A planned launch of SES-16/GovSat-1 was scrubbed by SpaceX on January 30th. SpaceX said that it would replace a 2nd stage sensor in the Falcon 9 rocket. The launch was re-scheduled for the same time on January 31st, at 16.25 Florida time, 21.25 UTC). The SES-16 satellite carries an important additional element, called GovSat-1, a […]
Elon Musk’s Falcon ‘Heavy’ rocket will be launched on February 6th subject to the usual weather considerations. Musk has said that the maiden flight of the giant rocket will take place from Launch Pad 39A which was used for the historic Apollo moon missions, and more recently for NASA’s Space Shuttle flights. The flight’s objectives […]
The Spanish government has approved a takeover bid of local infrastructure company Abertis, which controls Madrid-based satellite operator Hispasat. One bidder is Italian motorway operator Atlantia, although others are also interested in the Abertis assets. It is not yet clear as to whether there will be Spanish conditions attached to any final bid because of […]
Arianespace Group’s phenomenal Ariane-5 rocket has been a remarkable success for so long that it is a major surprise when something goes awry. The last failure was back in December 2002, when a Eutelsat (Hot Bird 7) was lost along with a scientific satellite. Since then, Ariane has managed 82 perfectly successful missions. A lift-off […]
UK broadcasters Sky Sports F1 and Channel 4 have revealed the Grands Prix that will be shown live on their respective pay-TV and free-to-air platforms during the 2018 season. As part of its live coverage of all 21 race weekends from across the globe, Sky Sports F1 will show exclusive coverage of the first grand […]
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has filed a NIS 300 million (about €71m) legal action against a consortium of insurers which includes Lloyds of London and giant insurer Marsh, over the loss of the Spacecom/Amos-6 satellite. Amos-6 was lost in a catastrophic explosion and fire when it was being tested atop a SpaceX rocket back on […]
Avanti Communications will not see a launch of its much-needed Hylas 3 satellite until “the first 3 months of 2019” according to a company statement. However, there is better news on Hylas 4, a larger satellite, which Avanti says will launch on March 18 (subject to minimal delays caused by the Arianespace launch anomaly of […]
Four new O3b satellites have arrived safely at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, in preparation for launch by a Soyuz vehicle in March 2018. The four O3b medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites will be placed in orbit nearly 8,000 kilometres from Earth, four times closer to the planet than geostationary satellites. Built […]
Satellite operator SES saw its share price tumble during trading January 25th following the news that Sky will shortly launch further online access to its programming. At one point, SES shares hit €12.74 (down €0.75) and getting worryingly close to a 12-month ‘low’ of €12.40. In June 2017 the operator’s share price stood at €23. […]
“No launch comes with no risk,” said Arianespace CEO Stephane Israel following the launch of two satellites in the late afternoon (7.20pm local time) of January 25th. The launch lifted SES-14 and Al-Yah-3 (YahSat-3) into orbit, but not without some heart-stopping anxieties. “Up until now our customers do not have contact with their satellites, said […]