Really Rocket Science

High winds delay launch of Astra 5B and Amazonas 4A.
[Broadband TV News – 03/21/2014]

Satellites pick up two significant objects in the southern Indian Ocean southwest of Australia, one estimated at 78 feet long, and ships are steaming quickly toward both.
[Hot Air – 03/20/2014]

Malaysia Airlines Jet – NDTV file photo

Missing flight MH370 puts spotlight on satellite technologies that could ensure tracking and communicating with aircraft over water and uninhabited areas.
[NDTV Gadgets – 03/20/2014]

Congress acknowledges need for new acquisition models for DOD to obtain needed satellite bandwidth – recorded Federal News Radio panel discussion with SES GS CEO and
government officials and consultants.
[Federal News Radio – 03/20/2014]

NewSpace Global releases 2014 SmallSat report examining global industry leaders, major investors, and sources of revenue in this sometimes obscure market.
[SatNews – 03/20/2014]

KazSat-3 at the testing and assembling division of Baikonur cosmodrome. ©RIA Novosti

KazSat-3 being readied for shipment to Baikonur.
[Tengri News – 03/20/2014]

Orbital drops antitrust lawsuit against United Launch Alliance.
[Space News – 03/20/2014]

Es/HailSat solicits bids for second satellite.
[Space News – 03/20/2014]

RRsat plans expansion in US market, opening a new office in the United States.
[Via Satellite – 03/20/2014]

Exelis installs its satellite communications on-the-move technology into the U.S. Army Stryker vehicle during the Army Expeditionary Warfighting Experiment at Fort Benning, GA.
[Executive Biz – 03/20/2014]

M7 group selects EUTELSAT 9A to launch its new pay-TV platform in Hungary.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 03/20/2014]

Speedcast strengthens it leadership position in the Asian maritime market with new facilities in Singapore.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 03/20/2014]

SES reaches 291 million TV homes around the world, with 151 million in Europe; sees room for growth in Latin America.
[Via Satellite – 03/19/2014]

DMSP-19 encapsulation within the Atlas V launch vehicle payload fairing represents an important milestone for the DMSP-19 launch campaign.
[Los Angeles AFB – 03/19/2014]

Arianespace launch – Satellite Evolution Group file photo

Arianespace calls for opening of U.S. government market to international launch services competition.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 03/19/2014]

Head of Germany’s space agency urges ESA to scrap the favored Ariane 6 plans.
[Space News – 03/19/2014]

Gogo receives supplemental type certificate from FAA to install Ku-band satellite connectivity service on Airbus A330 aircraft.
[Yahoo Finance – 03/19/2014]

Inmarsat signs contract with Hughes Network Systems to manufacture the new Low Profile BGAN terminal.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 03/19/2014]

Globecomm Maritime forms a strategic relationship with Future Care, Inc, to create Future Care Live, a video-enabled telemedicine solution.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 03/19/2014]

Gilat introduces StealthRay 300X-M Low-Profile Ultra-Compact X-Band Satellite-on-the-Move Antenna.
[ThomasNet News – 03/19/2014]

RSCC and Thales Alenia Space successfully launch two new Russian communications and broadcasting satellites, Express At1 and At2.
[Via Satellite – 03/18/2014]

Former Arianespace chief says SpaceX has advantage on cost in testimony to French Senate.
[Space News – 03/18/2014]

GeoStar 3 platform – Space Daily file photo

Orbital introduces the GEOStar-3 commercial communications satellite platform.
[Space Mart – 03/18/2014]

Pentagon weaning itself from controversial bandwidth lease with Hong Kong firm.
[Space News – 03/18/2014]

Ball Aerospace powers on bus of the first Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-1) satellite for the first time.
[Yahoo Finance – 03/18/2014]

File photo CCL3 – MarineLink.com

An alliance between France’s Orolia, and Transas Group aims to integrate Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and Search and Rescue (SAR) functionality into enhanced marine communication solutions.
[MarineLink – 03/18/2014]

Harris Broadcast splits into two separate companies: Imagine Communications and Gates Air.
[Via Satellite – 03/18/2014]

Gogo’s business group Aircell unveils its ST 4300, a new in-flight communications system for business aircraft.
[Via Satellite – 03/18/2014]

Elektrobit completes a multi-year study with European Space Agency (ESA), analyzing the benefits of using multiple antennas (MIMO) in satellite communications.
[CIOL – 03/18/2014]

Airbus Defense and Space launch new high throughput satcom services featuring Ku-, X-, and Ka-bands without need to change antenna systems.
[Space Daily – 03/18/2014]

Gilat SkyEdge II-c Capricorn IP Router offers throughput exceeding 200 Mbps.
[Thomas Net – 03/18/2014]

Moscow accuses Ukraine of electronic attack on satellite.
[Free Beacon – 03/17/2014]

M2M satellite communication market to grow at a CAGR of 9.8% to 2019 according to RnRsMarketResearch report.
[Satellite Spotlight – 03/17/2014]

Global Satellite Communication market in the Oil and Gas industry is to grow at a CAGR of 5.74 percent over the period 2013-2018.
[Live – PR – 03/17/2014]

Arab satellite pay-TV market expected to grow at steady pace from 2014 to 2017, with room for more entrants into the market.
[Via Satellite – 03/17/2014]

Azerbaijan and Argentina to cooperate in outer space.
[azernews – 03/17/2014]

kangshutters/shutterstock.com – CGN

GSA renews satellite-based training network contract with Hughes Network Systems.
[GCN – 03/17/2014]

Orange Business Services joins European Union to assist in development of cloud-based ship management platform.
[Via Satellite – 03/17/2014]

Satellite signals can confirm plane’s identity.
[KETV – 03/17/2014]

PlanetLabs small satellite – New York Times

Start-up Planet Labs aims to conquer space market, launching dozens of small satellites to provide near constant observation of Earth.
[New York Times – 03/16/2014]

Arabsat issues an RFP for four new satellites, to be designated HS3, HS4, AR6E and AR6A.
[Broadband TV News – 03/16/2014]

Gilat Satellite Networks chosen by Inmarsat as Gobal Xpress services partner for new fixed land VSAT opportunities.
[Space Ref – 03/16/2014]

TECOM antenna – Avionics Intelligence

Ka-band tail-mounted satellite communications antenna for in-flight Internet connectivity introduced by TECOM.
[Avionics Intelligence – 03/16/2014]

VSAT Auto-commissioning systems enable accurate VSAT pointing, crosspol, and power adjustment, providing feedback to the installer from a carrier monitoring system over the VSAT link.
[SatMagazine – March issue]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Continuing satellite system handshake signal after other communications had been turned off leads to conclusions that someone on Malaysian flight deliberately altered its flight path to one of two corridors.
[Fox News – 03/15/2014]

Inmarsat says it had recorded electronic “keep alive” ping signals from the missing Malaysia Airlines jet after it disappeared.
[NY Times – 03/14/2014]

Survey by MarketsandMarkets puts worth of M2M satellite communications market at $4.763 billion by 2019.
[Yahoo Finance – 03/14/2014]

Arieanespace launch – Credit: Arianespace photo – Space News

SES threatens to cease future dealings with Arianespace unless SES’s O3b Networks broadband satellites are given a spring launch slot also coveted by the European Commission for the commission’s Galileo spacecraft.
[Space News – 03/14/2014]

Jury trial to begin March 26 to determine whether satellite broadband provider ViaSat Inc. is right in claiming $800 million in patent-infringement damages from satellite builder Loral Space and Communications.
[Space News – 03/14/2014]

SpaceX delays its next supply run to the international space station after discovering an oily residue on thermal blankets that protect the trunk of the Dragon cargo capsule.
[Space News – 03/14/2014]

Inmarsat is negotiating with fleet operator Arabsat on the placement of an Inmarsat S-band payload aboard Arabsat’s Hellas Sat 3 satellite.
[Space News – 03/14/2014]

PhoneSat 2.5 – Phys-Org file photo

NASA prepares to launch fifth in a series of smartphone-controlled small spacecraft into orbit; PhoneSat 2.5 to be carried into orbit sunday, March 16 as part of SpaceX cargo for International Space Station.
[Phys-Org – 03/14/2014]

Cobham Satcom, an Inmarsat Global Xpress partner, announces two new maritime terminals and three new land mobile terminals for Inmarsat’s new satellite network.
[Via Satellite – 03/14/2014]

