Really Rocket Science

Excellent idea: establish a space engineering school to assure a steady stream of qualified new employees for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). 150 graduates of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) will go straight to meaningful jobs at the ISRO. Via IBNLive…

“By the third week of June, the first batch will be out. The students are presently in the middle of their projects which should be completed by mid-June. By July, they will be posted to various units,” IIST director KS Dasgupta said. All students who achieve a specific cutoff mark set by the IIST will be directly absorbed into various units of the Space Department, he said.

The first batch has about 150 students in three BTech courses offered by IIST Avionics, Aerospace Engineering and Physical Sciences. Meritorious students have a job assured at the over 20 spacerelated units of ISRO, including research facilities such as the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL).

Five of the first-batch students are presently doing their projects at the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), US, while one is set to attend an advanced ninemonth course in aerospace engineering at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Inaugurated on September 14, 2007, by the then ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair, the IIST was ISRO’s answer to the acute human resources crunch the space agency expected to face in the immediate future. The USP of IIST was an assured job at some of the most technically advanced institutions in the country. The students also sign a bond promising their services for a minimum of five years.

For a time, IIST operated out of a temporary campus at Veli. In 2010, the IIST fully shifted to a permanent campus at Valiyamala adjacent to ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.

NBN Co steps up satellite plans to provide broadband service to remote communities in Australia.
[Satellite Today – 05/27/2011]

SES Astra signs first contract with an Italian broadcaster, Promosat, for DTH services in Italy.
[Satellite Today – 05/27/2011]

NASA selects Fibertek to design, develop, fabricate, test and deliver laser systems for the Ice,Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 mission to measure Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, scheduled for 2016 launch.
[SatNews – 05/26/2011]

U.S. Military satellite, the first Space Based Infrared System satellite, successfully reaches orbit and is performing as required.
[Satellite Today – 05/26/2011]

Northrop Grumman to transition work from NPOESS program to Defense Weather Satellite System (successor to the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) under authorization from U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.
[SatNews – 05/26/2011]

Satellite broadband gets contentious as smaller and independent companies and cooperatives fight for a share of funds to be provided government broadband programs.
[TMCnet – 05/26/2011]

Aquarius/SAC-D satellite with Argentina-built observatory to be launched June 9 on a three-year mission to map global changes in salinity at the ocean surface.
[PR Newswire – 05/26/2011]

AsiaSat expands its Tai Po Earth Station in Hong Kong.
[Satellite Today – 05/26/2011]

Nordic Maritime Singapore chooses KVH’s TracPhone V7 for onboard communications.
[GlobeNewswire – 05/26/2011]

OnAir and TriaGnoSys launch most lightweight inflight connectivity solution for business jets, connecting to the plane’s existing satellite communications system to provide inflight wireless connectivity for passengers.
[Business Video News – 05/26/2011]

SES Astra increases download speed of its broadband service beyond 10 Mbps.
[Satellite Today – 05/25/2011]

Space Micro wins NASA award for research and development of Satellite Interoperability for Microwave Access – SIMAX – intermodule cluster communications system.
[SpaceRef – 05/26/2011]

Remembering – on May 25, 1945, Arthur C. Clark predicts the future by inventing it, as he proposes using space satellites for global communications including television broadcast.
[Wired – 05/25/2011]

Space shuttle Endeavour, on its final mission, successfully delivers MIT researchers’ Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, designed to search for antimatter and dark matter and measure cosmic rays, to the International Space Station.
[R&D Magazine – 05/25/2011]

Singapore’s first locally-built micro-satellite in space, X-Sat, begins transmitting images back to Singapore.
[Satellite Today – 05/25/2011]

Telesat satellite 14R Estrela do Sul 2 hits a snag as its northern solar array fails to fully deploy.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/25/2011]

Busy launch schedule for Arianespace continues – next up, two launches in July – from French Guyana (ASTREA 1N and BSAT 3c/JCSAT 110R), and from the Baikonur Cosmodrome (six Globalstar satellites).
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/25/2011]

Vizada unveils Vizada XChange, their new all-in-one maritime satellite communications platform providing secure and controlled communications integrating voice and broadband data for ship operations and crew.
[SatNews – 05/25/2011]

New Brunswick telecommunications company Xplornet Communications gets $230M in private financing as it plans two new satellites to expand its wireless and satellite broadband networks across Canada to reach rural households.
[Business Journal – 05/25/2011]

Iridium offers free calling from ships equipped with its terminals to the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations center, in newly announced anti-piracy program.
[GlobeNewswire – 05/25/2011]

South Africa should develop its own satellite manufacturing capacity and stop relying on other countries, says its Science and Technology Minister, as its Cabinet approves in principal buying an equity stake in satellite manufacturer SunSpace.
[Business Day – 05/25/2011]

Working group evaluating 150 different GPS devices and will explore mitigation solutions to address perceived problems with GPS signal interference by LightSquared’s plans for ground-based use of its satellite spectrum.
[PoliceOne.com – 05/24/2011]

