Really Rocket Science

Financing no longer expected to be an issue for U.S. satellite exporters as Export-Import Bank plans to maintain aggressive satellite financing position. [Space News – 03/22/2013]

Arianespace announces contract to launch three satellites for Intelsat S.A. [Space Daily – 03/22/2013]

Orbit Communications systems launches new VSAT product line for the maritime market called OceanTRx. [Satellite Spotlight – 03/22/2013]

Intelsat S.A. gets multi-year extension agreement with ART/International Network Distribution of Lebanon for capacity on Intelsat 21 and Intelsat 805, [SatNews – 03/22/2013]

Estonia’s student cubesat satellite is ready for the next Vega launch. [Space Travel – 03/22/2013]

PolarSat receives order for VSATPlus3 from Guangdong Dapeng LNG Company of China to be used for real time SCADA, voice, and corporate services. [SatNews – 03/22/20103]

U.S. Air Force launches second satellite for SBIRS, GEO-2, from Vandenberg AFB. [Satellite Today – 03/21/2013]

High-Throughput dominates Satellite 2013 discussion as NovelSat CEO predicts demand for international satellite bandwidth services will have increased 2,000% in a 10-year timespan between 2002 and 2020. [Satellite Today – 03/21/2013]

Yahsat system is certified for use with the U.S. Air Force’s Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) – WGS terminals will be interoperable with Yahsat’s Ka-band military satellite frequencies. [Space News – 03/21/2013]

Echostar subsidiary Hughes Network Systems announces that it has selected Space Systems/Loral to build the world’s highest capacity broadband satellite, JUPITER2/EchoStar XIX, with over 150 Gbps throughput. [SatNews – 03/21/2013]

ViaSat executive says the company’s refusal to decide on a builder for its ViaSat-2 Ka-band satellite has nothing to do with its lawsuit against Space Systems Loral. [Space News – 03/21/2013]

Sea Launch and EchoStar reach preliminary agreement for launch services in 2015. [Space Travel – 03/21/2013]

Astrium Services expects to partner with MDA on Earth Observation satellite network. [Space News – 03/21/2013]

Apollo-era rocket engine parts are recovered from beyond 3 miles deep in the Atlantic by an expedition funded by Rick Bezos of Amazon. [R&D Magazine – 03/21/2013]

SES reach in 2012, driven by strong gains in India and Germany, extends to 276 million TV homes worldwide. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/21/2013]

ESA’s Planck satellite telescope data used to map the Universe’s most ancient light. [BBC – 03/21/2013]

Space Exploration Technologies’ Merlin 1D engine achieves flight qualification and is now fully qualified to fly on the Falcon 9 rocket. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/21/20103]

Mitsubishi Electric completes expansion of satellite production facility at its Kamakura Works in Kamakura, Japan. [Daily Herald – 03/21/2013]

Armarda Group subsidiary China Mobile Satellite Communications Group (CMSCG) and Thuraya Telecommunications announce distributorship arrangement with China Telecom Satellite (CTS) for the Thuraya SatSleeve, a module that transforms an iPhone into a dual mode satellite phone. [The Business Times – 03/21/2013]

C-COM Satellite Systems introduces new generation of Ka-band flyaway antennas at Satellite 2013. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/21/2013]

SingTel’s ConnectPortal allows shore side professionals to have total control over their shipboard crews’ internet usage by implementing a flexi-time allowance. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/21/2013]

Spacecom adds eighth DTH platform on AMOS-5 over Nigeria. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/21/2013]

Signalhorn has completed the rollout of over 400 point of sale (PoS) sites which service a global fuel retailer’s South African network. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/21/2013]

Free ESA iPhone app allows quadcopter owners to attempt simulated dockings with International Space Station while flying their drones for real. [Space Daily – 03/21/2013]

Voyager 1 leaves our solar systems after traveling 11 billion miles. [R&D Magazine – 03/20/2013]

Radio Frequency Interference-End Users Initiative and Global VSAT Forum collaborate, with support and commitment from World Broadcasting Unions – International Satellite Operations Group, to launch training of satellite newsgathering operators to reduce interference. [SatNews – 03/20/2013]

NSR report grades the financial performance of the big four satellite operators. [SatNews – 03/20/20013]

Newtec wins WTA Teleport Technology of the Year award, presented at WTA luncheon at Satellite 2013. [Newtec Press Release – 03/19/2013]

