Archive for the ‘Space Business’ Category

Black Eye for Satcom at Black Hat?

Monday, August 4th, 2014

This week, at Black Hat USA in Las Vegas, Ruben Santamarta is to present his findings of how he was able to hack satcom terminals, at least in theory.

At first glance, especially with lots of alarming details from DailyTech, you’d think the party for in-flight WiFi via satcom was over. Their piece was based on a Reuters story, which wasn’t as frightening.

The theoretical hack involves low-bandwidth services using Inmarsat and Thuraya. In-flight broadband uses more bandwidth and wasn’t really included in the study. Managing unmanned terminals is common in this industry segment.

Take a look at the white paper (PDF) published by IOActive and see for yourself. You can be sure all those mentioned in the 25-page report are asking their engineers if this is indeed possible.

I wouldn’t worry about it much.


WBMSAT News Bits 08/01/2014

Sunday, August 3rd, 2014

DigitalGlobe revenue up despite steep drop in Russian business.
[Space News – 08/01/2014]

Artistic rendition of WorldView-4 courtesy of Lockheed Martin. – SatNews

DigitalGlobe announces plans to accelerate the launch of WorldView-4 to mid-2016 to meet demand from its Direct Access and other commercial customers.
[SatNews – 08/01/2014]

MEASAT Satellite Systems gets an agreement with Pilipinas Global Network Limited for capacity on MEASAT-3 to distribute Aksyon TV International and Kapatid TV5 to over 120 countries.
[SatNews – 08/01/2014]

Euroconsult report projects that on average 115 satellites will be launched per year over the next decade, generating U.S. $248 billion in revenue.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 07/31/2014]

Congressional study states the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office is buying intelligence satellites faster than necessary and calls for a slowdown.
[Space News – 07/31/2014]

NEC Corporation and the Mexican Space Agency have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of advanced satellites.
[PCB Design – 07/31/2014]

Eutelsat orders all-electric satellite, EUTELSAT 172B, from Airbus Defence and Space; pledges to investors that it will limit capital spending.
[Space News – 07/31/2014]

MDA satellite exports feel the effect of Canada’s tough stance on Russia.
[Space News – 07/31/2014]

Map of projected ground station sites. Photo: Spaceflight Inc – Via Satellite

Spaceflight Inc. to build 12 ground stations for new division, Spaceflight Inc., to provide satellite communications through a global network.
[Via Satellite – 07/31/2014]

Credit: NASA artist’s concept – Space News

NASA budgets around $130 million for seven-instrument science payload for the Mars 2020 rover.
[Space News – 07/31/2014]

Geolink Satellite Services to deploy iDirect’s X7 remotes to improve speed and performance for customers in the oil and gas, mining and maritime industries.
[Market Watch – 07/31/2014]

Eutelsat sees most important growth engine as broadcast, with potential for steady growth for many years to come, especially in the emerging markets.
[Bloomberg Businessweek – 07/31/2014]

SES has moved the operations for 23 satellites — roughly half the company’s fleet — to a new Satellite Operations Center (SOC) in Princeton, N.J.
[Via Satellite – 07/31/2014]

Airbus Group and Safran have selected a chief executive officer and outlined the board of directors for their new 50-50 joint European launch venture.
[Via Satellite – 07/31/2014]

DirecTV beats earnings estimates on demand for World Cup.
[Bloomberg – 07/31/2014]

SSTL subsidiary Surrey Satellite Technology US announced it is pursuing a second Orbital Test Bed (OTB) mission for 2016.
[Via Satellite – 07/31/2014]

Asia at Night. Photo: NASA Earth Observatory – Via Satellite

New report by Media Partners Asia predicts that DTH numbers in Asia will reach 110 million by 2018, up from 56.3 million in 2013.
[Via Satellite – 07/30/2014]

SSL delivers AsiaSat 6 to Cape Canaveral launch base where it is to be launched next month by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
[Digital Journal – 07/30/2014]

China certifies Iridium satellite communications systems for installation on 737-700 and -800 aircraft.
[MRO Network – 07/30/20104]

Spaceflight announces Spaceflight Networks to address need for cost-effective small-satellite data communications.
[Digital Journal – 07/30/2014]

Artist’s concept, GPS III satellite – Digital Insight Research

Lockheed Martin has awarded a contract to General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems to provide network communication systems for two more GPS III satellites.
[airforce-technology.com – 07/30/2014]

Iridium NEXT leverages Radisys’ T-series platform for its next generation ground station infrastructure.
[The Wall Street Journal – 07/30/2014]

