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India and France eyed another milestone
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Fresh from the successful launch of the joint space mission for weather observation, India and France eyed another milestone of a new satellite dedicated to environment monitoring. At the bilateral talks here, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his French counterpart Alain Juppe welcomed the successful launch of Megha-Tropiques satellite for research on climate and weather systems. "The forthcoming launch of SARAL, a joint satellite to study sea surface altitude would be another milestone in space cooperation," a joint statement issued after the discussions said. Saral would help ocean scientists gather accurate data on the rise in the sea level which could threaten the low lying and coastal areas of the country.
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Brazil wants Indian satellites to monitor Amazon
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Brazil is negotiating to use satellites from India to improve the monitoring of deforestation in the Amazon rain forest. A member of Brazil's National Institute for Space Research says a satellite recently launched by the Indian government could vastly increase Brazil's ability to combat deforestation in the region. Luis Maurano says the IRS-6 satellite would allow authorities to locate deforested areas much faster than with the satellites currently used.
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AsiaSat orders two Satellites
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Satellite fleet operator AsiaSat of Hong Kong contracted with Loral to purchase two telecommunications satellites, both to be ready for launch in 2014, under contracts with a combined value of $233 million. Both satellites will use Palo Alto, Calif.-based Loral’s SSL 1300 satellite platform and will expand AsiaSat’s capacity for its markets in Asia, the Middle East and Oceana. AsiaSat 6 will carry 28 high-power C-band transponders. The contract is valued at $114.5 million but could rise to $120.4 million if AsiaSat elects to fit the spacecraft with plasma-electric propulsion for its on-board station keeping, AsiaSat said in a filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Such a decision likely would reduce the satellite’s weight at launch by reducing the amount of conventional fuel that would be needed to maintain itself stably in orbit over its 15-year life.
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| Isro to set up new rocket-launch pad in coastal area |
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The Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) has turned its attention to the coastal area of Krishna district as part of its search for a suitable location where it can set up a rocket-launch pad. Isro scientists have conducted feasibility studies for the site near Nagayalanka mandal in the coast. Indications are that the state government is keen to get the facility established in the hinterland of Krishna and Guntur districts. The Isro wants to have more launch pads to increase frequency of the satellites in future. At present, Isro has a capacity to launch a satellite once in two months, which becomes once in a month after additional launch pads are set up. It is also planning to send satellites which can carry more weight in future. The Isro has proposed to set up a third launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (Shar) at Sriharikota. The officials prepared a project report and sent it to the government for approval.
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NIGCOMSAT-1 did not disappear from space
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After more than three years of speculations, accusations and suspicions, the true whereabouts of the Nigerian Communication Satellite technology, otherwise known as NIGCOMSAT-1, has been established. The technology, which was launched on May 13, 2007, as part of economic and technological development plans of the Federal Government, was reported missing shortly after its installation. But, according to the Managing Director of the Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited, NIGCOMSAT, Mr Timasaniyu Ahmed-Rufai, the system did not disappear from the air space as was being widely alleged.
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Intelsat expands African interest
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Intelsat has announced a series of customer wins and contract extension in the African market. The satellite operator has three planned launches for 2012 that will add to its current fleet of 22 craft serving Africa. “Intelsat’s rich history of providing reliable and robust critical communications infrastructure to Africa, which spans more than 40 years, has resulted in many firsts on the continent. From introducing direct-to-home (DTH) platforms, to supporting reliable broadband in remote regions, Intelsat’s satellite network has been a springboard for technology advancement in Africa, supporting the continent’s socioeconomic development,” said Intelsat’s SVP of global sales, Kurt Riegelman.
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Optus 10 satellite due for orbit in 2013
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France's Arianespace will launch a new satellite for Optus in 2013 to boost capacity for the telco's internet, voice and data services. Optus 10 will be the sixth satellite launched by Arianespace for Optus and will be placed into orbit from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.Arianespace chief executive Jean-Yves Le Gall said Optus would be able to make use of the improved services within a few weeks of the satellite's launch. "Over the last decade this major Asia-Pacific operator has entrusted us with all of their satellites, clearly showing that our launch service offering addresses today's evolving market needs," Mr Le Gall said.
