Really Rocket Science

Ariane 5 prepared for double-duty launch October 29 with installation of second payload NSS-12 satellite for SES WORLD SKIES now complete, following earlier installation of Telenor Satellite Broadcasting’s THOR 6 relay platform.
[SatNews – 10/22/2009]

Rockwell Collins is selected to provide Extended Data Rate International Partners Variant Single Channel Anti-jam Manportable terminals to the Canadian Department of National Defense for use with the U.S. Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites.
[SatNews – 10/22/2009

Iridium Communications subsidiary Iridium Communicaciones de Mexico SAPI de CV receives all authorizations and licenses to offer services in Mexico.
[Reuters – 10/21/2009]

The Indian Navy will get a dedicated communications satellite next year, built by ISRO,  to boost its network-centric operations and connectivity at sea.
[domain-b – 10/22/2009]

Newtec announces that InSat GmbH will use Newtec’s Elevation modulators and demodulators, using 32 APSK modulation, for IP trunking for a new project in the Middle East and Central Asia.
[PRESSEMITTEILUNGEN – 10/21/2009]

SAT Corporation partners with ViaSat to provide signal monitoring and interference detection; Monics system will support eight gateway earth stations planned throughout Europe for Tooway consumer broadband.
[Reuters – 10/21/2009]

U.S. Army Communications-electronics Research, Development, and Engineering Center at Fort Monmouth will host briefing to industry on innovative military satellite communications technologies on November 17 – 18.
[Military & Aerospace Electronics – 10/21/2009]

Newtec will sign a major Memorandum of Agreement with Arabsat October 25th for jointly developing new markets and satellite technologies throughout the Middle East.
[SatNews – 10/20/2009]

Comtech receives $1.6M of orders for high power amplifiers from a leading provider of aviation electronics and communications systems to be used in airborne-to-satellite-to-ground communications systems.
[Reuters – 10/20/2009]

Viasat and Innotech Aviation successfully completed the first installation of ViaSat’s high-speed broadband terminal on a Bombardier Global Express XRS aircraft; Satcom Direct then commissioned the terminal into the Viasat Yonder satellite airborne broadband network.
[SatNews – 10/20/2009]

Harris Corporation researchers will present eight technical papers discussing methods to improve communications networking and security including improving utilization of satellite resources at MILCOM 2009.
[Reuters – 10/19/2009]

Lockheed Martin team demonstrates interface compatibility of firs Mobile User Objective System satellite’s dual legacy and UHF communications payloads with ground terminals; design to provide improved and assured communications,  delivering simultaneous voice, data and video services for U.S. mobile warfighters.
[Reuters – 10/19/2009]

The Indian Space Research Organisation plans to launch two dedicated satellites to study climate change in 2021 and 2011.
[SatNews – 10/19/2009]

AeroMechanical Services announces completion of flight testing of technology to stream data from aircraft to ground anywhere, anytime, using Iridium satellite network and ground-based server; streaming can be triggered by flight crew or ground staff; voice communications also supported.
[Reuters – 10/19/2009]

YahClick online services based on Microsoft Live may be offered in Middle East, Africa, and South-West Asia by Yahsat following signing of Memorandum of Understanding.
[SatNews – 10/19/2009]

U.S. Coast Guard approves Collecte Localisation Satellites Thorium terminal for Long-Range Identification and Tracking using Iridium satellite network.
[SatNews – 10/19/2009]

GeoEye contracts with Gibraltar Associates to serve as its public relations agency of record.
[SatNews – 10/19/2009]

The U.S.A.F.’s Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F-18 Block 5D-3 satellite built by Lockheed Martin is launched from Vandenberg AFB.
[Reuters – 10/18/2009]

Mars missions boosted by communication breakthrough – engineers find way to communicate continuously with Mars taking advantage of Lagrange points, five points in space where satellite can stay fixed in same location relative to Earth and Sun, and a spacecraft with a continuous thrusting propulsion system.
[Telegraph – 10/17/209]

NSR free webinar to discuss absence of effect on commercial satellite supply and demand by the current recession and High Throughput Satellite technology and applications.
[NSR webinar scheduled November 10 2009]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

Lufthansa to offer passengers satellite connection to wireless broadband internet in 2010, in partnership with Panasonic Avionics, using antenna systems built by Israeli company Starling Advanced Communications.
[Haaretz – 10/16/2009]

House committee approves satellite reauthorization bill, granting satellite operators a compulsory license to carry distant TV network station signals – Dish network is allowed back into the distant network signal business in exchange for reaching all 210 markets.
[Broadcasting & Cable – 10/15/2009]

Eutelsat announces extencion of multi-year agreement with Poland’s Cyfrowy Polsat, with the pay-TV operator taking three transponders on HOT BIRD.
[SatNews – 10/15/2009]

BAE Systems equipment governs command and control functions and provides electric power aboard DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-2 satellite.
[SatNews – 10/15/2009]

Numerex Corp joins QinetiQ North America team that has been awarded multi-year contract from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for full program management of FEMA’s Total Asset Visibility assed tracking program.
[SatNews – 10/15/2009]

Globe Wireless signs distribution agreement to sell Addvalue FleetBroadband equipment to its maritime customers, offering turnkey solution with installation, service, and repair in addition to airtime and applications.
[SatNews – 10/15/2009]

Harris showcases latest digital technology solutions at HD World 2009 including upgraded Harris NewsForce HD/SD production platform featuring proxy file support and integration.
[SatNews – 10/15/2009]

