2008
2008 – Communications Satellites Overview
According to a satellite database compiled by the Union of Concerned Scientists, there are 548 active communications satellites: 326 in geostationary orbit (GEO), 206 in low Earth orbit (LEO), and…
2007 – Landers/Rovers
Surface systems include all systems that operate on the surface of an asteroid, comet, or planet other than Earth, for instance, NASA’s Mars Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. The planned 90-day…
2008 – Land Imaging
In 2008, there were ## remote sensing satellites launched on behalf of ## countries. Of particular note, in August, the German RapidEye constellation of ## remote sensing satellites was launched.…
2008 – Earth Observation and Remote Sensing Overview
LEO spacecraft are also used to provide images of the Earth for civil, scientific, and military applications. In 2008 the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Advisory Committee on…
2008 – Ground Networks
Launch vehicles, spacecraft, and other space platforms receive operational, logistical, and navigational instructions from ground stations. Individual ground stations are usually spread across a wide geographic, and sometimes international, expanse…
2008 – Swedish Spaceports
Esrange is a small spaceport located near Kiruna in northern Sweden. It was founded in 1964 by the European Space Research Organization, the predecessor to ESA, and in 1972 was…
2008 – South Korean Spaceports
Proposed SpaceportsA new spaceport is in development at Naro, South Korea. Naro Space Center has been built on reclaimed land on the south tip of the Korean peninsula and is…
2008 – Iranian Spaceports
Proposed SpaceportsLittle information is publicly available about Semnan Launch Site, 170 kilometers east of Tehran, which conducted Iran’s 2008 Kavoshgar (Explorer) suborbital rocket tests as well as its unsuccessful Safir…
2008 – Israeli Spaceports
Palmachim Air Force Base is an active Israeli Air Force base that also serves as a missile test range and launch site for Israel’s Shavit 1 launcher. The vehicle has…
2008 – Indian Spaceports
Satish Dhawan Space Centre, on India’s southeast coast, conducted its first successful launch of a sounding rocket in 1971 and was also the site of India’s first successful orbital launch…