Launch Services Panel at Satellite 2013 recognizes common challenges while examining cooperative approch to increase business and profitability for the sector. [Satellite Today – 03/20/2013]

Kratos introduces new SATCOM Cybersecurity Assessment service addressing increasing threats and unique requirements of the satellite industry. [Satellite Spotlight – 03/19/2013]

Chinese collaboration with neighbouring countries’ space-related programmes sparks off a fresh scare in India’s national security establishment. [The Economic Times – 03/19/2013]

Nupoint Systems selects Globalstar Data Services for M2M satellite connectivity. [Daily Herald – 03/18/2013]

 WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

I reckon ULA had something to show in their booth at Satellite 2013.

That show hasn’t had anything exciting for years. In fact, their site still has videos from 2012. Ironically, their slogan is “Bridging the Gap between Today and Tomorrow.”

Close your eyes, imagine you’re living in 2003 again. Now, open them and look at the conference program. Feels like 10 years ago, huh?

Your gap is off.

It was bound to happen, sooner or later. One of the thousands of pieces of debris from the Chinese missile test from 2007 in LEO dabbed the Russian Ball Lens In The Space (BLITS) and threw it off…

The apparent destruction of a small Russian satellite six weeks ago highlights the growing threat space junk poses to activities in low-Earth orbit, experts say.

The satellite and space junk crash involved Russia’s Ball Lens In The Space nanosatellite, or BLITS, which likely collided on Jan. 22 with a piece of orbital debris spawned by a 2007 Chinese anti-satellite test, SPACE.com reported on March 8. The event adds another name to the list of spacecraft that have had run-ins with space junk.

Italy blocks completion of controversial U.S. military satellite station in Sicily pending results of a health and environmental study. [Space News – 03/15/2013]

NASA’s first laser-based space communications system, for the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft, has been integrated into the spacecraft and is ready for launch. [R&D Magazine – 03/15/2013]

Swiss company announces plans to develop reusable air-launched suborbital vehicle to launch small satellites into orbit for around $10 million per launch. [Space News – 03/15/2013]

Newest U.S. missile warning satellite encapsulated into payload fairing for March 19 launch from Cape Canaveral. [Space Daily – 03/15/2013]

Preparations for the second Vega launch from French Guiana are underway, with VNREDSat-1A and Proba-V undergoing initial checkout. [SatNews – 03/15/2013]

Idaho Department of Water Resources eagerly awaiting data from recently launched Landsat 8 for use in developing hydrologic models and reaching legal decisions on water rights. [SatNews – 03/15/2013]

ESA and Roscosmos sign ExoMars deal after NASA bows out mainly due to funding restrictions. [NASA Spaceflight – 03/14/2013]

ResearchMoz report on Global Military Satellites Market provides detailed analysis of the current industry size and growth expectations from 2012 – 2022, including key growth stimulators. [Satellite Spotlight – 03/14/2013]

Reinventing Space – dramatically reducing space mission cost for traditional large spacecraft missions. [Space News – 03/14/2013]

ViviSat opens ATK Robotic Rendezvous and Proximity (RPO) testing facility to its clients for tours of the facility during Satellite 2013. [SatNews – 03/14/2013]

Prodea Systems, Inc. Residential Operating System, a comprehensive distributed cloud-based platform, has been integrated into satellite hybrid set-top boxes destined for My-HD subscribers across Middle East and North Africa. [equities.com – 03/14/2013]

Gilat to introduce new revenue-enhancing satellite broadband solutions at Satellite 2013. [4-traders – 03/14/2013]

Telenor Satellite Broadcasting signs agreement with Neterra, a new direct-to-home shared platform that offers pay-tv services in Bulgaria. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/14/2013]

Editors of Satellite Today and Via Satellite publish “2012 Satellite Industry Financial Breakdown.” summarizing satellite industry’s top companies’ financial performance in 2012 and forecasting expectations for 2013. [Satellite Today – 03/14/2013]

Foxcomm will mark 20 years of serving the Satcom industry at Satellite 2013. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/14/2013]

Glowlink introduces GS380, a breakthrough product dramatically improving performance and effectiveness of satellite interference geolocation systems. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/13/2013]

Harris CapRock expands collaboration with O3b to deliver advance communications solution for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd cruise ships Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas. [SatNews – 03/13/2013]

