Really Rocket Science

Federal court upholds regulations that require cable TV companies to make sports programming and other channels they own available on equal terms to rival TV providers such as satellite companies.
[Reuters – 03/12/2010]

The U.S. Navy says launch of next-generation MUOS communications satellites will be delayed until September 2011; military space officials search for options deal with gap in critical tactical mobile communications.
[Spaceflight Now – 03/12/2010]

CapRock Government Solutions expands coverage on its pre-packaged satellite subscription service, CommandAccess™, with the finalization of its commercial X-band network with military-grade features for secure voice, video, and data communications.
[Satellite Today – 03/12/2010]

Goonhilly in the UK, once the largest teleport in the world with over 60 operational antennas, will close visitor center for an unspecified length of time, according to BBC.
[BBC News – 03/11/2010]

Globalstar, Inc. receives a substantial order for the initial delivery of more than 15,000 SPOT Satellite Communicators from DeLorme.
[CNN Money – 03/11/2010]

A coalition of cable and satellite companies ask the FCC to mandate that disputes with broadcasters be settled by arbitration, to prevent broadcasters from charging big fees for retransmission.
[USA Today – 03/10/2010]

SkyTerra adds data capability to its MSAT-G2 mobile satellite radio equipment with new software, expanding applications of SkyTerra’s mobile satellite equipment for government and enterprise customers.
[Market Watch – 03/10/2010]

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. and Orbit Technology Group announce integration of their products for Satellite Communications On-The-Move (SOTM) solutions to serve mobile requirements of a wide range of industries.
[CNN Money – 03/10/2010]

GE – Satlynx is re-named GE – Satcom, the final step for the company as they become a fully integrated GE business brand identity.
[SatNews – 03/08/2010]

SkyTerra announces the roll-out of its new radio software, developed by Hughes, that enables data capability on its MSAT-G2 mobile satellite radio equipment.
[Market Watch – 03/10/2010]

Starling Advanced Communications of Israel is introducing the StarPack, a single-case, fly-away antenna providing two-way, high-speed Ku broadband satellite communications from anywhere on earth.
[RF Globalnet – 03/10/2010]

Globecomm Systems announces the company’s subsidiary has received a $34 million-plus increase in a contract from a major U.S. Government prime contractor; the contract is valued at up to $127 million over four years.
[TMCnet – 03/09/2010]

A satellite radio company increases its subscriber uptake by getting its system installed in 60% of new cars, compared to 50% last year, and choosing the car models carefully to enhance the probability of car owners subscribing to the service.
[CNN Money – 03/09/2010]

SkyBitz® and Iridium announce a strategic partnership that will position Iridium as the first-ever provider of two-way global MSS for SkyBitz, integrating the SkyBitz Global Locating System (GLS) technology with the recently announced Iridium 9602 satellite data transceiver.
[CNN Money – 03/09/2010]

NASA launches interactive online Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) simulation in an effort to excite young people about space and NASA’s missions.
[The Orange County Register – 03/09/2010]

The Ministry of Defence has extended a deal with EADS to use a fourth SkyNet satellite of EADS subsidiary Paradigm to provide communications and data to troops in the field. The total value of the deal is now £3.5 billion.
[Computer World UK – 03/09/2010]

Globecomm Systems Inc. acquires Carrier to Carrier Telecom BV and Evolution Communication Ltd. for
about $15 million in cash as it expands its geographic reach.
[Business Week – 03/08/2010]

The Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin Corp. a new $10.2 million task order through the Integrated Topside program to help develop advanced satellite communications systems for submarines.
[Defense Systems – 03/08/2010]

Harris receives a Navy deal worth $10.7 million for computer systems for naval frigate vessels using 1.3-meter satellite communications terminals that have 10-times the bandwidth currently available, and operate on both X- and Ku-band frequencies.
[Orlando Sentinel – 03/08/2010]

Two areas of the national broadband plan likely to cause controversey are its goal to provide 100 Mbps service provided to 100 million U.S. homes by 2020 and its effort to get broadcasters to give up 500 MHz of spectrum for the use of wireless providers.
[TMCnet – 03/08/2010]

The U.S Army may be signaling to have at its disposal a variety of applications, particularly for sending goods, managing supply and support troops with more rich features, perhaps video or large data file transfers. But will this be the end of military narrowband tracking and M2M services?
[NSR Report -"Scenarios in Asset Tracking and Situational Awareness " –  March 2010]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

