andrewtytla's blog

Death Near Dillingham

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:39:52 -0700

We were about to write about GCI's loss of Internet access for 35,000 users in Alaska, as their service on Galaxy-18 was about to be interfered with by G15, the world's favorite zombie satellite.

As many as 35,000 people in rural Alaska may lose Internet access, long-distance phone service or both for hours at a time this week because of a "zombie" satellite that has wandered off course and is expected to scramble the signals of the Bush's main telecommunications provider.

"Almost every single person out in rural Alaska uses one of those services somehow," said David Morris, spokesman for General Communication Inc.

GCI is airing radio ads, posting fliers and plans to send text messages to cell phone customers warning residents in roughly 100 communities -- mainly in Western and Northern Alaska -- of the potential outages.

The disruptions to GCI service are expected to begin Wednesday morning and continue until Saturday morning in blocks of time that will last 90 minutes to 5 1/2 hours, mostly in the morning and at night.

Picture the YouTube droughts. The silent cell phones and unanswered e-mails. Virtual "FarmVille" gardens withering and neglected on Facebook.

For Gordon Brower Jr., the 19-year-old son of a whaling captain, the outages mean exile from the online battlefields of what he calls Barrow's favorite Xbox game -- "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2."

"It makes me a couch potato anyways," Brower said.

Instead, we hear news of a deadly plane crash near Dillingham, AK. On board the aircraft, owned by GCI, was former Senator Ted Stevens and former NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe. Five of the nine people were killed, and KTUU is reporting that one of them was indeed Ted Stevens...

Dave Dittman, a former aide and longtime family friend of former Sen. Ted Stevens, says Stevens was killed in a plane crash near Dillingham Monday night. Dittman says he received a call overnight Monday that said the former senator was dead, but no official confirmation has been made.

Nine people were on board, including former NASA Chief Sean O'Keefe. Five people were killed in the crash, but other identities were not known, nor are the conditions of the survivors.

GCI released a statement Tuesday morning that confirmed it owned the plane that went down, but did not confirm or deny any fatalities.

Late through the night rescue crews were battling bad weather conditions to reach the scene, where Good Samaritans had already arrived and were providing medical assistance, said Air National Guard spokesperson Maj. Guy Hayes.

A military C-130 and a Pave Hawk helicopter were waiting in Dillingham for the weather to break and reached the site just after 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The Air Guard received the call about the crash 17 miles north of Dillingham at about 7 p.m. Monday night.

Many will remember Mr. Stevens for what he did for Alaska while he served in the U.S. Senate. I'll always remember him from the time I worked for the Smithsonian. Sen. Stevens, a harsh critic of the Enola Gay exhibit, lashed out at Smithsonian Secretary Adams in 1992: "I'm going to get people to help me make sense of what you're saying."

Stevens received the Distinguished Flying Cross for flying behind enemy lines, the Air Medal, and the Yuan Hai Medal awarded by the Chinese Nationalist government. Peace.

Total Eclipse

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:46:34 -0700

Has it been a month since the last post? I reckon it has. Spent three weeks sleeping in a tent in North Collins, N.Y. During that time, when we didn't get a chance to read a newspaper, there was a total solar eclipse. Thanks to today's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD), we see what it was like from Easter Island...

As the New Moon's shadow slid across the southern Pacific on July 11, people gathered along the white, sandy Anakena Beach on the north side of Easter Island to watch a total solar eclipse. The experience was captured in this tantalizing composite image, constructed from a sequence of 50 consecutive exposures. At their center is the totally eclipsed Sun surrounded by a shimmering solar corona. From the well chosen viewpoint, palm trees appear in silhouette against a darkened sky and the faint light reflected in the water. Of course, towering above the onlookers, at the boundaries of land, ocean, and sky are Moai, the island's mysterious monolithic statues.

Technorati Tags: apod eclipse

WBMSAT Satellite Industry News Bits for 06/25/2010

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 07:11:17 -0700

Courtesy of Bill McDonald...

Arianespace postpones launch of ArabSat-5A and the follow-on Coms satellite as an anomaly occurs in the Ariane 5's launcher subsystem during final countdown.
[Satellite today - 06/28/2010]

U.S. Air Force announces that U.S. Strategic Command has operationally accepted command and control of its third Wideband Global SATCOM satellite, WGS-3.
[SatNews - 06/25/2010]

Satellite firm Intellectual Ventures, having bought many patents of satellite technology from Motorola and Teledesic, sells some to Thales Alenia Space on the heels of the Thales deal with Iridium to build the next generation of its satellites.
[Wall Street Journal - 06/25/2010]

Harris wins five year $140m contract to redesign satellite ground system for NASA.
[Zacks - 06/25/2010]

Thales Alenia wins contract to build W6A satellite for Eutelsat.
[marisys - 06/25/2010]

NASA has selected Orbital Sciences to launch the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) mission in February 2013 aboard a Taurus XL 3110 rocket from Vandenberg’s U.S. Air Force Base, California.
[Satellite Today - 06/24/2010]

Boaters can now watch the the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer games in 3D while on the water, thanks to the TracVision(r) HD7 from KVH.
[SatNews - 06/24/2010]

Anticipation of the peak of the solar 11 year cycle coming in 2013 sparks predictions of serious consequences to electronics and communications systems, including satellite communications.
[msnbc - 06/24/2010]

CapRock Communications signs three-year contract with BW to deploy its SeaAccess service onboard its fleet of approximately 100 vessels that include Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Carriers (LPGCs).
[SatNews - 06/24/2010]

Astrium is awarded a contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop key technologies for new re-ignitable upper stages for new launchers.
[SatNews - 06/24/2010]

FCC takes steps to free spectrum from within S band currently available only for mobile satellite companies to build mobile applications to complement their satellite services, so it can be used by mobile broadband companies.
[BroadbandBreakfast - 06/24/2010]

Vietnam Telecom International picks Gilat's Skyedge II for broadband satellite network.
[Sat PR News - 06/24.2010]

CASBAA concludes 10th annual forum in Singapore, as attendees attest to a vibrant Asian satellite industry.
[Market Watch - 06/24/2010]

First attempt to launch South Korea's first weather satellite is delayed as pressure problems develop in the launch vehicle.
[Korea Times - 06/24/2010]

June 19, During the International Economical Forum in St. Petersburg, Roscosmos and Arianespace signed a contract which cover 10 additional missions of Russian Soyuz-ST rocket from Guiana Space Center (CSG).
[SatNews - 06/23/2010]

Spacenet introduces new emergency communications service by satellite with pay as you use service options.
[Market Watch - 06/23/2010]

OmniAccess S.L., a leading communications provider to super- and mega-yacht owners, has completed the launch of its Balearic Teleport and successfully upgraded its maritime broadband satellite network to iDirect’s Evolution platform.
[SatNews - 06/23/2010]

Israel launches spy satellite Ofek 9.
[Al Jazeera - 06/23/2010]