Thuraya, in partnership with Rory Peck Trust, sponsors freelance journalist with the IP+ satellite terminal. [Yahoo! Finance – 03/13/2013]

Newtec’s latest broadband equipment helps expand SES Ka-band Broadband Services offering. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/13/2013]

Service provider IsNet successfully deploys satellite-based backup network for a major Oil and Gas company in Turkey employing PolarSat system. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/13/2013]

The fifth WGS satellite for the Air Force, WGS-5, arrives at Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida, from where it will be transported to Cape Canaveral for launch. [Los Angeles Air Force Base News – 03/12/2013]

ITC Global agrees to acquire NewSat, expanding its position in worldwide energy markets. [Yahoo! Finance – 03/12/2013]

Eutelsat and OneAccess develop first performance-enhanced platform for businesses designed to deliver services on Eutelsat’s KA-SAT Hight Throughput Satellite in a secure VPN environment. [msn MONEY – 03/12/2013]

Talia and Newtec provide new satellite communications backbone infrastructure for AGSM.MOBI in Somalia. [Satellite Spotlight – 03/12/2013]

Sumitomo of Japan will use ORBCOMM’s global satellite communications network to track and monitor the location, status and performance of their equipment anywhere in the world. [Yahoo! Finance – 03/12/2013]

DigitalGlobe contracts MDA to build a satellite ground station which it will use ton enable access to imagery and data from the WorldView satellites for an unnamed international customer. [Satellite Today – 03/12/2013]

Active Russian satellite collides with what is thought to be remnants of a destroyed Chinese satellite. [Satellite Today – 03/11/2013]

Satellites built by Orbital Sciences Corporation exceed 1,000 years of cumulative in-orbit operational experience. [Stockhouse – 03/11/2013]

GE Aviation to provide inertial reference units for Boeing’s wideband phased array satellite communications systems for airborne mobile communications. [Satellite Spotlight – 03/11/2013]

C-band use again to take stage at World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07), with satellite operators challenging use of C-band by mobile operators. [International Telecommuinication Union – ITU News Magazine]

Satellite communications enable government agencies, emergency response, and military organizations to maintain continuity of operations during and after an event when network outages can be life threatening. [MILSAT Magazine – March 2013 edition}

NSR Energy Markets via Satellite report adds coverage into the mining and utilities verticals, in the midst of a bandwidth revolution that may affect satellite companies over the next decade. [NSR – March 2013]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Satellite Interference Reduction Group announces approval of the DVB Carrier ID specification which will now be submitted to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute for formal standardization. [SatNews – 03/08/2013]

SES signs contract with BT to provide satellite communications services for the Galileo Data Dissemination Network (GDDN) to support the Galileo Operator Spaceopal. [equities.com – 03/08/2013]

TCS gets $16 million in incremental funding to provide Deployed Engineering Services to the U.S. Marine Corp for its Wireless Point to Point Link systems. [msn MONEY – 03/08/2013]

Glowlink to unveil a technology that can remove interferences from broadband communications signals, including those occurring in satellite communications, at Satellite 2013. [SatNews – 03/07/2013]

China’s fourth launch center, located on tropical island of Hainan, to be ready for space launches in two years. [Space Daily – 03/07/2013]

Harris is awarded contract to study and make recommendations to help modernize the U.S. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. [SatNews – 03/07/2013]

U.S. Air Force unit’s mission is to defend and protect operability of the Air Force’s communications satellites, combating intentional and accidently jamming. [U.S.A.F. – 03/07/2013]

New NSR report examines the launch services industry in midst of environment that has raised questions about launch services reliability. [SatNews – 03/07/2013]

Russian GLONASS orbital navigation group is again at full strength. [GPS Daily – 03/07/2013]

China targeting global coverage for its BeiDou navigation system by 2020. [GPS Daily – 03/07/2013]

ViaSat HTS ViaSat-1, the Ka-band satellite used for Exede Internet, earns Guinness World Records title as highest-capacity satellite in the world – 100 times typical Ku-band satellite and 10 times any Ka-band satellite. [SatNews – 03/07/2013]

U.S. House of Representatives approves legislation funding next generation of NOAA weather satellites. [SatNews – 03/07/2013]

MacDonald Dettwiler stock has room to rise as it taps U.S. government satellite market through its Space Systems/Loral acquisition. [Bloomberg Businessweek – 03/07/2013]