Globecomm Systems announces U.S. Army has exercised $2.3m contract option for continued production of the Joint IP Modem.
[SatNews – 10/15/2009]

Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium selects Harris Corporation to deliver end-to-end HD broadcast solution during coverage of 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
[SatNews – 10/15/2009]

Telesat’s Nimiq 5 satellite is placed into commercial service on October 10, fully leased to EchoStar for the life of the satellite.
[SatNews – 10/14/2009]

World’s fastest satellite internet connection, up to 155 Mbps with 1.2m antenna, is studied by Nanyan Technological University team working with Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency and National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, looking for solutions to improve satellite links during heavy rainfall.
[Science Daily – 10/14/2009]

Atlas V is scheduled to launch the Air Force’s Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F18 satellite from Vandenberg on October 18 – the 600th launch of an Atlas vehicle.
[SatNews – 10/14/2009]

Globecomm Systems will introduce a new portable TomCatTM X-band satellite terminal at SATCON.
[Reuters – 10/14/2009]

Boeing ships third Wideband Global SATCOM satellite to Cape Canaveral for November launch for the Air Force.
[SatNews – 10/14/2009]

Intelsat signs multi-year contract with Altitude Sports & Entertainment to distribute its regional sports programming across the U.S. in HD and SD on Galaxy 17.
[SatNews – 10/14/2009]

TeleCuba will build a U.S.-Cuba cable after U.S. government announced in April that it would allow service providers to build out optical cable and satellite facilities linking the U.S. and Cuba.
[Fierce Telecom – 10/14/2009]

Orbit Technologies announces record orders for its satellite communications products – in excess of $5m for its marine VSAT systems in the second quarter.
[SatNews – 10/14/2009]

NASA to retire TDRS-1 tracking and data relay satellite on October 28 after 26-year stellar performance following a rocky start.
[Reuters – 10/14/2009]

ATCi low cost GSM satellite backhaul services offered throughout Asia.
[Reuters – 10/14/2009]

Iridium and H2OSatellite provide critical satellite communications for Beluga Shipping’s successful pioneering transit of the Northeast Passage.
[Reuters – 10/14/2009]

Expand Networks demonstrates advancements in satellite link optimization for WANs at SatCon 2009.
[Reuters – 10/14/2009]

Comtech wins $1.8M high-power amplifier orders for satellite terminals to provide satellite connectivity for soldiers.
[Reuters – 10/14/2009]

50,000 GlobalWave customers are successfully migrated to Inmarsat’s latest satellites by SkyWave.
[PRLog – 10/14/2009]

RapidEye delivers 2009 Canadian growing season images of agricultural areas to GeoFarm Solutions, in conjunction with the Agri-Trend Network.
[SatNews – 10/13/2009]

Enterprise Satellite Solutions of California enters distribution agreement with U.K.-base Applied Satellite Technology, allowing Enterprise to expand its sales and distribution with providers such as Inmarsat, Thuraya, and Iridium.
[Satellite Today – 10/13/2009]

Saudi Arabian Airlines will install full SwiftBroadband Mobile OnAir and WiFi Internet OnAir inflight passenger communications services on their fleet of Airbus A330 planes flying international routes.
[SatNews – 10/13/2009]

Comtech subsidiary Comtech AeroAstro is awarded Air Force Research Laboratory contract for development of Advanced Plug and Play Technologies for space missions.
[SatNews – 10/13/2009]

Viasat signs IPTV distribution deal with the largest IPTV service provider in Estonia, Elion.
[Satellite Today – 10/12/2009]

Hungary’s public broadcaster Magyar Televizio selects Eutelsat’s EUROBIRD 9A satellite for broadcasting across Europe.
[Reuters – 10/12/2009]

As European video market becomes more complex, new opportunities emerge for satellite operators to sell Ku-band capacity.
[NSR Report – Global Assessment of Satellite Supply & Demand – October 2009]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

Satellite Holdings changes name of Raven Group to Skyware Global.
[SatNews – 10/09/2009]

DigitalGlobe WorldView-2 satellite successfully launched from Vandenberg AFB, California.
[SatNews – 10/08/2009}

Viasat receives $46M contract from Star Satellite Communications Company, a subsidiary of Yahsat, for network infrastructure and customer premise terminals for new high-speed internet service in Middle East, Africa, and Southwest Asia.
[socalTECH – 10/08/2009]

Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite to image impact of its empty upper stage before the satellite also crashes into the moon; studies of plume of gas and dust may confirm presence of ice.
[SatNews – 10/08/2009]

SpeedCast and Eutelsat expand coverage of their maritime solution across the Atlantic Ocean and the Americas.
[Satellite Today – 10/08/2009]

Omnicity Corp signs agreement with StarBand Communications to offer StarBand satellite high speed internet service in Omnicity markets throughout the U.S.
[SatNews – 10/08/2009]

KT Corporation signs multi-year pre-launch contract for capacity on Intelsat 17 satellite to be launched in 2011, to deliver enhanced broadband VSAT services in Asia, Africa, and Middle East.
[SatNews – 10/08/2009]

TDM Satellite Channel, Macau, begins free to air broadcasting on newly launched AsiaSat 5 satellite serving more than 50 countries in Asia Pacific.
[SatNews – 10/08/2009]

Inmarsat and Vizada donate 70 BGAN terminals to ITU in agreement to improve emergency communications for disaster preparedness and coordinate relief activities.
[SatNews – 10/08/2009]

RapidEye supplies German company EOMAP with satellite imagery to support mapping services for oil spill monitoring in Australia.
[SatNews – 10/08/2009]

