Really Rocket Science

Both Atlas V and Ariane 5 rockets went up recently. Both were equipped with rocketcams, but the weather was better at The Cape than in Kourou, so the Atlas launch’s lookback was really cool.

Putting together a taco on the ISS is not a simple matter. With mackerel, leek cream, dried tomatoes and quinoa salad? Interesting.

Chalk up another loss for space/launch insurance underwriters. A Proton/Briz M launch’s 3rd stage failed and lost MexSat-1 (a.k.a. Centenario) — a huge Boeing 702 intended for mobile and fixed services (L- and Ku-band).

What happened? Anatoly Zak gives the best, most-qualified explanation. Probably fuel line problems.

Add this to a Soyuz launch anomaly earlier this month and you would think this may be a pattern. Is it technical or is it systemic? Probably both.

One could argue there’s a lack of enthusiasm and a brain-drain of top Ukrainian engineering talent in the Russian space business. Or it could be the return of the “old Soviet work ethic,” where nobody really cares. People get promoted to positions of authority without really being qualified, just so they can be “controlled” by others at the Kremlin. That’s what I think is happening.

It goes back more than 10 years, around the time Putin started going after complete control of Russia. In 2006, Mario Lemme’s Space Transport Inc. was created to take control of International Launch Services, the joint venture created to market Proton and Atlas launches. Since then, the market for commercial launches has changed (thank you, SpaceX), but the prices for launch services has gone up. But the technical success helps further development of non-commercial and space-exploration systems. With the world still dependent on getting humans to/from the ISS using the Soyuz launcher, we’re in a spot of trouble.

Meanwhile, how are we to substitute our supply source for RD-180 engines? We need to make this a priority. Rather, the big boys in the U.S. are more concerned about corporate headcount (read about the “mothers day massacre”).

Science likes to explain things with facts. Political views tend to use some facts. But outright liars and social manipulators such as Putin and his fellow KGB remnants don’t get along with any facts they don’t like. They just want control. Control of people, money and probably access to space from Russian territory (hence the pressure to build Vostochny).

Succeeding in space will further popularize Putin in Russia and that’s what he’s after. Fuck science: Russia’s space industry is failing due to “moral issues,” according to Rogozin.

Featured Article

European Commission decides to allow terrestrial broadband operators to use a portion of C-band spectrum that had been exclusive for satellite operations.
[Space News – 10/09/2014]

Industry Reports

New Companies and Markets report “Global Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) Market 2014 – 2018” projects CAGR growth during the period of 5.48%.
[Live-PR – 10/09/2014]

“Global Enterprise VSAT Market 2014-2018″ report at ReportsnReports projects CAGR growth of 10.49% by 2018.
[Green Technology World – 10/08/2014]

Euroconsult – 353 Earth observation satellites are expected to be launched over the next decade.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 10/09/2014]

Broadband now installed in more than 700 million homes worldwide.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 10/06/2014]

Industry Groups, Trade Shows

NSR Space and Satellite Regulatory Colloquium focused on emerging space law and regulatory issues facing the U.S. Administration and International governments will be held in Washington D.C. at the W Washington Hotel October 23.
[Satnews – October 2014]

Myanmar Satellite Forum to be attended by a number of global satellite operators at Myanmar Event Part, Yangon on November 19, 2014.
[telecomlead – 10/09/2014]

Launch Activity

O3b and Galileo satellites swap places in Soyuz launch queue; with the next O3b launch to now be in mid-December.
[Space News – 10/10/2014]

The commercial arrangement for NASA’s scheduled December 4 Orion EFT-1 launch  requires both a commercial launch license and a commercial re-entry license from the Federal Aviation Administration.
[Space News – 10/10/2014]

Space-launch tourism not blasting off as promised in Kazakhstan.
[Space News – 10/10/2014]

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and JAXA launch Himawari 8 weather satellite.
[Via Satellite – 10/08/2014]

Frozen hydrazine lines blamed for August 25 Fregat launch anomaly that left two uninsured Galileo navigation satellites in unintended orbits.
[Via Satelite – 10/08/2014]

Ariane 5 scheduled to launch ArSat-1, Argentina’s first satellite, on October 15, 2014.
[NASA Spaceflight – 10/06/2014]

Satellite Construction

Space Based Infrared System payload delivered by Northrop Grumman to Lockheed Martin for SBIRS BEO-4, to be launched in 2016.
[Space Ref – 10/07/2014]

Venezuela signs contract with China Great Wall Industry Corporation to build and launch its third satellite, earmarked for regional development.
[Venezuelanalysis – 10/07/2014]

Satellite Operations

TRA hosts frequency coordination meeting for officials from UAE and Republic of Belarus to discuss techniques to resolve interference between their satellite networks.
[TMCnet – 10/08/2014]

Satellite Technology

South Africa to commercialize its first indigenous micro satellite, using advanced remote sensing system based on hyperspectral imaging.
[Via Satellite – 10/07/2014]

MIT Microsystem’s Technology Laboratories develops dense arrays of microscopic cones that eject streams of ions, and could provide propulsion for nanosatellites.
[R&D Magazine – 10/06/2014]

Ground Systems Technology

ViaSat tests 1 Mbps L-band terminal throughput over LightSquared satellite.
[Via Satellite – 10/09/2014]

Government, Military & Defense

Inmarsat’s L-band Tactical Satellite (L-TAC) service delivers a resilient Ultra High Frequency (UHF)-like tactical satellite capability to existing military and commercial radios used by the U.S. government.
[Intelligent Aerospace – 10/10/2014]

General Dynamics’ MUOS-Manpack PRC-155 radio connects U.S. Air Force aircraft to Operations Center via MUOS satellite system.
[TMCnet – 10/10/2014]

U.S. ceases decades-long practice of jamming television and radio broadcasts from Cuba, a decision that will strengthen the U.S. position against intentional jamming by Iran, China, Ethiopia and elsewhere.
[Space News – 10/10/2014]

Russian government keen to develop space infrastructure amid turbulent political backdrop.
[Via Satellite – 10/09/2014]

U.S. Air Force awards $26 million contract extension to Harris satellite-control support contract.
[Space News – 10/09/2014]

Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) has won the Ellersick Best Paper Award at MILCOM 2014 Conference for its Faster-Than-Nyquist (FTN) technology.
[Satnews – 10/08/2014]

Intelsat focuses on interference reduction in its next generation  EpigNG High Throughput Satellites to provide advantages in its marketing to government entities.
[Via Satellite – 10/07/2014]

Northrop Grumman features three variants of protected low-cost terminals to protect nation’s warfighters and advance military satellite communications.
[Satellite Spotlight – 10/07/2014]

Iridium complains to Indian government that state-run Gharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. did not follow fair process in selecting Inmarsat as partner for establishing mobile satellite communications gateway.
[Business Standard – 10/09/2014]

Zambian government ministry plans to link remote districts using satellite technology.
[Zambia Daily Mail – 10/09/2014]