CapRock Government Solutions announces the award of four multimillion dollar contracts to provide managed network services and more than 400MHz of commercial satellite capacity to four separate U.S. Government agencies.
[SatNews - 06/23/2010]

Annual Ham Field Day on weekend of June 26-27 gives public chance to meet and talk with ham radio enthusiasts showing off the newest digital and satellite capabilities and voice communications, as well as historic Morse code.
[The Press News - 06/23/2010]

GlobeCast Australia has announces that GlobeCam — a specialist provider of live, miniature camera technology in the world today — has conducted successful trials of 3D coverage for V8 Supercars Television.
[Satnews - 06/23/2010]

Telecommunications experts from the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) are establishing emergency communications centers equipped with satellite-based phone, internet and radio lines along borders of Kyrgyzstan.
[UN Dispatch - 06/23/2010]

New iPhone application developed by Skobbler, teaming up with Apple and OpenStreetMap, will ensure that satellite navigation will become cost effective and easily used by most iPhone users.
[SatNews - 06/22/2010]

Integral Systems Europe (ISE) has been awarded a satellite ground station contract from British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) for Harlequin 1, Sky's state-of-the-art broadcast facility.
[Satellite Today - 06/22/2010]

Iridium expands reach with South African license.
[Market Watch - 06/22/2010]

EchoStar launches DishHD, a premier satellite pay-TV service, in Taiwan.
[Satellite Today - 06/22/2010]

Polaris Wireless and Globecomm Systems partnership will allow U.S. wireless operators to quickly, easily and cost-effectively meet Federal Communications Commission E911 Phase II requirements.
[TMCnet - 06/22/2010]

SES WORLD SKIES announces its SES-1 satellite has entered commercial service at the orbital location of 101 degrees West.
[SatNews - 06/21/2010]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

Technorati Tags: satnews satellite+today satellite+week satcom satcom+news

WBMSAT Satellite Industry News Bits for 06/18/2010

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 07:58:42 -0700

Courtesy of Bill McDonald...

TSF deploys emergency telecoms team to Kyrgyzstan to provide emergency communications services to humanitarian community in support of relief operations.
[SatNews - 06/18/2010]

FCC announces it will focus on using satellite services to spread mobile wireless access to more Americans.
[Washington Post - 06/18/2010]

BSkyB announces that Sky Sports News will be removed from free to view service FreeView to become a pay TV only channel.
[TechWatch - 06/18/2010]

SatCom Global launches Horizon, incorporating state of the are compression technology and designed to optimize voice and data management, dramatically cutting cost of satellite communications for users in maritime, oil and gas, construction, government, emergency, and first responder markets.
[SatNews - 06/18/2010]

BT and RRsat enter 5 year strategic network alliance to combine RRsat's content management and global distribution services over satellite, fiber, and IP with BT's global media network.
[Satellite Today - 06/18/2010]

Wavestream introduces rugged, outdoor 600W C-band solid state amplifier 757C-o for broadcast satellite communications systems.
[SatNews - 06/18/2010]

Following successful debut flight of Falcon 9 launcher, SpaceX wins hotly contested contract to put next-generation Iridium communications satellites into orbit.
[Aviation Week - 06/17/2010]

Sky Sports gets rights for Euro 2010.
[TechWatch - 06/17/2010]

SES ASTRA satellite Astra B, launched May 21, is now operational.
[TechWatch - 06/17/2010]

Satworx, a provider of satellite phone communications, offers a new lightweight IsatPhone Pro at a reduced price.
[TMCnet Satellite Spotlight - 06/17/2010]

NASA chooses General Dynamics C4 Systems to upgrade TDRSS satellite communications ground system and network.
[Military Aerospace - 06/17/2010]

SkyWave, a global provider of M2M satellite solutions for trucking, rail, and maritime markets,
introduces jamming detection and other new security features including detection of antenna cut.
[Wireless Developer Network - 06/17/2010]

New KVH TracVision HD7 employed by boaters to receive DirecTV HD signals for 2010 boating season.
[MarketWatch - 06/17/2010]

Arabsat announces that launch of 5A by Arianespace will take place on June 23, Arabsat's second launch this month.
[SatNews - 06/16/2010]

Integral Systems subsidiary SAT Corporation receives contract to upgrade CHINA SATCOM's satellite signal monitoring and interference detection system.
[Market Watch - 06/16/2010]

Murdoch's News Corp makes move on UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB.
[Tech Watch - 06/16/2010]

BBC World signs deal with intelsat renewing satellite and teleport services throughout Asia and the Americas.
[TechWatch - 06/16/2010]

iDirect launches ReadyCONNECT, a portable emergency response satellite communications system developed by global satellite equipment leader Cobham Satcom and partner Australian Satellite Communications.
[SatNews - 06/16/2010]

Space Data's test of high altitude balloons with radio communications for border patrol, more cost-effective than satellite technology, receives rave reviews but then - no contract to show for it.
[Fox News - 06/16/2020]

iDirect Government Technologies releases new line of software packages for its SatManage network management system.
[SatNews - 06/16/2010]

Battle lines being drawn between Virgin Media and BSKYB over 3D TV.
[TechWatch - 06/15/2010]

DirecTV teams with NCC Media, the ad-sales company owned by Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Cox Communications, to bring the satellite operator to the spot-advertising market and provide ability to expand an ad's coverage in 25 select markets.
[Multichannel News - 06/15/2010]

Microsoft working on 3D technology using special lens on TV screen that would not require users to wear glasses.
[TechWatch - 06/15/2010]

Hughes Network Systems receives contract from state of Oregon to provide broadband satellite internet services to state agencies, local governments, and school districts.
[Business Week - 06/14/2020]

U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin complete testing of first satellite for next generation of tactical
communications, under the Mobile User Objective System program.
[UPI - 06/15/2010]

Arianespace announces agreement with Lockheed Martin to launch VINASAT-2 satellite for Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group in 2012.
[SatNews - 06/15/2010]

SpeedCast signs multi-year agreement for capacity on North and Central American beams of Telesat's Telstar 11N satellite.
[SatNews - 06/14/2010]

Swedish Space Corporation indicates that the Swedish Prisma satellites have been successfully launched aboard a Dnepr launcher from Yasny,Russia.
[SatNews - 06/15/2010]

Aerojet announces an agreement with NEC corporation to jointly supply HAYABUSA-derived ion propulsion systems for the U.S. and Japanese aerospace markets.
[SatNews - 06-15-2010]

SpaceX to launch Taiwanese earth observation satellite in 2013.
[Satellite Today]

C-Com Satellite Systems receives $1M worth of new orders for its iNetVu mobile antenna systems from China.
[SatNews - 06/15/2010]

Space Systems/Loral contracts to build DirecTV 14.
[Satellite Today - 06/14/2010]

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. announces orders received aggregating $12 million, including Ka-band amplifiers for satellite broadband services, DTH services and strategic airborne communications.
[Market Watch - 06/14/2020]