UTV signs contract for capacity on MEASAT-3a for carriage of UTV Movies.
[SatNews – 10/08/2009]

Cable & Wireless Panama chooses Gilat to provide SkyEdge II high-performance network to deliver broadband internet to hundreds of schools in remote areas nationwide.
[SatNews – 10/08/2009]

Eutelsat adds 100th HD channel with Sky Sport 1HD.
[hd-report – 10/07/2009]

Satellite and Telco TV services beat Cable on J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey.
[Multichannel News – 10/07/2009]

ExactEarth, subsidiary of COM DEV International, successfully uses NanoSat Automatic Identification System technology to help Canadian Forces monitor illegal fishing activity in Pacific.
[SatNews – 10/07/2009]

Iridium is staging a comeback, goes public 10 years after chapter 11 bankruptcy; can Pentagon demand and other niche services including hosted payload keep it going as it faces satellite replacement requirements?
[BusinessWeek – 10/06/2009]

ORBCOMM and Sierra Wireless enter agreement to integrate Sierra Wireless’s M2M services platform within ORBCOMM’s satellite web services portal.
[TMCnet – 10/05/2009]

Harris subsidiary Maritime Communication Services launches iDirect Evolution network to support broadband IP services for its maritime customer Carnival Corporation.
[PRNewswire – 10/06/2009]

China’s late September announcements that it will build and launch communications satellites for Bolivia and Laos may be followed by plans to build satellites for Ecuador, Myanmar, and Vietnam, as well as some African countries.
[AsiaTimes – 10/07/2009]

Iran claims plans to launch astronauts into space in future.
[SatNews – 10/05/2009]

NSR free webinar will discuss the coming surge in launches of satellites for the mobile satellite services sector – three LEO constellations totaling 128 satellites and another 23 MEO and GEO satellites could be launched in next six years – market demand equation will tilt strongly toward supply side.
[NSR free webinar – October 20, 2009]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

Viasat announces it is buying WildBlue Communications for $568M in cash and stock.

[TheStreet.com  – 10/01/2009]

Thales Alenia Space signs contract with APT Satellite Company Limited to design and build APSTAR 7, to provide broadcasting and communications services over the Asia Pacific, Africa, Middle East, and part of Europe.
[SatNews – 10/01/2009]

Ariane 5 delivers two payloads to orbit; Amazonas 2 for Spain’s HISPASAT, the COMSATBw-1 for Germany.
[SatNews – 10/01/2009]

EGNOS, a free satellite navigation network, is launched by the European Union, intended to help pilots, drivers, and blind people by fine tuning GPS accuracy to within 2 meters..
[SatNews – 10/01/2009]

Terrestar Genus hybrid satellite/cell phone is coming to AT&T.
[Digital Trends – 10/01/2009]

Comtech EFData gets $1.1M order from U.S. government for equipment to support the government’s satellite-based communications infrastructure.
[Newsday – 10/01/2009]

TeleCommunications Systems gets $11.7M contract from U.S. Army to provide additional Secret Internet Protocal Router and Non-secure Int ernet Protocal Router FSAT systems to the United States Forces Afghanistan.
[Sys-Con – 10/01/2009]

Soyuz TMA-16 launch carries Jeffrey Williams and Maxim Suraev of the 21st space station crew into space for a six month stay aboard the International Space Station.
[SatNews – 09/30/2009]

B-52 bombers will be getting a new satellite communications system, to be developed and installed by Boeing.
[Minot  Daily News – 09/30/2009]

NSS-12 satellite, the first satellite built by Space Systems/Loral for SES NEW SKIES, is delivered to Kourou launch base for October 29 scheduled launch.
[TMCnet – 09/30/2009]

THOR 6, aTelenor’s latest satellite, arrives safely at Guiana Spaceport In Kourou for scheduled end of October launch.
[SatNews – 09/29/2009]

Terrestar will be able to deliver the most advanced communications services over a large area using a single satellite instead of multiple satellites using 18-meter antenna deflector built and successfully deployed by Harris.
[TMCnet -09/29/2009]

KVH TracPhone FleetBroadband systems receive new "505" emergency calling service which routes calls directly to Coast Guard rescue centers worldwide.
[PRNewswire – 09/28/2009]

China plans to build and launch a communications satellite for Laos.
[RedOrbit – 09/27/2009]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

Delta II launch of two STSS-Demo satellites proceeds successfully at Cape Canaveral following several rain delays.

[SatNews – 09/25/2009]

Worldview-2 launch date affected by rain delays of launch of the STSS satellites; subject to day-to-day rescheduling.
[SatNews – 09/24/2009]

Next generation secret satellite built and launched by Lockheed Martin for the U.S. government is performing as required following its September 9th launch from Cape Canaveral aboard an Atlas 5 rocket.
[SatNews – 09/24/2009]

SpaceX schedules maiden launch of Falcon-9 rocket for November 29 from Cape Canaveral.
[Satellite Today – 09/24/2009]

The Thor 6 satellite, owned by Telenor Satellite Broadcasting, is ready to be shipped by sea to Kourou in French Guiana for launch scheduled on October 29.
[SatNews – 09/24/2009]

Ukraine plans to export launch vehicles to Latin America, with Cyclone-4 rocket scheduled to launch from Brazil’s Alcantara space center in 2010.
[Satellite Today – 09/24/2009]

Seascape wins U.S. FAA contract for two 3.7m geostationary TeraScan ground stations, for GOES-East and GOES-West, to be installed in Atlantic City.
[SatNews – 09/24/2009]