Orbital Sciences reaches agreement to acquire spacecraft development and manufacturing business of General Dynamic’s subsidiary GD Advanced Information Systems.
[SatNews – 03/05/2010]

Air Force accepts WGS-3 from Boeing.
[UPI – 03/05/2010]

RRsat Global Communications Network signs agreement with ISG Media of India to provide fiber connectivity, playout and distribution for satellite broadcast in Europe and North America.
[SatNews – 03/05/2010]

SatMAX and TLC  Engineering offer SatMAX repeaters to aid Chile.
[CNN Money – 03/05/2010]

GlobecCast’s new Content Acquisition and Distribution division signs agreement with Chinese content provider ZN Animation to deliver content to Video on Demand viewers throughout Europe.
[SatNews – 03/05/2010]

GOES-P satellite, NASA and NOAA’s environmental satellite completing the N -O series,  is successfully launched from Cape Canaveral.
[NASA web site – 03/04/2010]

OmniGlobe Networks EMEA signs Letter of Intent to acquire entire issued share capital and assets of privately-held Sat-Comm Ltd.
[SatNews – 03/04/2010]

Telesat expresses support for Canadian government’s commitment to remove foreign ownership restrictions on Canadian satellite operators.
[SatNews – 03/04/2010]

Iridium provides satellite voice and data communications for 2010 Iditarod sled dog race.
[Market Watch – 03/04/2010]

European Satellite Operators Association representative takes part in  Commercial Satellite Critical Infrastructure Protection workshop with experts working on critical national security and emergency programmes from the European Commission, the US Department of State, and Department of Defense and others.
[SatNews – 03/04/2010]

TiVo wins court ruling against Dish Network and EchoStar for patent infringement with Digital Video Recorder software.
[Business Week – 03/04/2010]

Global VSAT Forum called upon to expand reach of the GVF VSAT Installation & Maintenance Training Programme.
[SatNews – 03/04/2010]

Texas senator proposes bill to extend space shuttle program.
[Space.com – 03/04/2010]

U.S. Air Force investigates electrical mini-thrusters for possible use in satellite propulsion.
[PHYSORG – 03/03/2010]

Secretary of State Clinton delivers satellite phones in Chile following earthquake and tsumani.
[Kaiser Family Foundation – 03/03/2010]

Gilat is chosen by Satcom Systems to deliver SkyEdge II network for broadband internet connectivity in Africa.
[Market Watch – 03/03/2010]

iDirect announces launch of Talia Home by Talia Limited, providing consumer-focused internet and telephone communications service in MENA, using iDirect Evolution technology.
[SatNews – 03/03/2010]

Tachyon Networks announces availability of new end-to-en d fixed and mobile broadband satellit solutions for Southwest Asia using ultra-small aperture terminals.
[SatNews – 03/03/2010].

Earth’s day is shortened by earthquake in Chile.
[Time – 03/02/2010]

UN and Iridium rush satellite phones to Chili to help restore vital communications links.
[PC World – 03/02/2010]

MTN supplies satellite communications system for Oasis Of The Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship.
[Space Daily – 03/02/2010]

Upstar Comunicacoes selects Eutelsat to broadcast ZAP, the new satellite TV bouquet of Angola.
[PR Newswire – 03/02/2010]

New satellite mobile broadband service OverHorizon, based in Arlington, VA, selects Arianespace to launch its first satellite.
[Space News Examiner – 03/01/2010]

Millions of tons of water ice found at North Pole of Moon.
[Space.com – 03/01/2010]

Russia launches 3 navigation satellites.
[Space Daily – 03/01/2010]

NASA announces plans to launch small cube-shaped satellites for educational and not-for-profit organizations.
[Space Daily – 03/01/2010]

SES WORLD SKIES announces plans to join leading broadcaster, programmers, TV makers, and technology providers in series of extensive tests aimed at accelerating delivery of 3DTV.
[SatNews – 03/01/2010]

Soldiers provide communications support in Haiti, working with a variety of networks and satellite links.
[DVIDS – 03/01/2010]

SatMAX receives 2nd U.S. Navy order for its satellite communications repeater system.
[CNN Money – 03/01/2010]

EchoStar to purchase SatMex.
[Multichannel News – 02/28/2010]

TRA grants Al Yah Satellite Communications Company a Satellite Services License.
[WAM – 02/28/2010]

Antarctic satellite broadband project wins funding under Australian Space Research Program.
[Computer World – 03/01/2010]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

"Saludar a mi pequeño amigo!"