Spacenet’s new ECSConnectTM solution offers affordable emergency broadband communications and eliminates upfront capital expenditure. [Satellite Spotlight – 03/07/2013]

Inmarsat and Kymeta sign agreement to develop revolutionary satellite antenna to enable business jets of any size to access high-speed broadband connectivity globally. {Satellite Evolution Group – 03/07/2013]

Indian Space Research Organisation plans construction of high-resolution remote sensing Earth satellite, Cartosat-3, capable of 0.25 metre resolution. [Space News – 03/06/22013}

Inmarsat certifies Boeing to provide 3G, Voice over IP, streaming video, direct dialing, secure communications, and other capabilities through Inmarsat-4 L-band service. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/07/2013]

Thuraya signs Service Partner agreement with Pivotel Group Pty Limited of Australia, enabling licensed mobile carrier Pivotel to provide Thuraya’s products and services across Australia and Southern Asia. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/07/2013]

News Corporation announces that its News Limited subsidiary will divest its 44% stake in SKY Network Television Limited of New Zealand. [SatNews – 03/07/2013]

EM Solutions delivers two Australian-made Ka-Band ‘Satellite on the Move’ systems to partner Jepico Corporation in Japan. [WBMSAT Press Releases – 03/06/2013]

ITC Global signs a long term agreement to provide Kinross Gold Corporation with a comprehensive satellite communications network and bandwidth service for its mining sites in Russia. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/06/2013]

ViaSat demonstrates high-performance Ka-band satellite communication system providing sustained data rates of 4Mbps from helicopter to ground station and 8 Mbps from ground station to helicopter. [SatNews – 03/06/2013]

Eutelsat and Alterie Telecom complete renewal of three long-term satellite capacity contracts on EUTELSAT 5. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/06/2013]

Romantis releases new software for UHP VSAT platform. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/06/2013]

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited signs agreement with Glavkosmos/NPO Lavotchkin for the launch of the UK technology demonstration mission TechDemoSat-1 in Q3 of 2013. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/05/2013]

SpaceX flight controllers succeed in recovery of Dragon, getting it to the International Space Station a day late. [R&D Magazine – 03/04/2013]

 WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

SpaceX Dragon is on the way to the International Space Station again; the third launch within a year, carrying fresh fruit, clothing, computer parts and other gear, and seeds, mouse stem cells, and protein crystals for research. [R&D Magazine – 03/01/2013]

SpaceX Dragon suffers anomaly after reaching orbit; Twitter accounts inferred thruster problems prevented solar array deployment – company says arrays have now been deployed, and it is working on thruster problem. [Space Travel – 03/01/2013]

Globalstar announces successful fourth launch of six second-generation satellites. [Space Daily – 03/01/2013]

Intelsat expects to replace Intelsat 27 with insurance money and have some left over to pay down debt. [Space News – 03/01/2013]

Quantum Physics may be used for secure satellite links as teams around the world pursue the idea of a quantum satellite. [SatNews – 03/01/2013]

Iridium asks for investor patience, projecting 10% growth from 2013 through 2015. [Space News – 03/01/2013]

Glowlink to unveil break-through products and technology designed to prevent, detect, locate, and remove satellite interferences, at Satellite 2013. [SatNews – 03/01/2013]

China plans manned space craft launch that will dock with the country’s orbiting space laboratory. [Space Daily – 02/28/2013]

Eutelsat and Deutsche Telekom reach final settlement to dispute regarding duration of Eutelsat’s right to use German filing at 28.5° [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/28/2013]

Vietnam expects to launch its third satellite, VNREDSat-1A, during the second quarter of 2013. [SatNews – 02/28/2013]

European Commission proposes new programme to help EU Member States combine their space surveillance capacities and offer services to locate and monitor dangerous space debris, alerting satellite operators of collision risks. [European Commission Enterprise and Industry News – 02/28/2013]

Thales Alenia Space signs agreement with ISS- Reshetnev Company creating a joint venture initially focused on production of equipment meeting the most demanding international standards for use on Russian telecommunication satellites. [SatNews – 02/28/2013]

Outerlink announces launch of first satellite IP push-to-talk solution for helicopter communications via multi-tiered platform Communique HUB. [Yahoo News – 02/28/2013]

GVF conference at Satellite 2013 premised on fact that the seas are an essential resource for industry, commerce, and leisure, rendering our ability to communicate effectively whilst on the ocean of paramount importance. [SatNews – 02/28/2013]