Thales Canada completes trials for new system for Royal Canadian Navy.
[Ottawa Citizen – 10/08/2014]

Rockwell Collins’ ARC-210 becomes first airborne radio to operate on MUOS satellite system.
[Aerospace Manufacturing and Design – 10/07/2014]

Inmarsat’s Global Xpress begins service for U.S. government customers.
[Via Satellite – 10/07/2014]

GVF certifies 21 militaries in Asia-Pacific area in use of satellite communications systems for disaster preparedness.
[GVF Press Release – 10/07/2014]

Tesacom has won a contract for the provision of fixed and mobile satellite communications to government buildings and top officials in Peru.
[telecompaper – 10/07/2014]

Intelsat General gets contract extension for delivering American Forces Radio and TV service.
[The New York Times – 10/06/2014]

Inmarsat signs MOA with TECOM to manufacture Global Xpress aviation terminals for the government market.
[TWST – 10/06/2014]

Regulatory

Signal interference proposal could make the ITU a watchdog with some teeth.
[Space News – 10/10/2014]

FCC is trying to overhaul its existing satellite supervisory framework.
[RapidTV News – 10/06/.2014]

Aeronautical

Boeing completes testing of low profile aeronautical satellite antenna developed for Al Yah Satellite Company of the United Arab Emirates.
[Defense World – 10/10/2014]

Testing Transaero Airlines InFlight Connectivity (IFC) – it “is kind of like a swimming pool at a hotel: You don’t use it every time — maybe not even 50 percent of the times — but it is always nice to know it is there.”
[Via Satellite – 10/06/2014]

Broadband

Squire Tech Solutions updates website with extensive satellite product and service information to help customers and partners understand the complete range of satellite internet communication solutions.
[Broadway World – 10/09/2014]

Vizocom partners with Eutelsat for Internet connectivity in Middle East and Africa.
[TMCnet – 10/06/2014]

Earth Observation

Satellite data shows surprising hot spot of potent global-warming methane gas over part of southwestern U.S.
[R&D Magazine – 10/10/2014]

Exelis and Airbus team up to streamline access to and use of geospatial imagery products from both companies.
[Via Satellite – 10/06/2014]

Enterprise

Earth observation satellite images used to compose animations of severe cyclone Hudhud, approaching India.
[Wall Street Journal, India – 10/10/2014]

Home improvement project at International Space Station will continue next year with addition of large, inflatable workroom from Bigelow Aerospace.
[venturebeat – 10/06/2014]

Oil & Gas

Elite Communications selects Emerging Markets Communications as its satellite connectivity provider for existing oil and gas customers in North America and prospects worldwide.

[Satnews – 10/06/2014]

Video

One of Toshiba’s currently available 65? 4K TVs. Photo: Toshiba – Via Satellite

ViXS XCode 6400 High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) System on a Chip (SoC) to be used in Toshiba Ultra HD TV sets for Sky Perfect JSAT’s 4K broadcasts.
[Via Satellite – 10/09/2014]

International sports broadcaster Setanta Sports selects SES Astra 5B satellite to broadcast two HD sports channels to 13 countries in Central Asia.
[Via Satellite – 10/08/2014]

Space

Russia to build space-based ballistic missile warning system.
[Satnews – 10/10.2014]

NASA resumes work on commercial crew contracts, ending delay during the ongoing contract protest.
[Space News – 10/09/2014]

NASA IG says planetary science senior review process needs work.
[Space News – 10/09/2014]

NASA examines adding a habitation module to the agency’s proposed Asteroid Redirect Mission.
[Space News – 10/08/2014]

An analysis by a team of MIT students of the Mars One concept to send people to Mars on one-way missions to establish a settlement there offers a bleak picture of the outcome.
[Space News – 10/08/2014]

Space X gears up a new Seattle-area office, heavily recruiting engineers from Microsoft and other companies in the region.
[Space News – 10/07/2014]

“Home improvement” at the International Space Station to continue, with a large, inflatable workroom from Bigelow Aerospace to be added in 2015.
[Via Satellite – 10/09/2013]

Legal

Inmarsat issues LightSquared a Notice of Default for $17.5 million.
[Via Satellite – 10/06/2014]

Capacity Agreements

Orange ramps up Africa satellite coverage with multi-year agreement for C-band capacity on EUTELSAT 3B.
[Market Watch – 10/08/2014]

Services Contracts

BringCom gets $1.1 million in orders for managed communications services including satellite circuit services in last 3 months.
[MarketWatch – 10/06/2014]

Market Strategy & Revenues

Globalstar strikes back against short-seller attack, with its CEO saying he stands by to add to his current investment in the company.
[Space News – 10/10/2014]

Hedge fund manager claims Globalstar Inc’s business is worthless, and sends the company’s stock tumbling.
[Reuters – 10/06/2014]

GS Group plans to implement a satellite-broadcasting project in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
[telecompaper – 10/06/2014]

Skyline Communications, provider of network management and OSS software for satellite and other telecom industries, is 1 of Belgium’s 50 fastest growing companies.
[Satnews – 10/06/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Featured Article

Federal Communications Commission proposes to comprehensively revamp filing procedures to cut costs and complexity in licensing new satellite systems.
[Space News – 10/03/2014]

Industry Reports

A new market research publication announced by Reportstack, ‘Global Enterprise VSAT Market 2014-2018,’ projects market growth at CAGR of 10.49% for the period.
[Whatech – 10/01/2014]

New NSR report finds satellite operators driving efficiencies via HTS and acquisitions.
[SYS-CON Media – 09/30/2014]

Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) Market 2018: managed and wholesale services analyzed and forecasts in new research report at Sandlerresearch.org.
[University Chronicle – 09/28/2014]

The October issue of Satellite Executive Briefing Magazine includes “Change and Challenges Ahead in the  Satellite Industry” by  Elisabeth Tweedie, “Satellite Communications Networks and Cyber-Security” by Martin Jarrold, and “Case Study on Globalstar’s SPOT Lifesaving Rescues” by Virgil Labrador.
[Satellite Markets & Research – October 2014]

Industry Groups, Trade Shows

SES TechCom has been given the prestigious Changing Lives Award at the VSAT 2014 conference in London for emergency.lu.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 10/02/2014]

Work Microwave addresses broadcast, satellite, and telco industry challenges at IBC 2014.
[The IABM – 10/01/2014]

Mitsubishi Electric to exhibit at CEATEC Japan 2014 October 7 to 11.
[Business Wire – 09/29/2014]

Blue Sky Network to unveil new SATCOM solution at separate aviation industry events in October.
[Aviation Pros – 09/29/2014]

Airbus announced to present at SMi’sGlobal MilSatCom 2014 conference and exhibition.
[PRWeb – 09/29/2014]

The 15th International Exhibition of Telecommunications, Information Technology & Solutions (Iran Telecom 2014) is to be held in Tehran during October 6-9.
[Zawya – 09/28/2014]

Launch Activity

Midterm elections could shape the U.S. launch debate.
[Space News – 10/03/2014]

