India's Edusat education satellite has been launched on the first operational flight of the country's Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle. Launch of International Space Station expedition crew 10 on Soyuz TMA 5 is reset for 11 October, after a scare caused by a pyrobolt explosion in the docking unit. Alcatel is to provide C- and Ku-band transponder payloads for Russian Satellite Communications' Express AM-33 and -44 satellites, built by NPO-PM. NASA has consolidated all spacewalking systems - spacesuits, tools and crew aids - and selected Hamilton Standard as prime contractor. Delivery of the external tank for the Space Shuttle return to flight may be delayed after Hurricane Ivan interrupted work, jeopardising a March-April 2005 launch. Iran may launch its first satellite in March 2005, using a modified Shahab 3 ballistic missile to lift the 20kg (44lb) experimental satellite Safir 313 into a 250km (155 miles) orbit. China is planning a new booster capable of placing 25t in low Earth orbit to support launches of a lunar lander in 2010. Aerojet is to develop a hydrogen turbopump concept for an advanced upper-stage engine under an $11 million US Air Force Research Laboratory contract.
Source: Flight International