That’s right: say hello to my little friend. EchoStar is buying Satmex in a joint venture with MVS Comunicaciones:

Under the deal, EchoStar and MVS Comunicaciones, one of the largest media and telecommunications companies in Mexico and EchoStar’s partner in the Mexican direct-to-home TV service Dish Mexico, will take ownership of Satmex, that nation’s leading satellite operator that delivers video, audio and data services, through a joint venture.

According to the parties, EchoStar and MVS Comunicaciones will acquire all of the outstanding stock of Satmex for approximately $267 million in cash, plus up to $107 million in cash on the Mexican satellite operator’s balance sheet at closing.

As such, there will be up to $374 million for distribution to Satmex’s stakeholders. The transaction is expected to close early in the third quarter 2010.

In connection with the sale, Satmex said it intends to offer to purchase all of its outstanding senior secured notes for cash upon the closing of the sale of the Satmex shares.

Established in the mid-1980s as part of a government operation before becoming a commercial organization, Satmex, which has some 200 employees, owns and operates three satellites and two satellite uplink facilities, all of which are expected to be included as part of the transaction.

"We are pleased to make this announcement with EchoStar, a major provider of satellite services in the United States with a significant and growing presence in Mexico," said Satmex CEO Patricio Northland in a statement. "Our companies have common goals in delivering satellite communications services across the Americas, and EchoStar has the dedication and expertise for continued growth."

"The Satmex acquisition provides us with a footprint over Mexico and South America and presents us the opportunity to serve a growing global demand for satellite services," noted Dean Olmstead, president of EchoStar Satellite Services L.L.C. "We look forward to leveraging our satellite operations and uplink expertise in North America to expand our fixed satellite services throughout the Americas, including the delivery of satellite Internet to rural communities."

EchoStar set up the business a couple of years ago, a few years after they signed up with SES in the formation of QuetzSat S.R.L. de C.V. in the successful bid for the 77° West orbital location. The QuetzSat-1 satellite is expected to come into service in 2011.

Great move my EchoStar. Although Satmex 5 is a sickly HS-601, it still has several choice orbital locations and a decent business model. Satmex-6 is in much better shape (Loral FS-1300). This will definitely have a positive effect on DISH Network’s plans for Mexico, as well as Central and South America.

Way to go, Dean O!

SkyTerra considers acquisition by a new corporation formed and indirectly owned by Harbinger Capital Partners.
[Business Wire – 02/26/2010]

KVH announces distribution agreement with Japan Radio.
[Trading Markets – 02/26/2010]

The Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) teams up with Romantis to offer satellite solutions in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
[Space Daily – 02/26/2010]

GAO denies SpaceX protest of launch contract with Orbital Sciences for scientific satellite for NASA in 2012.
[Satellite Today – 02/26/2010]

Orbital Sciences and Aerojet initiate engine tests of Aj26 liquid-fuel rocket for Orbital’s Taurus 2 medium-class launch vehicle.
[Satellite Today – 02/26/2010]

Thales Alenia signs with French Space Agency to build the Jason-3 oceanographic satellite.
[Space Daily – 02/25/2010]

Globecomm Systems wins 3-year maritime managed services contract for Singapore based FACC Ship Managers Pte Ltd.
[Trak.in – 02/25/2010]

Thales Alenia Space delivers YahSat 1A communication module to EADS Astrium for integration on their platform.
[WebWire – 02/25/2010]

Among a series of satellites launched by NASA over the last decade to monitor the health of our planet, ICESat has provided a consistent big picture look at polar icecaps.
[Space Daily – 02/25/2010]

Both payloads for the first launch of the year by Ariane 5 are in Kourou, French Guiana undergoing initial checkout for a March 24 liftoff.
[Space Travel – 02/25/2010]

South Africa’s second satellite, Sumbandila, delivers its first live images.
ITWeb – 02/24/2010]

Boeing gets NASA approval to build new TDRS satellites series K and L..
[Satellite Today – 02/24/2010]

Government Space Programs spend $68 billion in 2009.
[Satellite Today – 02/24/2010]

UPC Broadband consolidates its European DTH businesses to create a new company, UPC DTH.
[Satellite Today – 02/24/2010]