The Canadian satellite M3M will be launched by India instead of Russia, after long delays amid tension with Russia.
[CBC News – 10/03/2014]

Nanorack identifies root cause of ISS cubesat deployment failures.
[Space News – 10/02/2014]

Returning Proton rocket faces challenges in the market.
[Via Satellite – 09/30/2014]

China successfully completes launch of experimental scientific satellite.
[Via Satellite – 09/29/2014]

Small satellite launch company Firefly Space Systems is moving from California to Cedar Park, Texas.
[Via Satellite – 09/29/2014]

Russian Proton places Russian military satellite into geostationary orbit in 1st launch since May failure.
[Space News – 09/28/2014]

Swiss Space Systems meets with Russia’s JSC Kuznetsov to evaluate the NK-39 engines planned to power the unmanned suborbital shuttle SOAR SmallSat launch vehicle.
[Via Satellite – 09/26/2014]

Satellite Construction

U.S. restrictions on supplies to Russia lead to an increase in time of satellite construction of 8 or 10 months.
[ITAR-TASS – 10/01/2014]

Romania plans to have its own communications satellite.
[telecompaper – 09/29/2014]

COM DEV gets $7.5 million contract from undisclosed customer to manufacture components for a High Throughput Satellite.
[Via Satellite – 09/29/2014]

Satellite Operations

Cubesat revolution and spotty compliance with debris rules fuel dangerous congestion in low earth orbit.
[Space News – 10/03/2014]

Russian satellite communications operator hopes to triple capabilities of orbital group by 2020.
[Interfax – 10/03/2014]

Satellite Technology

India seeks outside help on High Throughput Satellite.
[Space News – 10/02/2014]

Ground Systems Technology

Rockwell Collins ARC-210 radio becomes first airborne radio to operate over the U.S. government’s MUOS constellation.
[Satnews – 10/03/2014]

Orbit Communications Systems gets contract to upgrade ground station in Alaska for U.S.-based system integrator.
[Via Satellite – 09/30/2014]

SatixFy integrates IP cores for advanced satellite modem SoC using Sonics on-chip networks.
[Design & Reuse – 09/30/2014]

Macom releases new set of surface mount S-Band GaN power amplifiers.
[Via Satellite – 09/30/2014]

M2M Connectivity announces the distribution of SkyWave terminals for the Inmarsat satellite network in Australia and New Zealand.
[CSO – 09/29/2014]

Government, Military & Defense

Spanish Ministry of Defence approves Globalstar GSP-1700 satellite phone for use by its personnel
[Satnews – 10/03/2014]

France proceeding with planned electronic-intelligences satellite and next-generation military telecommunications satellite systems.
[Space News – 10/02/2014]

Germany joins EDA’s program to pool and share purchases of commercial satellite bandwidth for military and government use.
[Space News – 10/01/2014]

Canadian government contracts with Com Dev subsidiary exactEarth to extend the availability of AIS to the entire government.
[Via Satellite – 10/01/2014]

U.S. DoD effort launched in early 2013 to reform the way it buys commercial satellite communication bandwidth appears stalled, frustrating lawmakers.
[Space News – 09/29/2014]

Army’s new Joint Incident Site Communication Capability’s (JISCC’s) Delta Package radio-bridging and voice cross-banding capability with satellite terminal supports National Guard/First Responder communications during emergencies.
[army.mil – 09/29/2014]

Lockheed to buy European-built satellite for South Korea as part of $7 billion deal to provide 40 F-35 fighter jets to South Korea.
[Reuters – 09/26/2014]

IDC receives US government contract for broadcast network equipment.
[Via Satellite – 09/26/2014]

Regulatory

One-day Space and Satellite Regulatory Colloquium to be focused on emerging space law and myriad regulatory issues facing global government administrations.
[Satnews – 10/03/2014]

AT&T commitment to bid $45 billion for 5 blocks of 20 MHz of spectrum dependent upon success of DirecTV acquisition.
[TVTechnology – 10/02/2014]

Satellite industry backs the importance of C-band in Africa, citing new research, and claims wireless industry efforts to claim spectrum would undercut African economies.
[IT News Africa – 09/29/2014]

Aeronautical

Inmarsat sees an Air-to-Ground network serving as the centerpiece for its in-Flight Connectivity plans in high traffic areas.
[Via Satellite – 09/29/2014]

Broadband

E-Networks of Guyana becomes first Latin American customer of O3b.
[Via Satellite – 10/02/2014]

Xplorenet ramps up satellite side of its business to cover all of Canada, and plans eventual broadband speed of 100 Mbps using HTS.
[Via Satellite – 10/02/2014]

SES and Swisscom will launch Astra Connect in Switzerland.
[Via Satellite – 10/01/2014]

YahSat intiates two-month promotional offer for satellite broadband through Yahclick in select African countries.
[Via Satellite – 10/01/2014]

Orbitcom to deliver Astra Connect service from SES in Germany.
[Via Satellite – 09/26/2014]

Earth Observation

National Geographic, in partnership with Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, intends to develop new imagery from ISS for educational purposes.
[Via Satellite – 09/29/2014]

Enterprise

SkyVision VPN to connect Unity Bank branch offices in Africa.
[Via Satellite – 10/01/2014]

NSSLGlobal adds two new satellite beams to improve quality and geographical reach of its global VSAT network.
[The Maritime Executive – 09/30/2014]

M2M (Machine to Machine)

M2M Connectivity to distribute SkyWave terminals for Inmarsat satellite network in Australia and New Zealand.
[Ferret – 10/03/2014]

Maritime

MTN announces that the number of TBN –connected cruise ships has doubled and covered regions have tripled in the past year.
[Satnews – 10/02/2014]

Mobile

Gilat successfully demonstrates maximum 4G handheld device performance over satellite at tier-one operator in Asia.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 10/02/2014]

Video

Thomson Reuters, partnering with Avanti, Sematron, and BIPS, successfully broadcast the entire Oscar Pistorius trial in live HD.
[Market Watch – 10/03/2014]

Pi Telecom’s partnership with SatLink expands into IP delivery . . . immediate TV everywhere . . . ready to launch managed service via the cloud within days.
[Satnews – 09/30/2014]

Sky Perfect JSAT to launch dedicated 4K Ultra-HD channels on March 1, 2015.
[Via Satellite – 09/26/2014]

Space

NASA and ISRO of India sign two new documents for future joint missions in space.
[Via Satellite – 10/02/2014]

Thales Alenia says funding commitment for ExoMars is needed in December to complete the agreed-to funding package.
[Space News – 10/01/2014]

Sierra Nevada Corp partners with Stratolaunch for Dream Chaser derivative, looking for commercial uses for the space vehicle.
[Via Satellite – 10/01/2014]

Why a refrigerator-sized spacecraft could be humanity’s best hope against solar storms.
[Nextgov – 10/01/.2014]

Capacity Agreements

Eutelsat signs two satellite beams on Eutelsat 21B to Vizocom for its AfricAsia Satellite Services.
[Via Satellite – 10/02/2014]

