SSI News
Upgraded Hyperbola 1 (SQX-1) rocket fails losing another Jilin-1 Mofang-1A observation satellite (Updated)
The launch of the Jilin-1 Mofang-1A (R) Earth observation satellite by an upgraded version of the four-stage Hyperbola 1/SQX-1 (Shian Quxian-1) rocket has ended in failure. The launch took place from Jiuquan at 0709 GMT on 13 May. Initial reports are that after a...
Satellogic secures launches for extra 68 satellites in second multi-launch agreement with SpaceX
Satellogic, the South American newspace company, announced on 4 May a new contract with SpaceX to launch 68 of its Earth observation satellites on an unspecified number of future launches. These missions are set to begin in “early 2023”. The parties are currently...
Cargo spaceship Tianzhou-4 docks with Chinese space station after its launch by Long March 7
China's unpiloted cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-4, docked with the Chinese Space Station (CSS) at 0047 GMT on 10 May, seven hours after its televised Long March 7 (CZ-7) launch which was broadcast on Chinese state media. The cargo freighter was launched at 1756 GMT on 9...
French satellite operator Prométhée picks NanoAvionics to build its first nanosatellite
Paris-based satellite operator Prométhée have instructed mission integrator NanoAvionics to construct its first nanosatellite, as the French start-up begins progress on its plans to build a constellation of nanosatellites for Earth observation. ProtoMéthée-1 is...
Japanese iQPS signs contract with Virgin Orbit for launch of its fifth SAR satellite
Japanese newspace company, iQPS Inc, has contracted with American launch provider Virgin Orbit for the launch of its fifth satellite. iQPS is building a 36 unit fleet of SAR-equipped (Synthetic Aperture Radar) small satellites to provide high-resolution imagery with...
SpaceX launches first of many planned Starlink launches in May
At 0942 GMT on 6 May a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida carrying 53 Starlink satellites. The payloads were successfully bulk deployed in to their deployment orbit in LEO at around an hour after launch. They will now undergo...
NASA Crew 3 (Endurance) departs the International Space Station (Updated)
On 5 May 2022 at 0320 GMT, the NASA Crew 3 (Endurance) mission astronauts closed the hatch between their Crew Dragon craft and the International Space Station (ISS). Undocking was autonomous from the forward port of the ISS's Harmony module at 0520 GMT. Commander Raja...
Eight more Earth Observation satellites launched for Chinese Jilin-1 constellation
A Long March-2D (CZ-2D) rocket launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, Northern China, at 0238 GMT on 5 May. The mission carried eight Jilin-1 Earth Observation satellites to a low Earth orbit (LEO). The primary payload was the larger Jilin-1 Kuanfu-01C...
Arabsat orders Arabsat-7A software-defined satellite from Thales Alenia Space
Riyadh-based fleet operator Arabsat has ordered the construction of Arabsat-7A, its first fully flexible Software-Defined Satellite (SDS), after signing a contract with Thales Alenia Space on 29 April. Arabsat-7A will replace the majority of the existing C- and...
Rocket Lab’s Electron launches 34 sats but helicopter snag/landing of first-stage only partially works
On its launch from the Onenui Station on Mahia peninsula, New Zealand on 2 May 2022 an Electron KS rocket successfully put 34 small satellites into orbit on a rideshare mission. The rocket's payload included 24 SpaceBee store/forward Internet of Things (IoT)...
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