SpaceX has won the launch contract to put the Egyptian communications satellite Nilesat 301 into orbit. The launch will use a Falcon 9 launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral in 2022. The 4,000 kg satellite is currently being built by Thales Alenia Space. The contract represents a win against Arianespace as it previously launched all three Nilesat satellites before.
Big flame: Falcon 9 launch of JCSAT-18/Kacific-1. Courtesy: SpaceX
Still, there was better news for Arianespace. In a not unexpected move, the European Commission of the European Union has ordered four launches for its Galileo navigation satellites on the European built Ariane 6 (the Ariane 62 version). The Ariane 6 rocket is set to maiden flight carrying 30 OneWeb satellites at the end of this year, though industry analysts speculate that this may be delayed into 2021.