Digital rendering, EUTELSAT 36C – Photo: Airbus Defence and Space – Via Satellite

MultiChoice Africa purchases entire 15 Ku-band payload on Eutelsat’s upcoming satellite EUTELSAT 36C.
[Via Satellite – 07/30/2014]

Orbcomm GES facility in South Korea. Photo: Orbcomm – Via Satellite

Orbcomm purchases GES site in Brazil; service provider partner Mahd Telecom gets regulatory approval to provide Orbcomm services in Oman.
[Via Satellite – 07/30/2014]

Satellite Information Services selects Level 3 Video Cloud to help improve quality of online streamed and broadcast content.
[Market Watch – 07/30/2014]

Type 3 X/Y tracking antenna. Photo: TSC – Via Satellite

Planet Labs contracts with Telecommunications Systems to build global satellite-tracking network.
[Via Satellite – 07/30/2014]

Delta 4 launches space surveillance satellites for the U.S. Air Force.
[Space News – 07/29/2014]

Digital rendering of Thales U.K. satellites. Photo: Thales U.K – Via Satellite

Thales UK planning to take lead role in creation of a new “mini” geostationary satellite bus.
[Via Satellite – 07/29/2014]

SASL selected for study on accommodating a NASA instrument to monitor air pollutants over North America on a commercial satellite. [Satellite Evolution Group – 07/29/2014]

Peter Beck, founder and CEO, Rocket Lab. Photo: Rocket Lab – Via Satellite

Rocket Lab announces Electron carbon-composite dedicated small satellite launch vehicle; first 30 launches have been booked.
[Via Satellite – 07/29/2014]

Boeing, in a first-of-its-kind arrangement for the company, is working with ViaSat to provide an integrated satellite service to a U.S. Government customer.
[PCB Design – 07/29/2014]

An O3b satellite. Photo: O3b – Via Satellite

GSA approves SES Government Solutions to sell O3b service to U.S. government.
[Via Satellite – 07/29/2014]

Techdemosat-1 – Space Daily image

SSTL marks completion of TechDemoSat-1 LEOP phase with a “selfie.”
[Space Daily – 07/29/2014]

NBN Co appoints IPSTAR as wholesaler for Australian Internet service .
[Satellite Evolution Group – 07/29/2014]

Lockheed Martin approves DeLorme’s inReach satellite communicator for use in the company’s Adverse Condition Alerting Service and Surveillance-Enhanced Search and Rescue.
[Via Satellite – 07/29/2014]

A GOES-R Spacecraft System and Propulsion Modules in Lockheed Martin Cleanroom // NOAA – Nextgov

NOAA satellite data stolen from contractor’s PC in 2013 but incident could not be investigated since employee would not turn over PC.
[Nextgov – 07/28/2014]

Chief scientist for orbital debris with NASA’s orbital debris program office says cooperation between the U.S. and Russia is essential to reign in proliferation of space debris.
[Via Satellite – 07/28/2014]

Intelsat General and 13 other U.S. space companies will have an opportunity to bid on task orders designed to streamline the process of getting government capabilities into orbit (hosted payloads).
[Wall Street Journal – 07/28/2014]

The Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) launches “How Satellites Make a Better World” infosite to catalogue enormous contributions of satellite technology to the world.
[SatNews – 07/28/2014]

55th Strategic Communications Squadron receive DISA top award in recognition of excellence.
[SatNews – 07/28/2014]

Iridium announces broad availability of the world’s first truly global mobile satellite hotspot, Iridium GO!.
[Market Watch – 07/28/2014]

Xplornet plans “unprecedented” expansion of high-speed Internet to all of rural Canada.
[The Globe and Mail – 07/28/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services


WBMSAT News Bits 07/28/2014

Sunday, August 3rd, 2014

Free NSR webinar July 30 – Energy Markets via Satellite: Is There a Market Beyond Deep Water?
[NSR – July 30]

The United States claims China conducted a “non-destructive” test of an anti-satellite missile July 23 and called for China to end the development of such capabilities.
[Space News – 07/28/2014]

Bandwidth demand for maritime markets to exceed 160 satellite transponders by 2023.
[NSR – 07/28/2014]

Communication with Russian satellite Photon-M restored.
[Science Recorder 07/26/2014]

Ariane 5 approaches the launch pad – SatNews file photo.