The Arab States Broadcasting Union, Arabsat, and Newtec will provide expanded services to additional customers on their TV/Radio contribution and exchange network.
[SatNews – 02/24/2010]

NDS selected by On Digital Media as technology provider and prime integrator to support the launch of its DTH platform in South Africa.
[SatNews – 02/24/2010] 

Space junk mess gets messier as head-on collision between the European Space Agency’s Envisat Earth remote-sensing spacecraft and upper stage of a Chinese rocket is averted.
[Space – 02/23/2010]

U.S. broadband stimulus funds of $100 million set aside for satellite projects in U.S. Rural Utilities Services and National Telecommunications and Information Administration notice falls short of expectations.
[Satellite Today – 02/23/2010]

SatMAX announces joint marketing plan with TLC Engineering for efficient disaster recovery.
[CNN Money – 02/23/2010]

Expand Networks help optimize Global Satellite Services with Inmarsat.
[EON – 02/23/2010]

NASA, NOAA GOES-P meteorological satellite is lifted into the mobile service tower at Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 37 for March 2 launch.
(Physorg – 02/23/2010]

India plans to send two astronauts into space in 6 or 7 years.
[Space Travel – 02/23/2010]

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 two-stage rocket hoisted into vertical launch position at Cape Canaveral in preparation for maiden flight later this year.
[Space – 02/23/2010]

TerreStar announces successful testing of Ground Based Beam Forming (GBBF); the system provides the flexibility to deploy over 500 spot beams and manage power and capacity; Terrestar to launch commercial service in first half of this year.
[Space Daily – 02/23/2010]

Space Systems Loral ships communications satellite built for Dish Network to Baikonur Space Center for launch later this year.
[SatNews – 02/22/2010]

Cobham SATCOM’s USAT 24 60 cm (24 in) Marine Stabilized Antenna for the Sea Tel range of Ultra Small Aperture Terminals receives full accreditation FCC license as ESV.
[SatNews – 02/22/2010]

DISA and DoD award two contracts to Marshall Communications Corp for maintenance and support at Landstuhl, Germany, and Skyline, Falls Church DVB-RS hubs.
[SatNews – 02/22/2010]

Hughes announces availability of SCADA IP satellite terminal.
[PR Newswire – 02/22/2010]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

 Leave it to the folks at SAIC to commercialize a system for tsunami warnings developed by NOAA. They just announced a big sale to the Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services:

The SAIC Tsunami Buoy systems will be deployed at locations in the Bay of Bengal and off the northwest coast of India near the Makran subduction zone. These systems represent a part of a larger network of tsunami buoy systems that will provide the entire region with critical data to assess the magnitude of tsunamis generated in the Indian Ocean. The eastern Bay of Bengal, one of the most seismically active regions in the world, is near the origin of the Boxing Day mega-tsunami that claimed over 220,000 lives in 2004. 

"The deployment of these STBs will provide the Indian regional tsunami forecast center with a foundation of reliable and technologically sound deep-water tsunami assessment systems," said Tom Baybrook, SAIC senior vice president and business unit general manager. "SAIC looks forward to a long term relationship with INCOIS supporting their extensive tsunami assessment network."

The STB system consists of three subsystems: a surface communications buoy, a buoy mooring, and a bottom pressure recorder. The bottom pressure recorder includes a highly accurate sea floor pressure sensor which can detect earthquakes and sea level changes. Acoustic communications transmits the pressure data to the surface buoy which then relays the data by satellite communications to oceanographic forecast centers for analysis. Once processed, the data can provide real-time assessments of the characteristics of the tsunami in deep water. This data is then used with forecast models to predict the height of the wave and inundation when it arrives at a particular coastal location.

How does it work? Check out NOAA’s DART specs.

Satcom saves lives. More power to them!

Launcher concern causes delay of the European Space Agency’s Cryosat-2 mission.
[Space News – 02/19/2010]

Spain will provide technology expertise for a communications satellite to be built for the Norwegian army.
[SatNews – 02/19/2010]

European Space Agency panel puts off decision whether to participate in Japanese-let infrared space telescope pending further discussion regarding Japan’s commitment to the project.
[Space News – 02/19/2010]

GSA and DISA initiate 10 year $5 billion dollar government wide procurement that will cover purchases of commercial satellite services and hardware by the military and government agencies.
[SatNews – 02/19/2010]

Thales Space reports 3% decline in space-based revenue, but a sharp increase in new orders.
[Space News – 02/19/2010]