Thaicom Pcl shares jump after Thailand's government announces plans to buy Temasek Holdings Pte's stake in the satellite monopoly for national security reasons following anti-government protests.
[Business Week - 06/14/2010]

Microspace introduces Velocity Microburst, allowing Velocity satellite data users to acquire occasional "bursts" of additional bandwidth for short term needs.
[PRWeb - 06/14/2010]

ATCi designs and delivers low-cost complete Fly Away Broadcast System designed for broadcasting sporting events to smaller communities in Latin America and Africa.
[SatNews - 06/14/2010]

Vizada is selected by ARINC to help fulfill Department of Defense contract for international broadband services.
[SatNews - 06/14/2010]

PolarSat completes VSATPlus3 network testing for Chinese gas market.
[Satellite Today - 06/14/2010]

Orbit Technologies receives additional orders from large satellite communications companies in Brazil for its OrSat satellite communications systems to be installed on offshore Oil and Gas platforms.
[SatNews - 06/14/2010]

GlobeCast Australia wins major delivery deal with Event Cinemas that offers 3D HD coverage of more than a dozen sporting events over the next month, in a first for Australian cinema audiences.
[SatNews - 06/14/2010]

Ottawa may lift telecom restrictions relating to foreign ownership of companies in the Canadian telecom industry, including satellite communications companies.
[Montreal Gazette - 06/12/2010]

California teenager rescued from crippled sailboat by French fishing vessel describes her three days adrift after the mast was broken during a storm, knocking out her satellite communications.
[Fox News - 06/12/2010]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

Technorati Tags: satcom+news satnews satellite+today satellite+week wbmsat satcom

WBMSAT Satellite Industry News Bits for 06/11/2010

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 07:12:46 -0700

Courtesy of Bill McDonald...

Korean navy recovers what is believed to be debris from the Korea Space Launch Vehicle 1 that exploded shortly after liftoff Thursday, the country's second major space setback in less than a year.
[Korea Times - 06/11/2010]

Thales Alenia Space gets contract from Eutelsat for satellite with forty Ku-band transponders to be launched during third quarter of 2012.
[Tech Watch - 06/11/2010]

Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) ships Dish Network’s EchoStar 15 communications satellite to the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan where it will be launched by International Launch Services.
[Satellite Today - 06/10/2010]

NASA has selected Orbital Sciences to launch the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) spacecraft in December 2012 aboard a Pegasus XL rocket from Vandenberg U.S. Air Force Base.
[Satellite Today - 06/10/2010]

As sun emerges from one of its quietest periods ever during its 11 year cycle, it may spell trouble for a world increasingly reliant upon communications satellites and power grids.
[Houston Chronicle - 06/10/2010]

German satellite service provider Atrexx launches trio of C-band services for the Africa and Middle East markets.
[Satellite today - 06/10/2010]

Two PRISMA satellites to be launched next week feature Thales Alenia Space's technology that determines the two satellites' relative positions to within 1 centimeter, and relative attitudes to within 1 degree.
[SatNews - 06/10/2010]

Hughes Network Systems unveils broadband Internet satellite services for government and enterprise emergency networking solution.
[Satellite Today - 06/10/2010]

BBC World News signs renewal and expansion contract for satellite and teleport services with Intelsat S.A. to distribute programming to Asia-Pacific and Americas audiences.
[SatNews - 06/10/2010]

Azerbaijan government has contracted with Orbital Sciences to build the country's first satellite, but questions are being asked about the country's ability to pay, as unnamed source states that the finance ministry is delaying funding of the project.
[Eurasianet - 06/10/2010]

Telespazio's orders for Orbit Technologies Ltd.'s high performance stabilized marine satellite communications systems to be installed on oil and gas industry platforms worldwide reach $1.1M.
[SatNews - 06/10/2010]

ND SatCom receives Global Telecoms Business Innovation Award 2010 in the Business Service Innovation category for its XWARP(r) solution, which provides IP applications / Cloud Computing over satellite.
[SatNews - 06/10/2010]

BSkyB gains $460.3M settlement in its lawsuit with system integrator Electronic Data Systems, a subsidiary of Hewlett Packard.
[Satellite Today - 06/10/2010]

Globecast is selected to deliver four major Latin American channels to cable headends throughout the United States via the AMC-1 satellite.
[SatNews - 06/10/2010]

Avanti signs long-term Hylas 1 capacity contract with unnamed triple-play consumer telecom service in the U.K. and Ireland.
[Satellite Today - 06/10/2010]

Barrett Xplore Inc. of Canada will lease Loral Space & Communications Inc. owned payload which will be hosted on the Viasat 1 broadband satellite that Loral is building for Viasat.
[TMCnet - 06/09/2010]

Iridium introduces new features for its Next generation of satellites, making laptop connections easier and providing extended SMS messaging for the Iridium 9555 satellite phones.
[Market Watch - 06/09/2010]

Orbit Alchut Technologies Ltd. and Telespazio SpA to supply satellite communications systems for marine oil and gas platforms using C-band capacity and 4m antennas to provide high reliability even during stormy weather.
[Globes Online - 06/09/2010]

Satellite Industry Association (SIA) releases 2010 State of the Satellite Industry Report, showing 11% growth from 2008 to 2009 in overall world satellite industry revenues.
[SatNews - 06/08/2010]

Andreas Georghiou, CEO of Spacenet, accepts a Circle of Excellence award from Washington SmartCEO in recognition of the company's product innovation.
[SatNews - 06/08/2010]

Eutelsat makes four satellites available for broadcasts from South Africa of the World Cup football tournament.
[Tech Watch - 06/08/2010]

Integral Systems gets contract from a leading satellite service provider integrating an additional geostationary satellite into their existing Epoch Integrated Product Suite satellite management system.
[Market Watch - 06/08/2010]

German ship manager Phoenix Reederei reports drop in monthly satellite expenses of more than EURO1,000 since installing Iridium OpenPort satellite terminals on five of its vessels.
[Market Watch - 06/08/2010]

Inmarsat wins 41st annual royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award, Britain's biggest prize for engineering innovation.
[PR Newswire - 06/08/2010]

European Space Agency reports successful completion of thermal-vacuum checks in India on the HYLAS 1 advanced broadband satellite being constructed for Avanti.
[Top 10 - 06/08/2010]

Industry experts advise relief agencies and governments to learn from the Haiti experience, where earthquake damage would have made emergency response nearly impossible without satellite communications.
[PR Newswire - 06/08/2010]

Skycasters submits proposal to the USDA RUS Broadband Initiatives Program in Washington, D.C. requesting a $5.1M grant to improve public safety and prompt economic recovery for 37M Americans.
[SatNews - 06/08/2010]

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden professes increased confidence that a resupply vehicle will be available after the Space Shuttle fleet is retired, on the heels of the successful launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 on June 4.
[Satellite Today - 06/08/2010]