Eutelsat’s Skylogic signs distribution agreement with Tliasonera for Tooway service in Finland.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/24/2011]

SES Astra signs new 3-D TV capacity deal with Penthouse Digital Media Productions.
[ANTESKY – 05/24/2011]

Spot Connect satellite communications app available on App Store; allows iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users to transmit messages via satellite from virtually anywhere in the world.
[GlobeNewswire – 05/24/2011]

Qualcomm announces product support for Russian GLONASS satellite system, with ability to utilize both the GPS and GLONASS networks simultaneously for greater location performance.
[USA Market News – 05/24/2011]

Congolese service provider Microcom upgrades its network to extend the range of services for Central and Western Africa clients with Newtec Elevation hubs in Germany and the U.S.
[SatNews – 05/24/2011]

Detecon Al Saudia launches Geo-Redundant VSAT service in Saudi Arabia powered by iDirect’s Evolution platform.
[PR Newswire – 05/24/2011]

Comtech EF Data and KNS integrate SuperTrack marine stabilized antenna systems and ROSS Open Antenna Management technologies for enhanced maritime solutions.
[GlobeNewswire – 05/24/2011]

Former Virginia Congressman Rick Boucher and communications consultant and political analyst Jamal Simmons join Internet Innovation Alliance, the broad-based coalition supporting broadband availability and adoption for all Americans, as honorary Chariman and Co-Chairman.
[EON – 05/24/2011]

Recent discoveries in remote areas such as the Artic push the Oil & Gas sector further away from terrestrial service, driving satellite connectivity in the digital oilfield.
[NSR – 05/24/2011]

Both satellites launched May 20 by Ariane 5 ECA rocket, ST-2 and Gsat-8, are on-orbit and healthy in geosynchronous orbit.
[Space News – 05/23/2011]

New incoming Dish CEO Joe Clayton makes known that Dish plans to aggressively utilize recent acquisitions Blockbuster, Hughes Communications, and DBSD North America to create new video platform to compete with streaming providers like Netflix.
[Home Media Magazine – 05/23/2011]

Globalstar Europe Satellite Services signs authorized distribution agreement with Spanish company Equipos Navales Industriales.
[Satellite Today – 05/23/2011]

KVH ships 1000th CommBox Ship/Shore Network Manager, supporting changing needs for commercial maritime industry onboard communications.
[Globe Newswire – 05/23/2011]

Judge rules that creditors can vote on DBSD sale to Dish Network.
[Wall Street Journal – 05/23/2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

As a satellite TV customer, there are times when the weather messes with your reception. The interference from rain/snow between you and the spacecraft with cause an outage and you can’t do anything about (rain fade or attenuation). I get that.

Now let me tell you why I’m pissed off.

I switched to Dish Network from cable in 2004 and we had some outages, but the storms had to be pretty big to knock out the signal (we were looking at 110°/119° West). Then I went back to cable so I could get MSG-HD. The Voom channels start going away to make room for a bunch of useless HD channels. Forget that — I went for the DirecTV bundle with Verizon DSL.

Big mistake. We had an outage every time it rained or snowed. I’d call DirecTV a half-dozen times to complain, hoping to get either a credit or a technician to come out an peak the antenna. No chance, valued customer. Either I sign up for a “maintenance” contract for $60 annually, or pay $50 for the tech to come out. Forget that.

Went back to Dish Network and I haven’t had a problem since (now looking at 61.5° West). Ever since I cancelled DirecTV, I’d had 3 or 4 “retention specialists” call and probably a half-dozen “come back” letters. Where were you during my moment-of-truth? Forget that, too.

Who cares about rain fade credits? Maybe trial attorneys should read up on it, in light of the current flooding around Old Man River. Prompted by the Alabama Attorney General’s office, cable and satellite TV providers are offering replacement equipment and suspending billing because of the flooding, caused by storms. The satcom statements, via WSFA-TV…

DISH Network provided the following statement about its response: “Taking care of our customers who have been impacted by any disaster, including tornadoes, is our top priority. DISH Network has a disaster policy in place and works with affected customers on a case-by-case basis to determine the best solution. We normally provide several no-cost options for victims to suspend their satellite service, including a pause of service, with no equipment fees.”

Ellen Filipiak, Sr. Vice President for Customer Service at DIRECTV, stated, “We join all service providers in Alabama in a sincere expression of sympathy for the people of Alabama who lost loved ones and homes in the terrible storms that hit the state last month. We are working with both our customers and employees in Alabama to help them rebuild as well as reconnect their TV services.  And to ease the burden and worry for our customers who were affected by the disaster, we have suspended accounts for those who were without power, offered free service calls and have waived equipment replacement costs and all other fees. More broadly we are also providing support to all victims of the storm through the Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity.”  Consumers may contact DirecTV by calling 1-800-531-5000.

Think about that. Will other storms that cause widespread outages in a particular area also become subject to crediting customers for service interruptions? Makes sense to me.