BusinessCom, a global satellite telecommunications service provider, launches Advantage IP VSAT service, based on Ku-band IO satellites, covering more than 18 countries in the Middle East and parts of Asia including Iraq and Afghanistan.
[SatNews – February 19, 2010]

Crew aboard International Space Station relocate cupola from Tranquility’s forward port to new location facing the Earth, resulting in a "phenomenal view."
[Spaceflight Now – 02/19/2010]

Thales Alenia Space ships second ComSatBw satellite to the Kourou spaceport for a launch on March 24 by an Ariane 5 ECA.
[ASD News – 02/18/2010]

Eutelsat switches planned launch this year of its W3B satellite from a Chinese Long March vehicle to a European Ariane 5 rocket amid concerns about insufficient supply of non-U.S. components to allow export of the satellite to China.
[Space News – 02/18/2010]

Settlement apparently reached in dispute between SES and Boeing over claim that Boeing violated violated a contract to rebuild a large SES-owned satellite destroyed during a 2007 launch failure.
[Space News – 02/18/2010]

Spot LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globalstar Inc., begins shipping the new SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger to its customers and retail partners.
[SatNews – 02/18/2010]

exactEarth Ltd., the data services subsidiary of COM DEV International Ltd., signs $1.4 million contract with Canadian Space Agency to provide data collected by its AIS nanosatellite.
[SatNews – 02/18/2010]

AXIO-NET, a subsidiary of Astrium Services, will provide satellite positioning data to be used in construction of a motorway and rail link between Germany and Denmark.
[Space Daily – 02/18/2010]

Members of the Air Force Joint Functional Component Command for Space at Vandenberg AFB provide satellite communications and navigation services in support of relief efforts in Haiti.
[SatNews – 02/18/2010]

Space Micro to develop space communications hardware compatible with wide variety of existing communications systems, and is not susceptible to damaging effects of radiation.
[SatNews – 02/18/2010]

Steve Wozniak, a co-founder of Apple, to deliver opening keynote address at MILCOM 2010.
[SatNews – 02/18/2010]

President Obama tells astronauts aboard the International Space Station that he is committed to space, in spite of having scrapped the Constellation program to return to the moon.
[Space Travel – 02/18/2010]

EchoStar subsidiary Sling Media announces that Bell TV will license SlingGuide to deliver advanced TV search, remote scheduling, and recording services to its customers.
[SatNews – 02/17/2010]

Tremendous expense of all aspects of the satellite industry to be addressed at Satellite Finance Forum sponsored by Futron Corporation and Access Intelligence March 15.
[SatNews – 02/17/2010]

Latitude Technologies Corp. announces IONode 100 onboard system integration product and Air Tanker Information System software to provide system monitoring and data distribution when connected to Iridium-based SkyNode product.
SatNews – 02/17/2010]

Motorola files with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, claiming that GHL Acquisition of Iridium last year constitutes "change of control" and demands $24.7 million in cash from Iridium or it will deny Iridium technology required to build replacement satellites.
[Space News – 02/16/2010]

Solaris Mobile, Dublin-based operator of new pan-European hybrid satellite and terrestrial wireless networks, announces development of mobile gateway device allowing reception of S-band services on smart phones.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

MapMart introduces free downloadable MapMart On-Demand Toolbar for ESRI ArcMap which allows ArcMap users to highight any area within their GIS project and instantly search MapMart database for matching geospatial data sets.
SatNews – 02/16/2010[

GMV successfully tests satellite ground segment of World Space Observatory Ultraviolet mission, an international project led by Russian Space Agency ROSCOSMOS.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

GlobeCast teams in Vancouver, BC, provide services including playout, live positions, and HD/SD delivery of Olympic Winter Games content to clients from around the world.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010

Nagravision announces that their conditional access system was selected by SkyLife, the only DTH pay TV service provider in Korea.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

SkyTrac is selected by Aerospace Consortium FZE of Dubai to supply SATCOM/flight following solutions for Aerospace’s diverse fleet of airplanes and helicopters.
[Shepard — 02/16/2010]

Orbit Technology Group receives order from Lockheed Martin for advanced tracking antenna solution for flight tests.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

SES S.A. reports 25% growth in earnings per share for period ending December 31, 2009.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

Boeing ships the first Global Positioning System IIF satellite from El Segundo, CA to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard C-17 Globemaster III airlifter.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