DRS is awarded $30 million contract to operate control and maintain satellite communications between the continental U.S. and worldwide locations.
[AFCEA – 03/14/2014]

Nearly a week after Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 vanished U.S. investigators say based on an analysis of satellite signals from the Boeing 777, it may have landed at some point.
[Examiner – 03/13/2014]

Chief of the space services department at the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau expresses surprise to hear satellite executives brag about their prowess in playing fast and loose with the rules.
[Space News – 03/13/2014]

Credit – Arianespace photo – Space News

Commercial launch service providers raise the possibility of Europe’s Ariane 5 rocket becoming American, the international Sea Launch becoming Russian and the high-cost Japanese H-2A rocket becoming cost competitive.
[Space News – 03/13/2014]

Malaysian airliner disappearance highlights need for Aireon’s satellite air traffic system.
[Seeking Alpha – 03/13/2014]

Northrup begins integrating new 20 GHz high-speed phased array antenna into fourth Advanced EHF communications payload.
[Satellite Spotlight – 03/13/2014]

Credit – Excelis artist’s concept – Space News

Lockheed Martin solicits info on alternative navigation payload similar to the one that has delayed the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation GSP-3 system.
[Space News – 03/13/2014]

Panasonic Avionics Corporation expects to double the size of its connectivity-equipped fleet by the end of 2014 following FAA certification of a bird strike compliant radome for B777-200 aircraft.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 03/13/2014]

Intelsat enters agreement with Airbus Defense & Space bridging maritime VSAT services to Intelsat’s High Throughput Ku-band Satellite (HTS) EpicNG platform.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 03/13/2014]

Gilat introduces new X-band antenna.
[Via Satellite – 03/13/2014]

Arquiva to provide exclusive distribution of Al Jazeera Media Network channels on two of the Es’hailSat satellites.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 03/13/2014]

Crystal Solutions will be launching Crystal Solutions Connect™, a content substitution tool for multiple distribution paths, at the National Association of Broadcasters Show (NAB).
[Satellite Evolution Group – 03/13/2014]

SES signs a capacity deal with Alruya, a leading system integrator and VSAT operator based in Libya, to deliver connectivity to oil and gas fields in the country.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 03/13/2014]

Boeing 702 – Credit – Boeing artist’s concept – Spaceflight Now

Boeing reveals an order last year by a U.S. government customer for three light-class geostationary satellite platforms with all-electric propulsion.
[Spaceflight Now – 03/12/2014]

The importance of high-quality satellite earth station installation and maintenance is being reinforced in the energy, maritime, military and other key markets through recognition of Harris CapRock Communications as a “GVF Accredited Organization.”
[SatNews – 03/12/2014]

Boeing and TrustComm to sell satellite bandwidth to government and commercial users.
[Satellite Spotlight – 03/12/2014]

Gilat Satellite Networks selected by Inmarsat as Global Xpress services partner for new fixed land VSAT opportunities.
[Yahoo Finance – 03/12/2014]

Elektrobit (EB) develops a Multiple Antenna (MIMO) test environment for next generation satellite networks.
[msn money – 03/12/2014]

Emerging Markets Communications announces receipt of contract from Brazilian Navy to provide VSAT satellite connectivity services for the entire Brazilian Navy fleet.
[digital Journal – 03/12/2014]

Picture source: smartplanet.com – Screen Africa

SatLink Communications chosen for global distribution of Ethiopian news channel.
[Screen Africa – 03/12/2014]

Euroscan Holdings, B.V., a telematics solution provider, is acquired by ORBCOMM Inc.
[Near Earth LLC. – 03/12/2014]

A rocket carrying a satellite is launched in Xichang, China. Reuters – The Wall Street Journal

China brings its rapidly expanding satellite surveillance capabilities to bear in the effort to find out what happened to Malaysian Airlines 370.
[China Real Time – 03/11/2014]

ITC Global launches a new network over Sub-Saharan Africa, utilizing the Intelsat IS-25 spacecraft.
[Yahoo Finance – 03/11/2014]

Nynex grows its multi-million dollar contract with Avanti Communications to extend satellite broadband coverage across Libya.
[Satellite Spotlight – 03/11/2014]

Etisalat showcases latest VSATExpress, VSATConnect and Satellite News Gathering services at CABSAT 2014.
[TMC News – 03/11/2014]

Vislink chooses the Q-Lite compact satellite modem for its Advent MSAT portal terminal for Satcom On The Move (SOTM).
[Business Wire – 03/11/2014]

Kratos selected by TrustComm to provide Starlight gateway satellite earth station.
[IT Business Net – 03/11/2014]

Harris CapRock debut’s its advanced Pulse VSAT system which dynamically reassigns satellite capacity on demand by leveraging Comtech EF Data Corporation’s efficient modem technologies and Vipersat Management System.
[Wall Street Journal – 03/11/2014]

Harold Rosen, satellite communications pioneer often called the father of the geosynchronous satellite, gets life achievement award.
[Satellite Spotlight – 03/10/2014]

Gilat announces availability of SkyEdge II-c Capricorn satellite VSAT with exceptional throughput exceeding 200Mbps.
[Yahoo Finance – 03/10/2014]

Newsat selects Kratos for command and control systems for Jabiru-1 satellite.
[The Wall Street Journal – 03/10/2014]

Orbital introduces the GEOStar-3 commercial communications satellite platform combining traditional and electric propulsion.
[Wall Street Journal – 03/10/2014]

Kymeta demonstrating metamaterials-based flat panel satellite antenna at Satellite 2014 following successful transmit and receive tests on the satellite in Canada and the U.S.
[PR Newswire – 03/10/2014]

LightSquared and ViaSat enter multi-year agreement to introduce ViaSat L-band managed Service, a mobile service using LightSquared’s SkyTerra 1 L-band satellite, with the largest antenna, 22 meters, ever put in service on a commercial satellite.
[Broadway World – 03/10/2014]

Thuraya partners with Talia Onboard to reach oil and gas customers.|
[National Post – 03/10/2014]

Germany’s Federal Network Agency selects Kratos for satellite carrier monitoring solution.
[The Wall Street Journal – 03/10/2014]

Opportunities exist to provide services to remote areas in Chile including tele-health and tele-education as satellite communications forms key part of Chile’s national space policy in 2014 – 2020.
[BN Americas – 03/10/2014]

EMC Satcom Technologies and Kymeta announce strategic collaboration to advance the speed, reliability and efficiency of satellite communications for mobile, fixed, and aerospace markets with flat panel metamaterials antenna.
[PRWEB – 03/09/2014]

ORBCOMM launches new satellite modems targeted for systems integrators and resellers.
[University Chronicle – 03/09/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Satellite financing emerges as U.S. Export-Import banks fastest-growing sector, rising from $50 million annually in 20109 to $1 billion per year since then..
[Space News – 02/28/2014]

One of the three Joint Polar Satellite Systems satellites. (Credit: NOAA/NASA) – cnet.com

NASA’s Joint Polar Satellite System is getting $185 million worth of updates and upgrades that will support the system’s complete technological refresh.
[cnet – 02/28/2014]

New Vostochny space center a key priority for Russian Far East.
[Space Travel – 02/28/2014]

Thales Alenia staying silent on satellite order thought to be for Morocco.
[Space News – 02/28/2014]

Though delayed the second satellite launch in China’s seven-satellite CHEOS high resolution Earth observation system is expected this year, with three more by 2016.
[Space News – 02/28/2014]

Credit: NASA photo by Bill Ingalls – Space News

U.S.-Japan precipitation-measuring satellite reaches orbit.
[Space News – 02/27/2014]

Alliance of leading satellite industry associations issues a call for application case studies that illustrate the immense contribution of the global satellite industry to business, government and human welfare.
[Space Daily – 02/27/2014]

MTN announces availability of its first calling app, OceanPhone Mobile, for maritime crews, leveraging the MTN network and vessels’ Wi-Fi network.
[Via Satellite – 02/27/2014]

Norsat still suffering from effects of Sequestration.
[Via Satellite – 02/27/2014]

Ibetor to showcase latest Sat-On-The-Move terminal, Ib SOTM 100x, at Satellite 204.
[Via Satellite – 02/27/2014]

WorldView-3 – Credit: Ball Aerospace photo – Space News

DigitalGlobe hit by unexpected competition, and delay in launch of its WorldView-3 satellite.
[Space News – 02/27/2014]