Import-Export bank provides financing allowing Inmarsat to purchase Boeing satellites.
[SatNews – 05/14/2011]

At Global Space and Satellite Forum in Abu Dhabi, a call for an international space traffic management body.
[Gulf News – 05/14/2011]

Smart Communications lends Smart Link $-190 satellite phones and provides airtime to keep group in touch during 7-day trek through deep forest in Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park in the Phillipines.
[Phillipine Star – 05/14/2011]

Thaicom sees IPStar bandwidth business booming in first quarter.
[Satellite Today – 05/13/2011]

Astrotech wins $16.2M contract to fabricate, install, and test satellite Ground Support Equipment for U.S. government.
[SatNews – 05/13/2011]

Congressman Mike Turner successfully includes language in National Defense Authorization Act requiring the Secretary of Defense to notify Congress in case of widespread interference with military’s use of GPS satellites.
[POB online – 05/13/2011]

Integral Systems chosen by SES to provide global geolocation services to help protect its global fleet of satellites from effects of radio frequency interference.
[SatNews – 05/13/2011]

Second-Generation Orbcomm satellites delayed until late 2011.
[Space News – 05/13/2011]

MDA selected by Thales Alenia Space to provide 486 high-performance Ka-band cross link and feeder link antennas for Iridium NEXT satellites.
[SatNews – 05/13/2011]

C-COM Satellite Systems receives its largest order in history for its iNetVu mobile satellite antenna systems from Telemann Communications Company, a reseller in Japan.
[TechZone360 – 05/13/2011]

National Broadband Network of Australia reaches agreement with Optus to provide Internet Satellite Services as part of its rollout.
[Broadband Expert – 05/13/2011]

Lockheed Martin wins $105M WIN-T contract to deliver on-the-move broadband networking capability using satellite and radio links.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/12/2011]

Arianespace begins initial build-up at French Guiana Spaceport for its fourth heavy-lift mission of 2011, to launch BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R and ASTRA 1N.
[SatNews – 05/12/2011]

Guardian Mobility intends to acquire Alakai Technologies in order to incorporate its data monitoring technology into Guardian’s open platform satellite communications and data management systems.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/12/2011]

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency decides to send halt command to DAICHI infrared earth observation satellite after three weeks of unsuccessful attempts to communicate with it.
[SatNews – 05/12/2011]

Vizada adds VSAT capability to Universal Card prepaid voice service.
[Satellite Today – 05/12/2011]

iDirect VSAT platform chosen for Iridium Next ground-control upgrade.
[Satellite Today – 05/12/2011]

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft obtains first image of giant asteroid Vesta.
[SatNews – 05/12/2011]

Northrop Grumman and Applied Minds announce success of recent launch and orbit of a Mayflower test microsatellite.
[SatNews – 05/12/5011]

Israel’s Defense Ministry to invest millions in upgrading country’s space communication capabilities.
[Space News – 05/11/2011]

Florida’s governor and legislators commit more than $43M for growth of space industry in Florida.
[SatNews – 05/11/2011]

Northrop Grumman wins $372M Air Force contract to provide satellite antenna system for B-2 stealth bomber that will help it send and receive information up to 200 times faster than now.
[Business Week – 05/11/2011]

Pau Pyrenees in southern France becomes Europe’s first airport to use new EGNOS Safety-of-Life Service to guide aircraft in for landing using only this space-based navigation signal.
[SatNews – 05/11/2011]

Afcom Satellite Network deploys first dual mode Satellite/TETRA communications system for emergency response vehicle in Niger Delta.
[Business Wire – 05/11/2011]

Hughes deploys HX System broadband satellite networks for Microcom in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
[Satellite Today – 05/11/2011]

Russian Satellite Communications Company and Eutelsat announce signing of MOU to launch new satellite at 36 degrees East.
[Traders Huddle – 05/10/2011]

Arianespace’s third Ariane 5 mission enters final preparations, readying for May 19 launch of GSAT-8 and ST-2.
[SatNews – 05/10/2011]

Landsat images capture Memphis, Tennessee flooding.
[SatNews – 05/10/2011]

GlobeCast and JIB launch NHK World HD on Eurobird 1.
[Satellite Today – 05/10/2011]

RapidEye works with SST Software to integrate its precision farming maps into SST’s information management products and services.
[SatNews – 05/10/2011]

NewCom International develops Emergency Communications Response Network to provide instant, cost-effective contingency or back-up communications for government and law enforcement personnel.
[SatNews – 05/10/2011]

Sky Italia orders IP video solutions from T-VIPS.
[Satellite Today – 05/10/2011]

Syria blocks satellite phone communications.
[Financial Times (MENA) – 05/09/2011]

United Launch Alliance launches Space-Based Infrared System Satellite into orbit for U.S. Air Force.
[Military Aerospace – 05/09/2011]

Gilat wins Australia NBN satellite contract.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/09/2011]

Mitec of Montreal sells satellite communications business to Quebec-based provider of microwave components.
[Montreal Gazette – 05/09/2011]

At Global Space and Satellite Forum, UAE’s DubaiSat-1 seen as part of focus on space technology as new common ground for organisations, governments, and individuals in the region and globally.
[AMEinfo – 05/09/2011]

