All Space articles – Page 174
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Radio revolution
WorldSpace plans to operate three satellites providing digital-quality sound to portable receivers Tim Furniss/LONDON The next Ariane 5 launch in February will help to spread radio broadcasts across the world. One of the two satellites it will carry will be the AsiaStar, the second in the three-satellite WorldSpace constellation, which ...
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High power
The world's largest commercial communications satellite is in orbit Tim Furniss/LONDON Galaxy XI, the world's biggest commercial communications satellite, has been operating for PanAmSat in geostationary orbit (GEO) following its launch in December aboard an Ariane booster. Its purpose is to carry video and telcommunications services to North America and ...
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Eutelsat orders fresh NewBird
Eutelsat has ordered a new communications satellite, provisionally called NewBird, from Alcatel Space. The craft will be equipped with 26 Ku-band transponders switchable to three areas of coverage - a wide beam over Europe, a beam covering North and South America, and a steerable beam. The satellite will be ...
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XIPS - efficient electric propulsion
The xenon ion propulsion system, or XIPS (pronounced "zips"), is the culmination of nearly 40 years of research into the use of electric propulsion as an alternative to conventional chemical propulsion on spacecraft. Also used on the HS-601 and high power 601HP models as well as the HS-702 satellites, ...
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NASA delays 'risky' HETE launch
Tim Furniss/LONDON The launch of the NASA High Energy Transient Explorer (HETE) aboard a Pegasus booster from Vandenberg AFB, California, was cancelled in late January as the space agency considered it too risky. NASA wants more testing of the satellite and further preparations at ground stations before it goes ...
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Thruster contracts for Kaiser Marquardt
Kaiser Marquardt is to provide 110lb-thrust (490N) bipropellant engines for the attitude control system of the International Space Station (ISS) and 200lb-thrust engines for the ISS Propulsion Module. The contract has come from Boeing Reusable Systems. The Propulsion Module will share long-term attitude control and re-boost work with the ...
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Spacehab contract
Spacehab has won a $4.2 million contract from NASA to supply an integrated cargo carrier (ICC) and two Spacehab Oceaneering Space Systems Boxes - unpressurised tool boxes - for next year's Space Shuttle International Space Station (ISS) assembly flight 7A.1. It will be the first flight of an ICC without ...
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Atlas blast-off kick starts new millennium space programme
The first satellite launch of the new millennium was routine, with an International Launch Services (ILS) Atlas IIA lifting off from Cape Canaveral on 21 January, carrying the US Air Force DSCS III B8 satellite. It was followed on 24 January by PanAmSat's Galaxy XR, a high- power Hughes ...
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ESA budgets for Ariane 5 updates
The European Space Agency (ESA) is allocating $545 million of its $2.13 billion 2000/1 budget to launchers, mainly upgrades to the Ariane 5. For the first time, the ESA budget also features funding for Europe's two-stage satellite navigation programme - the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System and Galileo. Much ...
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Comment3...
Comment3 Headlines USA reconsiders JSF policy4 Dragonair plans 26-aircraft order Dash 8-Q400 delays lengthen5 Lockheed Martin eyes job cuts A400M engine rivals in joint talks 6 MDH to take over former owner's site Air Transport Bombardier picks regional engines8 Crew drills highlighted at Little Rock hearing BM starts CityLine services9 ...
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Radiation risk
The US National Research Council says NASA should take steps to reduce the risk of astronauts being exposed to large doses of radiation on spacewalks outside the International Space Station (ISS). The risks are especially high during the peak of the 11-year solar activity cycle which coincides with the ...
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Mergers
US motion control systems specialist Parker Hannifin is to buy Commercial Intertech for $366 million in cash and stock, plus the assumption of $107 million of debt. Both companies are based in Ohio. Parker has made 42 acquisitions in the last six years. The takeover of Helicopter Services of the ...
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Shuttle mission to put radar topography on the map
Tim Furniss/LONDON The launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour STS99 on the 11-day Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) has been set for 31 January. The launch might be delayed by the need to check and, if necessary, replace thermal protection system tiles on the elevons of the orbiter. If work ...
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NASDA kills key programmes
Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE Japan's National Space Development Agency (NASDA) has cancelled the H-2 launch vehicle programme and suspended several others, to focus development efforts on the H-2A rocket. Japanese space industry sources confirm that NASDA has completely reviewed its programmes and budget for the 2000 fiscal year, following the ...
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US investor to offer trips to refurbished Mir space station
US entrepreneur Walt Anderson plans to set up a new company, Mir Corp, with Energia and other investors to refurbish the Mir and offer trips to the Russian space station. Anderson, who heads the Gold & Appel investment company, will go ahead with the plan if the Russian mission ...
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MMS powers up for Intelsat satellite
Matra Marconi Space (MMS) has won a contract to build the largest and most powerful satellite to be operated by the Intelsat international communications organisation. The 5,000kg (11,000lb) Intelsat NI-Alpha will be located in geostationary orbit at 310°W longitude, and will provide services to the Americas with 36 C-band transponders. ...
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Snecma and P&W seek to develop cryogenic engine
Snecma's rocket engine division, Société Europèenne de Propulsion, has agreed with Pratt &Whitney to jointly develop a new cryogenic upper stage engine for the Ariane 5, Lockheed Martin Delta IV and Boeing Atlas V. The deal is based around work by the two companies on more powerful engines to ...
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Commercial ATV
The European Space Agency is studying modification and commercialisation of the Ariane 5-launched Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) for the International Space Station. Changes include making it a reusable tug and launch on a new reusable vehicle like the proposed Lockheed Martin VentureStar. Source: Flight International
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X-33 flights face delay of 18 months
Lockheed Martin's VentureStar programme president Jerry Rising has confirmed that flights of the X-33 sub-orbital technology demonstrator will "definitely not" begin in July. If the decision is made to build aluminium propellant tanks for the vehicle, to replace those made of experimental lightweight composite materials, the delay will be ...
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Intelsat options
Europe's Intelsat is to exercise options with Space Systems/Loral for two additional Intelsat IX satellites - Intelsat 906 and 907 - to be deployed to the Atlantic Ocean region to meet growing demand for Internet services. Intelsat says that this will allow two existing satellites to be redeployed to new ...