Satmex-9 satellite being built by Boeing will carry a hosted payload enabling the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to enhance aviation safety.
[Satellite Spotlighjt – 02/26/2014]

Demand for CubeSat deployments nearing Space Station limit.
[Via Satellite – 02/26/2014]

Thales Alenia Space wins contract from French defense procurement agency DGA to provide operational support for the Syracuse 3, Athen-Fidus and Sicral 2 space systems.
[Via Satellite – 02/26/2014]

Kompsat-5 – Credit: Korea Aerospace Research Institute artist’s concept – Space News

German-Korean industrial team to build Kompsat-6 radar imager.
[Space News – 02/26/2014]

Newtec launches Newtec Dialog, a scalable and flexible multiservice platform that allows operators to build and adapt their infrastructure easily as business and satellite market needs change.
[SatNews – 02/26/2014]

ATCi announces at MilSatCom its complete all-inclusive Lawful Interception Warrior Satellite Monitoring System designed for the Middle Eastern region’s applications, capable of simultaneously monitoring sky activities over 140 degrees.
[Yahoo Finance – 02/26/2014]

TrustComm announces its international expansion with construction of the Starlight regional gateway in Cyprus.
[Via Satellite – 02/26/2014]

Comtech EF Data receives purchasing agreement from Harris CapRock Communications for satellite communications infrastructure equipment.
[financial news – 02/26/2014]

Inmarsat joins International M2M Council, a new trade association formed to promote the use of communications between machines.
[Yahoo Finance – 02/26/2014]

Euroconsult forecasts that satellite capacity revenue in the global maritime market will nearly double over the next decade, with a compound annual growth rate of 7%.
[Space Daily – 02/25/2014]

Former Goonhilly engineer purchases the earth station with great plans for the future.
[SouthWest Business – 02/25/2014]

Boeing receives first signals from GPS IIF satellite.
[Via Satellite – 02/25/2014]

Anik G1 – Credit: Space Systems Loral photo – Space News

Telesat sees growth as it navigates complex arrangements with RSCC and Apstar.
[Space News – 02/25/2014]

Inmarsat becomes first satellite network for RacoWireless’ multi-network M2M service.
[Satellite Spotlight – 02/25/2014]

ESA continues progress on Neosat program, with the goal of European satellite builders to capture half of the world’s satcom market between 2018 and 2030, expected to generate more than $34 billion in sales.
[Via Satellite – 02/25/2014]

Chinese contractor agrees to accelerated schedule for APT’s Apstar 9 satellite.
[Space News – 02/25/2014]

Emerging Markets Communications focusing on connectivity for high-speed trains.
[Via Satellite – 02/25/2014]

OneAccess and the Auriga Network announce new satellite VPN managed services available through Eutelsat’s next generation KaSat satellite.
[Via Satellite – 02/25/20014]

Key officials of the Arabic and Islamic Broadcasting Union (AIBU) meet with representatives of the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) to begin coordinating initiatives to facilitate effective use of state-of-the-art broadcasting solutions.
[SatNews – 02/25/2014]

Via Satellite interviews satellite industry visionaries regarding the world’s growing dependency on satellite, and finds agreement that innovation in the satellite industry moves at a snail’s pace compared with the wireless industry.
[Via Satellite – 02/24/2014]

Cobham Plc said it voluntarily notified the U.S. Department of Justice of possible wrongdoing by a satellite communications unit in Asian business dealings.
[Bloomberg – 02/24/2014]

Ship & Bunker file illustration

Maritime communications are evolving at a phenomenal rate and the market is showing signs that the maritime industry may have access to the same services and applications to that of land based services.
[Ship & Bunker – 02/24/2014]

Eleven Asia Pacific mobile operators under Bridge Alliance, including Airtel, Optus, and CSL, have formed the region’s largest Machine-to-Machine (M2M) alliance.
[Via Satellite – 02/24/2014]

Panasonic Avionics hints at upcoming satellite capacity deals as it pushes to complete the most robust satellite network specifically designed for in-flight connectivity services.
[Via Satellite – 02/24/2014]

ViaSat partners with SamsungKNOX to provide secure mobile enterprise services.
[Via Satellite – 02/24/2014]

Cinecolombia has selected International Datacasting Corporation’s digital cinema distribution technology SuperFlex Pro Cinema for its movie theater chains.
[Via Satellite – 02/24/2014]

Thuraya introduces the Thuraya IP Voyager, its first dedicated vehicular broadband terminal.
[Via Satellite – 02/24/2014]

MACOM sells its Mindspeed wireless infrastructure business unit to Intel.
[Via Satellite – 02/24/2014]

Globecast Australia launches Chinese TV channels.
[Via Satellite – 02/24/2014]

U.S. Air Force reveals two-satellite “neighborhood watch” spy satellite program.
[World Bulletin – 02/23/2014]

GVF launches task force to counter launches of cyber attacks.
[SatNews – 02/23/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

U.S. Air Force expected to launch two high-orbiting satellites in late 2014 for a previously classified space surveillance system.
[Space News – 02/21/2014]

Russian government will consider idea of buying commercial launch services provider Sea Launch.
[Space News – 02/21/2014]

SES is positioned to overtake Intelsat in revenue.
[Space News – 02/21/2014]

SES-10 – Credit: Airbus Defence and Space – Space News

SES books Falcon 9 for 2015 launch of SES-9 and 2016 launch of 5,300 kilogram SES-10.
[Space News – 02/21/2014]

Intelsat faces declining revenue as military bandwidth buyers learn to “live with less.”
[Space News – 02/21/2014]

Azerbaijan and Argentina to cooperate in space industry.
[trend – 02/21/20147]

Syracruse 3 – Credit: Thales Alenia Space artist’s concept – Space News

France’s DGA remains hopeful of cooperating with Britain in military satcom.
[Space News – 02/21/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space have been awarded roughly a third share of an €18m European Space Agency contract to develop Neosat, Europe’s next generation communications satellite.
[the engineer – 02/21/20104]

Echostar transfers 80% of Hughes consumer business to Dish Network.
[Space News – 02/21/2014]

Smart launches SmartSAT, a service bringing the benefits of satellite communications to a wider consumer market, offering SatSleeve, a portable dock transforming a smart phone into a satellite device.
[Yahoo News – 02/21/2014]

Nigeria’s government has ordered an investigation into the financial status of its Nigcomsat operation, placing the satellite company’s Managing Director on indefinite leave while the investigation is carried out.
[Advanced Television – 02/21/2014]

SGAC will hold a mentoring program for their members on Wednesday, March 12 at SATELLITE 2014 that will pair the young professionals with experienced veterans from the satellite industry.
[SGAC Press Release 02/21/2014]

Credit: ULA photo – Space News

After five-month delay and despite questions about Delta 4 rocket’s upper stage engine, launch of GPS 2F-5 goes off without a hitch.
[Space News – 02/20/2014]

SkySat-1 showing its capabilities. Credit: Skybox Imaging – Space News

Orbital Sciences will launch six 120-kilogram Skybox Imaging optical Earth observation satellites in late 2015.
[Space News – 02/20/2014]

Euroconsult forecasts that satellite revenue in the global maritime market will nearly double over the next decade, with a compound annual growth rate of 7%.
[Space Ref – 02/20/2014]

Strategy Analytics projects increasing demand for data centric communications by the military, with the military communications market reaching $30 billion by 2022.
[Yahoo Finance – 02/20/2014]

Arianespace to launch OPTSAT 3000 and VENS satellites via a Vega launcher in early 2016.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 02/20/2014]

New Russian space rocket Angara on track for launch by June and expected to be competitive with foreign rivals according to Russian Prime Minister.
[Space News – 02/20/2014]

SES to grow Latin American capacity, selecting Airbus Defence and Space to manufacture SES-10 satellite.
[Business Wire – 02/20/2014]

Globecomm extends Global Xpress VAR relationship with Inmarsat.
[twst.com – 02/20/2014]

Inmarsat selects Advalue and Cobham to manufacture terminals for Fleet One, its new voice and data satellite service designed specifically for the maritime leisure and fishing markets.
[4-traders – 02/20/2014]

KNS has announced the launch of its satellite antenna X10MK3 SuperTrack X-Series, to provide military standard communication, for ships requiring high speed broadband offshore.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 02/20/2014]

BlueTide Communications Corporation announces it will be the KNS “master distributor” of full service installation and support to the North American market.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 02/20/2014]

