Russian Soyuz rocket launches Soyuz MS-22 with cosmonaut pair and NASA “exchange” astronaut aboard
While geopolitical events are now seriously effecting US-Russian relations and even Russo-Kazakh ones, it was still business as normal when it comes to crewed launches at the Baikonour Cosmodrome near Tyuratam, Kazakhstan. At 1354 GMT on 21 September 2022 a Soyuz...
China launches “environment detection” satellite Yunhai 1-03
At 2315 GMT on 20 September a Long March 2D (CZ-2D) rocket lifted-off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China. The rocket carried the Yunhai 1-03 satellite to LEO. This satellite is the third in a series of meteorological satellites utilised by the China...
More space insurers head for the exit: Allianz, Aspen Re and Dale Underwriting
While recent space insurance market results have, after a series of losing or very flat years, been more profitable, nevertheless, several long time space insurers are reported to be heading for the exit. Seradata understands that the Munich-headquartered underwriting...
Falcon 9 launches 54 Group 4-34 Starlink comsats from Cape Canaveral
After several attempts were called off due to bad weather, SpaceX finally successfully launched a Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 from Cape Canaveral, USA at 0018 GMT on 19 September 2022. The vehicle was carrying 54 other SpaceX Starlink satellites as the Group 4-34 mission...
IAC 2022 Paris: Ariane introduces reusable upper stage concept SUSIE
ArianeGroup unveiled SUSIE, its reusable Smart Upper Stage for Innovative Exploration, on the first day of the International Space Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Paris, France. The new concept design is a combined spacecraft and reusable upper stage which Ariane...
Rocket Lab delivers StriX 1 radar satellite to orbit via its Electron KS rocket
A Rocket Lab Electron KS rocket successfully delivered the StriX 1 radar satellite to orbit. The launch took place at 2038 GMT on 15 September from the Onenui Station on the Bahia Peninsula of the North Island of New Zealand. The spacecraft which is owned and...
Apple to bankroll Globalstar satellites
Globalstar, one of the original LEO constellation operators, will be used by Apple to allow iphone users to send emergency messages via satellite from remote locations. The partnership, which makes Apple Globalstar's biggest customer, was made public shortly after an...
Blue Origin New Shepard uncrewed launch fails seconds after takeoff
An uncrewed Blue Origin's New Shepard suborbital vehicle suffered a failure on its booster rocket just one minute after its launch on 12 September. New Shepard lifted off normally at 14:27 GMT from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas. Blue Origin has not...
Chinese launch military communications satellite Chinasat 1E on Long March 7A
China launched a Long March 7A rocket on 13 September at 1318 GMT. The rocket was carrying Chinasat 1E (FH-2E) -Zhongxing-1E from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan. Chinasat 1E is a military communications satellite,...
Thales Alenia Space to build fifth satellite for South Korean KT Sat
Satellite operator KT SAT has ordered a communications satellite from Thales Alenia Space to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2024. The new spacecraft, Koreasat 6A, will replace KT SAT's existing satellite, Koreasat 6. With six broadcasting satellite service...