Groupo Televisa of Mexico agrees to purchase 30% share of Mexican telecommunications unit of NII Holdings for $1.55 billion in cash.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

25 U.S. companies to participate in International Trade Administration’s first trade mission to Algeria and Libya include AAE Systems, Inc., a satellite equipment manufacturer and turnkey communications solutions provider.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

SES, seeking to refocus the satellite industry’s approach to managing and preventing RF Interference by engaging with 15 other satellite operators on a series of initiatives, adopts GVF’s Installation Training Program in order to help prevent RF interference.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin proposes introducing the Glonass navigation system throughout the country’s regions to be used on trains, aircraft, water and public transportation.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

Newtec shows broadband potential of Sat3Play at Neureus workshop, attended by representatives of the European Commission, who agreed that satellite Internet should play a vital role in an integrated approach to reaching full broadband access across all of Europe.
[SatNews — 02/16/2010]

The Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association will hold its first Regional Chapter Meeting of Satellite Professionals on March 4th in Wilmington Delaware.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

Small Scottish company Selex Galileo wins funding to complete development of an orientation system for satellites.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

Iran reveals development of new Simorgh space booster and three new satellites, including an imaging satellite which may provide Iran with rudimentary space reconnaissnce capability.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

Israel Defense Force plans to equip all infantry and armored brigades with ground based satellite antennas developed by Gilat Satellite Networks which can relay information during operations behind enemy lines.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

U.S. Air Force’s second geosynchronous Space Based Infrared Systems satellite completes successful first BaseLine Integrated System Testing at Lockheed Martin Space Systems facility in Sunnyvale, CA.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

Legislation to renew the satellite television law governing transmission of broadcast signals by U.S. DTH providers dies in U.S. Senate as cuts are made to make underlying jobs legislation more targeted.
[SatNews – 02/16/2010]

SES, in middle of largest satellite-buying spree in its history (15 new satellites to be launched between 2010 and 2014), says the new capacity will continue to earn about $1.5 million per year in transponder lease revenue, and that SES will slow down capital spending next year.
[Space News – 02/12/2010]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

Feels like somebody’s watching you!

Peter de Selding gets the story, as always, in Space News...

 Boeing appears to have paid satellite fleet operator SES of Luxembourg about $23 million to settle a claim that Boeing violated a contract to rebuild a large SES-owned telecommunications satellite that was destroyed in a 2007 launch failure, according to financial statements from the two companies.

Neither SES nor Chicago-based Boeing has commented directly on the matter. Boeing said the settlement is confidential. SES spokesman Yves Feltes on Feb. 18 confirmed that “a mutually satisfactory agreement” had been reached with Boeing but declined further comment.

But in their 2009 year-end financial reports and investor conference calls earlier this year, both companies point in the direction of a settlement, for approximately that amount, of an issue that Boeing long dismissed.

The dispute began following the January 2007 on-pad launch failure of a Sea Launch rocket carrying the Boeing-built NSS-8 telecommunications satellite, which was owned by SES. SES subsequently said the NSS-8 manufacturing contract included an option under which SES could order Boeing to build a carbon copy of NSS-8 under essentially the same contract terms.

SES officials said that when they notified Boeing of their intent to exercise the option, Boeing resisted. Satellite prices had increased substantially from the time of the initial NSS-8 contract in March 2001. Boeing had long since lowered its profile in the commercial satellite market, saying prevailing prices could not justify a major Boeing presence.

Boeing offered a different version of events, as described in a July 2009 submission to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): “New Skies [the former name of the SES division now called SES World Skies] did not exercise the option. Instead, New Skies purported to cancel the contract on April 27, 2007, maintaining that discussions between the parties regarding the never-exercised option amounted to a repudiation by BSSI [Boeing Satellite Systems International]. We vigorously disputed that characterization.”

Boeing said SES in May 2009 filed a dispute-resolution request with the International Chamber of Commerce in London, but never spelled out how much money SES was seeking in reparations. “We believe that SES New Skies’ claims lack merit and intend to vigorously defend against them,” Boeing said in the July 2009 SEC filing.

In a Jan. 27 conference call with investors, Boeing Chief Financial Officer James A. Bell said Boeing late in 2009 booked a one-time charge in its Network and Space Systems division relating to a “legal settlement associated with a contract” that, when combined with a write-down in the value of Boeing Delta 2 rocket hardware, totaled about $50 million.