Ariane 5 gets ready for launch of heaviest-ever payload as is rolls out the rocket for the July 29 liftoff of the final ATV mission.
[SatNews – 07/28/2014]

Europa concept is a nuclear-powered probe known as Clipper (above). Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech artist’s concept – Space News

If NASA sends a nuclear-powered probe to Jupiter’s moon Europa, it would launch no sooner than 2024, and effectively rule out other nuclear missions to the outer solar system before then.
[Space News – 07/28/2014]

Eutelsat America Corp has been awarded a contract by the US Air Force to support the deployment of future US Government payloads (hosted payloads) on its satellites.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 07/28/2014]

MTN continues to lead the cruise market.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 07/28/2014]

Viasat acquires Gray Labs and gets  its high-rate modem product line and custom spacecraft technologies for Earth observation.
[SatNews – 07/28/2014]

Avanti and Yahsat reportedly first to order satellites from Orbital Sciences based on the new GeoStar-3 higher-power satellite frame.
[Space News – 07/25/2014]

SES 12 – Credit: SES – Space News

SES ordered its first high-throughput satellite because it was unable to provide optimal service to certain government and mobility customers with a conventional wide-beam satellite.
[Space News – 07/25/2014]

ULA rocket with DMSP satellite – Credit: ULA photo – Space News

U.S. Department of Defense wants to reprogram money this year to boost the number of competitively awarded contracts under its primary satellite launching program.
[Space News – 07/25/2014]

WB-57 – Credit: NASA photo by Sean Smith – Space News

NASA crew of WB-57  caught sight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 as it ascended, and of the first stage as it plummeted toward the ocean, but was unable to get a good shot of the descending stage’s first engine burn.
[Space News – 07/25/2014]

Rockwell Collins sells its military ground-based satellite communications business.
[Market Watch – 07/25/2014]

In preparation for Iridium NEXT, the company has issued more than 30 RFPs to build new broadband subscriber products.
[Via Satellite – 07/25/2014]

Thales Alenia Space claims it holds a profit advantage over rival Airbus. Defence and Space.
[Space News – 07/25/2014]

API Technologies wins million dollar order for manufacture of commercial satellite communication systems.
[Market Watch – 07/25/2014]

SpaceX Dragon capsule berths at the International Space Station // NASA // Nextgov

SpaceX scores partial victory in bid to get slice of government contracting, as a federal judge agrees to review a multi-bi8llion-dollar contract awarded to ULA without competition.
[Nextgov – 07/25/2014]

Japanese airline Skymark Airlines is providing In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) free of charge to fliers via Panasonic Avionics’s eXConnect global connectivity service.
[Via Satellite – 07/25/2014]

RSCC, in partnership with OOO Isatel, put satellite-supported broadband equipment on board the Russian research/survey vessel Akademik Tryoshnikov for Artic mission.
[SatNews – 07/25/2014]

Surrey Satellite Technology US has decided on five payloads to carry on the company’s Orbital Test Bed (OTB) mission in 2016
[Via Satellite – 07/25/2014]

Rally – OFFROAD.COM file photo – OFFROAD.COM

SATMODO provides satellite phones for BAJA RALLY.
[Off-Road.com – 07/25/2014]

Intelsat completes move from Washington DC’s Van Ness neighborhood to Tysons.
[Tech Bisnow – 07/25/2014]

Hughes, Thales showcase rapidly deployable LTE network using 700 MHz public safety spectrum & satellite.
[PCC Mobile Broadband – 07/25/2014]

The launch of three U.S. Air Force space surveillance satellites July 24 was postponed for the second time in as many days, this time because of weather conditions.
[Space News – 07/24/2014]

Roscosmos photo – The Moscow Times

Russian Communications and Mass Media Minister wants Russia to produce all of its communications satellites on home soil as sanctions threaten availability of high-tech components.
[The Moscow Times – 07/24/2014]

NASA’s Mars Odyssey spacecraft passes above Mars’ south pole in this artist’s concept illustration handout released by NASA July 24, 2012. – Reuters

NASA puts out a call for a commercially owned and operated satellite network on Mars.
[Reuters – 07/24/2014]

Via Satellite file map – Via Satellite

NOAA has awarded a license to Tempus Global Data for a hyperspectral imaging and sounding system constellation.
[Via Satellite – 07/24/2014]

Space Systems/Loral (SSL is one of the companies selected by NASA to study system concepts and key technologies for NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 07/24/2014]

China Eastern Airlines offers broadband connected flights over China using China Telecom Satellite aeronautical service and Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s eXConnect system.
[Market Watch – 07/24/2014]