Advantech Wireless receives orders worth more than $2million for its high power, high linearity GaN based SSPA line, covering both C-band and Ku-band. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/28/2013]

Clear Channel Satellite announces deployment of the XtremeSat Media satellite broadcast distribution platform for contemporary Christian music radio station KSBJ. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/28/2013]

Newtec is selected by California-based X2nSat to provide equipment for a new B2B broadband and SCADA service aiming to offer reliable and fast connectivity for enterprise and government markets. [Satellite Today – 02/27/2013]

TS2 expands Internet Access in Afghanistan utilizing Avanti’s HYLAS 2 Ka-band satellite. [Yahoo Finance – 02/27/2013]

Gilat Satcom announces new deal with pan-African Internet service provider and mobile WiMAX carrier to deliver broadband services throughout Mozambique. [Satellite Today – 02/26/2013]

Flightcell will present “the world’s smallest, lightest, and smartest satellite communication and tracking system, DZMx,” at the March 2013 HELI-EXPO. [rotor.com – 02/26/2013]

Maritime Broadband selects Revmar Dynamics as the full-service exclusive distributor of the company’s C-Bird VSAT in Greece and Cyprus. [Satellite Today – 02/26/2013]

Australian company EM Solutions launches North American and MENA presences marketing its broadband Ka-satcom RF equipment. [Press Release @ WBMSAT – 02/26/2013]

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launches the SARAL Indo-French satellite from its spaceport at Sriharikota. [Satellite Today – 02/25/2013]

Northrop Grumman Delivers first communications payload for U.S. Air Force’s Enhanced Polar System. [Satellite Spotlight – 02/25/2013]

NewSat announces it has secured all required funding for the Jabiru-1 satellite to be launched in 205. [Satellite Today – 02/25/2013]

U.S. Army upgrades terminal training suite for its advanced Secure Mobile Anti-Jam Reliable Tactical – Terminal (SMART-T). [AR News – 02/25/2013]

Gilat’s new SkyEdge 2-c Internet connectivity solution now includes Ka-band support. [Satellite Today – 02/25/2013]

MTN announces exclusive partnership with BATS to market Broadband Antenna Tracking and Stabilization system to the cruise, ferry and large yacht markets. [SAT PR – 02/25/2013]

New NSR report answers critical questions affecting the in-flight connectivity business. [NSR – April 2013 report]

“Limited Satellite Capacity in Asia-Pacific: Risk to our Warfighters” is the title of a free webinar scheduled for April 3rd, 2013, sponsored by Via Satellite and SES Government Solutions. [Satellite Today web site]

 WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

SES confirms Padraig McCarthy as new CFO and announces full-year financial results, missing desired 2012 earnings due to three-week delay in launching SES-5 satellite. [Satellite Today – 02/22/2013]

Russia asks Germany for permission to buy two x-band reconnaissance satellites from Astrium for use by Russia’s military. [SpaceNews – 02/22/2013]

ViaSat mobile Ka-band satellite antenna gets FAA and International certification. [PR Newswire – 02/22/2013]

YAHSAT to fit state-of-the-art satellite communications systems to complete fleet of UAE Navy Baynunah-class corvettes. [Satellite Spotlight – 02/22/2013]

skyDSL signs five-year multiple spotbeam capacity contract on Eutelsat’s KA-SAT, to step up broadband deployment across Europe. [SatNews – 02/22/2013]

International Space Station hosts research on effects of microgravity on disease-causing organisms. [Space Daily – 02/22/2013]

Global VSAT Forum announces extensive series of scheduled, public Hands On Skills Test (HOST) sessions worldwide for the Spring of 2013. [SatNews – 02/22/2013]

NASA calls for proposals to develop miniaturized electrospray propulsion technologies that could revolutionize small satellite propulsion systems. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/21/2013]

HispaSat’s Amazonas 3 begins in-orbit tests. [Satellite Today – 02/21/2013]

Telesat reports 2012 financial results, and notable achievements including refinancing of debt, bringing Nimiq 6 on line, and completion of construction of Anik G1 satellite. [SatNews – 02/21/2012]

After a year of significant investment, ViewSat plans to expand across global markets, including the middle East, Asia, Europe, and North America. [Satellite Today – 02/21/2013]

NSR to host free webinar “Where’s the demand in Military and Government SatCom” March 13 at 10:00 AM EDT. [SatNews – 02/21/2013]