Yahsat’s new satellite, Y1A, reaches orbital position.
[7DAYS – 05/09/2011]

Use of Ka-band along with L-band satellites with 400 narrow beams (planned Alphasat 1-XL by Inmarsat) and use of lighter materials allow very compact, lightweight satellite systems for the warfighter.
[Defense Systems – 05/09/2011]

DigitalGlobe cooperates with two German companies to provide new range of high quality 3D data maps.
[SatNews – 05/09/2011]

MDA signs multi-year contracts to supply oil field monitoring products utilizing advanced RADARSAT-2 surveillance capabilities covering entire Canadian oil field.
[SatNews – 05/09/2011]

U.S.-based Space Adventures offers to equip Soyuz launch vehicle with additional living space for eight-day commercial flights around the moon.
[SatNews – 05/09/2011]

Mercury Computer Systems to provide leading prime contractor with Ensemble and Echotek products for use in high-speed satellite communications system to transfer ISR data from UAVs to ground forces.
[SatNews – 05/09/2011]

Norsat satellite terminals used by U.S. military as part of relief efforts in Japan following earthquake and tsunami.
[SatNews – 05/09/2011]

Arianespace receives “keys” to Soyuz launch complex at Guiana Space Center from the European Space Agency.
[SatNews – 05/08/2011]

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo hits another milestone on way to beginning commercial operations in suborbital space.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/06/2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

A couple of years ago, the Americom name went away. That’s when owner SES S.A., having bought out GE’s stake via a creative asset & cash transaction, decided to combine Americom’s Princeton-based operation with the New Skies organization in Den Haag. All got mashed up into a thing called SES WorldSkies.  A dozen employees were let go, including yours truly. All of them in the U.S.

Recently, just prior to the Satellite 2011 show in Washington, a call went out from Betzder Schlass, headquarters for SES S.A., that the companies are slated for a re-org and “right sizing.” Yeah, heads were going to roll. Officially, it was not about “headcount,” only a justification of expenses. The networking among long-time U.S. employees immediately preceding this news was darkly startling: never have I seen more activity from former Americom colleagues on LinkedIn.com.

Ironically, the corporate rattling started just as the Society of Satellite Professionals International announced their 12th induction into the SSPI Hall of Fame. Three of the seven inductees were past CEOs of SES Americom: Dean Olmstead, Ed Horowitz and Rob Bednarek.

To many “old pros,” this wasn’t really news. They’ve seen the writing on the wall and concluded there would be less and less people running the business in the U.S., with the possibility of shutting down the Princeton office once the lease expired in 2014.  Earlier this month, a couple of dozen people lost their jobs, the lion’s share in New Jersey. Some were happy to “get a package” and move on, others not so much.

The office in Den Haag will likely be shut down, with most of the jobs moving to Luxembourg. Princeton jobs will likely be moved to Washington. Remaining will be token offices to satisfy licensing requirements.

What does this say about the state of the satellite business in the U.S.? Are EchoStar and DirecTV the only true American commercial satellite operators? Both SES and Intelsat are based in Luxembourg, Telesat’s based in Ottawa, Canada, and Eutelsat’s in Paris. And they’ve all benefited from the U.S. government’s need for satellite bandwidth in the Middle East and Central Asia (Iraq & Afghanistan). How much of the profits from U.S. sources, commercial and government, are used toward economic benefit in the U.S.? Perhaps a few satellite builds with Space Systems/Loral and Orbital Sciences.

Makes for an interesting argument. Bring it.

The Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload (CHIRP), set to piggy-back on the SES-2 spacecraft later this year, passed thermal vacuum chamber testing. According to DefPro, all is nominal and you can’t get any better than that in the space business…

SES-USG today announced that the Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload (CHIRP) and its host spacecraft, SES-2, have completed thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing.
The experimental wide field-of-view sensor was designed by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. After integration onto the SES-2 spacecraft, built by Orbital Sciences Corp., the TVAC tests were conducted to demonstrate the sensor’s ability to withstand the space environment it will experience following the launch this August. A preliminary review of the test data indicates the CHIRP payload thermal performance was as expected.
Victoria Kennedy, CHIRP Program Manager at SES noted, “The TVAC was a key milestone for CHIRP, and puts the program well on track for the remaining environmental tests.”
The TVAC is one of a series of recent successful tests completed by the CHIRP program. In January, the payload was integrated onto the SES-2 spacecraft and passed what is known as the initial post-mate electrical checkout. Following this milestone, an integrated ground-to-payload test was completed where the sensor was commanded from SAIC’s Mission Analysis Center in Seal Beach, CA through Orbital’s Mission Operations Center in Dulles, VA. Through this process, payload data, including images and state-of-health data were successfully transmitted. This demonstration was a key risk reduction activity in the development and testing of the CHIRP Ground Segment.
Brent Armand, CHIRP Program Manager at Orbital Sciences Corporation remarked, “The team is very pleased with the payload performance during TVAC. We are all systems go as we look forward to the upcoming vibration test campaign and the near-term completion and delivery of the SES-2 spacecraft.”