SkyTerra is to be acquired by Harbinger Capital Partners and taken private in a transaction worth around $280M.
[The Washington Post – 09/24/2009]

EchoStar partners with ViaSat and seeks $483M in federal stimulus money to build and launch a new satellite offering broadband with download speeds of up to 8 megabits per second in 20 states west of the Mississippi river.
[Denver Business Journal – 09/24/2009]

Clipper Tankers selects KVH TracPhone V7 and mini-VSAT Broadband for its fleet.
[PR Newswire – 09/23/2009]

Digital Rapids’ MediaMesh content distribution system receives 2009 STAR (Superior Technology Award Recipient) award from TV Technology Europe magazine at 2009 IBC convention.
[SatNews – 09/23/2009]

Spacecom is reconfiguring Amos 6 communications satellite to handle broadband internet rather than wait for Amos 7 and Amos 8.
[SatNews – 09/23/2009]

India’s Chandrayaan-1 lunar mission finds evidence of large quantities of water on surface of Moon.
[SatNews – 09/23/2009]

India, having lost contact with Chandrayaan-1 on August 29, makes up for it on September 23 with launch of seven satellites from a single rocket.
[SatNews – 09/23/2009]

NASA’s MESSENGER to make third and final flyby of Mercury at distance of 142 miles above the surface for final gravity assist to enter Mercury’s orbit in 2011.
[SatNews – 09/23/2009]

Gilat deploys broadband satellite internet service for passengers of Kazakhstans’ national railway.
[MarketWatch – 09/22/2009]

Hughes announces it has shipped more than 1000 HX terminals to provide satellite backhaul for major GSM cellular operator in Southeast Asia.
[PRNewswire – 09/22/2009]

SES World Skies announces multi-year agreement with Netcom Africa to expand delivery of telecom and broadcast television services throughout Nigeria and West Africa.
[SatNews – 09/22/2009]

Global Satellite USA launches world’s first IP54/IK03 certified satellite phone, the Thuraya XT, combining satellite phone functionality with Thuraya’s satellite network.
[SatNews – 09/22/2009]

Asiasat-5 begins commercial service on September 17 at orbital location of 100.5 degrees East with enhance power and coverage over the Asia Pacific region.
[SatNews – 09/22/2009]

Nimiq 5 performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan.
[SatNews – 09/21/2009]

Arianespace Soyuz launches Russian weather satellite from Baikonur Cosmodrome September 17.
[Satellite Today – 09/21/2009]

Japan’s HTV-1 transfer vehicle successfully attaches to International Space Station port for supply mission.
[SatNews – 09/21/2009]

Revenue growth is increasing on steady gains in transponder demand, new report from NSR shows.
[NSR report – September 2009]

The Earth Observation industry has taken rapid strides in the last decade and expanded its application base to new industries outside the military and weather.
[NSR Report – October 2009]

Security of Global Navigation Satellite Systems can be improved by using GPS hidden attributes to cross-check receivers and authenticate the signal.
[insidegnss – September/October 2009]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

Nimiq-5 is successfully launched into orbit by International Launch Services from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on an ILS Proton for Telesat.
[SatNews – 09/17/2009]

NASA Lunar satellite begins detailed mapping of Moon’s South Pole
[Reuters – 09/17/2009].

Iridium joins mobile satellite industry companies and emergency response community in ProTECTS Alliance to develop two-way satellite data solutions for improve tracking, messaging, and emergency communications.
[Reuters – 09/17/2009]

Russia will push back its satellite mission to Mars’ moon until 2011, which will also delay the joint launch of China’s first Mars probe.
[SatNews – 09/17/2009]

Space Foundation in Colorado Springs releases white paper stating that developing nations should look to space-based technology to overcome infrastructure and access issues.
[SatNews – 09/17/2009]

Artel leases Ku-band transponder on Astra 3B from SES World Skies to provide U.S. Department of Defense with broadband, IP voice, data, and video solutions across a variety of regional operations.
[Satellite Today – 09/17/2009]

Satellite Operators create Coalition for Competitive Launches aiming at enhancing worldwide competition in the commercial launch market.
[Reuters – 09/16/2009]

China announces development of fourth space center, Wenchang Center, and a space analyst claims China intends to challenge the U.S. and Russia dominated commercial satellite launch market.
[UPI – 09/16/2009]

European Space Agency takes practical step towards 3D television at home, delivered by satellite, as part of its Advance Research in Telecommunication Systems program.
[SatNews – 09/16/2009]

KVH extends mini-VSAT Atlantic Ocean coverage into Greenland and northern Europe, and as far south as the horn of Brazil.
[Reuters – 09/16/2009]

SES World Skies signs multi-year, multi-transponder capacity deal in Africa with Netcom.
[Satellite Today – 09/16/2009]

Researchers at a meeting in Spain report discovery of a rocky planet five times larger than Earth beyond the solar system.
[SatNews – 09/16/2009]

Tampa Microwave announces entry into VSAT market with manpack satellite terminal and outdoor modem module.
[Reuters – 09/16/2009]

German telecommunications provider atrexx will offer satellite-based communications via Eutelsat’s EUROBIRD 4A to the Iraq region.
[PRLog – 09/16/2009]

Intelsat and the Global VSAT Forum announce agreement to facilitate training for technicians in deployment of state-of-the-art satellite systems.
[Reuters – 09/16/2009]

Gilat announces that China Unicom is deploying its SkyAbis cellular backhaul solution to enhance GSM mobile connectivity in the Xinjiang region.
{Reuters – 09/15/2009]