ST Electronics announces commencement of design and development of the first made-in-Singapore commercial satellite. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/21/2013]

NASA report attributes failure of Glory spacecraft to reach orbit in March, 2011, to failure of the Taurus launch vehicle’s fairing system to open fully, due to unknown factors. [SatNews – 02/21/2013]

EchoStar reports modest increase in subscribers to its Hughes U.S. satellite broadband service in 2012, but remains confident that EchoStar 17/Jupiter Ka-band high-throughput satellite is being well received by market. [SpaceNews – 02/21/2013]

CommunicAsia2013 Summit and BroadcastAsia 2013 back in a new format, participating in two-part visionary address on June 19, 2013. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/21/2013]

Hispasat reports continued growth and profit increase in 2012. [SpaceNews – 02/21/2013]

Wireless Matrix extends satellite agreement with LightSquared. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/21/2013]

Astrium crew communications survey reveals growing number of seafarers see on board Wi-Fi connectivity as essential. [SatNews – 02/21/2013]

Following the Russian meteor explosion last week, the international scientific community renews its call for U.S. military satellite data to be made available, since the satellites also detect incoming meteoroids. [Satellite Today – 02/20/2013]

Brazil hosts part of the Russian Glonass satellite navigation system. [Satellite Today – 02/20/2013]

Lockheed Martin completes successful demonstration of remote control of Squad Mission Support System vehicle via satellite. [Azorobotics – 02/20/2013]

India prepares Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C20) for February 25th launch of 7 satellites, including the Indo-French satellite SARAL which will study sea surface heights.. [SatNews – 02/20/2013]

Satellite TV widens market share gap with cable in Germany. [Satellite Today – 02/20/2013]

RV5MONDE Afrique joins AMOS-5 French-language broadcast bouquet. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/20/2013]

Orbital Sciences executive expresses concern that tight budgets will limit U.S. government’s plan to move toward smaller satellites. [Satellite Today – 02/19/2013]

Azerbaijan’s first satellite, Azerspace/Africasat-1a, reaches final orbit and begins in-orbit testing. [Satellite Today – 02/19/2013]

Visiongain report estimates value of global military communications and COTS market at $17.46 billion in 2013. [Satellite Spotlight – 02/18/2013]

World Teleport Association rates Mexic0-based Elara Communicaciones as the second fastest growing teleport in 2012. [Satellite Today – 02/19/2013]

 WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Meteorite crash in Russia focuses news article on proposal by Deep Space Industries to establish several sentry lines encircling Earth with small spacecraft able to dart after intruders to get close-up photos and data. [SatNews – 02/15/2013]

Russia may suspend its lease of some facilities at the Baikonur space complex, allowing for joint operation of the space base by Russia and Kazakhstan. [R&D Magazine – 02/15/2013]

Gilat will provide satellite-base communications as the primary mode of connectivity for up to 30,000 ATM sites across India for Nelco and Bharti Airtel. [Satellite Spotlight – 02/15/2013]

NASA satellite image reveals evidence of the recent volcanic eruption on Indonesian island of Paluweh. [SatNews – 02/15/2013]

JPL research team finds way to control erosion of electric rocket engine walls by shaping engine’s magnetic field to shield the walls from ion bombardment. [Space Travel – 02/15/2013]

Society of Exploration Geophysicists article describes how two energy companies used satellite imagery to locate and attempt to unravel mystery surrounding British Royal Air Force fighter plane crash in Egyptian Desert in World War II. [SatNews – 02/15/2013]

NASA shows that Orion spacecraft can safely land even if one of its three parachutes fails to deploy. [Space Travel – 02/15/2013]

Possible changes incorporated in latest Chinese launch vehicle, Shenzhou 10, remain veiled. [Space Daily – 02/15/2013]

Beam Communications enters into agreement with Beijing Marine Communications and Navigation Company for $1 million worth of Beam Inmarsat satellite terminals. [SatNews – 02/15/2013]

As the Sequestration concept gains momentum as a U.S. government satellite acquisition approach, the GAO urges action on the weather satellite gap, adding it to the so-called high-risk list. [Federal Times – 02/14/2013]

France selects Astrium to build the country’s first digital, military ultra-fast broadband satellite network. [UPI – 02/14/2013]