Market Strategy & Revenues

Australian operator NewSat and partner ITC Global have tightened their partnership to focus on opportunities in the energy sector.
[Via Satellite – 10/01/2014]

Gilat Satcom provides additional satellite route between Africa and the United States.
[Satellite Spotlight – 10/01/2014]

ITC Global announces another record quarter, with $100 million in new bookings year to date.
[San Antonio Business Journal – 09/30/2014]

Globalstar seeks to build up its presence in Southern Africa with new gateway station in Botswana for simplex services.
[Via Satellite – 09/30/2014]

Armada Group proposes acquisition of up to 45.95% of equity interest in China Satellite Mobile Communications Group.
[Reuters – 09/30/2014]

Airbus is divesting its commercial satcoms business, including its maritime satcoms division and subsidiary Marlink.
[Satnews – 09/29/2014]

History

Globecomm mentioned in Global Satellite Industry Campaign, with projects in Afghanistan and Caribbean highlighted.
[Business Wire – 10/02/2014]

Russia is a stalwart of the satellite industry but, as a market, has seen challenges.
[Via Satellite – 09/26/2014]

The Human Aspect

Group claiming to be independent experts says the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) should be searching further south in the Indian Ocean for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370.
[malaysiakini – 09/30/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Featured Article

World’s largest satellite fleet operators propose that global regulators not extend current radio spectrum allocations for air-to-ground communications links to satellite services.
[Space News – 09/26/2014]

Industry Reports

Global Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) research report at ReportsnReports.com projects the market to grow at 5.48% by 2018.
[TMCnet – 09/26/2014]

Africa’s socio-economic development depends on satellite services delivered via C-band spectrum according to Euroconsult report.
[GVF.org – 09/26/2014]

Technavio report forecasts the Global Mobile Satellite Services market to grow at a CAGR of 7.39% over the period 2013 to 2018.
[PR Newswire – 09/23/2014]

Industry Groups, Trade Shows

SMi Group’s 16th Annual Global MilSatCom conference and exhibition will occur from November 4th to 6th, 2014, in London.
[SatNews – 09/25/2014]

The power of the satellite communication and navigation technology industries is being celebrated in World Space Week in October.
[Global Trader – 09/2014]

Launch Activity

Khrunichev, Roscosmos prepare Proton for launch of Loutch SC built by ISS-Reshetnev.
[Via Satellite – 09/25/2014]

ESA’s Ariane 6 cost estimate rises with addition of new launch pad.
[Space News – 09/24/2014]

ATK offers U.S. Air Force a solid rocket alternative to the Russian-built RD-180.
[Via Satellite – 09/23/2014]

Satellite Construction

Romania may have its own communications satellite in 3 – 4 years.
[actmedia – 09/26/2014]

COM DEV wins contract to deliver multiplexer equipment, waveguide, coaxial switches and microwave components for construction of a High Throughput Satellite (HTS).
[Your Communications News – 09/26/2014]

Macdonald Dettwiler & Associates to build a Ka band data relay terminal flight model for use on the ESA Columbus module of the ISS.
[4-traders – 09/25/2014]

Azerbaijan’s blueprint for a domestic space industry includes global competition for optical satellite.
[Space News – 09/25/2014]

Laser Light Communications selects Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. to be prime contractor for the first global, all optical commercial satellite system.
[Hispanic Business – 09/24/2014]

With negotiations to lease an orbital slot from an Intersputnik member nearly complete, Bangladesh plans to request bids for its Bangabandnu 1 satellite.
[Space News – 09/23/2014]

Satellite Technology

Airbus sees greater promise in all-electric satellite sales, and expects fierce competition ahead.
[Via Satellite – 09/24/2014]

Boeing announced it is has received a new six-month contract to evaluate a scientific hosted payload named Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO).
[Via Satellite – 09/24/2014]

Iridium announces completion of extensive testing program for qualification of its new solar panel design for Iridium NEXT.
[Space Ref – 09/23/2014]

Ground Systems

MDA to build ground station for DigitalGlobe.
[Via Satellite – 09/25/2014]

Macom unveils new up-converter for 28 to 34 GHz.
[Via Satellite – 09/24/2014]

C-Com files patent application for a low cost phase shifter for in-motion Ka-band antennas.
[Market Wired – 09/23/2014]

European broadcasters embrace revolutionary low-cost satellite flyaway system from ATCi.
[EFY Times – 09/23/2014]

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. is awarded $6.7 million in orders for communications jamming High-Power Amplifier systems.
[Market Watch – 09/23/2014]

Government, Military & Defense

Colombian government shelves its plans for a satellite due to insufficient funds.
[SatNews – 09/25/2014]

Comtech Telecommunications subsidiaries receive new or follow-on contracts for different satellite products which will support the military.
[Via Satellite – 09/24/2014]

Upgrade to iDirect Evolution helps Telefonica Peru win bid for telemedicine network.
[Market Watch – 09/24/2014]

L-3 wins $23 million contract to provide satellite terminals and communications equipment to the U.S. Air Force.
[SatNews – 09/23/2014]

New UK company Spacepath Communications joins with Silicon Valley-based Tango Wave to market new range of high efficiency HPAs for global market.
[SatNews – 09/23/2014]

Canadian Space Agency grants MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates three projects to apply satellite data to national interest: tracking ships, geo-hazard monitoring, and logging and deforestation.
[Via Satellite – 09/23/2014]

The Canadian DND  announced it will be sharing space data from a satellite launched last year to keep watch on space junk with defence departments in the U.S., U.K. and Australia.
[CBC – 09/22/2014]

Russian Federal Space Agency presents President Vladimir Putin a draft resolution that would allow for public use of sub-meter satellite imagery.
[Via Satellite – 09/23/2014]

Aeronautical

Honeywell Aerospace and Thales partner to create a joint In-Flight Connectivity service using Ka-band Global Xpress capacity.
[Via Satellite – 09/22/2014]

Broadband

SES expands partnership with ORBITCOM to include delivery of Astra Connect for communities in Germany.
[Satellite Evolution Group- 09/25/2014]

Maritime

KVH brings Dish ‘Pay As You Go’ service to maritime.
[Via Satellite – 09/25/2014]

Oil & Gas

Increasing Oil & Gas activity in Papua New Guinea drives EMC’s expanding satellite communications service in the area.
[Market Wired – 09/23/2014]

Video

DirecTV is actively looking into supporting Ultra-HD content in 2014.
[Via Satellite – 09/22/2014]

Space

NASA requests proposals for follow-on ISS cargo contract.
[Space News – 09/26/2014]

DARPA, industry study how to commercialize experimental spaceplane.
[Space News – 09/26/2014]

UK joins list of U.S. allies agreeing to strengthen space surveillance sharing.
[Space News – 09/25/2014]

FAA says safety report does not infer any intention to regulate human spaceflight, but is intended to support industry development of standards.
[Space News – 09/25/2014]

After losing a NASA commercial crew competition, Sierra Nevada lays off its Dream Chaser staff.
[Space News – 09/25/2014]

