempted. The U.S. has argued that Iran’s use of long-range ballistic missile technology is in violation with...

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 7:31 a.m. local time on Friday, delivering the final 10 Iridium Next Satellite to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). All 10 satellites have successfully communicated with the Iridium Satellite Network Operations Center. This was the eighth and final launch for Iridium’s launch campaign with SpaceX,...

The European Space Agency (ESA) awarded D-Orbit with a General Support Technology Program (GSTP) contract to develop a precise, in-orbit cubesat deployer. The approximately $3 million dollar (2.6 million euros) contract covers the study, specification, design, production, and qualification of a small satellite with the ability to transport a batch of cubesats to orbit. The goal...

It has not been a good start to the year for Maxar Technologies. The company revealed in the last few days that its WorldView-4 satellite (WV4) has likely suffered a significant failure, which means the satellite will not be recoverable. This will lead to significant lost revenue for the company. As a result, analysts have...

Thales Alenia Space signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to lead the Fluorescence Explorer (FLEX) satellite mission. FLEX was selected in 2015 as ESA’s eighth Earth Explorer mission, and is scheduled for launch in 2023. It will the Florescence Imaging Spectrometer (FLORIS) instrument to map the Earth’s vegetation fluorescence to quantify photosynthetic activity....

Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) completed the build of the platform for Eutelsat Quantum, the first Geostationary Orbit (GEO) telecommunications satellite that will be fully reconfigurable in orbit. The Eutelsat Quantum satellite is being built under a public–private partnership between the European Space Agency (ESA) and Eutelsat, with Airbus as the prime contractor. Eutelsat Quantum uses technology...

Russia’s Aerospace Force Command revealed that the Russian Kosmos-2430 military satellite was deorbited Jan. 5, then burned up over the Atlantic Ocean. The satellite was excluded from the orbital grouping in 2012. “The Russian Kosmos-2430 military satellite was deorbited in a planned manner at 09:48 Moscow time on January 5. The satellite fully burnt up...

Arianespace and the French Center for National Space Studies (CNES) Space Agency revealed that they have signed a launch contract for Argos Néo on a Generic Economical and Light Satellite (ANGELS), the first nanosatellite completely built by French industry. ANGELS will be launched as an auxiliary payload with the Cosmo-SkyMed Second Generation (CSG 1) and...