Astrium will contribute to development and demonstration of service to measure citywide emissions of greenhouse gases in Paris. [Satellite Today – 02/14/2013]

Spanish researchers claim to have developed new system capable of increasing conventional GPS devices’ accuracy by as much as 90%. [Satellite Today – 02/14/2013]

Fujitsu Frontech North America will showcase at Video Service Forum’s Los Angeles conference a new firmware release for its video encoders/decoders that dramatically improves end-to-end latency while delivering exceptional video quality at reduced bit rates. [SatNews – 02/14/2013]

COM DEV equipment is utilized aboard NASA’s recently launched TDRS-K satellite. [Broadcaster Magazine – 02/14/2013]

Hughes will demonstrate high-speed wireless 4G/LTE capabilities over satellite at California’s Naval Postgraduate School’s Joint Interagency Field Exploration event. [Satellite Today – 02/14/2013]

Spacenet gets 5-year base contract from one of world’s leading delivery services companies to upgrade and provide network connectivity to more than 5,700 locations. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/14/2013]

PolarSat gets multi-phase order from GECI for equipment supply and technical services for a VSATPuls3 satellite communications network to upgrade air traffic control communications network within Mozambique. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/14/2013]

MTN expands its MTN Worldwide TV service to include three new live channels, as well as programming in French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/14/2013]

Hughes M2M satellite terminal integrates 9502 modem with compact antenna to create single-piece, integrated, rugged terminal to withstand the most extreme weather conditions, providing IP connectivity over BGAN network. [SatNews – 02/14/2013]

South Korea moves to accelerate development of longer-range ballistic missiles in response to third nuclear test by North Korea. [Space Daily – 02/13/2013]

Boeing signs contract with U.S. Air Force worth more than $50 million for completion and deployment of the 12 GPS satellites it is building for the government. [Satellite Today – 02/13/2013]

ITT Excelis sensor to be used on U.S. Air Force weather satellites under new contract will provide the Air Force and war fighter with better weather information, especially regarding clouds. [SatNews – 02/13/2013]

Norsat introduces GLOBETrekker 2.0 upgraded fly-away satellite terminal. [Stockhouse – 02/13/2013]

Polish satellite TV operators Cyfra+ plan to introduce new satellite platform to include Internet service and compete with Cyfrowy Polsat, which offers LTE Internet service at 150 Mbps. [Satellite Today – 02/13/2013]

Study using data from NASA satellites finds that parts of Middle East region lost 117 million acre feet of freshwater reserves over past 7 years. [SatNews – 02/13/2013]

Near-Earth asteroid not expected to pose any threat to orbiting satellites. [Satellite Today – 02/13/2013]

Hughes to demonstrate how “store of the future” will be driven by its high-powered networks and managed services solutions at EuroCIS 2013. [Yahoo Finance – 02/13/2013]

Deep Space Industries to use cubesats to investigate nature of near-Earth asteroids with goal of eventually mining the asteroids to create propellant to extend the working life of communications satellites among other applications. [SatNews – 02/13/2013]

Landsat satellite successfully launched from Vandenberg AFB. [Satellite Today – 02/12/2013]

NASA demonstrates robotic fluid transfer in space during Robotic Refueling Mission aboard the International Space Station. [SatNews – 02/12/2013]

The 1800th flight of a Soyuz launch vehicle successfully placed Progress cargo spacecraft on target orbit for another mission to the International Space Station. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/12/2013]

Comtech Xicom gets $.4 million order for traveling wave tube amplifiers from U.S. government agency for military communications. [Satellite Spotlight – 02/12/2013]

SES and Viking Satcom partner for development and deployment of commercial satellite antenna systems to enable expansion of SES’s center arc cable neighborhood. [Satellite Today – 02/12/2013]

Newtec signs Basic Ordering Agreement with the NATO Communications and Information Agency. [Satellite Spotlight – 02/12/2013]

MDA signs contract with OGSystems to develop prototype surveillance solutions for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that will utilize a quickly deployable mobile satellite terminal to receive and process imagery from multiple commercial satellites. [Satellite Today – 02/12/2013]

Kratos gets multi-million SES contract for interference monitoring and geolocation system enhancements. [Equities.com – 02/11/2013]

Harris CapRock and AIS Engineering team to provide end-to-end satellite, teleport and terrestrial services to U.S. intelligence customer. [Orlando Business Journal – 02/12/2013]