Long delayed award of the US Air Force’s Launch and Test Range System Integrated Support Contract now expected in October.
[Space News – 09/24/2014]

India triumphs in its first interplanetary mission, placing a satellite into orbit around Mars.
[R&D Magazine – 09/24/2014]

Capacity Agreements

Gazprom Space Systems leases capacity on the Yamal 402 satellite to iSAT Africa.
[Via Satellite – 09/22/2014]

Market Strategy & Revenues

As U.S. sales soften, Inmarsat’s growth plan hinges on emerging markets.
[Space News – 09/26/2014]

NSSLGlobal adds two new satellite beams to improve the quality and geographical reach of its global VSAT network.
[MarineLink – 09/26/2014]

Cipriot company Kypros teams with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. of Britain to offer turnkey systems to small nations entering the market.
[Space News – 09/26/2014]

DirecTV shareholders vote overwhelmingly to approve merger with AT&T.
[The Hill – 09/25/2014]

Applied Satellite Technology (AST), launched its new brand logo at its Annual European Customer Event.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 09/24/2014]

SatLink Communications expands its Asian coverage with a new PoP in Hong Kong.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 09/24/2014]

The Human Aspect

SES joins Clinton Global Initiative and unveils an electronic health, or e-health platform named SATMED.
[Via Satellite – 09/25/2014]

Devastating floods marooned everything in Kashmir, including the fibre-optic based and mobile telephone communication system, but officials from Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) ensured that the Valley was reconnected to the outside world for coordinating relief work.
[Zee News – 09/23/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Featured Article

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has selected Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company Blue Origin to build the Blue Engine 4 (BE-4) to replace the Russian-built RD-180.
[Via Satellite – 09/18/2014]

Industry Reports

New ReportnReports Global mobile satellite services report projects that market segment to grow at a CAGR of 7.39% to 2018.
[WhaTech – 09/19/2014]

NSR sees mobile video as key satellite opportunity, with mobile subscriptions on track to outpace human population soon according to Ericsson.
[Via Satellite – 09/15/2014]

HTS revenues to overtake FSS in battleground applications per NSR’s Global Satellite Capacity Supply & Demand, 1th edition.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 09/12/2014]

iDirect white paper discusses how satellite operators, infrastructure providers and small cell manufacturers are working together to help mobile operators expand their reach.
[telecoms – iDirect October 2013 whitepaper]

Launch Activity

Next generation Ariane rocket expected to take priority over International Space Station as European space ministers meet in Zurich.
[Space News – 09/22/2014]

ORS-4 launch, first flight of experimental low-cost launch system for small satellites and based in Hawaii, delayed to early next year.
[Space News – 09/19/2014]

Atlas V launches from Cape Canaveral carrying the secretive CLIO satellite built by Lockheed-Martin.
[ABC News – 09/16/2014]

Satellite Construction

Lockheed Martin successfully mates large system and propulsion modules of NOAA’s GOES-R next-gen weather satellite.
[Via Satellite – 09/19/2014]

MDA to build satellite communications subsystem for ESA’s Columbus module on the international space station.
[Market Watch – 09/18/2014]

China Academy of Space Technology completes Final Design Review of the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite 4 (CBERS 4).
[Via Satelllite – 09/18/2014]

Qatari Es’hail 2 satellite will include AMSAT-DL Phase 4 ameteur radion transponders.
[eHam.net – 09/18/2014]

Orbital Sciences selected by Yahsat to build Al Yah 3 communications satellite.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/15/2014]

Brazil orders hybrid satellite from Thales Alenia Space.
[Via Satellite – 09/16/2014]

Japanese firm Mitsubishi selected to build new Qatar satellite.
[Arabian Business – 09/13/2014]

MDA subsidiary Space Systems/Loral wins contract to build Hispasat 1F satellite.
[Canadian Manufacturing – 09/12/2014]

Satellite Operations

FCC greenlights Iridium plan for deorbiting its 1^st-generation constellation.
[Space News – 09/17/2014]

All six of Orbcomm’s OG2 satellites enter commercial service.
[Via Satellite – 09/15/2014]

Satellite Technology

Israeli startup hopes to stop satellites from getting lost in space.
[Haaretz – 09/21/2014]

Future SES satellites to focus heavily on in-flight connectivity.
[Via Satellite – 09/116/2014]

Ground Systems Technology

Paradigm Communictions and Skyware Technologies successfully complete factory acceptance testing of Global Xpress terminals.
[SatNews – 09/17/2014]

NBN of Australia nears completion of satellite ground station network.
[Via Satellite – 09/17/2014]

European Broadcasters embrace revolutionary low-cost satellite flyaway system from ATCi.
[The Street – 09/15/2014]

Government, Military & Defense

U.S. Air Force Space Command general excited but cautious on new ULA-Blue Origin partnership.
[Space News – 09/22/2014]

U.S. Air Force selects Harris Corporation for hosted payload solutions contract.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/19/2014]

Using technology similar to that of average smarthones, the U.S. Navy’s MUOS satellites provide long-distance military communications to manpack terminals.
[TMCnet – 09/18/2014]

United States Rep. Jim Bridenstine calls for the NOAA to make use of commercial weather data to mitigate risk from both pending and potential future weather data gaps.
[Via Satellite – 09/17/2014]

Fireball spotted over U.S. likely part of a Russian spy satellite.
[The Blaze – 09/17/20147]

German satellite communications company Stellar has servers hacked by government security agencies according to Snowden leaked documents.
[softpedia – 09/15/2014]

DARPA wants to test satellite repair droids in orbit.
[Space.com  – 09/12/2014]

Regulatory

U.N. body to discuss radio frequency spectrum for satellite tracking of airplanes.
[Yonhap News – 09/17/2014]

The Senate commerce committee releases a version of the satellite distant-signal reauthorization bill that eliminates the “Local Choice” proposal, and broadcasters appear to drop opposition.
[The Hill – 09/15/2014]

Aeronautical

Globalstar, in collaboration with ADS-B Technologies, completes a four-day 7,000-mile flight test of a dual-link Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system.
[Via Satellite – 09/19/2014]

CPI provides novel quad-band radome to support successful flight demonstrations of ViaSat, Inc.’s first integrated Ku-band and Ka-band airborne satellite terminal.
[pcb007 – 09/19/2014]

UK inflight entertainment solutions brand roKKi and Inmarsat launch first low-cost inflight connectivity service in the Asia-Pacific region.
[Hispanic Business – 09/18/2014]

Virgin Atlantic to offer new Gogo satellite-Internet service as it becomes the first European customer for a new in-glight connectivity system being sold by Gogo.
[The Wall Street Journal – 09/17/2014]

Gogo wins bidding to provide in-flight connectivity services for Vietnam Airlines, expected to be the first Gogo commercial airline to use Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band technology.
[TMCnet – 09/17/2014].