Satcom Direct adds graphical weather to its existing FlightDeck Freedom satellite service for aircraft.
[SatNews - 06/08/2010]

NASA successfully completes comprehensive pre-shipment review of the Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology Satellite, of FASTSAT, a microsatellite class spacecraft that will carry 6 experiment payloads to low-Earth orbit.
[SatNews - 06/08/2010]

German Earth observation satellite TanDEM-X, part of project to "map the Earth in 3D" is readied for launch at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
[SatNews - 06/08/2010]

Australian Satellite Communications (ASC) and Cobham announce launch of ReadyCONNECT, a portable, quick-deploy emergency response satellite communications solution.
[SatNews - 06/08/2010]

Arqiva provides Sky with 36MHz of W7 satellite capacity for duratioin of football World Cup in South Africa.
[SatNews - 06/08/2010]

NOORSAT selected by Al Jazeera network to provide satellite capacity to backup the FIFA world Cup 2010 coverage, including the use of the NOORSAT Bahrain teleport as an alternative transmission facility.
[SatNews - 06/08/2010]

SES ASTRA enters into distribution agreement with Polish data network operator NASK to offer its satellite-based broadband service to business customer in the Polish market.
[SatNews - 06/07/2010]

BSkyB pays Virgin Media £160m for its TV channels in deal where Virgin Media gets to offer its subscribers the premium BSkyB HD channels.
[Tech Watch - 06/07/2010]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

Technorati Tags: talk+satellite satcom satellite+week satellite+today satnews satcom satellite+news

WBMSAT Satellite Industry News Bits for 06/04/2010

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 05:19:41 -0700

Courtesy of Bill McDonald...

Indian security agencies tell the Indian Department of Telecom that foreign satellite communication service providers should be asked to set up an earth station in India if they want to offer services there.
[the Hindu Business Line - 06/05/2010]

The Falcon 9 rocket fired up its nine first stage engines and took off on its first test flight from Cape Canaveral at 2:45 p.m. EDT June 4.
[Space Travel - 06/04/2010]

Intelsat CTO Thierry Guillemin describes details of its behind-the-scenes cooperative effort with customers and AMC-11 operator SES to mitigate interference threats posed by Galaxy 15.
[Satellite Today - 06/04/2010]

A Russian Proton M rocket launches a European-made telecommunications satellite, Arabsat-5B (Badr 5), for the ARABSAT satellite communications operator.
[Bernama - 06/04/2010]

HBO Asia signs long-term transponder lease agreement with APT for capacity on Apstar 2R and its replacement satellite, Apstar 7, to be launched in early 2010.
[Satellite Today - 06/04/2010]

Stratos Global Corporation becomes a distributor for SkyWave Mobile Communications products and services for the global SCADA market.
[Machine to Machine - 06/04/1020]

Thales Alenia beats out Lockheed, winning contract worth some $2.1B to build 81 satellites for Iridium's next generation satellite fleet.
[BBC - 06/03/2010]

RapidEye (who owns and operates its own constellation of five EO satellites) has signed on Panaxx Corporation to be its distributor in Japan.
[SatNews - 06/03/2010]

The Indian Space Research organization (ISRO) replaces the director of its liquid propulsion systems center following a series of launch mishaps.
[Satellite Today - 06/03/2010]

Rockot Launches Japanese SERVIS-2 Satellite from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia.
[Space Travel - 06/03/2010]

SkyWave Introduces Flex Messaging to IsatM2M Satellite Service, allowing up to 7 times more data than traditional IsatM2M messages.
[GIS User - 06/03/2010]

Zodiac Maritime installs Iridium OpenPort(R) across entire fleet of 156 ships.
[MarketWatch - 06/03/1010]

Airmen from the 2nd and 19th Space Operations Squadrons take control of the Air Force's newest GPS satellite following its launch into orbit May 28 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
[Space Daily - 06/03/2010]

China to launch fourth orbiter into space as a part of indigenous satellite navigation and positioning network known as Beidou, or Compass system.
[Space Daily - 06/02/2020]

Gilat to provide satellite communications equipment for SchoolNet project expansion in Ethiopia.
[MarketWatch - 06/02/2010]

SPOT Launches Outdoor Safety Initiative at Teva Mountain Games in Vail, Colorado.
[MarketWatch - 06/02/2010]

Inmarsat to launch its first global handheld IsatPhone Pro at CommunicAsia 2010 in Singapore.
[SatNews - 06/02/2010]

Stratos' AmosConnect 8 enhances broadband connectivity at sea
[TMCnet - 06/02/2010]

Due to popular demand, Newtec to repeat FREE webinar: "IP is Forcing its Way into the Contribution, DSNG and Distribution Workflows over Satellite. Are you Ready?"
[SatNews - 06/02/2010]

KVH Industries announces that Fleetwood RV, Inc., has selected KVH's TracVision SlimLine series along with TracVision R6 ST and R6 TX to be the exclusive satellite TV option offered on its 2011 motor homes.
[SatNews - 06/02/2010]

Orbital selected for Azerspace/Africasat-1a satellite by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
[MarketWatch - 06/01/2010]

Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) is selected to provide a satellite, Anik G1, to Telesat of Canada.
[SatNews - 06/01/2010]

Russian Space Systems corporation and the U.S. Trimble Navigation Group sign an agreement to create a joint satellite navigation venture in Russia
[Space Daily - 06/01/2010]

International Launch Services (ILS) has contract for ILS Proton launch of two commercial satellites, YAMAL 401 and YAMAL 402, for Russian satellite operator, Gazprom Space Systems.
[SatNews - 06/01/2010]

SES Astra enters partnership with Italian public broadcaster RAI to bring more content to its 3-D demo channel.
[Satellite Today - 06/01/2010]

Serbian government indicts former Serbia-Montenegro defense minister over deal to rent Israeli spy satellite from ImageSat.
[Satellite Today - 06/01/2010]

Australia's NBN Co is weeks away from issuing a request for tenders to satellite network operators hoping to get a slice of the $43 billion national broadband network project.
[The Australian - 06/01/2010]

The Highly Adaptable Satellite (HYLAS) 1 being developed by Astrium for the satellite broadband operator Avanti Communications, successfully completes month-long test designed to expose the satellite to the rigors of space.
[SatNews - 06/01/2010]

BSkyB releases Sky Mobile TV app for the Applie iPad in the United Kingdom.
[Satellite today - 06/01/2010]

CapRock Communications selects Alpheus Communications’ complete suite of terrestrial connectivity services to provide reliable circuit access and supporting services to its clients.
[Business Wire - 05/31/2010]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

Technorati Tags: satcom satellite+week satellite+today satnews talk+satellite

WBMSAT Satellite Industry News Bits for 05/21/2010

Mon, 24 May 2010 06:42:10 -0700

Courtesy of Bill McDonald...

