Space Systems Loral has concluded the preliminary design review of a robotic spacecraft for NASA’s in-orbit satellite servicing mission. The completion of the three-day PDR advances the space vehicle to the detailed design phase to facilitate the launch of the Restore-L mission in 2020, SSL said Tuesday. SSL received a potential $127 million contract from […] More

A MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates subsidiary has received a firm-fixed-price contract to build satellites for DigitalGlobe’s WorldView Legion satellite constellation designed to collect Earth imaging data. Space Systems Loral will produce the low-Earth orbit satellites at its Palo Alto, California-based facility, SSL said Thursday. Richard White, president of SSL’s government systems business, said the contract seeks […] More

A team composed of NanoRacks, Space Systems Loral and United Launch Alliance has signed an agreement with NASA to examine the feasibility of converting a rocket upper stage into a commercial space habitat. The Ixion Initiative Team will conduct the rocket technology repurposing study under the second phase of NASA’s Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships initiative, SSL said Wednesday. […] More

Rob Zitz, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Space Systems Loral’s government systems business, has said SSL’s parent company MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates aims to provide Earth imagery and analysis services to U.S. intelligence and defense agencies through its pending merger with DigitalGlobe, Space News reported Thursday. MDA agreed to buy DigitalGlobe through an estimated $3.6 billion […] More

Rob Zitz, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Space Systems Loral’s government systems business, is scheduled to moderate today a panel discussion on next-generation satellites at the GEOINT 2017 Symposium that kicked off Sunday in San Antonio, Texas. Zitz, who is also co-chair of the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation’s small satellite working group, will […] More

Space Systems Loral has finalized an agreement with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop technologies that would help service and maintain spacecraft in geostationary orbit. SSL said Wednesday its team of engineers and technicians will perform work at a company facility in Palo Alto, California. DARPA and SSL unveiled a draft version of their public-private partnership agreement for the Robotic Servicing […] More

Space Systems Loral and NASA have reviewed systems requirements for a robotic spacecraft designed to carry out a satellite servicing mission in low-Earth orbit. The two-day evaluation brought together SSL and NASA teams to verify functional and performance requirements for the Restore-L spacecraft, the company said Tuesday. SSL received a potential five-year, $127 million contract last year to help […] More

A Space Systems Loral-managed division of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates has received recognition from NASA for its support on a January robotic servicing mission at the International Space Station. SSL said Wednesday the Johnson Space Center acknowledged the support of MDA US Systems in planning and validating the maneuvers to update the ISS power system using the Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator robotic arm. Rich White, […] More

NASA’s Raven technology with a Space Systems Loral-built two-axis gimbal equipment has reached the International Space Station following the Feb. 19 launch of SpaceX’s 10th ISS cargo resupply mission. NASA’s satellite servicing projects division developed the Raven system designed to test components of a spacecraft navigation system that aims to facilitate satellite servicing, asteroid exploration and […] More

NASA has partnered with Deployable Space Systems and Space Systems Loral to develop solar cell structures designed to power government space vehicles or commercial communications satellites. Roll Out Solar Array will work to convert the sun’s rays into energy that could drive ion thrusters of solar electric propulsion spacecraft for NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission and other deep-space exploration programs, the agency said […] More

James Kessler, vice president of the materiel management division at LMI, has been appointed as a board member of the Marine Corps Association and Foundation. LMI said Thursday the retired U.S. Marine Corps major general will provide advisory support to the foundation that represents the interest of marines and their family members. Prior to LMI, he worked at DynCorp International as […] More

Intelsat has selected Space Systems Loral to provide a high-power communications satellite for broadband networking and video distribution services in Africa, Europe and Asia. The Intelsat 39 will replace the SSL-built Intelsat 902 satellite launched in 2001 and feature both C-band and Ku-band transponders and use the SSL 1300 platform to support various applications such as electric propulsion, […] More