To simulate the hot and cold extremes possible in space, the thermal vacuum chamber can reach temperatures in a 600-degree F range from 302° F all the way down to minus 310° F. Wow, the best we can do as humans on earth is the 300-degree Club in Antarctica.

What’s next? Vibration testing, which includes random vibration, base-drive modal and quasi-static load tests – all conducted while the spacecraft is mounted on a shaker.

This NASA video does an excellent job of explaining these critical tests…

Nice video edit from the launch service provider, United Launch Alliance. The payload, an interesting missile defense spacecraft. The report, via Aviation Week…

Sbirs GEO-1 is based on Lockheed Martin’s A2100 satellite bus and carries two payloads capable of collecting in the short- and mid-wave infrared (IR) bands, as well as one “wider, more open shortwave band” that can “see through to the ground,” Jeff Smith, Lockheed Martin Sbirs program manager told Aviation Week late last year. One of the payloads is a scanning IR detector. It is designed with shorter revisit times than those offered by DSP, which operates using a spinning scanner.

Additionally, Sbirs GEO-1 will have a staring sensor that can focus on different geographical areas than the scanner. The Air Force currently hopes to buy six Sbirs satellites.

Sbirs GEO-1 vehicle separation from the Atlas V’s Centaur upper stage took place 43 min. into the flight. At that point, the spacecraft was at 100 nm altitude heading for an apogee altitude of 19,323 nm.

A series of six liquid apogee engine burns are planned over nine days to reach a geosynchronous orbit slot 22,000 mi. over the Earth for initial checkout and operations, says Lt. Col. Ryan Umstattd, an Air Force Sbirs official. At this point, the satellite will deploy its light shade (designed to protect the sensor payload), antennas and payload doors, he says.

Thirty-five days after launch, officials expect to turn the IR payloads on and begin transmitting raw data from the satellite. Full integrated tactical warning and attack assessment certification, allowing the satellite to officially tip missile defenses in the event of a threat, is expected within 18 months of launch.

More about the system here.

Spectacular light show over Russia’s Ural mountains not Aurora Borealis or
UFO, but a Russian military rocket launching a military communications
satellite.
[Mail Online – 05/06/2011]

U.S. to finance Azerbaijan’s first communications satellite, AzerSat, from
Orbital, despite objections from some U.S.-based Armenian groups that it could
be used for military purposes.
[eurasianet – 05/06/2011]

Hughes Communications adds 613,000 satellite broadband subscribers in first
quarter, and credits governments broadband stimulus package for much of the
gains.
[Space News – 05/06/2011]

Telesat CEO silent on acquisition rumors during first quarter report.
[Satellite Today – 05/06/2011]

NASA Earth Observatory images created using Landsat data from US Geological
Survey illustrate extensive Mississippi River flooding.
[SatNews – 05/06/2011]

Gilat Satellite Networks to initiate hubs and VSATs in Australia under new
contract with Optus Networks Pty Limited.
[SatNews – 05/06/2011]

OmniGlobe EMEA assets acquired by satellite communications start-up iSat.
[Satellite Today – 05/06/2011]

Slovenia National TV renews broadcast relationship with Eutelsat with new
10-year contract for the Hot Bird neighbourhood.
[PR Newswire – 05/06/2011]

Data gathered by the Gravity Probe B satellite during 16 month mission
confirms two previously unproven subtle physical affects predicted by
Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.
[SatNews – 05/06/2011]

U.S. Air Force’s GEO-1 SBIRS satellite scheduled for launch May 6 is delayed
due to weather.
[Aviation Week – 05/06/2011]

BGAN from Stratos Connectivity plays vital role in expanding archaeological
study in remote Mongolia.
[PR Newswire – 05/05/2011]

Satellites made Osama bin Laden raid possible.
[Spaceflight Now – 05/05/2011]

Russian Meridian series military communications satellite is placed in orbit
aboard a Soyuz-2.1a rocket with a Fregat booster.
[RIA NOVOSTI – 05/05/2011]

Newtec is awarded acclaimed Trends Gazellen award.
[SatNews – 05/05/2011]

Mercury Computer Systems selected to deliver multiple high-speed satellite
communications subsystems for transferring ISR data from UAVs to ground forces.
[Bradenton – 05/05/2011]

Integral Systems, with signal processing systems used by more than 85% of
U.S. space missions, is awarded more than $30M  in multiple contracts
during past three months.
[SatNews – 05/05/2011]

Newsat signs new contracts in April worth $1.7M in additional revenue,
providing satellite communication services in Australia and internationally.
[SatNews – 05/05/2011]

Research fleets choose Mini-VSAT broadband from KVH for onboard Internet and
data connections.
[Globe Newswire – 05/05/2011]

KVH downgrades future outlook though VSAT sales increase 59%, because of
losses in other divisions affected by rising fuel prices and decline in new
boat sales.
[Satellite Today – 05/02/2011]