Research and Markets adds “Global Satellite Communication Market in the Oil and Gas Industry 2014 – 2018″ report to their offering – Harris CapRock, Inmarsat, KVH, Rignet & Vizada dominate the industry.
[Business Wire – 02/19/2014]

NSR exhibit illustrates that there will be a real net increase, about 70%, in Gbps of classic FSS C/Ku/Ka transponder leasing in the coming ten years driven by improving technology and greater capacity per provisioned site.
[NSR – HTS/MEO-HTS Drives New Markets – 02/19/2014]

Eutelsat sees steady growth as consumer broadband service gains traction.
[Space News – 02/19/2014]

Credit: NASA photo – Space News

Orbital Sciences completes first cargo mission to International Space Station for NASA.
[Space News – 02/19/2014]

Eutelsat 3B spacecraft built by Airbus for Eutelsat arrives in California to be prepared for next Sea Launch.
[BloombergBusinessweek – 02/19/2014]

Credit: ULA photo – Space News

Boeing and the U.S. Air Force appear to be nearing a forced conclusion of their multiyear dispute on prices for three Delta 4 rocket missions.
[Space News – 02/19/2014]

Avanti’s HYLAS 2 used by Hermes Datacomms to extend satellite broadband coverage in Iraq.
[4-traders – 02/19/2014]

Thuraya seeks partners to fund new satellites in order to continue its successful expansion into the mobile phone sector.
[SatNews – 02/19/2014]

Air China and Honeywell Aerospace sign a Memorandum of Understanding to install and test GX Aviation on Air China’s A330 aircraft, expected in the second quarter of 2015.
[ITCM – 02/19/2014]

Inmarsat stages first of series of “Smart Operations Dialogue” events seeking open debate in the maritime industry over the operational benefits on integrated thinking on shore and ship communications.
[The Maritime Executive – 02/19/2014]

Globat Telesat is awarded a follow-on multi-year order to provide additional satellite-based tracking and mapping services for the United States’ premier emergency response organization.
[Market Wired – 02/19/2014]

Credit:: ILS video capture – Space News

Turkey’s Turksat 4A launched by Russia on ILS Proton; satellite is healthy in orbit.
[Space News – 02/18/2014]

Global 3D TV market to grow at a CAGR of 9.7% from 2013 – 2018 according to a new report by Research and Markets.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 02/18/2014]

KVH signs 10-year contract with Global Technical Systems (GTS) to support Ultra Light Aircraft Detection platforms used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection programs.
[Via Satellite – 02/18/2014]

Global satellite telecommunications provider SpeedCast opens new facilities in Perth, Australia, following acquisitions of Australian Satellite Communications and Pactel International.
[CIOL – 02/18/2014]

Jewish Business News file photo

Israel to launch VENµS (Vegetation and Environment Monitoring on a New Micro-Satellite) to monitor crops from outer space.
[Jewish Business News – 02/17/2014]

EPFL’s Swiss Space Center and ETHZ joint project to build CubETH nanosatellite to launch in late 2015, capable of calculating its own altitude and position in space with unprecedented precision.
[Phys Org – 02/17/2014]

Military & Aerospace Electronics file photo

Northrop Grumman wins $12.4 million Army contract for SATCOM spectrum-monitoring gear.
[Military & Aerospace – 02/17/2014]

New Hiltron Communications flyaway antenna finds satellites anywhere anytime in under two minutes.
[SatNews – 02/17/2014]

Federal agents intercept Iranian entrepreneur at U.S. airport, charging him with illegal export of American-made satellite equipment to his native country.
[Yahoo News – 02/13/2014]

Argentina to launch Arsat-1 telecoms satellite in July.
[RAPIDTV News – 02/13/2014]

Astrium Services is renamed Airbus Defence and Space.
[MarineLink – 02/13/2014]

MTN’s hybrid network now on new Norwegian Cruise Line ships.
[Via Satellite – 02/13/2014]

NASA to launch Brown University students’ nanosatellite, EQUISat.
[R&D Magazine – 02/12/2014]

Despite increasing use of packaged content and amateur video, MSS SNG/OU hourly live uptake is expected to decline only slightly globally, while there will be a slight uptick in the number of In-service units.
[NSR report – 02/12/2014]

ATCi announce deployment of Lawful Interception Warrior Satellite Monitoring System, capable of complete collection of sky activities spread over 140 degrees.
[Digital Journal – 02/12/2014]

C-COM iNetVu auto-deploy antenna system used to provide assured communications during Super Bowl 48.
[Market Wired – 02/11/2014]

Iridium unveils Iridium GO, the industry’s first global Wi-Fi satellite hotspot, to become commercially available by second quarter of 2014.
[Defense Systems – 02/10/2014]

Iridium introduces the first Global Data Broadcast Service, Iridium Burst (SM).
[The Wall Street Journal – 02/10/2014]

Ariane 5 launches Athena-Fidus and ABS’s first built-to-order satellite. [Space News – 02/07/2014]

Experimental microsatellite launched three years ago for U.S. National Reconnaissance Office has operated nearly flawlessly according to manufacturer Millennium Space Systems’ press release also revealing some details about the classified launch. [Space News – 02/07/2014]

Proton M – © RIA Novosti. Oleg Urusov

Two Russian telecommunications satellites have been delivered to Baikonur in preparation for mid-March launch. [Ria Novosti – 02/07/2014]

U.S. satellite export regs remain a frustration for European industry. [Space News – 02/07/2014]

Credit: Exelis artist’s concept – Space News

Continuing problems with an Exelis-built payload will delay the delivery of the first of the GPS 3 next-generation navigation satellites. [Space News – 02/07/2014]

Canadian policy outlines broad national goals for space program. [Space News – 02/07/2014]

TCS gets $6.8m contract with U.S. Army for maritime-stabilized VSAT satellite systems and associated engineering systems. [Via Satellite – 02/07/2014]

SKY Perfect JSAT selects Kratos for command and control system for JCSAT-14 satellite. [Market Watch – 02/07/2014]

Globecomm founder and CEO David Hershberg to retire. [Satellite Markets & Research – 02/07/2014]

Credit: Astrium artist’s concept – Space News

Satellite builders likeliest to benefit from French satellite broadband funding. [Space News – 02/06/2014]

ST Electronics selects Antrix corporation to launch its first commercial satellite, TeLEOS-1 earth observation satellite, into a Near Equatorial Orbit. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/06/2014]

ST Electronics to distribute its TeLEOS-1 satellite images globally, partnering with Satrec Initiative Co Ltd and SPOT Asia Pte Ltd. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/06/2014]

The first Singapore-made commercial satellite will be put into orbit in the fourth quarter of next year. [Channel NewsAsia – 02/06/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space, formerly Astrium, has expands its Ku-band satellite services portfolio with new Terralink Companion Quick Deploy solution ideally suited for field communication in operations such as mining. [Mining Weekly – 02/06/2014]

Measat highlights satellite capabilities and announces launch of Measat 3b in May. [Via Satellite – 02/06/2014]

ViewSat to use Intelsat capacity to facilitate and enhance distribution service to the North American DTH market. [Via Satellite – 02/06/2014]

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to look into wholesale satellite service to local telecom providers across far north. [IT World Canada – 02/06/2014]

KVH ships 4,000th TracPhone system for mini-VSAT broadband network. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/06/2014]

Colombian state telco ETB acquires local satellite communications firm to improve nationwide offer for corporate and government clients. [BNamericas – 02/06/2014]

Credit – SpaceX photo – Space News

Next SpaceX station cargo run slips into March. [Space News – 02/05/2014]

ITC Global expands reach in U.K. and European energy industry with new operations in Aberdeen, Scotland. [IT Business Net – 02/05/2014]

Globalstar Sat-Fi MSS solution enables users to use any Wi-Fi capable device through an app and a Sat-Fi hot spot – targets two billion-people market.. [Via Satellite – 02/05/2014]

Using a repurposed commercial satellite, Air Force crews flew MQ-1 Predators and MQ-9 Reapers from Creech Air Force Base, Nev., during multiple missions in November and December. [U.S. Air Force – 02/05/2014]

Photo: SES – Via Satellite

SES’ Astra 2E satellite enters commercial service at 28.2/28.5 degrees east. [Via Satellite – 02/04/2014]

Inmarsat’s SF1 ready for launch – Photo: Inmarsat – Via Satellite

First of three Inmarsat Global Xpress satellites completes orbital deployment stages on scheduile. [Via Satellite – 02/04/2014]

