SSTL TechDemoSat-1 on Fregat upper stage of Soyuz-2: Launch date 28th June

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) is announcing the launch of TechDemoSat-1, an in-orbit technology demonstration mission for innovative UK spacecraft equipment and software, planned for 28th June 2014 by a Soyuz-2 launch vehicle with a Fregat upper stage from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

TechDemoSat-1 is based on the SSTL-150 platform and is part-funded by a small grant from the UK's Technology Strategy Board, and SEEDA (South East England Development Agency).

The spacecraft will carry eight separate payloads from UK academia and industry, providing valuable in-orbit validation for new technologies.

Iain Gray, the Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board, said: "The UK is home to an expert space community and the Technology Strategy Board supports businesses with potential to be world leaders in this growing sector."

"Technology and data from space can help solve problems on the ground, in agriculture, healthcare, transport and many other areas of life."

"This mission is an exciting opportunity to flight test innovative technology in extreme conditions."

The payloads flying on TechDemoSat-1 are:

• MuREM, a flexible miniature radiation and effects monitor from Surrey Space Centre
• ChaPS, a prototype compact instrument to detect electrons and ions from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory
• HMRM, a lightweight, ultra-compact radiation monitor designed to measure total radiation dose, particle flux rate and identify electrons, protons and ions from Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and Imperial College
• LUCID, a device to measure characterisation of the energy, type, intensity and directionality of high energy particles from the Langton Star Centre
• Compact Modular Sounder system, a modular infrared remote sensing radiometer unit from Oxford University's Planetary Group and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
• De-orbit sail from Cranfield University
• Cubesat ADCS, a 3-axes attitude determination and control subsystem from SSBV
• Sea State Payload, a device using an enhanced GPS receiver from SSTL and components from a Synthetic Aperture Radar from Airbus Defence and Space to monitor reflected signals to determine ocean roughness

Dr Matt Perkins, SSTL's CEO, commented "We are delighted to provide the platform that will carry innovative new British technologies into space, along with over 20 product developments for SSTL."

"We have worked closely with the payload providers for this mission and nothing would please us better than seeing these new technologies developed for the market as a result of the in-orbit demonstration opportunity they are being given on TechDemoSat-1."

The Launch and Early Operations phase (LEOP) and platform commissioning will be performed by SSTL from the Satellite Applications Catapult Operations Centre at Harwell.

Subsequently, the commissioning of the payloads will be performed by SSTL via its own Mission Control Centre in Guildford before handing over day-to-day operation of the payloads back to the Catapult. SSTL will continue to manage spacecraft level monitoring and operations for TechDemoSat-1 in Guildford.

ESA’s Gaia mission: Successful Launch - Video

ESA’s Gaia mission to survey a billion stars has lifted off, a number of automated sequences were completed and the launch declared a success.

Some 118 seconds after liftoff, the rocket’s four boosters are jettisoned, followed by the fairing at 220 seconds.

The fairing protects Gaia during the turbulent first few minutes of its journey up through Earth’s atmosphere.

Soyuz VS06 transfer to launch zone

Separation of the rocket’s second and third stages was followed by two burns of the Fregat upper stage, before it too separated from Gaia 42 minutes after launch.

This activated Gaia’s automatic sequence, including switching on its transmitters, setting its attitude with respect to the Sun, and deploying the 10.5 m-wide sunshield, starting 88 minutes after launch.

The whole sequence ended 101 minutes after launch, after which mission controllers confirmed completion of the most critical part of the ‘launch and early orbit’ phase of the mission.

Hoisting of upper composite

At this point, Gaia will be on its way to Lagrange Point, ‘L2’, a gravitationally stable point in space some 1.5 million kilometres ‘behind’ Earth as seen from the Sun.

After three course corrections, the spacecraft will arrive in its orbit around L2 about three weeks later.

From there, Gaia will conduct the biggest cosmic census yet, charting the positions, motions and characteristics of a billion stars to create the most precise 3D map of our Milky Way.

Arianespace Launches Six Globalstar Satellites: Starsem Soyuz

Soyuz lifts off from Baikonur Cosmodrome on the fourth and final Arianespace /Starsem mission currently contracted by Globalstar for the deployment of its second-generation satellite constellation.

Wednesday's successful orbiting of six spacecraft on a Starsem Soyuz mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome marks the wrap-up of launch services currently contracted with Arianespace by Globalstar for the deployment of its second-generation constellation.

This was the fourth and final such Soyuz launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome performed on behalf of Arianespace by its Starsem affiliate, following similar missions in October 2010, July 2011 and December 2011 to fulfill Globalstar's plan of orbiting 24 second-generation satellites.

Additionally, it builds on an earlier series of eight Soyuz flights conducted by Starsem from 1999 to 2007, which deployed 32 of Globalstar's first-generation spacecraft.

Jean-Yves Le Gall, the Chairman and CEO of Arianespace and Starsem, noted that the initial Soyuz mission for Globalstar occurred almost exactly 14 years ago - on February 9, 1999 - making this provider of mobile satellite voice and data services the first-ever customer for Starsem's commercial launch services with the Russian-built vehicle.

"I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Globalstar for its constant confidence and support," Le Gall said. "Globalstar and Starsem have definitely formed close ties together on the path to success."

He also thanked the program partners, including Astrium; Russia's Roscosmos, TsSKB-Progress, NPO-Lavotchkin and KBOM; along with the teams at Starsem and Arianespace for today's close-out success.

"Once again, we have demonstrated that Soyuz and its Fregat upper stage represent an extremely reliable launch system and the workhorse for satellite constellation deployments! Bravo!"

Globalstar's second-generation spacecraft deployed by Soyuz weighed approximately 700 kg. each, and are three-axis-stabilised satellites built by Thales Alenia Space.

Soyuz-FG Launch with Fregat carrying Kanopus V, BelKA-2,TET-1, Zond-PP & eV-1 - YouTube

Coverage of the Soyuz-FG/Fregat carrying Kanopus V, BelKA-2,TET-1, Zond-PP & exactView-1 launch.