Retiring Senator Jay Rockefeller hopes to lay groundwork for congressional action that would allow online video services to offer even more programming options than cable and satellite companies could.
[National Journal – 07/23/2014]

Budget cuts and newly developing threats to operations in space demand change in calculus on resiliency of the Defense space program.
[U.S. Department of Defense – 07/23/2014]

SES launches first free-to-air digital TV platform in West Africa.
[ScreenAfrica – 07/23/2014]

Ultra-HD TVs make gains but still lack market penetration according to IHS.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 07/23/2014]

Web-connected cabins offer investment opportunities as the market for inflight internet is set to grow to $2.1 billion by 2023 according to Euroconsult report.
[Reuters – 07/22/2014]

Honeywell’s latest passenger survey on In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) shows just how much the mindset toward flying connected has changed.
[Via Satellite – 07/22/2014]

Purdue University students to test green rocket propellant they developed, partnering with Aerojet Rocketdyne to demonstrate the fuel can replace hydrazine.
[R&D Magazine – 07/22/2014]

UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) has announced a ground-breaking strategic partnership with the private sector to deliver e-learning programs in Kenya to thousands of marginalized girls.
[SatNews – 07/22/2014]

Despite oversupply in a few regions and bands due to accelerated satellite construction, NSR projects the market will grow by 76 percent, from about $11.8 Billion currently to $21.1 Billion by 2023.
[SatNews – 07/21/2014]

Arianespace wins launch contract for Sentinel 1B satellite.
[Via Satellite – 07/21/2014]

O3b begins service with full initial constellation.
[Via Satellite – 07/21/2014]

China and Brazil agree to continue the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite program with an additional satellite, CBERS 4A.
[Via Satellite – 07/21/2014]

SatNews graphic – SatNews

Department of Defense awards satcom support contracts for SSC Pacific. [SatNews – 07/21/2014]

DARPA awards SSL contract for flight hardware capable of taking a variety of small missions to space aboard the company’s GEO satellite platform.
[Via Satellite – 07/22/2014]

NOAA photo of magnetometer – Nextgov

The fifth of six instruments to be carried by the GOES-R next generation weather satellites, the magnetometer, is now ready for integration.
[Nextgov – 07/21/2014]

Liquid Telecom steps up resources leased from Eutelsat to meet increasing demand for IP connectivity from broad portfolio of clients including national parks and mining and exploration.
[SatNews – 07/21/2014]

Airbus Defense and Space expands strategic agreement with Inmarsat on Global Xpress high-speed broadband to resell to U.S. government market.
[Space Daily – 07/21/2014]

AltegroSky Group’s acquisition of CJSC’s “Moskovsky Teleport” allow entry into new market segments of satellite communications.
[SatNews – 07/21/2014]

Inmarsat keen on offering India high-tech services of monitoring climate, power grids, and water levels in reservoirs in real-time without human intervention.
[Zee News – 07/20/2014]

NSR report, “Global Satellite Capacity Supply and Demand, 11th Edition” now available.
[NSR – July 2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services


WBMSAT News Bits 07/17/2014

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014

Satellite companies on the Future Space 2014 event panel “Return of Wicked Cool Space Technology,” discussed advanced satellite manufacturing and launch systems.
[Via Satellite – 07/18/2014]

Futron announces the release of the 2014 Space Competitiveness Index.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 07/18/2014]

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), prime contractor for Orbcomm’s OG2 satellites, has established communication with the first six spacecraft launched July 14, 2014.
[Via Satellite 07/18/2014]

GPS3 satellite – Credit: Lockheed Martin artist’s concept – Space News

Senate spending bill directs U.S. Air Force to develop alternative GPS payload.
[Space News – 07/18/2014]

Short-term demand for 4K/Ultra-HD televisions hindered by lack of consumer awareness and sensitivity to the cost of the advanced sets.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 07/18/2014]

UAE reveals plans for unmanned mission to Mars by 2021.
[Reuters – 07/16/2014]

Two space satellites for India will be manufactured in Russia.
[ITAR TASS – 07/16/2014]

Liquid Telecom extends Eutelsat contract to 2019.
[Via Satellite – 07/18/2014]

Artist rendition of the SES 12. Photo: SES – Via Satellite

SES selects Airbus to build new hybrid high throughput communications satellite SES 12 to increase capacity available in the Asia Pacific region.
[Via Satellite – 07/17/2014]

DoD official says a replacement for the RD-180 Russian rocket used for satellite launches could take 8 years and cost $2 billion.
[Via Satellite – 07/17/2014]

