Latest News

Mitsubishi Wins Contract to Supply Orbital With Cygnus Guidance Systems

By Staff Writer | October 23, 2009

      [Satellite TODAY 10-23-09] Mitsubishi Electric Corp. has received a $66 million contract from Orbital Sciences Corp. to supply proximity link system (PLS) components to Orbital’s Cygnus spacecraft in order to guide it to the International Space Station (ISS) during nine NASA resupply missions, Mitsubishi announced Oct. 22.

          Mitsubishi Electric will deliver the PLS components to Orbital between 2010 and 2014. The deal is of the largest contracts tying a Japanese company to NASA’s space exploration program.

          The PLS components originally were developed for JAXA’s H-2 transfer vehicle, which docked with the ISS in Septermber.

           Orbital’s Cygnus spacecraft is in development under a Commercial Orbital Transportation  Services (COTS) Space Act agreement with NASA. A demonstration flight is scheduled to launch in 2011 for a commercial cargo delivery system to ISS, following the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2010. Eight subsequent missions will transport cargo to the ISS between 2011 and 2015 under Orbital’s Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with NASA. 

      Related Stories-

      Services Drive Satellite Performance in 2008   Via Satellite   July 1, 2009
      Demand for communications and other services helped drive a strong 2008 performance for the satellite sector. Via Satellite takes a closer look at developments that shaped the business and how some of those factors, such as long-term contracts

      JAXA Performs H-2B Firing Test After Delay   Satellite Today   April 6, 2009
      [Satellite Today 04-06-09] The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries performed the first captive firing test for the first stage flight model tank of the H-2B launch vehicle April 2 at the…

      Mitsubishi Selects Integral Epoch to Support DS2000 Satellite Platform   Satellite Today   March 23, 2009
      [Satellite Today 03-23-09] Mitsubishi Electric Corp. has selected Integral Systems Epoch Integrated Product Suite) to support Mitsubishi s DS2000 satellite platform, Integral announced March 19.