A Boeing Sea Launch booster carried the XM Satellite Radio company's Roll satellite into geostationary transfer orbit from the equatorial Pacific-based launch platform Odyssey on 8 May.
The 18kW (24hp) Boeing 702 satellite joins Rock, which was launched on a Sea Launch on 18 March, to provide 100 channels of digital-quality music, news and information to Alcatel-built XM radios in cars across the USA.
Source: Flight International
Airbus has trimmed its 20-year outlook for freighter demand, while tipping it more in favour of new-build aircraft and the replacement market.
Airbus is estimating demand for 42,430 new aircraft deliveries over the next two decades, with a higher proportion – some 44%, compared with last year’s 42% – set to serve as replacements.
Airbus is actively encouraging propulsion manufacturers to explore open-rotor engine concepts to offer competition for CFM International’s RISE programme.
