Orbital wins award
Orbital Sciences is to build two C/Ku-band communications satellites - AMC-5R and a ground spare - for delivery in mid/late 2009 to SES Americom, which has taken options on three more of the 5kW-class spacecraft. This follows an Intelsat order for a 4.6kW Ku-band satellite, IS-15, for launch early in 2009 and confirmation of Orbital's contract to build the IS-16 spacecraft for delivery in 2008 as a ground spare.
J-2X has own stand
NASA is to build a new test stand at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi for firings of the Pratt & Whitney J-2X rocket engine that will power the upper stages of the Ares I and Ares V crew and cargo launch vehicles. The first test is set for December 2010, with the first Ares I launch of the crew exploration vehicle to the International Space Station planned by 2015.
Phoenix lands
The Lockheed Martin Space Systems-built lander for NASA's Mars Scout programme's Phoenix mission, originally designed for the 2001 Mars Surveyor mission, was delivered to Kennedy Space Center in Florida last week. Phoenix will be tested before its August launch by a Boeing Delta II rocket. Its 90-day mission at northern latitudes will seek water ice.
Source: Flight International