Australian DEFENCE awards $94m contract for construction of three new satellite ground terminals to improve communications with forces deployed around the world.
{The Australian – 09/15/2009]

Verimatrix signs pure satellite content protection deal with TV operator in Asia.
[Satellite Today – 09/15/2009]

SES World Skies signs multiyear, two-transponder deal with Galaxy Backbone to provide government broadband connectivity in Nigeria.
[Satellilte Today – 09/15/2009]

Inmarsat launches Enhanced Super Quiet Time low-cost FleetBroadband calling service.
[Satellite Today – 09/15/2009]

OmniGlobe contracts with ARABSAT to provide 12 new backhauling platforms for transmission of SCPC TV streams throughout Arab world countries.
[SatNews – 09/15/2009]

Hughes technology announces that Bantel Telecom, a satellite communications provider in the Caribbean and Central American, will use the Hughes HN System to provide KU band service in Columbia under a contract with Union Temporal Conectando.
[Reuters – 09/15/2009]

GlobeCast’s Content Exchange sharing and transfer solution receives Inmarsat certification.
[Satellite Today – 09/15/2009]

Bolivia’s president seeks United Nations assistance to acquire a communications satellite for his impoverished Andean country.
[Reuters – 09/14/2009]

SES to expand reach of its satellite-based broadband service ASTRA2Connect to Africa on NSS-12 under agreement with Intersat Africa.
[SatNews – 09/14/2009]

Russia plans launch of weather satellite Meteor-M on board a Soyuz 2.1b carrier rocket from Baikonur September 22.
[SatNews – 09/14/2009]

Beaverton, Oregon inventor claims his "launch loop" would greatly reduce the cost of space travel.
[Portland Examiner – 09/14/2009]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

GeoEye wins $50m National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency contract extension.

[Satellite Today – 09/11/2009]

NASA and Alliant Techsystems conduct successful stationary firing test of the five-segment solid development motor for the first state of the Ares 1 crew launch vehicle in development for the Constellation program.
[R&D Magazine – 09/11/2009]

Artel leases four full Ku-band transponders from SES World Skies on Astra 3B to be launched next year.
[Satellite Today – 09/11/2009]

Japan’s H-2B rocket successfully launches an H-2 Transfer Vehicle, Japan’s first unmanned cargo vehicle, designed to transport supplies to the International Space Station.
[SatNews – 09/10/2009]

Globecast leases occasional use capacity from Intelsat, spanning the operator’s entire satellite fleet.
[SatNews – 09/10/2009]

Expand Networks enhances Clear Satellite managed service offerings with its WAN optimization technology.
[SatNews – 09/10/2009]

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates will provide RADARSAT-2 satellite imagery to the European Space Agency to provide information on ice and disaster mapping in support of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security program.
[SatNews – 09/10/2009]

Thales Alenia Space and Indosat announce successful placement of the Palapa-D satellite into geostationary orbit; solar panels and antennas have been deployed and In Orbit Testing will begin.
[SatNews – 09/10/2009]

NHK Global Media Services signs multi-transponder, multiyear renewal and expansion contract with Intelsat.
[SatNews – 09/10/2009]

First Advance Extremely High Frequency military communications satellite built by Lockheed Martin for U.S. Air Force begins final test phase at Lockheed’s Sunnyvale, California facilities.
[Reuters – 09/10/2009]

Eutelsat Communications Receives Award as Fixed Satellite Services Operator of
the Year by Euroconsult for Second Consecutive Year.
[Reuters – 09/10/2009]

Faster more affordable broadband satellite services attract backup, mobile, and continuity applications, and U.S. government announces joint military/civilian agency purchase of estimated $5b worth of commercial satellite services over next five years.
[Network World – 09/10/2009]

U.S. and Canada sign framework to collaborate on activities for peaceful exploration and use of outer space.
[SatNews – 09/09/2009]

SpaceX Falcon-1e wins launch contract with Astrium to launch an Earth observation satellite.
[Satellite Today – 09/09/2009]

Telespazio Brasil selects Gilat for 1,200-site broadband satellite communications network to serve major financial institutions.
[Reuters – 09/09/2009]

NASA award contract modification to L-3 Communications Integrated Systems for further development engineering in support of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy mission (SOFIA).
[SatNews – 09/09/2009]

Harris Corporation receives ‘Type Approval’ certification from Inmarsat for new RF-7800B Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) satellite terminals to provide Global high-speed IP based communications.
[Reuters – 09/09/2009]

Nagravision conditional access system to be used by HD PLUS GmbH, and SES ASTRA company, to support its new HD offering in Germany
[SatNews – 09/09/2009]

Recent Hubble telescope repair is called "an extreme makeover" and the telescope "now is significantly more powerful than ever, well-equipped to last into the next decade."
[SatNews – 09/09/2009]

SIRIUS XM announces SIRIUS FM-5 satellite has been placed into service, increasing broadcast power and delivering improved reception to SIRIUS subscribers.
[Reuters – 09/09/2009]

STM announces its subsidiary, STM Norway AS, will build a new SatLink DVB-RCS hub for Telenor Satellite Broadcasting.
[SatNews – 09/09/2009]

U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing successfully launches a government communications satellite from Cape Canaveral aboard an Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle.
[Patrick Air Force Base News – 09/08/2009]
[SatNews – 09/08/2009]

Globecast contracts with Eutelsat for two 36 Mhz transponders on the ATLANTIC Bird 1 and W2A satellites for three years.
[SatNews – 09/08/2009]

Satellite Users Interference Reduction Group will host three-day conference in Cannes, France for satellite interference problem solving discussions.
[SatNews – 09/08/2009]

