June 2020

NASA has awarded Astrobotic of Pittsburgh US$199.5 million to deliver NASA’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) to the Moon’s South Pole in late 2023. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2020061102

The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) has started a two year research project to demonstrate military Ultra High Frequency (UHF) tactical communications via a polar Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite. FFI has selected GomSpace to develop and build the satellite. The test satellite is to be launched in October 2021. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2020061103

The 53 satellite passengers for Arianespace’s rideshare flight with its Vega light-lift launcher have been integrated at the Spaceport in French Guiana, marking a key milestone in preparation for the 18 June Proof of Concept mission with Europe’s Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS). http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2020061000

Russia’s S7 company mulls selling the Sea Launch space complex to a subsidiary of Russia’s state corporation Rosatom, negotiations on the issue are under way, two sources in Russia’s business circles were quoted as saying. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2020061001

Following the successful launch and operation of Saudi Arabia’s newest commercial communications satellite, SaudiGeoSat-1 (SGS-1), Lockheed Martin has been selected to develop a new ground system to control, manage and operate the satellite. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2020061002

Rocket Lab said the countdown was on for the company’s 12th Electron launch, the ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ mission from Launch Complex 1. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2020060900

A rather mysterious satellite has reportedly been shipped to Cape Canaveral for a launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in July. ANASIS 2 (Army/Navy/Air Force Satellite Information System 2), originally known as KMilSatCom 1, is South Korea’s first dedicated military communications satellite. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2020060901

York Space Systems announced that the company has been chosen as a strategic partner & subcontractor by LatConnect 60, who is currently developing a small satellite constellation that will provide greater access and control to critical Earth observation data required by the Australian government and a wide range of commercial clients across the world. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2020060902

Tethers Unlimited, Inc. (TUI) announced it has secured a contract to provide key communications and propulsion capabilities to Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in support of the NASA Polarimeter to UNify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) Mission. TUI will be delivering flight units of both its SWIFT-XTS X-band software defined radio (SDR) and its HYDROS-C water-electrolysis…

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) shipped the core of the H-IIA Launch Vehicle (H-IIA No. 42) from the Tobishima Plant of the Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works in Aichi Prefecture to the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. http://www.sat-nd.com/archive/?id=2020060800