Andrews Space has won two contracts from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under the Falcon technology demonstration programme, leading to the planned development of a horizontal take-off small launch vehicle, Conus, designed for satellite and weapons deployments. An International Launch Services (ILS) Lockheed Martin-built Atlas IIAS booster was launched successfully from Pad 3E at Vandenberg AFB, California on 2 December carrying two or three space- based wide area surveillance system satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office. It was the last Atlas II-class launch from Pad 3E, which will now be converted to handle Atlas V launches. Three Russian launches planned from Baikonur in December will feature five satellites. Three Uragan Glonnass navigation satellites will be launched on a Proton KM on 10 December, Israel's Amos 2 communications satellite will fly on a Starsem-operated Soyuz Fregat-boosted mission on 25 December and will be followed by another Proton KM, on 29 December, carrying the Express AM22 communications satellite. EADS Astrium has won a €314 million ($380 million) contract to build two 1,000kg (2,200lb) Pleiades high-resolution optical satellites for the French-Italian Orfeo system, which will also include a Cosmo-Skymed radar satellite. China's national space administration plans to launch a Long March 3-boosted spacecraft to orbit the moon in 2007 and a planned moon lander by 2010.
Source: Flight International