Argentina’s ARSAT-1 payload will be built by Thales Alenia Space.
[SatNews -09/08/2009]

Harris Corporation adds broadband satellite capability to Falcon III(R) RF-7800M multiband manpack radio, extending its range through integration with the Harris RF-7800B BGAN satellite terminals.
[Reuters – 09/08/209]

SES rejects idea of building dedicated broadband satellite, saying terrestrial broadband rollout will challenge viability of satellite broadband in the long run.
[RapidTVNews – 09/08/2009]

SES WORLD SKIES – the new name for SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES is announced.
[SatNews – 09/07/2009]

Eutelsat announces signing of contract with International Launch Services for mid-November 2009 launch of W7 satellite, following notification by Sea Launch that it would be unable to meet the required time frame for the launch.
[Reuters – 09/07/2009]

Baltimore native leads University of Vermont team in development of thrusters on a chip (using steam) for maneuvering future NASA ‘nanosatellites’ (10 – 20 lb satellites).
[Baltimore Sun – 09/07/2009]

SES sees stimulus plans as threat to satellite Internet service, giving the edge to terrestrial technology.
[Financial Times – 09/07/2009]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

ABI Research expects location based services revenues to grow 156 percent from $1.7B in 2008 to $2.6B in 2009 due in large part to popularity of GPS based smart phones.
[Satellite Today – 09/04/2009]

Euroconsult report expects commercial data and satellite-based Earth observation sales to top $1B in 2009, and to nearly quadruple by 2018.
[Satellite Today – 09/04/2009]

Thales Alenia performs three perigee boost maneuvers on Palapa-D satellite to successfully place it in a correct Geostationary Transfer Orbit after problems in the third stage of the Chinese launch vehicle resulted in an incorrect orbit.
[SatNews – 09/03/2009]

Astrium awards $27.3m contract to QinetiQ for a solar-electric propulsion system for the European Space Agency’s BepiColombo satellite mission to the planet Mercury
[Satellite Today – 09/03/2009]

ORBCOMM and SpaceX announce agreement for SpaceX to launch 18 ORBCOMM Generation 2 satellites between 2010 and 2014.
[SatNews – 09/03/2009]

Industry Canada issues call-for-applications for "Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians" initiative launched by the government under its stimulus program.
[Satellite Today – 09/03/2009]

SES ASTRA signs reseller agreement with Telekomunikacja Polska S.A. for marketing of its ASTRA2Connect broadband service in Poland.
[SatNews – 09/03/2009]

Thrane & Thrane receives major contract from Italy’s largest telecoms company, Telecom Italia, to provide capacity expansion for its Furino Land Earth Station gateway.
[SatNews – 09/03/2009]

Raytheon uses special test equipment to simulate on-orbit antenna performance to integrate a flight worthy Main Mission Antenna and update antenna control software for Iridium satellites.
[Reuters – 09/03/2009]

TIE Technologies signs satellite simplex data agreement with Globalstar, planning to integrate the data network into its virtual gateway, providing worldwide data communications.
[Reuters – 09/03/2009]

SES will be cautious with its growth strategy even with booming demand for satellite broadcasting and telecommunications in emerging markets, with an eye to preserving its investment grade credit rating.
[Wall Street Journal – 08/03/2009]

Ground Control partners with GeoData Publishers to provide state-of-the-art maritime satellite communications to TDI-BI fleet of research vessels, keeping them connected across the globe.
[Reuters – 09/03/2009]

RRsat announces signing of PRO TV International of Romania to provide programming to Romanian ex patriots in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East via the Hotbird satellite.
[SatNews – 09/03/2009]

Significant investments are being made in infrastructure development in Angola to meet demand for mobile services, including developing Angola’s own satellite, per Frost and Sullivan report added to offering of Research and Markets.
[Reuters – 09/03/2009]

Humax selects Broadcom’s DTV and panel processors to enable next generation digital video broadcast platforms addressing the European DTV market.
[Reuters – 09/03/2009]

Genesis Networks announces that ETV of India has contracted with Genesis for fully manage video transmission solution from ETV’s studios in Hyderabad, India, to the DirecTV facility in Los Angeles, California.
[SatNews – 09/03/2009]

DirecTV sues five people in Michigan and Virginia for illegal redistribution of its programs.
[Wall Street Journal – 09/03/2009]

Newtec’s TCP acceleration software TellitNet is integrated by SatPath Systems into their SkySwitch VSAT terminals to optimize communications by satellite; system will be provided to Chinese high end users in partnership with ZTT of Beijing.
[SatNews – 09/02/2009]

Tandberg to demonstrate at IBC 2009 how world’s first MPEG-4 AVC HD 4:2:2 encoder and receiver that support 1080p50/60 HD with 10-bit precision can enable migration of high quality HD video from MPEG2 to MPEG4, offering substantial bandwidth savings.
[SatNews – 09/02/2009]

Marshall Communications shows VIPs on budget and on schedule projects to provide hybrid architecture using emerging standards-based, SATCOM, and wireless technology to extend global communications and services to the tactical edge.
[SatNews – 09/02/2009]

Thuraya will showcase several specialized satellite products at the Defence Systems and Equipment International show in London September 8  – 11.
[SatNews – 09/01/2009]

China plans to start construction of its own orbital space station in 2020 according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
[SatNews – 09/01/2009]

EADS Astrium delivers the Amazonas 2 satellite to Arianespace in Kourou in preparation for September 29 launch.
[Satellite Today – 09/01/2009]