Bryan McGuirk, senior vice president of media services at SES World Skies, will be leaving the company at the end of May to form a new venture in the media and entertainment sector.
[Satellite Today - 05/21/2010]

Arianespace’s delayed opening launch of 2010, with the Astra 3B and COMSATBw 2 satellites, has launched from the European Spaceport in French Guiana via the Ariane 5 ECA.
[NASASpaceFlight - 05/21/2010]

Harris agrees to acquire satellite-communications provider CapRock for about $525M in move to expand international presence and customer base.
[Wall Street Journal - 05/21/2010]

FCC frees up 25 megahertz of spectrum in the Wireless Communications Services band by allowing satellite radio operators to use digital repeaters.
[RCR Wireless - 05/21/2010]

Ohio cable company executive echoes concern of many that rogue satellite Galaxy 15 may cause interference to AMC-11 "Despite these best efforts" of SES WorldSkies and Intelsat.
[Columbus Dispatch - 05/21/2010]

DBSD North America, a telecommunications satellite operator owned by ICO Global Communications, asks judge to preserve its bankruptcy restructuring plan pending approval by the FCC.
[Business Week - 05/21/2010]

At the SES World Skies' site you can view an amazing CGI rendering created by AGI that reveals the AMC-11 orbital maneuvers to hopefully avoid having their cable broadcasts interrupted by Intelsat’s Galaxy 15, aka Zombie satellite.
[SatNews - 05/20/2010]

Intelsat relocates IS-709 for World Cup Broadcasting.
[Satellite Today - 05/20/2010]

International Datacasting receives series of new orders for its 3D Live solution, prompted by the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.
[SatNews - 05/20/2010]

Israel's Yes satellite TV provider launches video-on-demand and broadband services by satellite.
[Satellite Today - 05/20/2010]

MEASAT Satellite Systems signs agreement with GlobeCast Asia to provide transponder capacity for the FIFA World Cup 2010.
[SatNews - 05/20/2010]

Google and DISH Network L.L.C. launched Google TV, an open platform that seamlessly integrates multichannel television with rich web media content.

Indian Navy will receive naval communication and surveillance satellite by year-end.
[SatNews - 05/20/2010]

Boeing completes on-orbit handover of DirecTV 12 satellite to DirecTV.
[Satellite Today - 05/20/2010]

Global MilSatCom 2010, a gathering of satellite communication professionals, will be held at the Millennium Conference Centre, London, United Kingdom this November 8-10.
[SatNews - 05/20/2010]

MTN reports a positive reception in international cruise industry, with seven cruise lines already signed up for the at-sea telecasts.
[SatNews - 05/20/2010]

Iridium's OpenPort terminal provides reliable, high-quality voice and data links throughout voyage of sailboat Ocean Watch on its Around the Americas expedition.
[SatNews - 05/20/2010]

Rapideye confirms partnership of several years with S2Bvisio in development and distribution of expert agricultural services based on RapidEye imagery.
[SatNews - 05/20/2010]

Cambridge Conltans achieve breakthrough in collaboration with Iridium Communications to develop new transceiver 70% smaller than previous model.
[SatNews - 05/20/2010]

Glowlink has releases GEO4, the manufacturer’s next-generation Model 8000 interference detection solution.
[Satellite Today - 05/20/2010]

World's largest airship, as long as a 23-floor skyscraper is tall, is intended to serve as a stratospheric satellite, or "stratellite," according to its developers.
[Space.com - 05/20/2010]

Lockheed Martin realigns structure of commercial space systems division.
[PR Newswire - 05/20/2010]

New commercial space rocket Falcon 9 to make first test launch as early as May 28.
[Space.com - 05/20/2010]

Iridium Communications enters Russian market.
[Benzinga - 05/20/2010]

Globalstar receives regulatory approval for mobile satellite service in Korea.
Market Watch - 05/20/2010]

Researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute develop new nanotechnology-based “microlens” using gold, which could lead to a new generation of ultra-powerful satellite cameras.
[R&D Magazine - 05/19/2010]

Arianspace announces signing of contract with Astrium to launch Skynet 5D satellite in first half of 2013.
[SatNews - 05/19/2010]

LiveTV and Iridium Communications Inc. enter into agreement to develop aviation antenna based on the Iridium OpenPort(r) high-speed communications service.
[SatNews - 05/19/2010]

Schlumberger launches SeaConnect(tm) VSAT service, providing high-performance VSAT services using an innovative portable marine 60-cm C-band antenna and related technologies, for the offshore industry.
[SatNews - 05/19/2010]

Marlink announces an extension to its VSAT Ku-band service which will now cover sea routes around Australia for the first time.
[SatNews - 05/19/2010]

Iridium Communications Inc. receives orders for more than 100 Iridium OpenPort broadband satellite terminals for installation on Spanish commercial fishing vessels.
[SatNews - 05/19/2010]

MTN Satellite Communications and its Spanish joint-venture partner, ERZIA, are selected to provide VSAT products and services for Empressa Naviera Elcano.
[SatNews - 05/19/2010]

FCC taps satellite communications company ICO executive to manage review of proposed joint venture between cable companies Comcast and
NBC Universal.
[Reuters - 05/19/2010]

Caprock wins $50m GSA 70 contract to provide complete solution of technical design, field services, and program support to FBI for emergency restoration communications network.
[Satellite Today - 05/19/2010]

Experiments conducted by Sandia National Laboratories at the International Space Station preliminarily indicate that orbiting more complex computer chips to pre-reduce large data streams could facilitate transfer of greater amounts of information from space.
[R&D Magazine - 05/19/2010]

French Polynesian Office of Post and Telecommunications (OPT) has launched a high-speed satellite broadband network based on iDirect’s Evolution platform.
[Satellite Today - 05/19/2010]

SES WORLD SKIES signs an agreement with Astrium for the procurement of a new satellite to be named SES-6.
[SatNews - 05/18/2010]

Intelsat selects Arianespace to launch Intelsat 17 satellite at end of 2010.
[Satellite Today - 05/18/2010]

Hughes Network Systems forms Hughes Network Systems Australia Pty. Ltd. to serve the Ka-band satellite technology and services market in Australia.
[Satellite Today - 05/18/2010]

Globalstar receives regulatory approval for new mobile satellite service in Korea.
[MarketWatch - 05/18/2010]

SES World Skies plans to maneuver AMC-11 to match the eastward drift of zombie satellite Galaxy to avoid interference, bringing in AMC-1 on opposite side of orbital "box."
[Space.com - 05/17/2010]

Russian Satellite Communications Company reports it is no longer possible to maintain the orbital incline of the Express-AM1 satellite.
[SatNews - 05/17/2010]

WBMSAT PS services

Technorati Tags: satellite+news via+satellite satellite+today satcom satnews satellite+week

DIY Friday: MakerFaire 2010

Fri, 21 May 2010 06:46:50 -0700

This weekend, at the San Mateo County Event Center, it's Maker Faire 2010, the world's largest DIY festival. A brilliant idea from the publishers of Make: -- one of the very few successful new media properties in the new millennium.

Just check out this preview for what to expect.

