The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) plans to launch its Global Precipitation Measurement core observatory Feb. 28 on the H-IIA F23 launch vehicle, JAXA said in a news release (http://bit.ly/19zDIND). The vehicle also will provide “launch and orbit injection opportunities for seven small secondary payloads,” JAXA said.

NewSat and Measat received confirmation from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to use the 91.5 degrees east orbital slot for NewSat’s Jabiru-1 satellite. Measat agreed to buy $197 million of capacity on the satellite over its 15-year life, NewSat said in a news release. As part of the transaction, NewSat agreed to locate the satellite in the 91.5 degrees east slot held by Measat, “providing coverage over both Measat’s and NewSat’s target markets,” NewSat said.