Euroconsult to organise Latin American satellite summit [RAPIDTVNews – 02/04/2014]

Iridium introduces Wi-Fi hotspot, a high power broadcast service, and a maritime communications solution, and prepares for Iridium Next satellite replacement program [Via Satellite – 02/04/2014]

Globecomm Systems extends contract with Avanti Communications to deploy satellite broadband services in Cape Town and Johannesburg Africa. [Business Day – 02/04/2014]

AST works with SRI International to provide Iridium communications throughout the Arctic for safety of life purposes and tracking. [Via Satellite – 02/04/2014]

Hughes is providing broadband satellite Internet access to Yukon Quest dog sled crews. [Yahoo Finance – 02/04/2014]

SES-8 now fully operational, co-positioned with NSS-6 at 95 degrees East, to serve Asia Pacific region. [Yahoo Finance – 02/03/2014]

NSR’s take on Thuraya’s Satsleeve for Android – how it positions Thuraya in the addressable market, and how partnering with a competitor to enter the U.S. market could be of benefit. [NSR – 02/04/2014]

Hills Limited is partnering with BAE Systems to develop a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) terminal crucial to the satellite communication systems of Australian-USA and allied defence forces. [WhaTec – 02/04/2014]

Demand for Occasional Use (OU) and Satellite Newsgathering (SNG) is leveling out to a more regular year-over-year pace from the familiar even-odd year oscillation of demand in the past. [Via Satellite – 02/04/2014]

THAICOM launches fast Internet connectivity service, powered by Gilat satellite equipment. [Yahoo Finance – 02/03/2014]

After tests last year, “fifteen of fifteen company commanders found the” Soldier Network Extension (SNE) portion of the Army’s Warfighter Information Network “distracting and indicated they would not take the SNE to war.” [Nextgov – 02/03/2014]

Newtec and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), sign a multimillion-euro contract to deploy Newtec’s satellite broadcast solutions as part of the EBU’s major pan-European news exchange network. [SatNews – 02/03/2014]

RigNet completes acquisition of Inmarsat’s energy broadband business. [IT Business Net – 02/03/2014]

Transaero Airlines is expanding its in-flight Internet and mobile connectivity communication services. [Via Satellite – 02/04/2014]

Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat) signs contract with Sudanese TV to broadcast the Sudanese TV channels bouquet exclusively on Arabsat satellites. [Korea IT News – 02/03/2014]

Australian telecommunications company Optus wins five-year satellite and broadband contract with NBN. [International Business Times – 02/03/2014]

Emerging Markets Communications (EMC) has enhanced its technology and infrastructure to deliver VSAT mobility services, currently active on trains across Europe and Africa. [Via Satellite – 02/03/2014]

Satcom Direct becomes an Inmarsat BGAN distribution partner. [Contact Center Solutions – 02/03/2014]

Iran unveils two domestically-made communication satellites, one to bolster its wireless connections and the other capable of taking high-resolution pictures, media reported. [ynet news – 02/03/2014]

“Satellite Manufacturing and Launching: The Dawn of a New Era” [NSR webinar February 12, 2014]

“High Utilization AND High Throughput Efficiency? Solving the TDMA vs. SCPC Dilemma” [Via Satellite webinar March 5, 2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

SpaceX launches its first GEO satellite and proves upgraded Falcon 9 v1.1 with three launches within a few months – United Launch Alliance re-entering commercial market – incumbents not surprised as competition heats up in satellite manufacturing and launching market. [NSR – 02/12/2014]

Space Daily File Image

Russia, U.S. to pool efforts in the creation of asteroid diversion techniques. [Space Daily – 01/31/2014]

Lockheed Martin MUOS satellite tests show extensive reach in polar communications capability. [The Wall Street Journal – 01/31/2014]

Canada’s Sapphire military satellite designed to track objects in high Earth orbit begins operations. [Space News – 01/31/2014]

Neosat satellite platform – Credit: ESA artist’s cocnept – Space News

French space agency CNES aligns research and technology budget with attempt to increase French and European satellite telecommunications prime contractors’ share of global commercial market to  50% by 2020, up from 30% now. [Space News – 01/31/2014]

Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite – Credit: CNES artist’s concept – Space News

UK to invest $25 million in French environmental satellite projects. [Space News – 01/31/2014]

3rd Space Operations Squadron has been repositioning satellites during nine-month effort to optimize the military wideband communications constellation. [Defense Systems – 01/31/2014]

Globecomm Systems extends contract with Avanti to deploy satellite broadband services to thousands of businesses in South Africa. [Business Wire – 01/31/2014]

Beam Communications selects Two10degrees to power their new Beam Tracking Portal (BTP). [SatNews – 01/31/2014]

SES and EUTELSAT settle their dispute and conclude a series of agreements concerning the 28.5 degrees east orbital position. [Wall Street Journal – 01/30/2014]

IDATE predicts global TV market revenue to grow at steady pace. [Satellite Markets & Research – 01/30/2014]

Reportlinker adds report “Analysis of Global Wireless Backhaul via Satellite Market” to its catalogue. [Market Watch – 01/30/2014]

European satellite navigation services to start this year after Galileo and Copernicus satellites launch in March. [Via Satellite – 01/30/2014]

European Space Agency converts previously contracted back-up launch on a Rockot to a firm agreement with Eurockot Launch Services for placing into orbit an additional Copernicus Sentinel class satellite. [SatNews – 01/30/2014]

Plato – Credit: artist’s concept from Thales Alenia Space (left) and artist’s concept from EADS Astrium (center) – Space News

Planet-hunting Plato wins backing of European scientists for $1B medium-class mission. [Space News – 01/30/2014]

European Commission’s effort to set common European regulations on the sale of high-resolution satellite imagery outside Europe is blocked by British government. [Space News – 01/30/2014]

Globalstar announces Sat-Fi, a new voice and data solution seamlessly integrating Wi-Fi devices with Globalstar’s satellite constellation. [Via Satellite – 01/30/2014]

Thuraya unveils Orion IP maritime broadband terminal. [Satellite Evolution Group – 01/30/2014]

Satcom Direct becomes an Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network distribution partner. [Aviation Pros – 01/30/2014]

Advantech Wireless releases advanced Multi-Carrier Demodulator (MCD). [Satellite Evolution Group – 01/30/2014]

Planet Labs’ Dove 2 spacecraft. Photo: Planet Labs – Via Satellite

African Heirs Holding invests in U.S. start up Planet Labs, looking to transform the way imaging of the Earth is carried out with introduction of “Dove” spacecraft. [Via Satellite – 01/30/2014]

McMurdo Group enters satellite search and rescue market. [Via Satellite – 01/30/2014]

Europe’s Sentinel 1 radar satellite – Credit: ESA photo – Space News

European government group says radar satellites and Wi-Fi cannot coexist in the same slice of radio spectrum. [Space News – 01/29/2014]

With one-two punch of Super Bowl and Winter Olympics in Sochi, 2014 shapes up as upswing year for contribution and occasional use satellite TV markets. [NSR – 01/29/2014]

Soyuz rocket – Credit: Arianespace photo – Space News

Logjam at European Spaceport puts Arianespace in a ticklish spot. [Space News – 01/29/2014]

Orange Business Services expands network capacity in Siberia on NSS-12 satellite in deal with SES. [The Wall Street Journal – 01/29/2014]

Afghanistan signs strategic partnership with Eutelsat, hoping to accelerate access to satellite infrastructure for digital services with an in-orbit satellite to be deployed to 48 degrees East in February 2014. [Broadband TV News – 01/29/2014]

Inmarsat’s BGAN SDR waveform receives SCA certification from Joint Tactical Radio System Test and Evaluation Laboratory. [Herald online – 01/29/2014]

O3b completes successful live test of broadband voice and video on 4G/LTE networks. [Via Satellite – 01/29/2014]

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. is awarded $3.2 million order from a government systems integrator for DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier powered DMD2050E satellite modems. [Market Watch – 01/29/2014]

SkyVision partners with Romantis to deliver quality VSAT platform solution to SkyVision customers worldwide. [Via Satelite – 01/29/2014]

2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) comments addressing comsatcom receives praise for some sections, but still falls short with respect to Industry white paper shared with the government a year ago. [Via Satellite – 01/28/2014]

RFI-EUI merger with IRG brings greater focus to Carrier ID initiative. [Via Satellite – 01/28/2014]