Russia installs Glonass satellite station in Brazil.
[Via Satellite – 07/17/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space and Inmarsat expand Global Xpress partnership.
[Via Satelli9te – 07/17/2014]

Virgin Galactic sets sights on 2016 for LauncherOne.
[Via Satellite – 07/16/20147]

– SatNews file image

Dauria Aerospace tapped by India-based satcom provider Aniara to design and build two new generation, small, Ku-band geostationary satellites.
[SatNews – 07/16/2014]

Hughes Network Systems hiring more engineers to expand satellite services.
[Gazette.Net – 07/16/2014]

MCS TV and Newslux choose Eutelsat to drive TV channel expansion in Southeast Asia.
Market Watch – 07/16/2014]

middle east on line file photo

United Arab Emirates announces it will create a space agency with the aim of sending the first Arab unmanned probe to Mars by 2021.
[Middle East Online – 07/16/2014]

SpaceX has completed the long-awaited launch of Orbcomm’s first batch of second-generation satellites.
[Via Satellite – 07/15/2014]

Northrop Grumman breaks ground at site for its new government-focused satellite facility, the Maryland Space Assembly and Test building.
[Via Satellite – 07/15/2014]

Korean manufacturer KNS announces the launch of its C-Band 2.2m satellite antenna in two variations.
[The Digital Ship – 07/15/2014]

Milpeak announces the expansion of its satellite communication rental services to cover the needs of the mining and exploration industry.
[Digital Journal – 07/15/2014]

Arabsat signs lifetime use agreement with Asia Broadcast Satellite for a multi-Ku-band payload on ABS3A to be launched later this year or early next year.
[Via Satellite – 07/15/2014]

North American M2M satellite communications market projected to be worth $1.43 billion by 2019 in new report by MicroMarket Monitor.
[Digital Journal – 07/14/2014]

Loral is in the final chapter of its corporate life and is in the process of selling its last significant asset, Telesat.
[Seeking Alpha 07/14/2014]

Orbital Sciences launches Cygnus to ISS with 28 CubeSats for Planet Labs.
[Via Satellite – 07/14/2014]

A Falcon 9 rocket in a hangar. Photo: SpaceX – Space News

SpaceX confirms the Air Force has certified the Falcon 9 rocket as meeting the three-launch prerequisite for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program.
[Via Satellite – 07/14/2014]

Raytheon prepares to deliver on the FAB-T contract shortly after winning the U.S. Air Force competition for the family of Beyond Line of Sight Terminals.
[Via Satellite – 07/14/2014]

EBU uses NovelSat’s modulators to broadcast three World Cup matches in Ultra-HD, including the final game between Germany and Argentina.
[Via Satellite – 07/14/2014]

Satcom Direct expands Savannah, GA, office to provide additional classrooms for training airline employees on aircraft cabin satellite communications.
[Via Satellite – 07/14/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services


No Free Speech or Paids Ads in Russia

Wednesday, July 16th, 2014

The remnants of totalitarian communism in Russia refuses to go away. Putin’s mafia-style government first tried to take down the satellite TV signal of Dozhd, one of the few remaining independent channels. The channel is available via Yamal 300K, Eutelsat 36B, Astra 4A, and Dish Network in the U.S. (via Anik F3).

Now the government wants to ban advertising on any channel beside FTA television, most of which is state-owned or controlled. Removing one of the main sources of revenue is their way of putting them out of business.

Dozens of small and independent Russian television stations could face closure after lawmakers approved a controversial bill banning advertising on cable and satellite channels.

The proposal would also consolidate state-controlled channels’ dominance of the advertisement market.

The surprise bill raced through Russia’s State Duma, the lower house of parliament, last week, sailing through its three compulsory readings in just two sessions.

Excluded from the ban are “national, compulsory, universally accessible” channels and those conveyed by terrestrial broadcasting — meaning all the state-controlled channels that currently dominate Russian television.

Advocates say the new law aims to end unfair competition on the television market, where pay channels supposedly benefit from mixed funding schemes — subscription fees and advertising — while free broadcast channels are limited to commercials.

But the heads of 15 pay channels, including Natalya Sindeyeva of opposition-leaning Dozhd TV, have written a letter to the government warning that the ban will sound the death knell for more than half of Russia’s cable and satellite channels.

“Excluding the advertising model could place about 150 thematic pay channels on the brink of survival,” the letter says. “Raising payments for television services may lead to understandable customer dissatisfaction.”