The big fun event ought to be the EepyBird.com guys, originators of the Diet Coke/Mentos phenomenon a few years back.

They've refined their "science entertainment" to produce Bellagio-style fountain art. Check out these videos...

Can't make it out to California? Maker Faire is coming to Michigan (Detroit and Ann Arbor) and New York.

Technorati Tags: diy makezine maker+faire eepybird

WBMSAT Satellite Industry News Bits for 05/14/2010

Wed, 26 May 2010 04:21:34 -0700

Courtesy of Bill McDonald...

Picture perfect last launch for Space Shuttle Atlantis.
[SatNews - 05/14/2010]

Solaris Mobile Ltd, the Dublin based operator of new hybrid satellite and terrestrial wireless networks, Is Licensed For Mobile Satellite Services In Europe.
[SatNews - 05/14/2010]

The European Space Agency (ESA) and Interoute have signed an agreement with the latter to provide a new IP Wide Area Network (WAN) connecting the Earth Observation (EO) Payload Data Systems sites across Europe and Canada.
[SatNews - 05/14/2010]

Comtech Mobile Datacom Corporation receives a $140.5 million ceiling increase to its existing Blue Force Tracking ("BFT") program contract with the U.S. Army.
[SatNews - 05/14/2010]

While ESA’s Proba-2 keeps its main instruments trained on the Sun, it is also looking back to its homeworld.
[SatNews - 05/14/2010]

Severe floods struck Kentucky on May 1–2, 2010, causing statewide damage estimated at more than $30 million, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
[SatNews - 05/14/2010]

ESPN to use Globecast for live Cricket broadcasts.
[Satellite Today - 05/14/2010]

Drifting satellite threatens U.S. cable programming as Intelsat's Galaxy 15 continues to receive and transmit signals as it drifts toward SES WORLDSKIES' AMC-11 satellite.
[CED Magazine - 05/13/2010]

Intelligent Communication Enterprise Corporation (ICE) to acquire satellite communication terminals and systems developer THISS Technologioes Ltd.
[TMCnet - 05/13/2010]

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. to launch toe NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X satellites for Nigerian National Space Research and Development Agency on October 29.
[Satellite Today - 05/13/2010]

Germany to test new SHarp Edge Flight EXperiment (Shefex) spacecraft, launching from Australia in early 2011.
[Space Travel - 05/13/2010]

DirecTV wins 7th Circuit Appellate court decision against defendants David Barczewski and Jonathan Wisler, who were accused of decrypting and stealing DirecTV signals.
[Leagle - 05/13/2010]

Congress renews satellite TV authorization to extend through Dec. 31, 2014 compulsory license programs that satellite providers use to carry broadcast TV signals without having to negotiate with individual providers.
[CQ Politics - 05/12/2010]

Intelsat gets favorable GAO decision as it dismisses protests of Artel, CapRock, and Segovia over U.S. Navy's Commercial Broadband Satellite Program award to Intelsat earlier this year.
[Satellite Today - 05/12/2010]

Hughes Network Systems announces sale of its HX System to Rostelecom, Russia's largest international and long-distance operator, to provide satellite broadband services in Russia.
[PR News wire - 05/12/2010]

Qatar set to launch first satellite at the end of 2012 to provide superior coverage across Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, in deal with Eutelsat.
[SatNews - 05/12/2010]

Thrane & Thrane ships 10,000th SAILOR FleetBroadband terminal to Certified Partner Telemar.
[SatNews - 05/12/2010]

Iridium announces important advancement in quest to reach regulatory compliance in Russia.
[SatNews - 05/12/2010]

EMS Aviation technology on stage with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger May 3 as he watched real-time demonstration of the state's new aircraft tracking system technology.
[SatNews - 05/12/2010]

Sea Launch files plan of reorganization.
[SatNews - 05/12/2010]

Microwave Filter Company announces model 17140 C-band interference filter with 80% better rejection of unwanted signals without compromising the C-band passband.
[SatNews - 05/12/2010]

PolarSat announces receipt of multiple orders for major expansion of an existing Air Traffric Network.
[SatNews - 05/12/2010]

Dish Network's CEO Charlie Ergen warns that the company may shut down millions of digital video recorders if a court sides with TiVo in a patent dispute.
[CED Magazine - 05/11/2010]

Lockheed to sell second telecommunications satellite to Vietnam in contract worth $215m.
[Reuters - 05/11/2010]

Loral hires investment banks to manage initial public stock offering of up to 19.9% of its satellite manufacturing division.
[Space News - 05/11/2010]

Eutelsat may raise dividend as sales climb in emerging markets.
[Bloomberg Businessweek - 05/11/2010]

Hughes Communications India recognized as best VSAT operator in India.
[TMCnet - 05/11/2010]

Organa releasing "Hidden Sky," an application that lets iPhone users track any of the thousands of satellites that orbit the Earth, as well as the planets and other objects in the sky.
[SatNews - 05/11/2010]

"Johannes Kepler", the second European spacecraft for the International Space Station (ISS), is on its way to the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
[SatNews - 05/11/2010]

SIS LIVE provided 70 satellite uplink vehicles to main UK broadcasters for coverage of UK general election.
[SatNews - 05/11/2010]

Marlink launches @SEAdirect, a new entry-level maritime VSAT service with internet, email, and voice capability.
[SatNews - 05/11/2010]

Initial launch of Soyuz to take place during 4th quarter of 2010.
[SatNews - 05/11/2010]

India asks satellite service providers to seek OK for buying equipment.
[Wall Street Journal - 05/10/2010]

Ericcson is commissioned by Indosat to modernize network and launch Asia's fastest mobile network, capable of up to 42Mbps.
[SatNews - 05/10/2010]

Space Systems/Loral is selected to provide Satmex 8 for Satelites Mexicanos, a high-power C- and Ku-band satellite replacing Satmex 5, with North and South American FSS coverage.
[SatNews - 05/10/2010]

Insurance company Aon to launch new policy for space investors which aims to enhance satellite operator's initial credit rating by reducing the financial risk of commercial launches.
[Satellite Today - 05/10/2010]

GlobalPartnersUnited and Global VSAT Form join to promote state-of-the-art telepractice solutions for education and health services.
[SatNews - 05/10/2010]

Satellite Today poll reveals most readers believe the MSS market is not big enough for the amount of companies.
[Satellite Today - 05/10/2010]

Eutelsat signs 3-D content deal with Euro1080 for additional content for Eutelsat's 3-D channel on the Eurobird 9A satellite.
[Satellite Today - 05/10/2010]

Telespazio, Thales win $375m contract from Italian Ministry of Defense and French Defense Procurement Agency for development of Sicral 2 satellite and ground segment for military communications.
[Satellite Today - 05/10/2010]

VIASAT completes around the world coverage with addition of service over the Indian Ocean, Guam, and waters north of Australia for its Yonder(r) mobile broadband network.
[SatNews - 05/10/2010]