Panasonic Avionics providing in-flight connectivity for Spain-based Air Europa.
[Via Satellite – 09/16/2014]

Hawaiian Airlines to be first commercial airline to install new Inmarsat communications system.
[Pacific Business News – 09/16/2014]

Maritime

VSAT provider OmniAccess has partnered with US antenna manufacturer Phasor to launch what they claim is the world’s first maritime Ku-band digital phased array antenna.
[Digital Ship – 09/19/2014]

GVF launches maritime satellite communications glossary of terms.
[MarineLink -09/18/2014]

MTN delivers yachts the first dual Ku/Ka-band ultra-high speed satellite solution to further enhance its powerful Maestro service.
[PR News wire – 09/17/2014]

Mobile

Global connectivity for smartphones and tablets is today a reality with the ITU to boost communication capacity and emergency communication solutions for small island developing states.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/16/2014]

Global connectivity for smartphones and tablets is today a reality with the worldwide launch of IsatHub from Inmarsat.
[4GWE – 09/16/2014]

Video

Eutelsat and Cisco partner on cloud video via satellite.
[Via Satellite – 09/16/2014]

Space

NASA’s Maven spacecraft enters Mars orbit.
[R&D Magazine – 09/22/2014]

SpaceX breaks ground on Texas spaceport.
[Space News – 09/22/2014]

Inmarsat is helping to extend global awareness of the international celebration of science and technology, World Space Week 2014.
[WebWire – 09/22/2014]

SpaceX supply load for space station includes first 3-D printer bound for orbit.
[R&D Magazine – 09/22/2014]

NASA awards a $4.2 billion contract to Boeing and a $2.6 billion contract to SpaceX to build rockets and spacecraft capable of taking astronauts into orbit.
[Nextgov – 09/17/2014]

Capacity Agreements

Globecast, KTsat choose AsiaSat to broadcast the 2014 Asian Games.
[Via Satellite – 09/19/2014]

Telmex wins contract to provide satellite communications network to the country’s Health Secretary.
[TMCnet – 09/19/2014]

Bentley Walker purchases capacity on Yamal 402 satellite to be used for services in Africa.
[Via Satellite – 09/17/2014]

Eutelsat inks contract with Nilesat on Eutelsat 8 West B satellite.
[Reuters – 09/15/2014]

Onlime has entered an agreement with Gazprom Space Systems (GSS) for capacity on the upcoming Yamal 402 satellite.
[Via Satellite – 09/15/2014]

SES signs capacity deal for Astra 3B with EuroSkyPark.
[telecompaper – 09/13/2014]

Market Strategy & Revenues

Aireon to offer satellite tracking free to help search for missing planes.
[Reuters – 09/22/2014]

Singtel extends Glopbal Xpress VAR relationship with Inmarsat.
[twst.com – 09/22/2014]

Inmarsat and Thales condlude GX Aviation reseller agreement.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/22/2014]

Thales Alenia steps up efforts to sell Earth-observation satellites abroad.
[Space News – 09/19/2014]

ViaSat eyes urban markets, touts aviation broadband service.
[Space News – 09/19/2014]

Globalstar makes satellite communications available to everyone throughout EMENA with the lowest-cost pre-paid service in the industry.
[FIS – 09/17/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space to sell suite of assets including its commercial satellite communications services division.
[Space News – 09/16/2014]

Apllied Satellite Technology joins the VT iDirect Distribution Program.
[SatNews – 09/16/2014]

Rockwell Collins Satellite Communications Systems, recently acquired by Atlanta-based private investment group, re-emerges as well-known Datapath brand.
[PR Newswire – 09/15/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

 

Featured Article

Ariane 5 ECA launches Optus 10 and MEASAT-3b satellites from French Guiana.
[NASA Spaceflight – 09/11/2014]

Industry Reports

HTS revenues to overtake FSS I battleground applications, with GEO-HTS revenues to grow from $250 million in 2013 and exceed $3.5 billion by 2023,  per NSR report.
[Market Wired – 09/12/2014]

Military Market Research Reports provides market forecast and analysis for the global military communications market up to 2019.
[WhaTech – 09/09/2014]

Industry Groups, Trade Shows

Frost & Sullivan recognizes Advantech Wireless with 2014 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for New Product Innovation Leadership for new series of GaN-based SSPAs.
[PR Newswire – 09/12/2014]

Orbital Sciences CEO expresses disappointment in potential for hosted payload market during panel discussion at World Satellite Business Week in Paris.
[Via Satellite – 09/11/2014]

Euroconsult announces recipients of its 11^th Annual Awards for Excellence in Satellite Communications at World Satellite Business Week in Paris.
[SpaceRef – 09/10/2014]

CEOs from the “Big Four” FSS operators engaged in a lively debate about the future of the satellite industry at Euroconsult’s World Satellite Business Week.
[Via Satellite – 09/09/2014]

Launch Activity

Sky Perfect JSAT chooses SpaceX for JCSAT 16 launch.
[Via Satellite – 09/11/2014]

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off successfully from Cape Canaveral with AsiaSat 6/Thaicom 7 aboard.
[Via Satellite – 09/08/2014]

Arianespace selected to launch Al Yah 3 satellite in fourth quarter of 2016; Arianespace claims to now hold 60% of the commercial launch market.
[Forbes – 09/08/2014]

Satellite Construction

Orbital Sciences to build Al Yah 3 communications satellite for Yahsat.
[Space Ref – 09/10/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space will built EchoStar 105 with 24 C-band transponders known as SES 11 under agreement between SES and Echostar.
[Aerospace Manufacturing and Design – 09/10/2014]

Ball Aerospace selected by Laser Light Communications to be prime contractor for the first global, all-optical commercial satellite system.
[PR Newswire – 09/10/2014]

Boeing receives first order for 502 Phoenix small satellite from HySpecIQ of Washington, D.C.
[Space Ref – 09/10/2014]

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) and Kypros Satellites (Kyprosat) have teamed up to provide a turnkey telecommunications SmallSat for Geostationary Earth Orbit.
[Via Satellite – 09/10/2014]

Space Syustems/Loral selected to provide a communications satellite for Bulgaria Sat.
[Balkans Business News – 09/09/2014]

Ghosts of satellite constellations from the past? Flurry of announcements and projects under the radar hitting fever pitch.
[NSR – 09/08/2014]

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation gets a new contract to deliver the Es’hail 2 communications satellite to operator Qatar Satellite Company (Es’hailSat) in Doha.
[SatNews – 09/08/2014]

Bulgaria’s first satellite to be built by Loral and launched by SpaceX, with financing by the Export-Import Bank.
[Spaceflight Now – 09/08/2014]

Satellite Operations

NIGCOMSAT leases out DTH platform to PPTV.
[Vanguard – 096/10/2014]

Satellite Technology

Lockheed Martin unveils reprogrammable A2100 satellite bus with dual launch capability.
[Via Satellite – 09/09/2014]

Ground Systems Technology

Kratos brings Big Data analysis to satellite operations for Es’hailSat to better manage service levels and optimize satellite operations.
[CNN Money – 09/11/2014]