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German satellite re-entered the atmosphere over the Bay of Bengal
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German research satellite ROSAT re-entered the atmosphere over the Bay of Bengal; it is not known whether any parts of the satellite reached Earth's surface. Determination of the time and location of re-entry was based on the evaluation of data provided by international partners, including the USA. "With the re-entry of ROSAT, one of the most successful German scientific space missions has been brought to its ultimate conclusion. "The dedication of all those involved at DLR and our national and international partners was exemplary; they are all deserving of my sincere thank you," said Johann-Dietrich Worner, Chairman of the DLR Executive Board. The launch of the ROSAT into orbit on 1 June 1990 marked the start of a mission that would allow researchers to perform an all-sky survey of X-ray sources with an imaging telescope for the first time.
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Russians to prosecute over satellite loss
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Russia’s Prosecutors General’s Office is to pursue a case alleging criminal negligence against those it argues are responsible for the loss of Russia’s Express AM-4 satellite. The facts are that a Russian Proton-M rocket failed to deliver the Express-AM4 satellite that was designed to provide digital television and secure government communications over Siberia and the Far East. The satellite failed to separate from the carrier rocket and did not reach its designated orbit. Russian Prosecutor General’s Office spokeswoman Marina Gridneva said: “Both incidents were the result of negligence by employees of state space industry enterprises subordinate to Roscosmos, during control procedures, as well as the absence of proper control by Roscosmos of decision-making by authorized persons,” Gridneva said.
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Pakistan’s satellite Paksat-1R in orbit |
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Pakistan’s communications satellite, Paksat-1R, was launched on Thursday by China’s Satellite Launch Vehicle from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Sichuan province. The satellite successfully separated from the carrier rocket and entered geostationary transfer orbit as scheduled, 26 minutes after the launch. Paksat-1R has 30 transponders, 12 in C-band and 18 in Ku-band. The satellite will be deployed at 380E in the geostationary orbit and it will replace the Paksat-1.It has a design life of 15 years and will provide TV broadcasting, Internet and data communications services in South and Central Asia, Eastern Europe, East Africa and the Far East. Pakistani engineers worked closely with their Chinese counterparts during all stages of development of the satellite in China.
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Telkom Launches Telkom-3 Satellite |
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PT Telkom Indonesia will launch the Telkom-3 Satellite this year. PT Telkom’s corporation communications director Eddy Kurnia said the US$ 200-million dollar satellite was being made at the ISS-Reshetney satellite factory in Russia. Eddy said the French company Thales Aleniaspace was also working on the sub-system. The satellite will be launched using the Proton M-breeze launcher. “The completion and the launch are scheduled for the end of 2011,” Eddy said in Jakarta.
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Azerbaijan to launch its satellite into orbit in June 2012
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The Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan has accounted for work done in 2009 on launching of own communications satellite. Communication minister Ali Abbasov says that for the past year there were conducted tenders for orbital launching of the first telecommunication satellite and with help of a consulting company it is expected to sign at the end of this January a contract on orbital position of the satellite and in February a main contract with producer company. “There is a delay in this work by about three months that is linked with taking into account the recommendations of the consulting company, the expert group and the Ministry of Finance. Thus, we expect to launch the satellite into orbit already in June 2012,” the minister said. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev approved the State Program on creation and development of space industry, adoption of which was envisaged by his decree #27 from 4 November 2008 “On creation of space industry and placing telecommunications satellites into orbit”. The program says of establishment of an organization in 2009-2010 to prepare for placing the satellites in orbit and managing them, preparation for normative legal acts for exploitation and management of satellites and satellite systems, development of the plan to increase opportunities to render satellite services. In 2009, it is necessary to make choice of optimal orbit for native satellites and prepare feasibility study of the project. In 2010, earth-based systems should be created to manage the satellites and the systems should be placed in orbit in 2011-2012.
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