Applied Satellite Technology Ltd launches a maritime VSAT broadband service built on the iDirect Intelligent Platform, introducing higher bandwidth data rates as well as a flat-fee service model to its customers.
[Reuters – 09/01/2009]

Hughes do Brasil signs agreements with two Brazilian cellular operators to provide turn-key managed service connecting 79 regional base transceiver sites to their GSM networks.
[Satellite Today – 09/01/2009]

Frost and Sullivan recognizes Hughes for leadership in the North American Satellite Broadband Services market.
[Reuters – 09/01/2009]

ScheduALL announces that SES AMERICOM-NEW SKIES is using its ScheduLINK transmission and optimization software to manage special events and occasional use bookings in The Hague, Netherlands, and Princeton, New Jersey.
[SatNews – 09/01/2009]

SDN Global offers emergency management backup solution to 911 call centers with its Public Safety Access Terminal, connecting administrative phone lines, internet access, and connection to data applications over same satellite link.
[Reuters – 09/01/2009]

TIE Technologies acquires Point B Telematics, Inc, of Seattle, a fleet management and asset tracking software company and operator of WIMFleet.
[Reuters – 09/01/2009]

Globalstar subsidiary SPOT LLC announces availability of SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger, with capability to email or SMS text the user’s location in a "request for help" to friends or family.
[TMCnet – 09/01/2009]

Newtec to unveil at IBC 2009 its 4CPM modulation and coding scheme, which will dramatically increase the speed and bandwidth efficiency of the satellite return link of its Sat3Play self-installable system providing broadband and VoIP to home users.
[SatNews – 09/01/2009]

M.H. Simonsen ApS chooses KVH TracPhone to reduce communication costs ad improve crew welfare on its tankers.
[Reuters – 08/31/2009]

EuroSkyPark awards SES Astra contract to provide it with Astra2Connect broadband service.
[Satellite Today – 08/31/2009]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

TerreStar-1 completes in-orbit testing and is operating normally.

[Satellite Today – 08/28/2009]

William H. Robbins, 82, a retired NASA scientist who was part of a NASA team honored with an Emmy in 1985 for improving satellite-communications technology, died Saturday in Cleveland.
[philly.com – 08/27/2009]

Planned for launch today, August 28, the space shuttle Discovery is to carry aloft Leonardo, the Multi-Purpose Pressurized Logistics Modules developed by Thales Alenia Space; the MPLM will carry 15,200 pounds of cargo needed for scientific experiments and to support the International Space Station’s crew.
[SatNews – 08/27/2009]

GPS IIR-21(M), the last of the modernized GPS IR satellites, is declared operational for users just 10 days after launching from Cape Canaveral.
[SatNews – 08/27/2009]

WildBlue demonstrates how it can deliver download speeds that are up to 12 times faster than its current speeds if it gets a new high-capacity satellite that could cost around $500m to build, launch, and insure; the company hopes to get stimulus money to help with the cost.
[SatNews – 08/27/2009]

Shaw Direct will launch AMC in HD in Canada by satellite, the first to bring Quebec the award-winning series in HD.
[Marketwire – 08/27/2009]

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency certifies and accepts the Space Based Infrared Systems, Highly Elliptical Orbit data for use in support of technical intelligence missions.
[SatNews – 08/27/2009]

Landsat 5 is again in good health after reported difficulties resulting in the halt of imagery operations; the one millionth scene download, of the Grand Canyon, is available on the internet at no cost.
[SatNews – 08/27/2009]

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency unveil a new ground station in Guam that will track spacecraft from JAXA’s upcoming Quasi-Zenith satellite system, designed to work seamlessly with the U.S. Global Positioning System and provide improved navigation satellite coverage over Japan and surrounding areas.
[SatNews – 08/27/2009]

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is spending $213m to develop a small launch vehicle in 2010 to reduce satellite launch costs by two-thirds.
[Satellite Today – 08/27/2009]

South Korean satellite launch failed when fairing did not open, causing satellite to overshoot the target altitude; satellite likely burned up in the atmosphere during re-entry.
[Bloomberg – 08/26/2009]

Sirius XM Radio unveils a dock that turns an iPhone into a satellite radio receiver, letting users listen to premium satellite radio programming.
[Reuters – 08/26/2009]

The Indian Space Research Organisation plans launch of Oceansat-2, a unique integrated satellite to track marine life and identify potential fishing zones, in September.
[SatNews – 08/26/2007]

Univision expects to realize as much as $175m in 2009, and $350m over next three to five years, from 140 multiyear retransmission-consent agreements with U.S. cable and satellite operators.
[Multichannel News – 08/26/2009]

Globalstar Inc. subsidiary SPOT LLC satellite GPS Messenger will be sold in Best Buy retail locations nationwide.
[Global Newswire – 08/26/2009]

Vizada partner Compass Systems recognized for outstanding customer service to government clients.
[BusinessWire – 08/26/2009]

ProtoStar will auction its two satellites on October 14 following decision by U.S. Bankruptcy Court of Delaware approving the sale.
[Satellite Today – 08/25/2009]

Iridium is contracted buy government of Newfoundland and Labrador to provide satellite service to motorists along Canadian highway.
[Satellite Today – 08/25/2009]

Lockheed Martin satellite built for Sky Perfect JSAT of Japan was successfully launched by Arianespace on Friday, August 21.
[Business Journal – 08/24/2008]

First launch of a Russion Soyuz rocket from the European Space Agency base at Kourou in French Guiana is postponed until April 2010 due to a delay "linked to a mobile launch pad."
[SatNews – 08/26/209]