Avanti demos Google Glassware satellite application that optimizes Ka-band field site installation process at IBC.
[Market Watch – 09/11/2014]

Cobham SATCOM launches latest innovation in EXPLORER satellite terminal range, with new, compact design and focus on wireless connectivity, at IBC 2014.
[SatNews – 09/11/2014]

MaxLinear to showcase 4K satellite Full-Spectrum Capture technology at IBC.
[TMCnet – 09/11/2014]

C-COM mobile antenna receives Eutelsat type approval for NewsSpotter newsgathering service.
[Market Wired – 09/11/2014]

Newtec first to deliver full DVB-S2X solution across entire product line, showcased at IBC.
[realwire – 09/10/2014]

C-COM is exhibiting its next generation Eutelsat approved antennas at IBC in Amsterdam.
[Market Wired – 09/09/2014]

Spacepath Communications, a new company behind family of high power outdoor amplifiers, debuts at IBC.
[SatNews – 09/09/2014]

Satellite earth station antenna options work to mitigate Ka-band losses due to weather effects.
[Satmagazine article]

Government, Military & Defense

TeleCommunication Systems awarded $13.7 million to supply managed satellite services to the U.S. Marine Corps.
[Market Watch – 09/11/2014]

Intelsat General extends contract with DRS Technologies to provide satellite capacity to forces in Afghanistan.
[Space Daily – 09/10/2014]

SES is awarded contract to provide satellite capacity to support the Army Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T).
[Business Wire – 09/09/2014]

ViaSat and Data Link Solutions win multimillion dollar military contracts.
[Via Satellite – 09/09/2014]

Regulatory

Export-Import bank’s approval of $4.8 billion in satellite deals since 2002 – almost all of that in the last three years – complicates its fight for survival.
[Reuters – 09/09/2014]

Aeronautical

ORBIT Communication Systems receives order to supply its comprehensive airborene satellite communications solution to a leading UAV manufacturer.
[SatNews – 09/11/2014]

Broadband

Timor Telecom goes live on O3b Network’s “Fiber in the Sky” satellite network.
[Via Satellite – 09/08/2014]

Maritime

SpeedCast selected by Jan De Nul Group for satellite communications for fleet of offshore & dredging vessels.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/09/2014]

Video

CinecolorSat chooses satellite receiver equipment from International Datacasting to support expansion of their digital cinema distribution network across Latin America.
[PRWeb – 09/11/2014]

Eutelsat, in partnership with MStar Semiconductor, Aston and Quadrille Ingénierie, are working together to validate push Video-On-Demand (VOD) using the Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) 2.0 standard.
[Via Satellite – 09/09/2014]

IDC ‘s TITAN 3 high definition contribution encoder selected for deployment in Latin America by Grimsat.
[Market Watch – 09/08/2014]

Space

Strong solar flare headed toward Earth but scientists say its worst effects will likely bypass the planet when it arrives this weekend.
[Time Magazine – 09/11/2014]

Understanding how objects in space spin and where centers of mass are crucial to potential space missions to clean up space debris.
[R&D Magazine – 09/10/2014]

Legal

ViaSat settles claim against Loral Space & Communications.
[Bloomberg – 09/07/2014]

Capacity Agreements

Amos 6 to broadcast Ukraine’s 1+1 Media’s entire network.
[Via Satellite – 09/11/2014]

Services Contracts

Kacific  signs agreement with International Telecommunication Union for development of satellite communications capacity and emergency communications solutions for the Pacific region.
[Voxy – 09/08/2014]

Market Strategy & Revenues

Hispasat signs new international teleports and expends broadcasting services over its orbital position at 30 degrees west.
[Via Satellite – 09/11/2014]

Inmarsat signs Rockwell Collins as Value Added Reseller for Global Xpress.
[Via Satellite – 09/10/2014]

Senior executives from space programs across the world discuss ambitious satellite projects in key emerging markets during Euroconsult’s World Satellite Business Week in Paris.
[Via Satellite – 09/08/2014]

Russian DTH operators are unsure about the prospects of satellite broadband in Russian, and are unlikely to get involved in the market.
[Via Satellite – 09/08/2014]

NSSLGlobal announces merger with the ESL group of companies, a satellite solution provider and system integrator.
[Via Satellite – 09/08/2014]

The Human Aspect

Malaysian Defence Ministry dismisses as “absolute gossip” reports that Malaysian Navy was secretly deployed to location close to Langkawi Island to retrieve Flight 370 debris and bodies.
[International Business Times – 09/07/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Technical Proposals	System Acceptance Testing
Link Analysis	System Quality Testing
Systems Engineering	Project Management
Systems Integration	Satellite Industry Research

360-895-0478   email:  [email protected]

Featured Article

U.S. Air Force selects SSL for hosted payload services.
[Via Satellite – 09/05/2014]

Industry Reports

Research and Markets announces addition of the “Analysis of the Global Satellite Transponder Market” to their offering, seeing continued solid adoption 2014 – 2020.
[TMCnet – 09/05/2014]

New Markets and Markets report projects M2M satellite communications market to be worth $4.76 billion by 2019.
[TMCnet – 09/04/2014]

Keysight Technologies complementary webcast series keeps interested parties cognizant of satellite communications technologies and solutions.
[SatNews – 09/04/2014]

Euroconsult’s “Satellite Communications & Broadcasting Markets Survey.Forecasts to 2023,” reports 2013 FSS revenue growth of 2.2%, a significant slowdown, but sector is in investment phase and expected to rebound.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 09/04/2014]

Satellite Executive Briefing magazine, September issue, includes “The Changing Economics of Satellite Communications by Jan Grandrup-Vivanco, “Silicon Valley Investing in the Satellite Industry” by Elisabeth Tweedle, “Outsourcing Content Management” by Virgil Labrador, and “Disruption of the ‘GoodEnough’” by Lou Zacharilla.
[Satellite Markets & Research – September 2014]

MarketBrief report on Evolving VSAT Requirements examines changing VSAT network requirements in vertical markets such as Oil and Gas, Mining, Power Utilities, Government, and others.
[Satellite Markets & Research – September 2014]

Updated NSR study provides a comprehensive market analysis of the three major methods of UltraHD consumption via satellite — DTH, IPTV and Cable Distribution.
[NSR Reports – August 2014]

NSR’s Global Satellite Capacity Supply and Demand, 11th Edition (GSCSD11) is a comprehensive analysis of the commercial satellite capacity market.
[NSR Reports – July 2014]

Industry Groups, Trade Shows

SATCON 2014 to feature sessions led by technical experts and influential business leaders highlighting most recent developments in the satellite communications industry, November 12–13, 2014.
[SatNews – 09/05/2014]

Emerging Markets Communications to exhibit at SMM Hamburg Maritime Tradeshow in Germany September 9-12, 2014.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/04/2014]

RRsat CEO to participate in Euroconsult panel on future of TV distribution.
[Market Wired – 09/04/2014]

EUsatcom puts new generation satellite broadcasting in the spotlight at IBC2014 with Conference on High-Thoughput Satellite Broadcasting and Innovation Awards show.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 09/03/2014]