Comtech Telecommunications to buy Communications & Power Industries Inc. (CPI) for $427m.
[San Francisco Business Times - 05/10/2010]

Dish Network's net income dropped 26% in first quarter due to stepped-up promotions to attract customers; net subscribers increased by 237,000.
[CED Magazine - 05/10/2010]

International Datacasting contracts with large pan-European content distribution company to expand customer's network to deliver 3D live content and digital cinema content.
[SatNews - 05/10/2010]

TeleCommunication Systems gets $1.8m contract to provide managed satellite bandwidth services for U.S. Government.
[TMCnet - 05/08/2010]

NSR examines SES 'low risk approach to European Satellite Broadband Access - will the position that the broadband market does not justify the expense of building Ka-band satellites turn out to be right or wrong?
[NSR Industry Briefing - May 2010]

WBMSAT PS services

Technorati Tags: satellite+week satnews satcom satellite+today via+satellite satellite+news

DIY Friday: Rube Goldberg Machine

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 06:36:17 -0700

The "This Too Shall Pass" music video by the band OK Go is impressive. It features a Rube Goldberg Machine produced with the help of MIT students and alumni, it was put up on YouTube in March and has since garnered more than 11 million views. Sure, that's nowhere near the new record set by Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" video (187 million and counting). Posting music videos helps sell records. EMI had a problem with that, so OK Go is on its now. Good for them.

OK Go's Web site has a wonderful interactive floor map to keep you busy.

Very cool. Watch this video of how to build one with kids. Check out Argonne National Laboratory's contest for high schools, and, of course, Purdue's Rube Goldberg Contest is one of the best for college students.

Need ideas? Poke around the Instructables site.

Technorati Tags: rube+goldberg diy diy+friday ok+go emi

WBMSAT Satellite Industry News Bits for April 16, 2010

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:22:26 -0700

South Africa, Brazil, and India agree to joint satellite programme at trilateral summit.
[EngineeringNews.co.za - 04/16/2010]

KVH debuts CG-5100 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) solution well-suited for applications already having GPS but needing full IMU capability.
[SatNews - 04/15/2010]

India's cryogenic rocket satellite launch fails after apparent successful take-off as control of the cryogenic rocket motors fails.
[BBC News - 04/15/2010]

EUMETSAT's Meteosat-9 meteorological satellite observes ash from volcanic eruption in Iceland.
[SatNews - 04/15/2010]

NOAA's GOES-13 satellite renamed GOES-EAST, residing at prime orbital slot to observe potentially life-threatening weather along Eastern U.S., Atlantic Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico.
[SatNews - 04/15/2010]

U.S. Marine Corps networking plans driven by tactical, satellite based technologies.
[Signal Online - 04/15/2010]

Vizada, with Inmarsat, to launch test program to validate readiness of Inmarsat's IsatPhone Pro for market.
[SatNews - 04/15/2010]

Stratos gets advance orders for 1,000 of Inmarsat's new handheld IsatPhone Pro.
[Satellite Spotlight - 04/15/2010]

RapidEye enters contract with Metria of Sweden for Metria to be distributor of RapidEye satellite imagery in the Scandinavian, Baltic, and Icelandic data markets.
[SatNews - 04/15/2010]

Vizada launches SkyFile Video powered by ClipWay application, software that can be downloaded and installed on any computer and used to send video images over a mobile satellite terminal.
[SatNews - 04/15/2010]

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov confirms plans to launch a Soyuz carrier rocket from the Kourou space center in French Guiana later this year.
[Space Daily - 04/14/2010]

Intelsat expands African satellite infrastructure and is offering new satellite capacity to the region on Intelsat 25 and Intelsat New Dawn.
[Satellite Spotlight - 04/14/2010]

Lockheed Martin completes work on first U.S. Air Force advanced EHF satellite, readying it for Mid-2010 launch.
[PR Newswire - 04/14/2010]

PSSI and Ericsson provide technology and satellite transmission services enabling NASCAR Media Group to provide multiple streams of live HD content from races to its 75 million fans.
[SatNews - 04/14/2010]

Intelsat launches IntelsatONE, a global, terrestrial architecture consisting of an IP/MPLS-based network, fiber, teleports, and points of presence powered by Cisco Systems.
[Satellite Today - 04/14/2010]

Nagravision and SkyLife of South Korea expand their relationship to collaborate on 3D television.
[SatNews - 04/14/2010]

Eutelsat teams with Russia's General Satellite Corporation and the Marinsky Theatre for April 15th 3D TVsatellite transmission of classical ballet performed by leading Russian dancers.
[SatNews - 04/14/2010]

Newtec introduces at NAB its DualFlow technology that allows users to easily migrate to satellite IP-based operations by interfacing modems with networks using either ASI or IP, or both at once.
[SatNews - 04/14/2010]

CPI introduces enhanced version of its Ku-band High Power SSPB, a fully integrated unit that is one of the lightest and smallest on the market.
[SatNews - 04/14/2010]

Ericcson signs 3D TV, HD deals with ESPN, Tata Sky.
[Satellite Today - 04/14/2010]

Move by FCC under its National Broadband Plan (NBBP) to release 500 MHz of additional spectrum for broadband service applauded by satellite operators Harbinger and Globalstar, opposed by Verizon and AT&T.
[Fierce Broadband Wireless - 04/14/2010]

Increasing demand for bandwidth coupled with finite limit of available orbital slots drives wider acceptance among satellite operators of dual-use satellite platforms.
[PR Newswire - 04/14/2010]

Raytheon successfully completes major communications upgrade in Antarctica for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) program.
[Space Daily - 04/14/2010]

ESA's CryoSat-2, launched April 8, has had excellent performance, delivering its first data just hours after ground controllers switched on the satellite's sophisticated radar instrument for the first time.
[esa news - 04/13/2010

Globecomm Systems launches at NAB their Tempo Enterprise Media Platform, a hosted terrestrial service allows enterprises with a single platform to deliver interactive training, employee communications, and digital display to global audiences.
[SatNews - 04/13/2010]

Ethiopa's national telecom operator, ETC, chooses Gilat for backhaul solution to extend range of cellular services to remote regions.
[Market Watch - 04/13/2010]

NASA - Chrysler agreement seeks to use technologies originally developed for human spaceflight to enhance future vehicles, and adapt advanced automotive technology for use in space.
[SatNews - 04/13/2010]

VELOCITY Broadcasting of Pittsburgh, PA, becomes largest global, private HD broadcasting network through agreement with Global Vision Networks, expanding throuigh satellite distribution to more than 200 network sites across 3 continents.
[SatNews - 04/13/2010]

Goodrich Corporation continues its celebration of 50 years of working in advanced space programs at the National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, CO.
[SatNews - 04/13/2010]

Xicom Technology announces at NAB new lightweight, high power, antenna-mounted traveling wave tube amplifiers to expand capabilities of broadcasters and teleport operators.
[SatNews - 04/13/2010]

