The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has formally approved Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband-by-satellite low Earth orbiting system. The FCC said it os happy with Amazon’s mitigation plan in the event of potential collisions while in orbit as well as a mechanism to de-orbit failed or dead satellites. The FCC had previously approved the scheme (in 2020) […]
South Korea has selected Arianespace’s Vega C mid-sized rocket to launch its KOMPSAT-6 satellites that has remained grounded due to sanctions imposed on Russia for invading Ukraine. The satellite was due to be launched by a Russian Angara rocket from its Plesetsk Cosmodrome. South Korea’s vice minister for science, Oh Tae-seog, said that the Vega-C […]
Arianespace has appointed Steven Rutgers to serve as its next Chief Commercial Officer. Rutgers began his career in the space industry over two decades ago – initially as the international market and account manager with Inmarsat distributor Xantic in the Netherlands. He subsequently worked in Hong Kong, Dubai and Singapore with Stratos and Inmarsat, negotiating […]
The loss of a valuable Vega-C rocket and two Airbus satellites (valued at some €200 million) has resulted in Arianespace ordering an independent inquiry commission. An Arianespace statement said they and the European Space Agency (ESA) immediately decided to appoint an independent inquiry commission. “This commission is tasked with analysing the reasons for the failure […]
An Arianespace Vega-C rocket exploded shortly after take-off, and lost two satellites. The mission was carrying a pair of satellites for Airbus. They were part of the Pléiades Neo Earth-imaging constellation. The flight took off Tuesday (December 20th) at 10:47 pm local time; 01.47 GMT on December 21st. The first, more powerful stage of the […]
Rocket company Arianespace has received orders for five launches from the European Commission (EC). The orders come from the EC’s Director General for Defence, Industry & Space. The French group said it will launch five Sentinel satellites between 2024 and 2026 for the Copernicus programme to provide Europe with reliable access to earth observation data. […]
Arianespace has been beset by delays in the development of its new Ariane 6 rocket. The company blames Covid and the pandemic’s affect on component production for the new rocket. Arianespace has said that the new rocket will launch around Q4 2023. The launch company says it will take up to 2026 to ramp up […]
Europe’s upcoming Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) super-secure satellite, the ESA’s Eagle-1, will be launched for SES by Arianespace on a Vega C rocket from French Guiana as early as Q4/2024. The satellite will be placed into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The EAGLE-1 project comprising satellite and ground infrastructure, is developed by SES and its consortium […]
The European Space Agency (ESA) has admitted that the delayed launched of Arianespace’s new Ariane 6 rocket is not now likely to make its debut flight for another year. The new hope is for a launch in Q4 2023. Ariane 6 was first planned to launch in July 2020. Covid hasn’t helped, but with the […]
OneWeb will see 36 of its broadband communication satellites launched later this month. India’s Space Research Organisation (ISRO) stated that it would use is heavy-launch rocket on its debut into the commercial launch market. ISRO says that as part of its contract with Arianespace, 36 satellites will be placed into orbit by its GSLV Mk3 […]