Tag: Intelsat
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Arianespace launches three spacecraft, Intelsat talks satellite refresh efforts
Arianespace has successfully lifted three satellites into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) on Tuesday from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana using the veteran Ariane 5 launcher. Liftoff occurred at the opening of a 106-minute long window that extends from 20:30-22:16 UTC. The mission delivered an advanced European meteorological satellite and two Galaxy telecommunications…
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Falcon 9 B1051 makes final flight on Galaxy-31 & 32 mission
After a delay caused by Hurricane Nicole, SpaceX launched its 52nd mission of 2022 with the Intelsat Galaxy-31 & 32 satellites using a flight-proven Falcon 9 to a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). Falcon 9 first-stage booster B1051-14 made its final flight on this mission. Falcon 9 launched from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the…
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SpaceX successfully lofts Intelsat Galaxy duo
SpaceX launched Intelsat’s Galaxy 33 (G-33) and Galaxy 34 (G-34) satellites on Saturday from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch came after scrubbing two previous attempts due to a helium issue. This mission adds to SpaceX’s already record-setting year, marking their 46th flight of 2022. SpaceX…
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30 years after Intelsat VI rescue, Northrop Grumman aims to make in-space servicing a permanent reality
On 7 May 1992, Space Shuttle Endeavour lifted off on her first voyage at 23:40 UTC from Pad-B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Her target: Intelsat VI F-3 (now known as Intelsat 603). The goal: rendezvous with, repair, and re-release the satellite. In the now-30 years since that mission, on-orbit satellite repair and…
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30 years after Intelsat VI rescue, Northrop Grumman aims to make in-space servicing a permanent reality
On 7 May 1992, Space Shuttle Endeavour lifted off on her first voyage at 23:40 UTC from Pad-B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Her target: Intelsat VI F-3 (now known as Intelsat 603). The goal: rendezvous with, repair, and re-release the satellite. In the now-30 years since that mission, on-orbit satellite repair and…
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Northrop Grumman servicer docks with active satellite in geosynchronous orbit
A visible narrow field-of-view camera on the MEV 2 spacecraft captured this view of Intelsat 10-02 from a range of about 100 feet, or 30 meters. Credit: Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman’s second robotic life extension spacecraft docked with an Intelsat satellite in geosynchronous orbit Monday, the first link-up between a commercial servicing mission and an…
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Ariane 5 launches Mission Extension Vehicle, two communications satellites to orbit
An Ariane 5 rocket, operated by European Launch Service provider Arianespace, launched on its 109th scheduled flight, designated VA253, on Saturday. The heavy lift rocket was scheduled to launch from pad Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 3 (ELA-3) at Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on 31 July 2020. However, a hold was called, under two…
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Ariane 5 launches Mission Extension Vehicle, two communications satellites to orbit
An Ariane 5 rocket, operated by European Launch Service provider Arianespace, launched on its 109th scheduled flight, designated VA253, on Saturday. The heavy lift rocket was scheduled to launch from pad Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 3 (ELA-3) at Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on 31 July 2020. However, a hold was called, under two…
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Mission Extension Vehicles Validate New Satellite Lifeline in Orbit
Until February 2020, when a satellite on orbit ran out of propellant, that was the end of its life. Most major communications and military satellites are designed with prolonged lifetimes and carry enough fuel for a 15 year mission. But the struggle for some satellite operators has been that at the end of that 15…
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Intelsat, SES buy 10 C-band broadcast satellites from U.S. manufacturers
Artist’s concept of the SES 20 and SES 21 communications satellites to be manufactured by Boeing. Credit: Boeing Intelsat and SES, operators of the two largest fleets of geostationary communications satellites, have ordered 10 spacecraft from Maxar, Northrop Grumman and Boeing for launches beginning in 2022 to replace C-band capacity being transitioned to 5G cellular…