CHANG ZHENG 2D LAUNCHES FROM XICHANG WITH YAOGAN-35 SATELLITES - The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) launched a trio of Yaogan 35 military reconnaissance satellites to orbit on the morning of Friday, July 29, as a Chang Zheng 2D rocket flew out of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Liftoff took place at 13:28 UTC. Yaogan Weixing – translating to “remote sensing satellite” and often shortened to Yaogan – is the name that the Chinese space administration gives to many of its military spacecraft, much like the “Kosmos” and “USA” designations that have been used by Russia and the United States.   More
(Source: NASASpaceFlight.com - Jul 30)

ZIMBABWE TO LAUNCH FIRST SATELLITE IN JULY 2022 - In addition to enhancing mineral exploration, monitoring environmental hazards and droughts, and mapping human settlements and disease outbreaks, Zimbabwe will launch its first satellite next month. ZimSat-1, a nanosatellite, will be launched from the Japanese KIBO Module – Japan’s science module for the International Space Station (ISS).   More
(Source: Satellite Pro ME - Jul 30)

CONGRESS APPROVES INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION EXTENSION TO 2030 - Congress wants the International Space Station to keep going through the end of the decade. The newly passed Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act of 2022 includes a NASA authorization bill that, among other things, officially extends the agency's participation in the International Space Station (ISS) program by six years, to 2030.   More
(Source: Space.com - Jul 29)

ARGOS-4 SATELLITE PAYLOAD COMPLETES ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING PRIOR TO LAUNCH - GA-EMS won a contract from U.S. Space Force to deliver a spacecraft as a Hosted Payload Solutions (HoPS) mission delivery order for the Argos Advanced Data Collection System (A-DCS). The satellites will operate on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The purpose of the environmental testing was to ensure the Argos-4 instrument could handle the harsh environmental conditions of space. The next step will be to verify ground operations and perform system end-to-end testing, the statement reads.   More
(Source: Military Embedded Systems - Jul 29)

AFTER 50 YEARS PIONEERING SATELLITE IMAGERY, NASA'S LANDSAT IS READY FOR 50 MORE - NASA’s Landsat satellites have consistently made history in Earth observation since the project’s first launch in 1972, with this year marking 50 years of innovation and science. Its influence may surprise you, as will its continued relevance in the face of a fast-growing commercial imaging satellite sector. Landsat may be a familiar name to you but doesn’t ring any particular bells. It’s understandable — there are a ton of NASA satellites up there looking down on the planet.    More
(Source: TechCrunch - Jul 29)

OPERATION CENTRES IN TUNE FOR UPCOMING WEATHER SATELLITE - In just a few months’ time Europe’s first Meteosat Third Generation satellite will soar into the skies on an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana. From geostationary orbit, this new satellite, carrying two new highly sensitive instruments, will take weather forecasting to the next level. Taking a significant step towards launch, the satellite operations teams at two different centres have completed an all-important suite of tests ensuring that their procedures are fully compatible with the satellite.   More
(Source: European Space Agency - Jul 29)

RUSSIA REPORTEDLY TELLS NASA IT’S STAYING WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION UNTIL AT LEAST 2028 - After insinuating that it planned to leave the International Space Station partnership after 2024, Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos has told NASA that it intends to remain in the program until at least 2028, according to a report in Reuters. Roscosmos plans to stay involved with the ISS until it gets a new Russian space station up and running, with 2028 as the target date. Roscosmos caused turmoil yesterday when its newly appointed director, Yuri Borisov, told Russian President Vladimir Putin that a decision had been made to leave the ISS partnership after 2024.   More
(Source: The Verge - Jul 28)

ESA SELECTS VIASAT FOR MULTI-ORBIT SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS STUDY - Viasat said July 26 it has been selected to study multi-orbit satellite networks for the European Space Agency. The study will be conducted by the U.S.-based satellite broadband operator’s British subsidiary, which will spend a year evaluating technical requirements and potential markets for hybrid networks that combine multiple frequency bands and network architectures.   More
(Source: SpaceNews - Jul 28)

CAS SPACE PUTS SIX SATELLITES IN ORBIT WITH FIRST ORBITAL LAUNCH - Chinese launch services provider CAS Space successfully placed six small satellites in orbit early Wednesday with the first launch of the Lijian-1 solid rocket. The four-stage Lijian-1 (ZK-1A) rocket lifted off from an erector-launcher at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 12:12 a.m. Eastern. Launch success was confirmed by China’s official space publication within an hour of liftoff.   More
(Source: SpaceNews - Jul 28)

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