Launch Activity

SpaceX launch of AsiaSat 6 moved to Sunday, September 7.
[Florida Today – 09/04/2014]

China uses single rocket to launch two satellites, to relay environmental information and experiment with multimedia satellite communication.
[The Telegraph – 09/04/2014]

Roscosmos announces return of Proton rocket, with launch scheduled for September 28, 2014 of payload known as “Ray.”
[Via Satellite – 09/04/2014]

NanoRacks studies an anomaly that occurred with its CubeSat deployers on the International Space Station, which have ceased to deploy CubeSats when commanded.
[Via Satellite – 09/04/2014]

Vladimir Putin pledges 50 billion rubles ($1.3 billion) to complete Vostochny Cosmodrome in anticipation of 2014 first flight.
[Space News – 09/03/2014]

Argentina’s space agency completes second experimental flight of the Tronador 2 launch vehicle, with VEX 1B rocket reaching 2,200 meter height.
[Via Satellite – 08/29/2014]

Satellite Construction

EchoStar and SES choose Airbus Defense and Space to build the EchoStar 105/SES 11 satellite, which will replace AMC15.
[edu Bourse – 09/04/2014]

GeoMetWatch is re-evaluating original plan to orbit six geo-hyperspectral sounders as hosted payloads.
[Via Satellite – 08/29/2014]

Satellite Operations

United Kingdom Space Agency commands the UKube-1 CubeSat to use alternate configuration of “FUNcube-2 transceiver” as the satellite’s temporary downlink.
[eHam.net – 09/04/2014]

New DigitalGlobe WorldView 3 satellite can see the forest fire through the smoke.
[Nextgov – 09/03/2014]

O3b declares constellation fully operational following completion of in-orbit testing of latest 4 satellites, bringing its current constellation to 8 with 4 more to be launched in early 2015.
[Via Satellite – 09/02/2014]

Satellite Technology

Though Boeing struck first, Airbus has lead in booking commercial all-electric satellite orders.
[Space News – 09/03/2014]

Kongsberg Norspace of Norway books first two orders, for SES-10 construction, for command receivers with flexibility allowing more leeway to control use of satellite broadcast frequencies.
[Space News – 09/03/2014

Ground Systems Technology

NovelSat announces new solution that will allow DTH TV providers to offer more channels using existing satellite bandwidth.
[Via Satellite – 09/05/2014]

AvL technologies antenna receives Eutelsat KA-SAT type approval.
[Via Satellite – 09/05/2014]

Wavestore and Datasat partnership ensures remote viewing of HD video via satellite for security applications.
[Source Security – 09/02/2014]

GRC SandFly Ka-band flyaway system endorsed for use on Avanti Communications fleet of Ka-band satellites.
[TMCnet – 09/01/2014]

Government, Military & Defense

DARPA issues RFI for robotic in-orbit satellite servicing, and seeks to learn the technical characteristics of commercial spacecraft buses that may integrate with DARPA’s robotic technology.
[Via Satellite – 09/04/2014]

U.S. Air Force plans to release formal solicitation in December for potential $1 billion contract to consolidate work on the service’s main satellite control network.
[Space News – 09/04/2014]

U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center MILSATCOM Program Office to seek enhanced ground based X-band anti-jam capability for WGS constellation.
[C4ISR & Networks – 09/03/2014]

U.S. Air Force tasks Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory to design and build a small pace surveillance satellite to monitor satellite traffic in geosynchronous orbit.
[Spaceflight Now – 09/03/2014]

Watts Constructors LLC of Honolulu, Hawaii is awarded $38.9 million contract to build a satellite earth station facility in San Miguel, California for the U.S. Army.
[AFCEA – 09/03/2014]

Kapooka Army Recruit Training Centre near Wagga, Australia to host satellite antennas to support new WGS satellite communications system.
[Daily Advertiser – 09/03/2014]

U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center awards $29 million contract modification and exercises extension option for LinQuest system engineering and integration support services.
Signal online – 09/03/2014]

Regulatory

Iridium application for provision of mobile satellite communications in Global Maritime Distress and Safety System reviewed and approved.
[4-traders – 09/01/2014]

Broadband

Globalstar releases the 9600, the world’s smallest satellite data hotspot, seamlessly pairing a satellite phone with a smart phone with an app.
[BlogZone – 09/04/2014]

iNet Communications selects Newtec to provide fastest ever satellite broadband service in Guyana.
[RealWire – 09/02/2014]

Maritime

MTN increases staff and office space to accommodate its expanding maritime business.
[Via Satellite – 09/03/2014]

Orange Business Services wins strategic satellite communications contract with BW Offshore.
[Market Watch – 09/02/2014]

Legal

SpaceX disputes Blue Origin over sea-landing rocket technology, arguing that technology called specialized should not be considered so.
[Via Satellite – 09/03/2014]

Capacity Agreements

iNet Communications, the licensed telecoms provider for Global Technology in Guyana, has entered an agreement with Eutelsat for its IP Easy satellite broadband service.
[Via Satellite – 09/02/2014]

Onlime expands capacity on AFRICASAT-1a.
[PR Newswire – 09/01/2014]

Market Strategy & Revenues

Airbus Defence and Space is expanding services in Australia and the Pacific region in partnership with SES, utilizing NSS-12..
[SatNews – 09/04/2014]

Global Eagle is looking heavily outside the U.S. at opportunities for new in-Flight Connectivity customers.
[Via Satellite – 09/04/2014]

Three Google employees with deep satellite communications expertise leave – Greg Wyler, formerly of O3b, Brian Holz, and David Bettinger – leaving questions about Google satellite project.
[Silicon Beat – 09/03/2014]

WorldVu, a satellite startup aiming to provide global Internet connectivity, continues to grow absent clear Google relationship.
[Space News – 09/03/2014]

C-COM announces partnership with leading European Satcom technology company Newtec, integrating iNetVu antenna technology with MDM300 IP modem series.
[Market Wired – 09/03/2014]

SES awards Commetric a multi-year contract to deliver media analysis and evaluation in local languages across multiple markets.
[SatNews – 09/03/2014]

Latin American satellite solutions provider Axesat is looking into cellular backhaul as its next major vertical.
[Via Satellite – 09/02/2014]

Erwin Kayser-Threde, located in Munich, Germany has merged with OHB System AG in Bremen, Germany.
[Via Satellite – 09/02/2014]

Panama is one of the first countries in Latin America where Inmarsat’s IsatHub connectivity service will be offered.
[Via Satellite – 09/02/2014]

Human Interest

French imaging satellites keep tabs on Ukraine crisis.
[Space News – 09/04/2014]

Skyvision donates satellite connectivity to support students of Ghana’s Crossover International Academy.
[SpyGhana – 09/03/2014]

Greg Wyler leaves Google and reportedly will work with SpaceX, though not as an employee.
[Silicon Republic – 09/03/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Nice vine from Reid Wiseman. Here’s the full version…