SES has entered an agreement with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates to carry out a satellite life extension mission using an on-orbit refuelling spacecraft made by MDA’s Space Systems Loral subsidiary. The agreement will make SES the first commercial customer of the satellite refuelling service and will allow the company to activate the service when needed, SES said Wednesday. […] More

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Space Systems Loral have drafted a partnership agreement to develop technologies that would facilitate autonomous repair and maintenance of satellites in geosynchronous orbit. Both parties aim to jointly fund and perform technology development efforts under the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites program as part of the agreement, DARPA said Thursday. The RSGS public-private partnership is subject to review […] More

A broadband satellite Space Systems Loral designed and built for Hughes Network Systems has arrived at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida ahead of a scheduled launch in December. Hughes said Monday its EchoStar XIX satellite will launch next month aboard United Launch Alliance‘s Atlas V rocket. EchoStar XIX will join Hughes’ EchoStar XVII and SPACEWAY 3 satellites currently in orbit […] More

Space Systems Loral has shipped the second satellite developed for Australia’s national broadband network to French Guiana in preparation for the spacecraft’s launch. The Sky Muster II satellite will take off onboard an Ariane 5 launch vehicle built by Arianespace from the European Spaceport in Kourou, SSL said Wednesday. The satellite will work to provide […] More

A team comprised of NanoRacks, Space Systems Loral and United Launch Alliance will study the feasibility of converting rocket upper stages into habitats for low-Earth orbit and deep-space missions under a contract awarded by NASA. The Ixion Initiative Team aims to help NASA address risks associated with modules that are built on the ground and launched into orbit through the agency’s Next Space […] More

Space Systems Loral has been awarded a $20.7 million contract to build a robotic arm for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s servicing program for geosynchronous satellites. The company said Thursday it will design two robotic arm systems to capture and dock with satellites and carry multiple tools to carry out requirements of the Robotic Servicing […] More

Aerojet Rocketdyne and commercial satellites manufacturer Space Systems Loral have achieved centennial milestones for their respective products. SSL sent to space its 100th SSL 1300-based satellite and Aerojet completed 100 bipropellant apogee thrusters for those 100 satellites, the latter company said Wednesday. Aerojet also produced the 100th high-performance apogee thruster for SSL’s 100th 1300 satellite platform. SSL […] More

A division of Space Systems Loral will design and build camera focus mechanisms for NASA and a program teammate to use on one of the space agency’s Mars exploration instruments. MDA US Systems developed the focus mechanism for NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory partner Malin Space Systems to be integrated on the Mars 2020 Rover instrument, SSL said Friday. Malin is a space camera systems company […] More

Space Systems Loral and Busek Co. have agreed to further the development work for a solar electric propulsion aircraft in an effort to help meet future requirements of NASA and other government agencies. Matteo Genna, chief technology officer of SSL, said Monday the collaboration with Busek will help to advance the development of a thruster […] More

Telesat has selected Space Systems Loral, a subsidiary of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates, to produce a communications satellite for the satellite operator’s infrastructure in the Asia Pacific region. The Telstar 18 VANTAGE satellite will incorporate C- and Ku-band transponders and combine broad regional beams and high-throughput spot beams to help expand the company’s Asia Pacific […] More

Orbital ATK has received a five-year contract from a subsidiary of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates to produce and supply flight sets of titanium propellant tanks for integration with a commercial communications satellite. Orbital ATK’s space components division in California will manufacture flight sets comprised of two liquid propellant tanks for Space Systems/Loral’s SSL 1300 satellites, Orbital […] More

A subsidiary of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates will investigate ideas on how to robotically assemble communication satellites while in orbit under a contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. MDA said Wednesday Space Systems/Loral will carry out the study for five months under the initial phase of DARPA’s Dragonfly program, which seeks to launch larger geostationary […] More