The signatories also warn that the new law will hurt small and medium-sized businesses currently advertising on pay channels since “only big-business representatives can afford advertising on federal channels.”

Read the letter in Russian here. Behold the quick translation into English…

From an article in the newspaper “Kommersant” from 26/06/14, we were surprised to learn that in the State Duma in an expedited manner planned to adopt a package of amendments to the “Law on Advertising.” Our keen interest aroused amendment prohibiting advertising on pay channels. We believe that consideration of this amendment, the State Duma of the Russian Federation should take into account the following circumstances:

1. Absolutely no obvious reason why television channels necessary in law to impose a particular model in the market. We believe that any TV channel can select or advertising model, or paid, or mixed. The choice of a model should be determined solely by market mechanisms rather than the provisions of the legislation. According to our information the absence of such legislative restrictions characteristic of the vast majority of countries around the world.

2. Most pay-TV channels now uses both models of monetization of their business – and advertising and paid. Exception advertising model will deliver about 150 paid thematic channels on the brink of survival. It is possible, the financial burden will be shifted to the subscribers. Services of the largest Russian operators used by tens of millions of Russian citizens. Increased pay for TV service can lead to understandable frustration consumers.

3. Please note that the central channels of essential federal campaigns can afford only representatives of big business. For medium and small business advertising on such channels is not available due to its high cost. But representatives of small and medium businesses can promote on the Russian market their products and services by means of pay-TV channels. They can appeal to the audience of thematic channels, which are most likely to consume their product or service at feasible prices for their business. Ban such advertising can lead to a significant delay in the development of small and medium-sized businesses in our country. We believe that this provision of the legislation is contrary to public policy to support small and medium-sized businesses.

Appeal with the proposal to postpone consideration of this amendment in the spring session of the State Duma. Propose to discuss the amendment with the business community, and nominate it for discussion by the State Duma in view of his opinions.

This is ridiculous, yet typical of Putin’s stupidity. Gutting the Russian economy is obviously not a consideration.

People will find want they want from other sources: the truth.


SpaceX Falcon-9 Feeds The Reefer

Monday, July 14th, 2014

Congrats to ORBCOMM, providers of ReeferTrak and other fine services, on their launch this morning…

Thanks to SpaceX for bolting a rocketcam to the fuselage!


WBMSAT News Bits 07/11/2014

Friday, July 11th, 2014

European satellite operators underline the crucial role that satellite plays in the roll-out of future digital infrastructures
[Space Daily – 07/11/2014]

Display of the launch area of the proposed SpaceX facility in Brownsville, Texas. Credit: Draft from FAA, April 2013 – Space News

FAA ruling clears path for SpaceX launch site in Texas.
[Space News – 07/11/2014]

Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) have signed a contract to build the Alsat-1B Earth Observation satellite.
[Space Daily – 07/11/2014]

Soyuz rocket launches second batch of O3b satellites from French Guiana.
[Space News – 07/10/2014]

The next MUOS satellite to launch (foreground) – Photo: Lockheed Martin – Via Satellite

Lockheed Martin MUOS satellite completes testing on schedule.
[Via Satellite – 07/10/2014]

Eumetsat and the European Commission on July 8 said they expected to reach agreement on financing a long-delayed U.S-French ocean-altimetry satellite by October.
[Space News – 07/10/2014]

SES puts spotlight on hybrid networks to meet future video demand, expected to be driven in large part by proliferation of Ultra HD.
[Via Satellite – 07/10/2014]

General Dynamics to supply tri-band communications radome to Boeing for inflight passenger satellite broadband services.
[AsiaTravelTips – 07/10/2014]

Globecomm begins offering Mobile Virtual Network Operator services worldwide.
[Via Satellite – 07/10/2014]

Emerging Markets Communications subsidiary EMC Satcom Technologies is selected by Bank Rakyat Indonesia to provide satellite connectivity for its banking applications.
[SatNews – 07/10/2014]

NSSLGlobal opened its Southbury Conn. Teleport to new and existing customers.
[Via Satellite – 07/10/2014]

Government funding for space on the road to recovery – Euroconsult report.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 07/09/2014]

Russian Soyuz-2.1b rocket carried Russia’s Meteor M2 weather satellite along with six small satellites for domestic and international customers into orbit July 8.
[Via Satellite – 07/09/2014]

European launch industry adapting to market – in mid-June, first, Airbus and Safran agreed to merge their launch vehicle operations into a 50-50 joint-venture; second, they proposed a new design for Ariane-6.
[NSR – 07/09/2014]

