SSI News
Launch success for Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft
After Saturday's aborted launch attempt of the Falcon 9, a second attempt on 22 May was carried out successfully. The vehicle launched at 0744 GMT from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Now in orbit the Dragon spacecraft will be conducting several tests on its...
End is nigh for Dnepr rocket
Citing safety and environmental concerns a Russian Defence Ministry report is recommending the end of using old RS-20 (SS-18, Satan missile) ICBM's for space launches. The RS-20's were called the Dnepr when converted for space launches. The first launch of the Dnepr...
End is nigh for Dnepr rocket
Citing safety and environmental concerns a Russian Defence Ministry report is recommending the end of using old RS-20 (SS-18, Satan missile) ICBM's for space launches. The RS-20's were called the Dnepr when converted for space launches. The first launch of the Dnepr...
Proton M launches Nimiq 6 comsat for Telesat
An ILS Proton Breeze M rocket successfully launched the Nimiq 6 commercial communications satellite for the satellite operator Telesat at 1912 GMT on 17 May from the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan. After a 9 hour 14 minute 5-burn mission, the Breeze M upper stage successfully released the satellite into its planned geostationary transfer orbit. The satellite, which uses a version of the Space Systems Loral, SS/L-1300 bus design, will use its on-board propulsion to positition itself into its final geostationary Earth orbit position.
Japan’s H2A launches four satellites
The Japanese climate change monitoring satellite GCOM-W1 (SHIZUKU) was launched successfully at 1639 GMT on 17th May 2012 by a Japanese H-2A202 launch vehicle. The lift off took place at Japan’s main launch site at Tanegashima. Also aboard was the South Korean Earth observation satellite Kompsat 3 and two small satellites HORYU 2 and SDS 4.
Just crane unlucky: Measat 3A was damaged twice before repairs
As the Malaysian satellite operator Measat sues Intelsat over an alleged breach of contract and for alleged lost earnings due to a damage-related launch delay, Measat has revealed details about exactly how the damage was done to its Measat 3A satellite.
Elton sends Rocket Man video up to the International Space Station
After Internatioal Space Station Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers played Sir Elton John’s famous song Rocket Man to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of the song, so now the 65 year old singer has sent up a video of a live version which he performed in Las Vegas, also to celebrate the 40th anniversary.
Britain should have a spaceport says IoD report
The United Kingdom’s Institude of Directors (IoD) has commissioned a report into Britain’s Space Industry. The report called Space: Britain’s New Space Infrastructure notes how well the space business is doing in the United Kingdom. While it reports that this is mainly on the back of “downstream” activities like satellite television and space insurance., it also states that Britain has found itself a successful niche role in spacecraft manufacturing via Astrium and Surrey Satelltie Technology Limited (both firms are owned by EADS).
Russia launches Cosmos 2480 military reconnaissance satellite
The Russian military spacecraft designated Cosmos 2480 was successfully launched at 1405 GMT by a Soyuz U launch vehicle flying from the Plesetsk launch site in Northern Russia. The spacecraft is believed to be a Yantar-4K2M (Kobalt M) class military reconnaissance satellite.
Soyuz TMA-04M docks with International Space Station
The Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft carrying the crew of NASA astronaut Joe Acaba and Russian cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and Sergei Revin successfully docked with the Poisk module of the International Space Station at 0436 GMT on 17/05/2012.
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