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General news on the satellite and space industry from around the web

Hodoyoshi 1 SmallSat Takes First Images – Satellite Today

South East Forest Area in Australia as seen by Hodoyoshi 1. Photo: Axelspace [Via Satellite 12-30-2014] The University of Tokyo SmallSat Hodoyoshi 1, developed in partnership with the Next-generation Space Systems Technology Research Association and Axelspace Corporation, has successfully taken its first images of Earth. The SmallSat launched Nov. 6 aboard a Kosmotras Dnepr rocket.…

Kratos Awarded Three Contracts for Satcom Products – Satellite Today

A satellite Earth station. Photo: Kratos [Via Satellite 12-30-2014] Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has won three contracts for satellite communications equipment for undisclosed customers. The contracts cover a variety of products, including Earth stations, command and control systems and other satellite communication related products and services. Collectively they are worth approximately $40 million. The…

NASA Programs Dawn Spacecraft to Begin Ceres Approach Phase – Satellite Today

This artist’s concept shows NASA’s Dawn spacecraft heading toward the dwarf planet Ceres. Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech [Via Satellite 12-30-2014] Mission controllers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have beamed the programmed maneuvers for the Dawn spacecraft to begin its approach phase as it nears Ceres, the largest body in the asteroid belt. Dawn was recently behind…

China Deorbits FY 2C Weather Satellite – Satellite Today

China’s first generation of geostationary meteorological satellite named Feng Yun (FY-2). Photo: China’s National Satellite Meteorological Center [Via Satellite 12-30-2014] China’s first geostationary meteorological satellite, FY 2C, has been deorbited in compliance with national space debris mitigation standards and those of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), according to China’s state-run media agency Xinhua. The…

ILS Proton Delivers Six-Ton SES Satellite to GTO – Satellite Today

The ILS Proton mission that launched SES’ Astra 2G satellite. Photo: Roscosmos. [Via Satellite 12-29-2014] International Launch Services (ILS) lofted the Astra 2G satellite for SES on Dec. 27 using a Proton Breeze M booster. The rocket carried the six-ton satellite into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) after a mission lasting nine hours and 12 minutes.…

RigNet Acquires Kazakh Oilfield Communications Company – Satellite Today

Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. Photo: russavia/Wikipedia [Via Satellite 12-29-2014] RigNet has acquired 49 percent of the shares of the oilfield communications company Timas Munaicom in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The purchase enables RigNet to provide remote communications services in the country as well as a means to expand to nearby geographies. “RigNet now has the ability…

Himawari 8 Satellite Releases First Images – Satellite Today

Earth as seen from the Himawari 8 weather satellite. Photo: Japan Meteorological Agency [Via Satellite 12-29-2014] The Japan Meteorological Agency has released the first images from the Himawari 8 geostationary weather satellite, which launched Oct. 7, 2014 aboard an H2A rocket. Mitsubishi Electric built the satellite using the DS2000 platform. The Himawari 8 spacecraft is…

Russia Launches Resurs P2 Satellite Aboard Soyuz 2.1b – Satellite Today

The Resurs P2 Soyuz launch. Photo: Roscosmos [Via Satellite 12-29-2014] The Russian remote sensing spacecraft Resurs P2 launched aboard a Soyuz 2.1b rocket on Dec. 26 2014 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The Earth observation satellite is capable of panchromatic and hyperspectral imaging, and carries equipment for automatic ship identification. Built by TsSKB-Progress (Samara), the Soyuz…