MCI COMMUNICATIONS and The News Corporation, with Loral Space, have formed a joint venture to launch two $400 million communications satellites in 1997-8. The satellites will provide high-power digital direct-to-home television services from a co-location at 110¡W longitude in geostationary orbit.
The first Loral-built satellite will be launched on an ILS International Launch Services Russian Proton in late 1997 and the second on an ILS Atlas 2AS in early 1998.
Source: Flight International
China’s AVIC has secured a contract from the China Manned Space Agency to develop a winged, reusable spacecraft called Haolong.
The UK Space Command’s first owned earth observation microsatellite has been launched, providing the inaugural element of a planned space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) constellation.
Orbital launch pioneer SpaceX is being contracted by the American space agency NASA to develop a so-called “US Deorbit Vehicle” that can safely return the International Space Station to Earth via controlled re-entry.
