On 16 September Northrop Grumman received a contract from the US Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) to develop a next-generation “jam-resistant” military communications satellite. The contract was awarded through the Evolved Strategic Satellite...
Northrop Grumman has decided formally to end development of its OmegA rocket after being an unsuccessful bidder for phase 2 of the US Department of Defense’s National Security Space Launch programme. The DoD has selected United Launch Alliance (ULA) and SpaceX for the...
China has launched the CSSHQ – Chonfu Shiyong Shiyan Hangtian Qi, a reusable test spacecraft – using a Long March 2F (CZ-2F) rocket. The move is seen as a response to the US Air Force (now the US Space Force) X-37B/OTV reusable space plane. The launch, from the...
The American Space Development Agency (SDA) has placed orders for 10 satellites with two manufacturers. This is in aid of its “Transport Layer” initiative which aims to develop a constellation providing low-latency, global, military data connectivity. The...
Given that Vandenberg, California, is the main launch site for US missions to polar and near polar Sun-synchronous orbit launches, it was a surprise that SpaceX elected to use Cape Canaveral to launch Argentina’s second three metric ton radar satellite,...
At 0227 GMT, 23 August 2020 China launched the Gaofen 9-5 satellite to LEO (Low Earth Orbit) along with two small co-payloads. The mission utilised the Long March 2D (CZ-2D) rocket and lifted-off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Northern China. This marks the...