A Japan Airlines (JAL) flight. Photo: Aero Icarus (Flickr) – Via Satellite

In-flight connectivity (IFC) has become a top market opportunity for the satellite industry but despite this Euroconsult believes it will not be a profitable market until 2023.
[Via Satellite – 07/09/2014]

Credit: ISEE-3 Reboot Project artist’s concept – Space News

NASA’s International Earth/Sun Explorer (ISEE)-3 will not be resuming its original mission after all, as propulsion system fails.
[Space News – 07/09/2014]

Avascent acquires the satellite, space, and telecommunications businesses of Futron Corporation.
[Market Watch – 07/09/2014]

Hughes and Tampa Microwave partner on manpack satellite terminals.
[Via Satellite – 07/09/2014]

ASC Signal releases new 2.5m carbon fiber antenna capable of operating in L-, X-, C-, Ku-, Ka-, Q- and V- bands, winds military contract.
[Via Satellite – 07/09/2014]

Failed Russian Yamal-201 satellite tumbling uncontrollably in space is threatening to damage operating spacecraft in geostationary orbit.
[inagist –  07/08/2014]

The ISEE-3 (ICE) spacecraft. // NASA – Nextgov

Quest to save NASA’s long-lost ISEE-3 probe by amateur scientists and engineers has outside chance of succeeding.
[Nextgov – 07/08/2014]

Intelsat has continued to show confidence in Boeing’s 702MP (Medium Power) platform, placing its ninth order with the company to build the Intelsat 35e Epic Next Generation satellite.
[Via Satellite – 07/08/2014]

The US and Australia will jointly expand an Australian spy base in Western Australia that would allow real-time satellite communication for US and Australian military operations.
[itnews – 07/08/2014]

Thuraya Telecommunications Company now has a partnership with Satellite Communication SA, a provider of data communications and voice services in Europe.
[SatNews – 07/08/2014]

Thuraya steps up efforts to commission next set of satellites, with RFI to be issued in next couple of months.
[Via Satellite – 07/08/2014]

Dauria Aerospace, a Russian startup company, has encouraged radio enthusiasts to locate and track its newest satellite, DX 1, launched aboard a Soyuz rocket on July 8, 2014.
[Via Satellite – 07/08/2014]

Swing Transport, a privately owned logistics company, has chosen Orbcomm’s GT1100 asset tracking solution for its fleet of more than 1,000 dry van trailers.
[Via Satellite – 07/08/2014]

Indonesian turbulence: two satellite owners, both claiming government backing, order competing satellites for the same orbital slot.
[Space News – 07/07/2014]

Thales Alenia Space has initiated a project with the European Union and a consortium of companies called HIPPO: High-Power Photonics for Satellite Laser Communications and On-Board Optical Processing.
[Via Satellite – 07/07/2014]

Laser Light Communications, a company focused on becoming the first Optical Satellite Service (OSS) provider, is close to opening a major facility called the High Articulation Laser Optics (HALO) Center.
[Via Satellite – 07/07/2014]

Space Systems/Loral (SSL) announces it was selected to provide a multi-mission communications satellite to Spanish satellite operator HISPASAT.
[SatNews – 07/07/2014]

Deep Blue, a Technip vessel – Digital Ship

MTN Communications announces it has won a contract that more than doubles the number of Technip vessels it supplies with broadband connectivity.
[Digital Ship – 07/07/2014]

Iridium’s application to provide global maritime distress and safety system services receives support from International Maritime Organization subcommittee.
[MarineLink – 07/07/2014]

Iridium Communications Inc. and SpaceX announce the successful completion of dispenser qualification testing for the Iridium NEXT constellation.
[SatNews – 07/07/2014]

Defence departments and now civil government customers can rapidly convert existing radios to access the Inmarsat L-TAC network through the simple addition of a small converter and antenna.
[SatNews – 07/07/2014]

iGT offers advancements in satcom connectivity to meet DoD and Intelligence requirements for increased bandwidth and throughput.
[Marketwatch – 07/07/2014]

EUTELSAT 3B satellite fully fired up at 3 degrees East.
[MarketWatch – 07/06/2014]

NSR’s Nano and Microsatellite Markets provides unique insight into the emerging market for nano and microsatellites across all key applications.
[NSR reports – July 2014]

FREE WEBINAR July 30 – ENERGY MARKETS VIA SATELLITE: IS THERE A MARKET BEYOND DEEP-WATER?
[NSR – July 30]

[WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services


Angara!

