May 2018

The launch of a Soyuz MS spacecraft by a Soyuz-2.1a is planned for August 2019. The spacecraft will fly unmanned, which will make it possible to increase the payload by several times due to the lack of a part of the instruments and assemblies required to support crew activities. Currently, the unmanned version of the…

The SpaceDataHighway system – the world’s first ‘optical fibre in the sky’ based on cutting-edge laser technology – has achieved 10,000 successful laser connections. The reliability rate has reached 99.8%, and during the first one and a half years of routine operations these successful connections have downloaded more than 500 terabytes of data. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018052001

Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) have accepted United Launch Alliance’s new four-year contract offer and will return to work after being on strike since 7 May. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018052002

"Lawmakers last week questioned the Trump administration’s proposal to end direct U.S. government support of the International Space Station in 2025, citing concerns about the economic viability of commercial outposts in low Earth orbit. In a pair of hearings before Senate and House panels, NASA’s manager in charge of human spaceflight activities, the agency’s inspector…

China has launched a rocket developed by a Chinese private company from an undisclosed site in northwest China. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018051700

Payload preparations have begun for Arianespace’s next Ariane 5 mission in support of Europe’s Galileo global navigation system, with two of the four satellites for launch on this July 2018 flight now undergoing their checkout. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018051701

The launch of two GRACE-Follow On Earth science satellites and five Iridium NEXT spacecraft has been delayed three days to 22 May. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018051600

Thales Alenia Space said that following successful Critical Design Review, the companys Spacebus Neo product line is now entering qualification phases and manufacturing process involving an industrial consortium all across Europe : http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018051601

The UK air traffic management service provider, NATS, has announced it has invested in Aireon, the company pioneering a space-based air traffic surveillance service. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018051602

NSR’s Satellite Manufacturing and Launch Services, 8th Edition report, finds that despite a slow 2017, across the board, the global satellite manufacturing and launch market is poised to generate in excess of US$250 billion in the next decade. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2018051603