Archive for the ‘NASA’ Category

Road Trip: Kepler 452b

Friday, July 24th, 2015

NASA’s timed announcement yesterday got quite the bump from social media. It’s only one of 1,030 exoplanets, so let’s not get too excited.

NASA’s Kepler mission has confirmed the first near-Earth-size planet in the “habitable zone” around a sun-like star. This discovery and the introduction of 11 other new small habitable zone candidate planets mark another milestone in the journey to finding another “Earth.”

The newly discovered Kepler-452b is the smallest planet to date discovered orbiting in the habitable zone — the area around a star where liquid water could pool on the surface of an orbiting planet — of a G2-type star, like our sun. The confirmation of Kepler-452b brings the total number of confirmed planets to 1,030.

“On the 20th anniversary year of the discovery that proved other suns host planets, the Kepler exoplanet explorer has discovered a planet and star which most closely resemble the Earth and our Sun,” said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at the agency’s headquarters in Washington. “This exciting result brings us one step closer to finding an Earth 2.0.”

It’s also worth noting this planet is 1,400 light years away. Pluto, for comparison, is 4 light hours away. That’s why it took 4+ hours to send commands to the New Horizons spacecraft. So if we send a signal to Kepler 452b, it would take 1,400 years to get there.

To get to Kepler 452b at the same rate it took New Horizons to get to Pluto (10 years), it would take us approximately 30 million years. Ain’t nobody got time for that! The only way we could make this kind of trip is to be able to “fold space” or change dimensions. Heim Quantum Theory may help us get there by changing dimensions. Fascinating.

Two Launches in One Day!

Thursday, July 16th, 2015

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.


11+ Years of Mars Roving in 8 Minutes

Wednesday, July 8th, 2015

Brilliant time-lapse video covering NASA’s Mars Opportunity Rover’s 26-mile trip over the last 11 years.


Putin: “I Fucking Hate Science”

Thursday, May 21st, 2015

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.


A Message to Space

Wednesday, April 15th, 2015

This is absolutely brilliant.

An astronaut’s daughter sends her father a message — physically, in writing — while he’s orbiting in the ISS.

It’s emotional, social and very cool. Good marketing on Hyundai’s part, too.

Hyundai made a little girl’s wish come true for the whole world to see.
A team of eleven Genesis cars united to create “the largest tire track image” on the Delamar Dry Lake in the Nevada desert, United States. (Image size : 5.55 sq. km.) This extraordinary message has made it to the Guinness World Records® 2015.

I hope they sell a bunch of cars to rocket scientists!


Orion EFT-1 Launch

Saturday, December 6th, 2014


Big Boom on Wallops

Tuesday, October 28th, 2014

This sucks. Critical failure for NASA tonight.

The statement from Orbital

Orbital Sciences Corporation confirms that today’s Antares rocket launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility was not successful. Shortly after lift-off from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad 0A at 6:22 p.m. (EDT), the vehicle suffered a catastrophic failure. According to NASA’s emergency operations officials, there were no casualties and property damage was limited to the south end of Wallops Island. Orbital has formed an anomaly investigation board, which will work in close coordination with all appropriate government agencies, to determine the cause of today’s mishap.

Is not nearly as creative and thoughtful as the one from William Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator of NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Directorate

Orbital has demonstrated extraordinary capabilities in its first two missions to the station earlier this year, and we know they can replicate that success. Launching rockets is an incredibly difficult undertaking, and we learn from each success and each setback. Today’s launch attempt will not deter us from our work to expand our already successful capability to launch cargo from American shores to the International Space Station.


WBMSAT News Bits 10/10/2014

Monday, October 13th, 2014

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]

Tourists find it difficult to visit the Baikonur Cosmodrome to see a Soyuz launch- Space News

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

JAXA’s Himawari 8 satellite on its way to orbit. Photo: JAXA. – Via Satellite

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]

Artist’s rendition of ArSat-1 – NASA Spaceflight

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]

Image: Journal of Micrelectromechanical Systems/colorized by MIT News – R&D Magazine

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]

Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Amber Whittington – Space News

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

AP Photo/NASA, JPL-Caltech, Univ. of Michigan – R&D Magazine

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]

SpaceX Dragon 2 (left) and Boeing CST-100 capsules. Credit: SpaceX artist’s concept and Boeing artist’s concept – Space News

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

Mars Curiosity rover – Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS image – Space News

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

Cygnus cargo tug foundation for an Exploration Augmentation Module? Credit: NASA – Space News

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]

Downtown Seattle. Credit: Photo by Daniel Schwen courtesy of Wikimedia Commons – Space News

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]

Artist’s concept of the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM). Image Credit: Bigelow Aerospace – Via Satellite

“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

WBMSAT News Bits 10/03/2014

Monday, October 6th, 2014

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]

Indians watch launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C23). (Arun Sankar K./Associated Press) – CBC

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]

A Proton-M rocket. Photo: Khrunichev – Via Satellite

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

China’s Long March-2C carrier rocket launch. Photo: Xinhua. – Via Satellite

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

© ITAR-TASS/Sergei Kazak

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

Some 160 cubesats were launched between 2003 and 2013. Credit: NASA photo – Space News

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]

Syracuse 3A satellite – Thales Alenia artist’s concept – Space News

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]

Artist’s rendition of Yahclick. Photo YahSat – Via Satellite

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]

Trace Gas Orbiter and entry, descent and landing module – Credit: ESA artist’s concept – Space News

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

Malaysiakini file photo

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

WBMSAT News Bits 09/26/2014

Friday, September 26th, 2014

Featured Article

Credit: Smyrna Air Center graphic – Space News

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

Proton rocket on its way to set up for launch. Photo: Khrunichev. – Via Satellite

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

Europe’s Guiana Space Center. Credit: ESA photo – Space News

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

Atlas V launch vehicle carrying the NROL 67 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. Photo: ULA – Via Satellite

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

An MDA ground station. Photo: MDA – An MDA ground station. Photo: MDA – Via Satellite

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]

First Canadian military satellite to keep watch on space junk – MDA – CBC News.

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

Boeing’s CST 100 – Credit: Boeing artist’s concept – Space News

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

Experimental Spaceplane XS-1 – Credit: DARPA artist’s concept – Space News

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]

Dream Chaser – Credit: SNC artist’s concept – Space News

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]

SSTL’s Geostationary Minisatellite Platform (GMP) – Credit: SSTL artist’s concept – Space News

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]

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