SSI News
NASA awards three-launch contract for TROPICS mission to Astra Space
NASA has selected Astra Space Inc. to provide a launch service via its Astra Rocket 3 for the agency’s Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation Structure and Storm Intensity with a Constellation of SmallSats (TROPICS) mission. According to NASA the launch service...
First launch of 2021 for India as PSLV places 19 payloads into LEO following a severely curtailed 2020
Launching for the first time in 2021 at 0454 GMT on 28 February a PSLV rocket lifted-off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), India. The particular variant of PSLV flown is the recently introduced PSLV-DL with just two strap-on boosters. Amazonia-1 was the primary...
Soyuz 2-1b Fregat M launches Arktika-M 1 arctic meteorological research sat
Russia successfully launched a Soyuz 2-1b Fregat M vehicle carrying the Arktika-M 1 satellite into a highly inclined elongated Molniya orbit at 0655 GMT on 28 February 2021. The Arktika-M 1 satellite was built by NPO Lavotchkin for the Roshydromet (Russian Weather...
Company moves: Inmarsat gets a new CEO while AAC Clyde Space loses a former one
The UK-based mobile communications GEO satellite operator Inmarsat has appointed Rajeev Suri to replace Rupert Pearce who steps down as its CEO at the end of February. Suri was the former CEO of the Finnish firm Nokia which was once the dominant player in the mobile...
Recently gobbled up BCT receives order for six further Blackjack sats from DARPA
During February 2021 DARPA extended its Blackjack commitment with Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) by exercising part of an option to purchase six additional satellites from the company. The option stems from an original Blackjack order made with BCT in June 2020. DARPA...
China launches three Yaogan 31-03 electronic spy satellites aimed at tracking naval vessels
China launched three Yaogan 31-03 satellites, Yaogan 31-03-A, -B, and -C, into low Earth orbit at 0222 GMT on 24 February 2021. The satellites were launched on a Long March 4C (CZ-4C) launch vehicle from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China. The three...
Covid-19 Pandemic Endgame: “1943” has been reached but setbacks may still happen
Most of those living today will not have been alive during the World Wars of the Twentieth Century. And yet, the Coronavirus Covid-19 Pandemic, with all its sorrow and restrictions on normal life, has given a little taster of what wartime life was like on the various...
Cygnus NG-15 (Katherine Johnson) space freighter is launched to International Space Station
The US commercial unmanned space freighter Cygnus NG-15 (Katherine Johnson) was launched successfully by an Antares 230+ rocket at 1736 GMT on 20 February from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island, Virginia. The 8,050 kg craft was launched on a...
Firefly Aerospace contracted to fly NASA JPL mission in 2022
On 18 February 2021 General Atomics has contracted Firefly Aerospace to launch the OTB-2 (MAIA) mission to LEO in 2022. The mission is targeting a circular 740 km, polar orbit. Firefly will utilise one of its Firefly Alpha launch vehicles for the mission. It is...
ABL secures two payloads for the maiden flight of its RS1 rocket
On 16 February 2021 upcoming American, launch provider ABL Space Systems announced that it had secured two commercial payloads for its maiden launch, planned for Q2 2021. ABL is developing the RS1 small launch vehicle capable of carrying 1,350 kg to LEO. The customer...
Stay Informed with Seradata
Stay informed on the latest news, insights, and more from Seradata by signing up for our newsletter.