At Global Space and Satellite Forum in Abu Dhabi May 9-11, leading experts
will discuss how satellite communications play important role in disaster
relief.
[AME info – 05/04/2011]

Telenor Satellite Broadcasting signs agreement with Elektrikom for IS 10-02
Spot 1 capacity, to deliver VSAT services for oil, gas, and cruise ship
industries throughout Europe.
[SatNews – 05/04/2011]

Australian communications regulator warns that more spectrum (to come from
satellite, broadcast, or government agencies) must be allocated to mobile
companies to support traffic growth by end of decade to 1000 times that at end
of 2007.
[Sydney Morning Herald – 05/04/2011]

NTD Asia Pacific Television files appeal at Taiwan’s National Communications
Commission charging that Chunghwa Telecom Company is unlawfully refusing to
renew satellite capacity lease.
[NTD Television – 05/04/2011]

Intelsat reports antenna reflector deployment delay with Intelsat New Dawn
satellite.
[Business Wire – 05/03/2011]

Charlie Ergen says acquired DBSD North America should be viewed as asset
whose existing S-band satellite and U.S. operating license are sufficient for
Dish Network and EchoStar to create wireless broadband business.
[Space News – 05/03/2011]

SES Astra’s German HD Plus service subscriber gains exceed expectations.
[Satellite Today – 05/03/2011]

Gilat Satcom launches iDirect Evolution-based service in Nigeria to deliver
high-speed C-band satellite service throughout the country.
[SatNews – 05/03/2011]

Pakistan will have its first satellite broadband service by the end of this
year using Yahsat YahClick satellite broadband product using satellite launched
April 23.
[TMCnet – 05/03/2011]

United Arab Emirates launches fifth communications satellite, the first to
provide secure and independent telecommunications for its armed forces as Persian Gulf Arab state boosts its military capabilities against Iran.
[UPI – 05/02/2011]

Arianespace wins launch contract for ABS-2 satellite for Asia Broadcast
Satellite.
[Satellite Today – 05/02/2011]

Dish Network and Echostar settle with TiVo for $500M as chances dwindle in
DVR patent suit.
[CED Magazine – 05/02/2011]

iDirect Government Technologies to resell Riverbed Technology products to
maximize bandwidth efficiencies and increase satellite network performance.
[marketwire – 05/02/2011]

Find loved ones anytime, anywhere, with new GPS bracelets.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/02/2011]

Myanmar sets up central committee and working committee for launching a
satellite, the first for Myanmar.
[TMCnet – 4/30/2011]

Satellite images taken by GeoEye the day after tornadoes blasted through the
South, in an interactive display, show before and after the tornadoes.
[NY Times – April 29, 2011]

More competition, new entrants, fluctuating levels of usage in a slow and
uncertain recovery, and a flurry of new products with High Throughput
Satellites hitting the market in the coming years, all keep the Mobile
Satellite Services sector dynamic.
[NSR Mobile Satellite Services report – June 2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

Final launch of space shuttle Endeavor is called off due to heater failure as six-man crew is walking toward the pad – NASA hopes to try again Monday.
[msnbc – 04/29/2011]

Azerbaijan is to sign a loan with French bank BNP Paribas in May to finance its first national telecommunications satellite Azerspace.
[ABC.AZ – 04/29/2011]

Arianespace to launch ABS-2 satellite for Asia Broadcast Satellite in 2013.
[Brahmand Defence & Aerospace News – 04/29/2011]

World’s largest product tanker owner, Maersk, fields KVH CommBox for network management on 120 vessels.
[GlobeNewswire -04/29/2011]

Two more communications providers, SI Wireless and Cellular South, join companies signing bilateral roaming agreements with LightSquared to expand planned nationwide 4G-LTE network.
[SatNews – 04/29/2011]

Pactel International is awarded multiyear contract to manage SamoaTel’s International Telephony business.
[SatNews – 04/29/2011]

Tracking Central Pty Ltd to  acquire exclusive licensing rights in Australia and New Zealand for GTX Corp’s GPS Smart Shoe product designed for seniors suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s.
[SatNews – 04/29/2011]

Global Space and Satellite Forum accepting registrants for the Use of Space Science and Technology for Disaster Management and Emergency Response workshop May 11 in Abu Dhabi.
[SatNews – 04/28/2011]

First meeting of Hosted Payload Alliance brings together representatives of industry and government to share creative solutions to challenging budgets for satellite systems.
[SatNews – 04/28/2011]

Eutelsat satellites booked for total of 13,000 MHz hours, equivalent to 15 transponders over 24 hours, for coverage of the royal wedding in London.
[SatNews – 04/28/2011]

COM DEV International is awarded Authorization to Proceed contract to provide equipment for a new commercial satellite.
[SatNews – 04/28/2011]

Texas-based Proactive Communications Inc. is awarded one of first fixed satellite services contracts from Texas Department of Information Resources, to provide rapid support in disasters and serve other needs.
[Satellite Spotlight- 04/28/2011]

Department of Veterans Affairs gets 13 systems from F4W Inc. which provide internet and VoIP connectivity for emergency situations, and include satellite broadband for when cellular is not available.
[PR Newswire – 04/28/2011]