2nd annual MilSatCom Middle East & Africa conference to be held Feb 24th & 25th in Dubai, UAE. [PRWeb – 01/28/2014]

NASA GPM – NASA photo -Via Satellite

NASA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) scheduled February 27 to launch first coordinated international satellite, GPM, to provide near real-time observations on all types of precipitation. [Via Satellite – 01/28/2014]

Liberty Global to acquire Ziggo – combined venture to reach 7 million Dutch homes, providing video, broadband Internet and telephony services. [Via Satellite – 01/28/2014]

U.S. Navy surveys industry looking for companies who can demonstrate ability to develop and build MUOS-capable radio terminals. [Military & Aerospace Electronics – 01/27/2014]

Boeing receives first signals from NASA TDRS L satellite. [Via Satellite – Via Satellite – 01/27/2014]

Ball Aerospace completes integration of WorldView 3 spacecraft, scheduled to launch this summer for DigitalGlobe. [Via Satellite – 01/27/2014]

Eleven Asia Pacific mobile operators form region’s largest Machine-to-Machine (M2M) alliance, offering a “one-stop-shop” experience for M2M deployment in the region. [Via Satellite – 01/27/2014]

Three Romanian channels select the EUTELSAT 16A satellite to maximise reach. [The Wall Street Journal – 01/27/2014]

Eutelsat’s E172a South Pacific satellite beam – SatNews

NSSLGlobal extends reach in Australasia with the opening of a new teleport at the Perth International Telecommunications Centre. [SatNews – 01/27/2014]

Thuraya’s SatSleeve for Android launch brings MSS to top smartphone models. [Via Satellite – 01/27/2014]

Sass@sea system developed by MediaMobil as part of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) program is allowing ships to optimize their bandwidth use at sea. [SatNews – 01/26/2014]

Via Satellite webcast March 5h – “High Utilization AND High Throughput Efficiency?  Solving the TDMA vs. SCPC dilemma.” [Via Satellite – March]

 WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

NASA’s latest communications satellite, TDRS-L, gets a lift into space on a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket using a Russian designed RD-180 first stage engine. [CBS News – 01/24/2014]

Sentinel-1 satellite – Credit: ESA artist concept – Space News

Europe mounts defense of radar satellite spectrum against wireless broadband incursion. [Space News – 01/24/2014]

Space Travel file image

President Obama signs new spending bill including money to continue NASA’s human space exploration program, bringing back Project Constellation. [Space Travel – 01/24/2014]

Illustration only – Space Daily

Sierra Nevada reserves Atlas rocket for 2016 Dream Chaser test flight. [Space Travel – 01/24/2014]

Virgin Galactic reaches significant milestone in testing of new family of liquid rocket engines for LauncherOne, its small satellite launch vehicle. [Space Travel – 01/24/2014]

Small lander named Philae – Credit: ESA artist concept – Space News

ESA managing expectations for small lander to be launched from comet-chaser satellite Rosetta for attempt to latch onto Comet 67P by harpoon in November 2014. [Space News – 01/24/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space to build ground segment for France’s net-generation optical and infrared reconnaissance satellite system and maintain it for 12 years. [Space News – 01/24/2014]

GVF-EMP Conference – Creating the New “New” Verticals – Air, Water, Surface & Rail – coming to London February 11th and 12th will analyze “seamless connectivity” for today’s communications users. [SatNews – 01/24/2014]

ILS to launch Yamal 601 satellite for Russia’s Gazprom Space Systems in 2016. [Via Satellite – 01/23/2014]

Global Satellite Broadband Communication in Public Safety market forecast to grow at a CAGR of 8.45% over the period 2014 – 2018 in new report added to Research and Markets offering. [Yahoo Finance – 01/23/2014]

India’s satellite communication sector has experienced significant growth over past five years driven by demand from DTH payTV platforms and growing telecommunication needs in the country according to Euroconsult report. [SatNews – 01/23/2014]

Location Based Services (LBS) ,market in Asia Pacific region set to grow at CAGR of 32.98% over the period 2013-2018 according to new report by Research and Markets, but lack of knowledge among users could challenge the growth. [Satellite Markets & Research – 01/23/2014]

RFIEUI and IRG announce a merger helping the two groups to better serve the industry and combat satellite interference together. [Satellite Evolution Group – 01/23/2014]

NASA expected to miss congressional deadline for releasing call for proposals for concepts for Discovery-class planetary science missions later this year. [Space News – 01/23/2014]

Former U.S. Defense Secretary Gates says Pentagon believed PLA acted alone without knowledge of civilian Chinese leadership in 2007 Anti-satellite test. [Space News – 01/23/2014]

Spot 6 image of Bora Bora, French Polynésia. Credit: Astrium image – Space News

France to make older Spot optical Earth observation images available to researchers for free. [Space News – 01/23/2014]

SES selects Xstream to enhance Video on Demand platform. [Via Satellite – 01/23/2014]

Inmarsat Government finalizes agreement to be a Value Added Reseller for Inmarsat Global Xpress as a cleared company under a proxy agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense. [Via Satellite – 01/23/2014]

Telered and MEASAT provide TV services in Philippines. [Via Satellite – 01/23/2014]

GS Group survey shows high demand for quality digital TV in Pakistan, but reveals problems influencing the quality of TV services. [Via Satellite – 01/23/2014]

U.S. Navy accepts three MUOS ground stations built by General Dynamics. [The Wall Street Journal – 01/23/2014]

NSSLGlobal opens teleport in Perth, Australia. [Satellite Evolution Group – 01/23/2014]

Afghanistan drawdown that began in 2011 has led to diminishing growth in the global land mobile satcom market. [NSR report – 01/22/2014]

Telesat majority owner Loral Space & Communications explores a sale of the Canadian satellite communication services company. [Chicago Tribune – 01/22/2014]

ATK MegaFlex. Photo: ATK – Via Satellite

ATK demonstrates MegaFlex Solar Electric Propulsion solar array for NASA. [Via Satellite – 01/22/2014]

ILS president says it is too early to say if launch market is oversaturated. [Via Satellite – 01/22/2014]

U.S. Southern Command embarks on ambitious international CubeSat program, turning to the Naval Postgraduate School for evaluation of the micro satellites. [SIP Trunking Report – 01/22/2014]

Sierra Nevada Corp to announce expansion plans for its Dream Chaser Space System. [R&D Magazine – 01/22/2014]

Environmental & Safety Systems International spins of ESSI Communications division to create BlueTide Communications Corporation, focused on satellite communications for energy, maritime, and yacht leisure markets. [Via Satellite – 01/22/2014]

Alphasat’s high-frequency hosted payload set to begin experiments. [Via Satellite – 01/22/2014]

Digitaria International selects Signalhorn to provide satellite communications services to passengers and crew aboard fleet of twelve luxury vessels operated in the Americas, Mediterranean, and South African markets. [telecompaper – 01/22/2014]

MTN signs new agreement with Carnival Corporation extending partnership providing Internet services to customers and crew aboard several of their cruise ships. [Via Satellite – 01/22/2014]

New report added to offering of Research and Markets, “Analysis of Global Wireless Backhaul via Satellite Market,” discusses expected growth in the market in various regions, and key drivers for satellite backhaul. [Business Wire – 01/21/2014]

NASA and Roscosmos to sign new transportation services contract by summer. [Space News – 010/21/2014]

Gilat Satcom and Gilat Satellite Networks to supply fixed and on-the-move satellite services to the Israeli government. [Yahoo Finance – 01/21/2014]

Spacebel signs commercial contract to supply Vietnam with VNREDSat 1b, an Earth observation system made in Belgium set to launch in 2017. [Via Satellite – 01/21/2014]

Badan SAR Nasional selects Thuraya Telecommunications to provide satellite communications to improve search and rescue efforts in Indonesia. [National Post – 01/21/2014]

Globalstar launches industry’s lowest cost and most accessible prepaid service thoughout EMENA. [CIOL – 01/21/2014]

Telstra Global launches new Points-of-Presence increasing its global Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network in Western Europe and the American Midwest. [Via Satellite – 01/21/2014]

LiveTV and Eutelsat agree to launch new Ka-band satellite connectivity for airlines in Europe. [Yahoo Finance – 01/21/2014]

HISPASAT now offers HIGH TV 3D across Europe. [SatNews – 01/21/2014]

Australian Defense Force selects ViaSat terminal for data link network management. [Via Satellite – 01/21/2014]

