SSI News
New Space Era: Starship makes first orbital attempt but it all ends in a spin, then an explosion (Updated)
Having suffered a three-day delay due to a frozen pressurisation valve fault, the long-awaited launch of the Starship/SuperHeavy combination – known simply as Starship – took place from Boca Chica beach, Texas, at 1333 GMT on 20 April. After a last-minute delay caused...
Falcon 9 launches 21 new Starlink V2 sats as part of Starlink Group 6-2
SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA at 1431 GMT on 19 April 2023. The launch vehicle was carrying 21 of the larger Starlink V2 Mini spacecraft as part of Starlink Group 6-2 to orbit. Each spacecraft weighs in...
GEO satellite ES XXV ordered from Maxar by DISH
The Dish Network (DISH) ordered a new GEO communications sat from Maxar the two firms announced on 18 April 2023. This satellite will be a large unit expected to weigh over 6,000 kg and based on the venerable Maxar 1300 satellite bus product line. Despite its long...
China launches Feng Yun 3G on Long March 4B
China successfully launched a Long March 4B from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, China at 0136 GMT on 16 April. The vehicle was carrying Feng Yun 3G (also referred to as Fengyun-3 07), a low Earth orbit precipitation measurement satellite. The meteorological...
SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Transporter-7 mission carrying Turkish imaging sat IMECE plus 46 small satellites (& four hosted payloads)
SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 rocket from Vandenberg, California, USA at 0648 GMT on 15 April 2023. The rocket launched the Transporter 7 mission which comprised one main payload the 800 kg Turkish imaging spacecraft IMECE, and 46 small...
JUICE mission to Jupiter’s moons blasts off after initial delays…then it has a radar antenna deployment fault
After Flight VA260 was delayed by one day due to the weather, the Ariane 5 ECA+ rocket successfully launched the JUICE (JUpiter ICy-moon Explorer) spacecraft onto its interplanetary trajectory on 14 April from Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, French Guiana at 1214 GMT....
Northrop Grumman building communications satellite for 2025 launch and US$2.4 billion military contract
Northrop Grumman is developing a geostationary communications satellite in a bid for a military contract worth US$2.4 billion. The aerospace and defence giant will have to compete with Boeing to develop Protected Tactical Satcom (PTS) prototype satellites. Both...
Centaur V stage test failure puts Vulcan-Centaur maiden launch timeline in jeopardy
In a blow to United Launch Alliance’s (ULA’s) hopes for the latest Vulcan-Centaur rocket, an explosive pressurisation test failure of the Centaur V’s upper stage occurred on 29 March. While quickly admitting to the failure, ULA initially downplayed the event...
Hyperbola-1 (SQX-1) test launch reaches orbit
A test launch of the i-Space (China)'s Hyperbola-1 (SQX-1) three-stage solid rocket launch vehicle aka Shyang Quxian-1 has been deemed a success. The launch took place at 0400 GMT on 7 April 2023. While no live satellites were on board, an object, believed to be the...
Intelsat-40e/TEMPO is sent on its way via a transfer orbit by Falcon 9
A Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 successully launched the Intelsat IS-40e/TEMPO satellite into its planned geosynchronous transfer orbit via parking orbit at 0430 GMT on 7 April from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA. The spacecraft will later stabilise itself into a circular...
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