EMS Technologies initiates new satellite communications study for The Commonwealth of Australia.
[Business Wire – 04/28/2011]

The second in series of 12 GPS IIF satellites arrives at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
[SatNews – 04/28/2011]

STM and ViaSat successfully demonstrate waveform interoperability between the STM SatLink 2000 modem and the ViaSat DoD-standard Joint Internet Protocol Modem.
[SatNews – 04/28/2011]

Skyware Global announces opening of new office in Washington DC area.
[SatNews – 04/28/2011]

Russia and Sweden agree to improve cooperation in the space industry, including launching Swedish satellites using Russian carrier rockets.
[SatNews – 04/28/2011]

KVH’s new TracPhone V3, at just 14.5″ (37cm) the world’s smallest Ku-band maritime VSAT terminal, receives FCC license.
[GlobeNewswire – 04/27/2011]

Rumors have owners of Telesat fighting over the price for which the Canadian satellite communications company might be sold.
[Ottawa Citizen – 04/27/2011]

Team including scientists at Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories and the Air Force Research Laboratory work to improve capabilities for detecting and monitoring threats to U.S. space operations (space junk).
[PhysOrg – 04/27/2011]

Chinese space officials confirm plans to build a 60-ton space station by 2020 and build a space freighter for hauling supplies to the station.
[SatNews – 04/27/2011]

DirecTV takes measure of its subscribers’ preferences with regard to possible launch of Netflix-like video streaming service, following the acquisition of Blockbuster by Dish Network.
[The Hollywood Reporter – 04/27/2011]

Malaysia’s no. 1 rated HD channel, ONE HD, joins MEASAT’s video neighborhood.
[SatNews – 04/27/2011]

Topcon Precision Agriculture announces that its HiPer series of satellite receivers has been expanded to include a specialty receiver for the worldwide agriculture market.
[Precision Pays – 04/27/2011]

Spanish operator Digital+ launches 3D demo channel on SES ASTRA’s ASTRA.
[SatNews – 04/27/2011]

Integral Systems is selected as Mewxsat-3’s turnkey ground segment subcontractor.
[Satellite Today – 04/27/2011]

Track24 launches first global tracking and messaging systems for individuals and small businesses using Iridium satellite network and Track24’s mapping software.
[SatNews – 04/27/2011]

AMI to support Thrane Aviator SwiftBroadband service in the United States.
[Satellite Today – 04/27/2011]

NASA’s nanosatellite NanoSail-D is slowly descending after successfully orbiting the Earth’s upper atmosphere for 95 days after deploying its 100-square-foot sail on January 20th.
[SatNews – 04/27/2011]

SES announces new investment in new Luxembourg satellite control facilities and business center.
[Satellite Spotlight – 04/26/2011]Russian Space Forces re-establish contact with military satellite, Geo-IK-2, which went missing in February.
[SatNews – 04/26/2011]Intelsat’s new African satellite, New Dawn, is safely in orbit following Good Friday launch from French Guiana.
[Engineering News – 04/26/2011] ATK is awarded contract to provide upgraded more powerful second stage motor for Orbital Science Corporation’s Taurus II commercial launch vehicle.
[SatNews – 04/26/2011]ORBCOMM announces its two-way satellite data communications services are now authorized in Equador.
[Benzinga – 04/26/2011]Kazakhstan ready to consider Russia’s proposal of converting Baikonur Space Center into a joint-stock company, with Russia as major shareholder, according to RIA Novosti.
[SatNews – 04/26/2011]MTN Satellite Communications and ERZIA announce completion of Santander Teleport in Spain.
[PR Newswire – 04/26/2011]Satcom Direct becomes distribution partner for Inmarsat’s global phone services, offering them directly to government, military, and corporate aviation customers and resellers.
[PR Web – 04/26/2011]SES WORLD SKIES announces three new capacity deals with Global Crossing to meet growing connectivity demand across Latin America.
[Business Wire – 04/26/2011]Inmarsat and SkyWave develop new low data rate tracking, monitoring and message service promising up to 37x data capability of current global M2M services, for Q3 2011 launch.
[NSR – 04/26/2011]NARSS puts EgyptSat-2 launch on indefinite hiatus.
[Satellite Today – 04/25/2011]Arianespace launches two satellites – Yahsat 1A and Intelsat’s New Dawn, from French Guiana.
[redOrbit – 04/24/2011]Thuraya to sponsor the Istanbul University Solar Race Team in the World Solar Challenge across the continent of Australia, also providing Thuraya IP and Thuraya XT as their full communication solutions.
[SatNews – 04/24/2011]

SpaceX wins $75M NASA contract to complete Dragon spacecraft and modify it for human transport with launch escape system.
[Military Aerospace – 04/20/2011

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

Ariane 5 second attempt to launch Yahsat 1A and New Dawn satellites is successful.
[NASA Spaceflight – 04/22/2011]

Thaicom 5 suffers technical glitch blacking out video service for about three hours.
[The Nation  – 04/22/2011]

