Friday, June 20, 2014

Spaceflight Deploys Earth Imaging Spacecraft

Seattle-based Spaceflight, a provider of services to help launch small satellites into space, reported this week that it has deployed 11, earth imaging spacecraft from and International Space Company (ISC) Kosmotras-operated Dnepr launch vehicle. Spaceflight said it launched 11 Planet Labs Dove earth-imaging spacecraft, which are small, micro-satellites which measure only 12x4x4 inches. Spaceflight said the deployment brings its total to 47 satellites launched over the last year and a half. Those satellites are developed by San Francisco-based Planet Labs. Spaceflight says it specializes in helping launch Cubesats, NanoSats, and MicroSats--all part of a new generation of micro-satellites--into space. ISC Kosmotras uses decommissioned Soviet ICBMs--originally designed to launch nuclear weapons to the united States--to instead launch satellites and other payloads into space.