With new HTS systems launching over next year or two, FSS C-band capacity might get lost in the mix, but it is not going anywhere, adding another 55 TPEs of capacity over the next ten years. [NSR Report – 01/20/2014]

SpeedCast re-branding positions it in a top five position in the international satellite telecommunications service provider market. [University Chronicle – 01/18/2014]

President of Astrium Services Government (now part of the Airbus group) calls the “Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA)” procurement strategy for the U.S. military dangerously flawed. [Via Satellite – 01/17/2014]

NASA Tech Briefs article discusses photonic laser thrusters for spacecraft maneuvering. [NASA Tech Briefs – January Issue]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

NASA Space Launch System could make ‘outside the box’ science missions possible. [Space Travel – 01/17/2014]

Marines build field-based command and control center for satellite and radio operations at Camp Hansen, Okinawa as part of pre-deployment communication exercise. [dvids – 01/17/2014]

Omnibus bill fully funds primary NOAA satellites, but does not fund an adjunct satellite intended to host instruments that cannot fit on NOAA’s primary polar-orbiting platforms. [Space News – 01/16/2014]

Screaming through space at nearly one million miles a day, NASA’s New Horizons, launched in 2006, draws closer to its target Pluto, with encounter to begin in January 2015. [SatNews – 01/16/2014]

GATR Technologies spins diminished military spending into opportunity with latest $440 million contract. [Via Satellite – 01/16/2014]

Amid growing sentiment that U.S. military must adopt new ways of operating in space to cope with new threats and declining budgets, top executive with Lockheed Martin says the company must change as well. [Space News – 01/16/2014]

Harris Broadcast acquires Imagine Communications, a digital video solutions company that delivers bandwidth-efficient services with prime video quality for online applications and TV Everywhere. [Via Satellite – 01/16/2014]

KVH plans to debut multicast service intended to replace longstanding practice of sending DVDs by mail to ports in advance of ship arrivals. [Space News – 01/16/2014]

ILS to launch Eutelsat 9B satellite in 2015. [Via Satellite – 01/16/2014]

Dish and Southwest Airlines extend partnership and “TV Flies Free” promotion – through December 31, 2014 customers using iOS, Android, and other Internet-ready devices can get 20 live TV channels free, and VOD. [SatNews – 01/16/2014]

Thuraya Telecommunications launches latest version of Thuraya SatSleeve for Android-based smartphones. [Via Satellite – 01/16/2014]

Viking Satcom deploys ground station equipment to support SES’s new SES 6 satellite. [Via Satellite – 01/16/2014]

Free NSR webinar February 12 – “Satellite Manufacturing and Launching: The Dawn of a New Era.” [NSR – February 12 2014]

Government & Military Satcom – pessimistic views overshadow many opportunities for solutions that address military requirements of lower budgets while at the same time offering more bandwidth. [NSR – 01/15/2014]

Boeing Space Surveillance system helps U.S. Air Force reduce satellite loss by 66%, detecting potential threats more quickly and allowing operators to take early action if necessary. [Via Satellite – 01/15/2014]

SpaceX drives sharp increase in projected launches at Cape Canaveral, which plans to support up to 21 rocket launches in 2014, a 50% increase from 2013. [Space News – 01/15/2014]

ViaSat sees future in aeronautical and maritime broadband markets. [Space News – 01/15/2014]

Members of Netherlands Parliament want Minister of Defense to explain the exact purpose of equipment owned by the American Defense Ministry in Burum, Friesland. [NLTimes – 01/15/2014]

KVH doubles capacity of global C-band beams as its mini-VSAT broadband customers increase reliance on broadband connectivity. [The Wall Street Journal – 01/15/2014]

Planning to connect your car to the Internet by satellite – Kymeta and UIEvolution. [Via Satellite – 01/15/2014]

Indian launch of GSAT-14 communications satellite validates technology of ISRO’s indigenous GSLV-D5 rocket. [Space.com – 01/14/2014]

Air Force searches for companies in the industry able to upgrade GPS satellite waveform generators. [Military & Aerospace – 01/14/2014]

General Shelton tells George Washington University students that space is the “ultimate high ground,” fundamental to the economy. [Milsat Magazine – January issue]

Boeing tests new anti-jamming technology making it easier and cheaper for the U.S. military to send secure communications via current satellites that do not have their own anti-jamming capability. [UPI – 01/14/2014]

The first of two Intelsat launches by ILS in 2015 will be Intelsat DLA-2, also known as Intelsat 31. [Via Satellite – 01/14/2014]

C-COM receives new orders from Russian reseller AltegroSky for additional iNetVu auto-deploy antenna systems. [Yahoo Finance – 01/14/2014]

Tethers Unlimited is testing new propulsion method that might greatly improve access to as well as capability of CubeSats. [Via Satellite – 01/14/2014]

RigNet and Harris CapRock target energy businesses in Houston Texas, naming Houston as its Americas regional headquarters. [Houston BizBlog – 01/14/2014]

ViaSat’s Fly-Fi premiers on JetBlue Airways, offering new in-flight high-capacity Wi-Fi, opening the skies to business passengers needing faster internet while traveling. [U-T San Diego – 01/14/2014]

Singapore Technologies Electronics wins $468 million in 4Q 2013 contracts for intelligent transportation, satellite communications, and advanced electronics and information communications technologies. [Via Satellite – 01/14/2014]

Fifth Lockheed Martin MUOS secure communications satellite completes assembly and enters system test. [Yahoo Finance – 01/13/2014]

2013 was an unprecedented year for satellite broadband access services with record subscriber growth – NSR forecasts the global satellite broadband assess market will add over 4.3 million net new subscribers in coming ten years. [NSR – 01/13/2013]

Technavio report projects global satellite broadband communication in the Public Safety market to grow at a CAGR of 8.45% in the 2013 – 2018 period. [SBWire – 01/13/2014]

NASA’s next-generation TDRS L satellite mounted atop Atlas 5 rocket in preparation for launch on Thursday, January 23. [Spaceflight Now – 01/13/2014]

SpaceX may pick Texas over controversial Merritt Island launch site. [Space News – 01/13/2014]

Future commercial prospects for laser satellite communication could include providing “broadband access to remote parts of the world without having to dig thousands of kilometres of trenches to lay down optical fibres.” [Novus LIght – 01/13/2014]

Comtech receives $4.4 million contract to provide upgrade to Brazilian Military satellite network. [CiOL – 01/13/2014]

Cloud Front Group and Saratoga Data Systems announce availability of Flume software protocol that transmits data up to 5-100X faster than TCP and 3X faster than SCPS acceleration protocol over satellite communications. [IT Business Net – 01/13/2014]

MTN pioneers new iDirect X7 high-performance satellite modem on the Norwegian Breakaway, dramatically improving the efficiency and throughput of the vessel’s communications system. [SatNews – 01/13/2014]

Bently Walker extends reach across Africa and the Middle East using Avanti’s HYLAS 2 satellite. [Satellite Spotlight – 01/13/2014]

Raytheon to develop strategic SATCOM system to link nuclear forces to national command authorities. [Military & Aerospace – 01/10/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Orbital Sciences Corp.’s Cygnus space capsule berths with International Space Station on re-supply mission. [Space News – 01/13/2013]

China’s space policy is open to the world, according to the new chief of China’s space industry. [Space Mart – 01/13/2013]

Iran is preparing to orbit three new home-made satellites in the future, according to Vice-President for Executive Affairs Mohammad Shariatmadari. [Space News – 01/13/2013]

Boeing completes first of two 702HP geomobile satellites, Centenario. for government of Mexico. [Space Daily – 01/10/2014]

Sky Perfect JSat selects SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to launch JCSat-14 communications satellite in 2015. [Space News – 01/10/2013]

KVH surpasses 100-vessel mark in 10-year contract to supply next-generation satellite communications to U.S. Coast Guard cutter fleet, with 29.2 terabytes of data and over 835,000 VOIP minutes provided thus far. [SatNews – 01/10/2014]

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceshipTwo reaches highest altitude to date in rocket-powered test flight over Mojave desert. [Space News – 01/10/2013]

Falcon 9 v1.1 appears to have met U.S. Air Force’s requirements to bid for national security launches and challenge the market incumbent, United Launch Alliance. [Space News – 01/09/2013]

Obama administration extends International Space Station support another four years. [Nextgov – 01/09/2013]

U.S. Air Force takes control of STPSat-3. [Space News – 01/09/2013]