Astrium Services signs multi-year renewal agreement for C-band capacity to serve maritime customers in the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. [Satellite Spotlight – 02/11/2013]

Hosted U.S.A.F. infrared surveillance payload on commercial satellite will be discussed with industry. [Military Aerospace – 02/10/2013]

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Arianespace successfully orbits Amazonas-3 and Azerspace/Africasat-1a satellites. [Space Travel – 02/08/2013]

Video released showing entire process of South Korean rocket successfully entering orbit and releasing satellite. [Mail Online – 02/08/2013]

Gilat enters into joint venture with regional African Internet Service Provider Microlink to enhance affordable high-speed fiber and satellite connectivity services throughout Zambia. [Satellite Today – 02/07/2013]

Arabsat acquires majority stake in Hellas-Sat in Euro 208 million deal with Hellenic Telecommunication Organization. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/807/2013]

XTAR to expand international reach into Africa and Asia. [Satellite Today – 02/07/2013]

Astrium Services signs multi-year renewal agreement with Intelsat for C-band capacity to be used in the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/07/2013]

NASA and ATK complete second in series of development tests for NASA’s Space Launch System booster program at Utah test facility. [Space Travel – 02/07/2013]

The Satellite Design Lab at the University of Texas wins first place in the national University Nanosatellite Program competition. [Satellite Today – 02/07/2013]

Joint UK mission between University of Surrey’s Surrey Space Centre and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited ready to send world’s first smartphone satellite into orbit. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/07/2013]

China begins project to modernize its agricultural system utilizing satellite technology. [Satellite Today – 02/07/2013]

Arianespace and its Russian Starsem affiliate successfully launch six new satellites for Globastar from Baikonur. [Satellite Today – 02/06/2013]

SES’ German HD+ platform exceeds one million paying households. [SatNews – 02/06/2013]

Liberty Global becomes one of world’s largest broadband communications companies, and moves to a new home in the United Kingdom, following its acquisition of Virgin Media. [Satellite Today – 02/06/2013]

NSR reports the latest market shift for Satellite Broadband is toward Russia. [SatNews – 02/06/2013]

TSF team sets up humanitarian calling operations and Internet via satellite for local populations in Timbuktu. [SatNews – 02/06/2013]

GVF certified satellite products to be highlighted at CabSat. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/06/2013]

Clyde Space announces that first satellite designed and built in Scotland will be launched aboard a Russian rocket from Baikonur next June. [Satellite Today – 02/06/2013]

Boeing files lawsuit for more than $355 million against former Sea Launch partners. [Satellite Today – 02/06/2013]

NASA’s first of three next-generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellites, TDRS-K, is launched from Cape Canaveral. [Satellite Spotlight – 02/05/2013]

President Ahmadinejad wants to be first Iranian astronaut. [Reuters – 02/05/2013]

Gilat is selected by ALEF Soluciones Integrales of Mexico to deploy over 7,000 SkyEdge VSATs in support of the Mexican government’s new “SCT 10K” service. [Globe Newswire – 02/05/20

China is expected to be the global investment leader for the energy and utility sectors as well as emerging verticals and mining in the SCADA/M2M market. [NSR – 02/05/2013]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Millions of trucks on the road — and thousands are long-haul truckers. When they pull over to sleep, they run their engines all night. Burning a gallon of diesel per hour adds up, good buddy.

Why are rocket scientists like me thinking about idling rigs at truck stops? I read about IdleAir adding free satellite TV to their service in Fleet Owner. Hmm. They provide TSE (truck stop electrification) services. So what is that?

When a trucker parks overnight, they will need a power source to keep their air conditioning, heat, refrigerator, television, radio etc. going. If truck stop electrification is not available, idling is the only means to provide this source of power, assuming the truck is not equipped with an auxiliary power unit. Truck stop electrification allows a trucker to “plug-in” to power their on and off-board electrical needs. There are two types of truck stop electrification, single-system and dual-system. Single-system provides power to on-board devices and requires a hose that connects to the truck. Dual-system can power off-board devices and requires the truck to have an adapter to plug into a 120 volt outlet.

The pricing is about half of what diesel costs and keeping emissions from dissipating in our breathing air is a plus.

Hey, this is good stuff. The U.S. DoE agrees. There’s competition, too, from CabAire and Shorepower.

I would think these types of businesses are in a good position to provide electric-car charging stations.

They love this on the west coast…