Space News for Monday, February 05, 2024

NASA Earth science mission once slated for cancellation ready for launch

Original Publication Date: 2024-02-04 23:27

NASA's Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem, or PACE, spacecraft to launch. Falcon 9 is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 40 Feb. 6. PACE carries three instruments designed to study the ocean as well as clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere.

China’s Smart Dragon-3 rocket launches 9 satellites from sea – SatNews

Original Publication Date: 2024-02-05 00:00

China on Saturday launched a Smart Dragon-3 (SD-3) carrier rocket from the sea. The rocket blasted off at 11:06 a.m. (Beijing Time) from waters off the coast of Yangjiang. It was the third flight mission to use an SD-3 rocket, said the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.

Geespace expands “Geely Future Mobility Constellation” launching 11 LEO Satellites – SatNews

Original Publication Date: 2024-02-04 00:00

Geespace completed its second successful satellite launch from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Center on February 3rd. The launch sent 11 satellites into low Earth orbit as the second orbital plane of “Geely Future Mobility Constellation” satellite network. Geely Future MobilityConstellation is the world’s first commercial initiative to integrate communication, navigation, and remote sensing within a single satellite network.

Hellas Sat and Thales Alenia Space’s MoU will develop optical comms payload for Hellas Sat 5 – SatNews

Original Publication Date: 2024-02-04 00:00

Hellas Sat and Thales Alenia Space have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the development of an optical communication payload for the future Hellas Sat 5 telecommunications satellite. Hellas Sat 5 will operate in geostationary orbit at 39 degrees East. This ambitious payload aims to connect with Optical Ground Station of the National Athens Observatory in Greece, Optical Ground Stations in France and ESA.

Eutelsat Group confirms end of operations on EUTELSAT 113 West A satellite – SatNews

Original Publication Date: 2024-02-04 00:00

Eutelsat confirms anomaly on its EUTELSAT 113 West A satellite. The satellites has now ceased operations. Eutelsat reaffirms its commitment to a safe and sustainable space environment. The impact on revenues of the non-availability of the satellite is circa €3 million in FY24 and €5 to 6 million in FY25-28.

While Artemis II schedule remains uncertain, NASA EGS preparing to be ready and waiting for stacking

Original Publication Date: 2024-02-03 13:16

NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) program continues to prepare for the Artemis II circumlunar mission. EGS is finishing certification of new ground systems to support crewed launches of the agency’s Orion spacecraft with its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket beginning with Artemis II.