Launch of Orbital Science’s Antares mission following one-day delay raises awareness of space weather-induced flight risks. [Via Satellite – 01/09/2014]

Energia chooses Sea Launch to launch the AngolaSat telecommunications satellite and the Energia 100 broadband satelli8te in 2016 in a dual-satellite mission. [Space News – 01/09/2013]

Lockheed Martin gets $3.9 million contract to track orbital debris. [Via Satellite – 01/09/2014]

Comtech gets $4.4 million contract from Brazilian military to upgrade its satellite network. [Yahoo Finance – 01/09/2014]

Macdonald Dettwiler & Associates gets $4 million deal for European communications satellite subsystem. [4-traders – 01/09/2014]

Hughes teams with Aruba Networks to provide retail Wi-Fi service. [Via Satellite – 01/09/2014]

Cobham Satcom and Comtech EF Data partner to provide collaborative maritime solutions. [Via Satellite – 01/09/2014]

Huge solar flare causes Orbital Science’s Antares team to scrub ISS resupply mission. [NBC News – 01/08/2013]

Zinwell Corp is developing a new satellite digital outdoor unit (D-ODU) using MaxLinear’s channel stacking system on chip (SoC). [Via Satellite – 01/09/2014]

Use of satellite imagery is strongly related to economic growth – Asia good example as one of the most dynamic regional EO markets over the past five years. [NSR – 01/08/2014]

GATR Technologies wins $440 million contract with U.S. Army for inflatable satellite communications antennas. [BusinessWire – 01/08/2014]

Dish withdraws $2.2 billion bid to buy bankrupt LightSquared, as trial got underway over whether Dish’s Charles Ergen had unlawfully bought LightSquared’s debt in effort to take over the company. [Reuters – 01/08/2013]

ESA’s Gaia spacecraft reaches operational orbit. [Via Satellite – 01/08/2014]

Global Eagle plans expansion of in-flight connectivity across South Asia. [Via Satellite – 01/08/2014]

Spacecom to broadcast African CHAN football championships via Amos 5 satellite. [Via SAtellite – 01/08/2014]

Entropic announces first fully-integrated set-top box (STB) system-on-a-chip for satellite receivers and IP clients. [Via Satellite – 01/08/2014]

SpaceX successfully completes second GEO communications satellite launch, delivering Thaicom 6 into orbit. [[Via Satellite – 01/07/2014]

Mars One plans two, or possibly three, communications satellites for the Red Planet. [Via Satellite – 01/07/2014]

Arianespace postpones launch of Ariane 5 ECA mission, citing need to change-out unspecified equipment on the VA217 Ariane 5 ECA launcher. [Via Satellite – 01/07/2014]

Sea Launch Zenit 2S rocket completes inspection, preps for April launch. [Via Satellite – 01/07/2014]

Computer Security firm analysis states that VSAT terminals may pose a soft target for hackers, finding more than 10,000 terminals of 3 million investigated to be using default passwords or having open ports. [Computer World – 01/07/2014]

SES and EUTELSAT complete sale of Solaris Mobile to Echostar. [Market Watch – 01/07/2014]

Broadcom announces new Outdoor Unit (ODU) satellite chipset that enables wider range of services to more subscribers without additional dish installations. [Market Watch – 01/07/2014]

West African mining company uses satellite/cellular terminals to track mine vehicles where no other means of communications are available. [Directions Magazine – 01/07/2014]

ISRO completes successful GSLV D5 launch of GSAT 14 satellite. [Via Satellite – 01/06/2014]

Thales Alenia Space awarded Astrium contract for Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution (ME). [Via Satellite – 01/06/2014]

France-UAE satellite deal shaky after U.S. spy tech discovered onboard. [RT – 01/06/2014]

Navman Wireless adds satellite communications option to its OnlineAVL2 fleet tracking platform.
[Construction Equipment Guide – 01/04/2014]

Inmarsat PLC completes acquisition of Globe Wireless.
[The Wall Street Journal – 01/03/2014]

Columbus ISS (NASA Photo) – Space News

European Space Agency says that by late 2015 it will reduce its annual space station operating costs by 30% compared with 2010.
[Space News – 01/03/2014]

Mexican Oil and Gas reform opens up satellite opportunity for Jaba satellite engineering.
[Via Satellite – 01/03/2014]

Liberty Media reaches for control of SiriusXM satellite radio.
[LA Times – 01/03/2014]

Bolivian state-owned telecommunications company Entel establishes contact with the country’s first communications satellite, Tupac Katari, orbited in December.
[Hispanically Speaking News – 01/03/2014]

Eutelsat closes transaction to acquire 100% of share capital of SATMEX.
[The Wall Street Journal – 01/02/2014]

SpaceX rocket on pad (Space photo) – SatNews

SpaceX delays launch of Thaicom-6 by at least 3 days to allow launch team to resolve issue with Falcon-9 v1.1 rocket’s fairing.
[SatNews – 01/02/2014]

Amos 4 (IAI photo) – Via Satellite

Spacecom’s Amos 4 satellite concludes testing, prepares to enter commercial service.
[Via Satellite – 01/02/2014]

Soyuz 2.1v rocket – Via Satellite

New Soyuz 2.1v rocket completes first successful launch, carry8ing an AIST student built microsatellite and two SKRL 756 radar calibration spheres for the Russian Ministry of Defense into orbit.
[Via Satellite – 01/02/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space, formerly named Astrium, congratulates SpaceX for retaining focus on cost efficiency without veering off into fascinating but unnecessary engineering challenges.
[Space News – 01/02/2014]

Entropic Communications gets patent for “Method and Apparatus for Cross Polarization and Cross Satellite Interference Cancellation.”
[4-Traders – 01/02/2014]

CHIRP on SES-2 – Space News

U.S. Air Force targets 2016 for CHIRP follow-on.
[Space News – 01/02/2014]

Given the seriousness of the space debris problem, the Secure World Foundation discusses the need for space situation awareness among satellite operators.
[Via Satellite – 12/31/2013]

China puts into service its high-definition Earth observation satellite Gaofen 1.
[Via Satellite – 12/31/2013]

EIAST engineers. Photo: EIAST – Via Satellite

UAE announces plans to launch first domestically-built satellite in 2017.
[Via Satellite – 12/31/2013]

NASA artist’s concept showing the kinds of land surface data DESDynI mission will collect – Space News

Joint mission with India considered as NASA looks for savings in Earth science missions.
[Space News – 12/31/2013]

Energia completes full cycle of ground tests on Earth Observation Satellite EgyptSat 2, to be launched in April 2014.
[Via Satellite – 12/31/2013]

A Coronal Mass Ejection, or CME, as captured by NASA’s SDO Telescope. Photo: NASA – Via Satellite

UK to invest approximately $7.6 million in space weather forecasting system to protect technology from solar activity.
[Via Satellite – 12/30/2013]

China says it will have 30 satellites in its Beidou navigation system by 2020 to improve accuracy to within inches to better compete with the U.S. GPS.
[GPS Daily – 12/30/2013]

Gazprom Space Systems’ board of directors unanimously approves several long-term company goals for development until 2020. including continued construction and sustainment of fleet of Yamal satellites..
[Via Satellite – 12/30/2013]

Newsat gets Malaysian satellite regulator’s confirmation with respect to the use of the orbital slot 91.5 degrees East for the Jabiru-1 satellite.
[4-Traders – 12/30/2014]

New report published by Reportbuyer.com, “Global Fixed Satellite Service Market 2012 – 2016,” forecasts the market to grow at a CAGR of 5.44% over the period.
[Yahoo Finance – 12/30/2013]

AEHF satellite – Lockheed Martin photo – Space News

Lockheed gets $116 million for AEHF launch support.
[Space News – 12/31/2013]

House Energy and Commerce Committee announces plans to use 2014 to begin process leading to an update of the Communications Act for the digital age.
[The Washington Times – 12/29/2013]

New law precludes Russian satellite monitor stations in U.S. unless Secretary of Defense and Director of National Intelligence certify they will not be used to spy.
[New york Times – 12/29/2013]

Euroconsult believes High Throughput Satellite (HTS) services are poised for record-breaking growth, with 33 HTS systems to be launched over the next three years (31 have been launched over past decade).
[Via Satellite – 12/27/2013]

Skybox Imaging releases first high resolution HD video images from SkySat 1.
[Via Satellite – 12/27/2013]

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