■ SES Global subsidiary SES Americom has ordered a new communications satellite, AMC-21, from Alcatel Alenia Space for launch in 2008. It will be based on Orbital Sciences’ Star 2 small geostationary platform, weighing 2,500kg (5,500lb) and with 6kW power. International Launch Services orbited the Lockheed Martin-built SES Astra 1KR communications satellite on an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral, Florida on 20 April.
■ India’s Oceansat-2 Earth observation satellite is planned to be launched by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle in 2007. In addition to two Indian payloads – multi-spectral Ocean Color Monitor and Ku-band Pencil Beam Scatterometer - Oceansat-2 is planned to carry the Radio Occultation Sounder for Atmospheric Studies for Italian space agency ASI.
■ Russia launched a Start 1 booster from Svobodny, Siberia on 25 April, carrying the 350kg (770lb) Israel-led ImageSat International Eros B, 7m (23ft)-resolution commercial remote-sensing satellite. The satellite was produced by Israel Aircraft Industries/MBT Space Division.
■ The Russian State Commission investigating the failure of an ILS International Launch Services Proton M/Breeze M to place Arabsat 4A into the correct geosynchronous transfer orbit on 28 February concludes that a “foreign particle” blocked a nozzle of the Breeze M’s oxidiser system’s hydraulic pump, causing a premature shutdown.
Source: Flight International