Kazsat, Kazakhstan’s first satellite, built by the Russian Krunichev Space Center and orbited in June 2006 will be be discarded; control of the satellite was lost in June 2008, restored, then lost permanently in October 2008.
[SatNews – 08/24/2008]

GSA and DISA form satellite communications partnership to create a common marketplace for commercial satellite communications services offering significant savings to defense and civil agencies as well as local and tribal governments.
[hotindienews – 08/24/2009]

SkyTerra Communications is 70.7% owned by Philip Falcon’s Harbinger Capital Partners hedge fund as disclosed in an amended 13D filing with the SEC due to activity on August 19.
[seeking alpha – 08/24/2009]

NASA may turn to private contractors for much of the work now handled by government workers in effort to cut $30b to $50b from program to return astronauts to the moon.
[SatNews – 08/24/2009]

DirecTV, after being rated the nation’s highest-rated TV provider six years in a row, loses its top ranking to AT&T’s U-Verse and Verizon’s FIOS TV.
[Multichannel – 08/24/2009]

Three months after launch, TacSat-3 completes calibration phase and begins crucial validation stage.
[SatNews – 08/24/2009]

Saturday morning Australian time, Optus D3 is successfully launched from French Guiana, slated to provide services for Australia and New Zealand.
[SatNews – 08/23/2007]

Cyprus satellite communications provider Planetsky enters new markets with VelocitySAT services including cellular and PSTN/PTT backhaul, VoIP, IP Backbone, Broadcasting, FPN’s, virtual DSL, Disaster Recovery, and space segment availability.
[pr.com – 08/23/2009]

Russia plans 3-decade manned space flight program; hopes program will be basis for international effort with target direct to Mars as well as a permanent base on the moon.
[IEEE Spectrum – 08/20/2009] 

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

Intelsat announces the 45th anniversary of its operation, having launched the Early Bird, or Intelsat 1, satellite over the Atlantic on April 6, 1965 as an intergovernmental organization.
[Satellite Today – 08/21/2009]

Southwest Airlines prepares to begin fleetwide rollout of Wi-Fi in first quarter of 2010 using Row 44’s satellite service.
[Information Week – 08/21/2010]

WildBlue pursues $30m slice of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money to help subsidize satellite broadband connections for about 10,000 homes in Colorado and Wyoming and another 10,000 i Arizona which are not served by high-speed cable, fiber, or DSL lines.
[Digital Cable News – 08/21/2009]

Satellite testing of KVH mini-VSAT in Australia and New Zealand is complete and it has been activated for service there, providing Internet and voice communications needs for maritime and aeronautical applications.
[PRNewswire – 08/21/2009]

Lunar Orbiter, launched in June, uses wave amplifier to transmit massive amounts of data at 100 Mbs; with Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, launched at the same time, NASA hopes to find suitable landing site for future manned mission to moon.
[Computer World – 08/20/2009]

Harris wins multi-year contract to provide high-speed internet and advanced voice and data to Carnival Corp. cruise ship passengers.
[Satellite Today – 08/20/2009]

Government of Canada invests $8.7m in next generation mobile satellite communications research and development undertaken by EMS SATCOM.
[Canada News Center – 08/20/2009]

Ariane 5 rocket scheduled to lift off Friday with dual payload of 4,000 Kilo JCSAT-12 satellite to provide communications for Japan and the Asia-Pacific region, and 2,500 kilo Optus satellite for Australian and New Zealand TV and broadcasting services.
[AFP – 09/20/2009]

Verizon squares off against traditional cable providers and satellite TV companies, demonstrating the ability to tie together a cellphone with its FiOS TV service.
[Wall Street Journal – 08/19/2009]

Iinternational Datacasting acquires Comtech Tiernan in cash transaction of over $2m.
[Satellite Today – 08/19/2009]

Nimiq 5 delivered by Space Systems/Loral to International Launch Services Baikonur Space Center in preparation for September 18 launch.
[Satellite Today – 08/19/2009]

SkyTerra seeks $37m of federal stimulus money from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to deploy two new wireless devices, to work on both terrestrial and satellite systems, for public safety workers.
[Business Journal – 08/19/2009]

South Korea cancels first launch of satellite from its territory due to a technical problem.
[NY Times – 08/19/2009]

TerreStar selects BroadSoft VoIP application to power its new satellite mobile broadband service to launch later this year.
[TMCnet – 08/19/2009]

Landsat 5 experiences anomaly rendering it out of control with power at critical levels, but spacecraft is stabilized.
[Satellite Today – 08/18/2009]

Lockheed Martin plans to cut workforce by 4.5%, but plans do not include cut back of facilities expansion in Philadelphia.
[Business Journal – 08/18/2009]

iDirect platform excels during speed, mobility, and disaster testing at Fort Monmouth military exercise.
[PRNewswire – 08/18/2009]

Private Equity Firm Greenhill’s plan to take over Iridium is approved by FCC.
[Forbes – 08/17/2009]

A United Launch Alliance Delta II becomes last rocket to lift off from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 17A as it carries aloft the twenty-first and last GPS AIIR satellite for the U.S. Air Force.
[NASA Spaceflight – 08/17/2009]

ISS Reshetnev wins contracty from Russian Radio Research and Development Institute to develop AM5 and AM6 satellites; will work with Thales Alenia Space.|
[Satellite Today – 08/17/2009]

While fears of the bottom falling out for all MSS operators due to the economic crisis have been overestimated, cautions is still the best attitude for the short term.
[NSR Report – August 2009]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services