Raytheon successfully completes major satellite communications system upgrade in Antartica for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Satellite System program, providing better performance and higher data rates.
[PR Newswire - 04/13/2010]

ACS Angola contracts with Eutelsat for capacity on W7 to expand satellite resources to support high growth of data communications in the region.
[PR Newswire - 04/13/2010]

EchoStar Satellite Services announces that Minnesota-based Pace International has joined its VIP-TV Reseller Program.
[SatNews - 04/13/2010]

SES WORLDSKIES signs long-term multi-transponder deal with Puerto Rico Telephone to deliver its CLARO TV DTH offering to homes across Puerto Rico.
[SatNews - 04/13/2010]

GSA and CISA lay out their strategy under their joint Future Commercial Satellite Communications Acquisition (FCSA) program, with draft request for proposals for $3.5 billion in commercial satellite services between 2011 and 2015.
[Defense Systems - 04/12/2010]

India charges that Chinese anti-satellite program is a global threat.
[Space Daily - 04/12/2010]

GlobeCast signs contract with Argentine broadcaster Pramer allowing Pramer to base its playout and origination facilities at GlobeCast's Sunrise, Florida technical operations center.
[SatNews - 04/12/2010]

Integral Systems announces on-schedule handover of satellite bus operations for the third Wideband Global SATCOM Space Vehicle to the Command and Control System - Consolidated baseline.
[Market Watch - 04/12/2010]

While other industries were slammed by recession, the global space business grew 7% in 2009 over 2008, to $261 billion, and 40% over the past 5 years.
[Reuters - 04/12/2010]

DG FastChannel and Univision partner to provide High Definition commercial content during broadcast of 2010 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to be viewed by up to 95% of U.S. Hispanic households.
[Market Watch - 04/12/2010]

Russia had no part in the Indian cryogenic engine program according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
[Space Daily - 04/12/2010]

NASA engineers at Goddard Space Flight Center find and patent a way to improve reception of GPS signals.
[Space Daily - 04/12/2010]

China aims to capture 20% of the world's space business by 2015, according to the country's only satellite launch contractor.
[Space Daily - 04/12/2010]

Avanti sells new capacity and services on its first satellite, HYLAS 1, to longstanding partner in Eastern Europe MPB.
[SatNews - 04/12/2010]

TeleCommunication Systems receives additional $7.1 million in revenue from U.S. Army for maintenance of internet and satellite-based communications systems deployed outside the country.
[Baltimore Sun - 04/10/5010]

NSR releases report "Hosted Payloads on Commercial Satellites," the "first ever" market study which analyzes and quantifies the business case for hosted payloads, covering the entire gamut of the satellite industry.
[NSR - April, 2010]

NSR states that "Broadband Satellite Markets Did Not Falter in Face of 2009 Economic Crisis - Sector Revenues to Increase by 135% in Coming Ten Years."
[NSR - April, 2010]

WBMSAT PS services

Technorati Tags: satellite+today satellite+week satnews satcom via+satellite satellite+2010 satellite+news

Sugarloaf Science

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:17:56 -0700

Time for a little vacation -- in Sugarloaf, Maine.

The weather may seem discouraging, but there's no substitute for being here. Rain mixed with snow and sleet. The mountain's completely open, with 130+ trails.

I like their Web cam...

Technorati Tags: sugarloaf goes-12 maine el+nino

Helping Haiti

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:47:16 -0800

What can you do to help if you're too busy? Text "Haiti" to 90999, and you'll be billed $10 as a donation to the Red Cross.

GeoEye-1 spacecraft captured this image:

This half-meter resolution satellite image shows Port-au-Prince, Haiti after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the area on Jan. 12, 2010. The image clearly shows extensive damage, roads covered with debris from collapsed structures, and people crowded in the streets and public places such as sports fields and stadiums. The white-colored National Palace shows damage along the roof line. The image was taken by the GeoEye-1 satellite from 423 miles in space at 10:27 a.m. EST on Jan. 13, 2010 as it moved from north to south over the Caribbean at a speed of four miles per second.

Here's a little "Bible-thumping" effort in Haiti worth watching, if only to see how people live...

Real Hope For Haiti from Corrigan Clay on Vimeo.

;

Technorati Tags: haiti red+cross haitian+relief haiti+earthquake earthquake

Afghan Satcom Links

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:54:51 -0800

When we first wrote about the DishPointer AR Pro app a few months ago, this is one of the instances where it can become an indispensible tool for field technicians: quickie site surveys.

Here's a real example from Afghanistan:

I found out about this thing while doing research to find out the directions to a bird while here in Afghanistan. I stumbles across DishPointer's website, which was a lifesaver, and saw mention of this app. As soon as I got back to where I could access the market I made sure to get this app. I can't begin to say how wonderful it is. Being over here, we don't have any birds that are actually for us. We use Hotbird 6&7, which are for Europe. This App still helps me see if I have line of sight and it helped to align a dish in no time. (I know you see the difference in time in the pics, We had a bad LNB that was making it more difficult to get a good signal.)

The fact that the app stores all the birds for offline use is a truly wonderful thing out here. If I had this before, I could've been able to tell within 5 minutes that one of the sites we were at was simply not able to see the bird. We could've been in a dangerous location for a mere 15 minutes instead of the 3 days we were there trying to no avail. From now on anytime I go out for an install I'll make sure my phone is part of my toolbag, and of course this app will be installed.

Getting a site survey done quickly in a combat zone using a $20 app? That's the type of cost-benefit analysis we like to see.

The DishPointer AR Pro is available via iTunes App Store.

Technorati Tags: azimuth elevation look+angle afghanistan satfinder dishpointer

Giant Cosmic Kite

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:27:29 -0800

Travelling through space using waves of light -- or photons.

Sir Arthur supported this concept, which is noted in tomorrow's New York Times Science Section :

There is a long line of visionaries, stretching back to the Russian rocket pioneers Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and Fridrich Tsander and the author Arthur C. Clarke, who have supported this idea. “Sails are just a marvelous way of getting around the universe,” said Freeman Dyson, of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J., and a longtime student of the future, “but it takes a long time to imagine them becoming practical.”

The solar sail receives its driving force from the simple fact that light carries not just energy but also momentum — a story told by every comet tail, which consists of dust blown by sunlight from a comet’s core. The force on a solar sail is gentle, if not feeble, but unlike a rocket, which fires for a few minutes at most, it is constant. Over days and years a big enough sail, say a mile on a side, could reach speeds of hundreds of thousands of miles an hour, fast enough to traverse the solar system in 5 years. Riding the beam from a powerful laser, a sail could even make the journey to another star system in 100 years, that is to say, a human lifespan.

Excellent graphic to go with this piece, which is typical for the NYT.

The Planetary Society is behind this project, funded my an anonymous donor.

Artists rendition of LightSail-1 by Rick Sternbach. Credit: Planetary Society

Technorati Tags: planetary+society carl+sagan lightsail arthur+clarke