Satellite And Space Projects News January 2015

Orbital and ATK merger: The US Department of Justice has unconditionally cleared the proposed merger of Alliant Techsystems Inc's (ATK's) Aerospace and Defense Groups with Orbital Sciences Corporation, it was announced on 4 December 2014. Provided that shareholders of the two companies approve the deal, the merger is expected to complete in February 2015.

Azercosmos and Gilat deal: Satellite operator, Azercosmos Open Joint Stock Company (OJSCo), and Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd have signed an agreement for OJSCo to use Gilat's SkyEdge II-c network for multi-application satellite managed services for Azercosmos customers. Azercosmos provides broadband and broadcast solutions to customers in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia via its telecommunications satellite, Azerspace-1.

Successful test for SpaceDataHighway: The European Data Relay System (EDRS), also known as the SpaceDataHighway, has successfully completed its first ever gigabit transmission via laser imagery. EDRS is the product of a Private Public Partnership between the European Space Agency and Airbus Defence and Space and will deliver high-speed data transfer for Low Earth Orbit satellites using Laser Communication Terminal technology. As well as serving ESA's Earth observation project, Copernicus, EDRS will also be used for security and emergency response, with remaining bandwidth available for commercial use.

Lunar Mission One successfully funded: The Kickstarter fundraising for Lunar Mission One, the programme to land a robotic craft on the moon, successfully generated over £670,000 in December. The Lunar Mission One team will now establish the joint venture to pursue the project. Fieldfisher is advising the Lunar Mission One project.

Russia and China satellite talks: The Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) and China's Great Wall Industry Corporation (Great Wall) are in talks over potentially cooperating on building, launching and operating communications satellites. Great Wall is the foreign trade arm of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It is the only business entity authorized by the PRC Government to engage in commercial launches...