Thursday, July 10th, 2014

Interesting to read of the Angara project’s history, via Russian Space Web

The collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991 had profound effects on the Russian space program. The nation’s main space launch site in Baikonur ended up in the newly independent Kazakhstan, while several major suppliers of rocket components along with key tracking facilities were now in Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry had the most reasons to worry about losing its capability to launch strategically important military satellites, in case of a conflict between former Soviet republics.

On Aug. 3, 1992, less than a year after the failed coup to overthrow Mikhail Gorbachev had instead triggered the final convulsion of the Soviet state, Russia’s Military Space Forces approved a new assessment on the state and prospects of the nation’s launch systems. (355) The document set the course toward the development of a new launch vehicle, whose design and launch facilities would not rely on contractors outside Russia. A month and a half later, on September 15, the Russian government issued an official decree giving the rocket industry the task to conceptualize the best architecture for a heavy space launch vehicle, which would be dubbed Angara after a great Siberian river.

The future rocket was required to carry up to 24 tons to low Earth orbit and up to 3.5 tons to geostationary orbit. The new launch vehicle was expected to replace Proton after 2005. Similar studies aimed to eventually built the Neva light-weight launch vehicle capable of delivering four tons of payload to the low Earth orbit and thus replacing the Ukrainian-built Tsyklon and for the medium-class Yenisey launcher designed to replace Zenit. (264)

The new heavy rocket would be first based at Russia’s northern space port in Plesetsk, however, in 1994, plans were also made to deploy it at a future new launch site in Svobodny with a much better geographical location in the Russian Far East.

The launch complex, or cosmodrome, is less than 100 miles from the Chinese border and the Russian Federation is comprised of many ethnic groups.

What if the R.F. breaks apart even further? Putin will surely go down in history as the biggest Russian asshole ever.


HIPPO Hurricane Holler

Wednesday, July 9th, 2014

High power photonics for satellite communications and on-board optical signal processing — that spells HIPPO. Considering their objectives, this is the future of space-based communications and some day will replace the RF technology used by today’s satcom spacecraft.

NASA recently proved lasers work well and the increase in throughput will be a revolutionary game-changer.


WBMSAT News Bits 07/03/2014

Thursday, July 3rd, 2014

Airbus Defense and Space and Azercosmos launch low orbit satellite, SPOT-7.
[Azernews – 07/03/2014]

Galileo satellite – Credit: OHB artist’s concept – Space News

Sudden power loss leaves a Galileo satellite in safe mode.
[Space News – 07/03/2014]

Northrop and Boeing respond to U.S. Air Force GPS 3 solicitation.
[Space News – 07/03/2014]

Orbit Communication Systems and Inmarsat sign MOA on manufacturing of aviation terminals for Global Xpress serving the government market.
[Bernam – 07/03/2014]

All-volunteer team manages to activate propulsion system on NASA’s International Sun-Earth Explorer (ISEE) -3 at 11th hour; will attempt to return the satellite to Lagrange Point 1.
[Space News – 07/03/2014]

Tour de France chooses satellite phones from Globalstar to stay in touch.
[Sourcewire – 07/03/2014]

OCO 2 launch. Photo: ULA – Via Satellite

ULA launches NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 satellite from Vandenberg AFB.
[Via Satellite – 07/02/2014]

Inmarsat chooses SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket for upcoming joint-satellite launch, and two additional launch missions.
[Via Satellite – 07/02/2014]

Hawaiian governor signs two bills totaling $750,000 for groundbreaking PISCES initiatives in partnership with NASA.
[Big Island Video News – 07/02/2014]

Inmarsat issues notice of default to LightSquared, having not received payment due under cooperation agreement between the two companies.
[London South East – 07/02/2014]

Hispasat chooses SSL to build multi-mission Hispasat 1F.
[The Wall Street Journal – 07/01/2014]

Satellogic’s final prototype satellite, BugSat 1. Photo: Satellogic – Via Satellite

Argentinian startup Satellogic gears up for large scale imaging constellation.
[Via Satellite – 07/01/2014]

ViaSat and Eutelsat agreement allows service access on roaming on each other’s HTS Ka-band broadband satellites.
[socal tech – 07/01/2014]

DoD awards blanket purchase agreement to Airbus Defense and Space for L-band satellite communications including Inmarsat BGAN, Fleetbroadband and Swiftbroadband airtime.
[Via Satellite – 07/01/2014]

First images acquired from JAXA’s DAICHI 2 earth surface monitoring satellite.
[Via Satellite – 07/01/2014]