Egypt announces indefinite postponement of the launch of research satellite EgyptSat 2 scheduled for 2013.
[SatNews – 04/22/2011]

Can Dish network leverage Blockbuster’s vast library of movies and licensing rights to stream them over the Web to unseat Netflix?
[Washington Post – 04/22/2011]

Hispasat Group and Pittsburgh International Telecommunications launch “New Winds” DTH platform on Amazonas-2 satellite.
[EIN Presswire – 04/22/2011]

ITC Global, international satcom provider to mining, energy, and maritime industries, to acquire satellite operations of Broadpoint LLC.
[PR Newswire – 04/21/2011]

Thales Alenia Space signs 54.5 million euros contract with the European Space Agency to supply new version of EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System).
[SatNews – 04/21/2011]

Avanti Communications welcomes Polish service provider Polnetkom to its HYLAS 1 system.
[SatNews – 04/21/2011]

SIS LIVE launches Tr-uPod multi-band, fully-automated tripod antenna system in 0.75, 1.0,1.2, and 1.5m sizes, capable of operating in X-, Ku-, Ka-, and DBS-bands, with 1.5m also available in C-band.
[SatNews – 04/21/2011]

SI Wireless and LightSquared enter bilateral roaming agreement which will provide SI Wireless with nationwide 4G-LTE footprint as well as satellite coverage in rural areas.
[PR Newswire – 04/21/2011]

Indian rocket successfully reaches space with three satellites including Resourcesat-2.
[SatNews – 04/20/2011]

Eutelsat announces contract between its subsidiary Skylogic and Avonline to sell broadband services using  KA SAT in the UK.
[sourcewire – 04/20/2011]

SES ASTRA signs agreement with Romanian Internet provider E-Sourcing Khow-How & Serv. Inc. for marketing of its satellite-based broadband service ASTRA2Connect in Romania.
[SatNews – 04/20/2011]

U.S.A.F. Wideband Global SATCOM system’s dual-band and crossbanding capabilities critical in ongoing earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan.
[SatNews – 04/20/2011]

IsatPhone Pro now available from Stratos Global with data service and Stratos’ recently released AmosConnect 8.2 communications application.
[PR Newswire – 04/20/2011]

German teleport & satellite service provider CETel acquires SeaMobile Europe.
[SatNews – 04/20/2011]

RapidEye satellite imaging products to be distributed throughout Africa by Geoconsult International.
[SatNews – 04/20/2011]

LightSquared signs bilateral roaming agreement with Cellular South, whose rural subscribers with no terrestrial coverage will get satellite coverage.
[SatNews – 04/20/2011]

World Teleport Association publishes “How to Deliver High Quality of Service 24x7x365” report exploring best practices of teleport operators.
[SatNews – 04/20/2011]

RUAG Space of Sweden gets order from Thales Alenia Space for 81 Payload Interface Units for the Iridium NEXT satellites.
[SatNews – 04/20/2011]

Globalstar completes equity investment in TrafficCast International.
[SatNews – 04/20/2011]

Korea’s 1st communications satellite, Cheollian, starts commercial operations.
[The Chosunilbo – 04/19/2011]

U.S. Space is awarded U.S. Air Force contract to study feasible acquisition alternatives to satisfy MILSATCOM needs.
[PR Newswire – 04/19/2011]

Eumetsat moves Meteosat-6 to graveyard orbit after more than 17 years of service.
[SatNews – 04/19/2011]

Hughes Communications India named 2011 Best VSAT Operator in India at Telecom Operator Awards ceremony.
[PR Newswire – 04/19/2011]

Satellite broadband providers Dish Network, Echostar Technologies, ViaSat/Wildblue and Hughes Networks want piece of FCC broadband fund.
[Multichannel – 04/19/2011]

Spot recalls satellite communicator due to loss of emergency communications capability.
[eNews Park Forest – 04/19/2011]

Spacenet acquires nationwide broadband network solutions provider Cicat Networks.
[Washington Technology – 04/18/2011]

Avanti Communications wins $7.6M refund from Space Exploration Technologies Corporation in New York court.
[Sharecast – 04/18/2011]

Thales Alenia Space awards Lockheed Martin payload application software development contract for Iridium NEXT satellites.
[PR Newswire – 04/18/2011]

African communications company Vodacom awards Hughes Network Systems contract to provide HN and HX broadband satellite solutions to expand its network.
[PR Newswire – 04/18/2011]

Terrestar seeks court approval to hold auction for all its assets.
[Reuters – 04/18/2011]

KVH receives order worth more than $3.7M from an international customer for the TLS tactical navigation system.
[Satellite Spotlight – 04/18/2011]

May 24 NSR webinar interview with Eutelsat to evaluate the global HTS sector and discuss KA-SAT and its role in the European telecom market.
[gotomeeting – May 24 webinar registration]

AEHF-1 crosses half-way mark to geosynchronous orbit in orbit-raising procedure planned following its failure to reach orbit during launch in August 2010.
[SatNews – 04/17/2011]

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