In Boeing’s Feb. 8 filing with the SEC, the company refers to a “Dec. 23 confidential settlement agreement with respect to all claims” by SES relating to the NSS-8 replacement dispute.

In its Feb. 12 announcement detailing its financial results and a conference call with investors the same day, SES makes reference to a one-time charge and a one-time revenue gain in late 2009, with roughly a $4 million difference between the two. The company refers to a write-off, valued at 19 million euros ($27.2 million at year-end exchange rates), relating to payments made to Long Beach, Calif.-based Sea Launch Co., which since mid-2009 has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.

Partly offsetting this write-off, SES Chief Financial Officer Mark Rigolle said, was revenue resulting from “a settlement with one of our partners” that was valued at about $4 million less than the Sea Launch charge. Rigolle declined to disclose the partner’s identity, but added that “it’s a nice chunk of money that we are quite happy to have received.”

 We won’t soon forget what happened to NSS-8.

Solar Dynamics Observatory and its Atlas V rocket blast off from Cape Canaveral launch pad in blustery weather.
[Spaceflight Now – 02/11/2010]

Russia launches Intelsat 16 satellite built by Orbital Sciences aboard Proton rocket from Baikonur cosmodrome.
[TMCNET – 02/11/2010]

Thales Alenia to build civil, military satellite for French and Italian space agencies CNES and ASI.
[Satellite Today – 02/11/2010]

MTN Satellite Communications introduces new flexible, cost-effective satellite communications service for megayachts with varying bandwidth requirements.
[SatNews – 02/11/2010]

Bolivia creates space agency for Chinese satellite.
[CRI English (Xinhua) – 02/11/2010]

Spaceport Systems International, a partnership between ITT Corporation and California Commercial Spaceport, Inc., contracts to provide spaceport launch services for U.S. Air Force.
[SatNews – 02/11/2010]

ESPN expects 3-D HD live event broadcasts will be important for company’s future.
[Satellite today – 02/11/2010]

SpaceX announces that all flight hardware for the debut launch of the Falcon 9 vehicle has arrived at the SpaceX launch site in Cape Canaveral.
[SatNews – 02/11/2010]

NASA Landsat 7 images of Winter Olympic Games site in Vancouver, British Columbia shared with SatNews.
[SatNews – 02/11/2010]

SES WORLD SKIES reaches agreement with the Andean Community of Nations regarding long term use of the 67 degrees West orbital position.
[SatNews – 02/11/2010]

Satellite Users Interference Reduction Group receives 2010 Industry Innovator Award from the Society of Satellite Professionals International.
[SatNews – 02/11/2010]

ASTRA 3B arrives in French Guiana, the first of two satellite payloads for Arianspace’s initial Araiane 5 mission of 2010.
[SatNews – 02/11/2010]

Arianespace is selected to launch the French-Italian Athena-Fidus dual use satellite.
[SatNews – 02/11/2010]

Hubble Space Telescope captures image of Saturn with its rings edge-on, taking advantage of a rare opportunity.
[SatNews – 02/11/2010]

SES and International Launch Services announce ILS Proton launch of SES-3 satellite with the Kazsat-2 satellite during 2010.
[SatNews – 02/11/2010]

PolarSat Inc successfully completes system acceptance testing and 6 months of live operation of a disaster relief VSATPlus 3 VSAT network.
[SatNews – 02/11/2010]

Globalstar undertakes construction of satellite tracking station in Botswana, in Southern Africa.
[SatNews – 02/10/2010]

Satellite TV company FreeHD Canada wins limited approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to operate in Canada.
[Satellite Today – 02/10/2010]

GeoSpatial Experts announces the U.S. government has approved four of its pphoto-mapping product bundles for direct purchase by federal agencies.
[SatNews – 02/10/2010]

Are we in a new space race with China? – Opinion – Paul Spudus
[SpaceRef – 02/09/2010]

Russia wants to charge for for rides on its Soyuz rocket.
[Space Daily – 02/09/2010]

India to launch an intelligence satellite designed to pick up conversations and detect espionage activities.
[The Hindu – 02/09/2010]

Costa Rica’s National Telco to deploy a Gilat SkyEdge II satellite network to provide broadband communications to corporations nationwide.
[CNN Money – 02/09/2010]

The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) preparing a request for proposals related to satellite broadband and may allocate $100M or more in stimulus money.
[TMCnet – 02/09/2010]

GSA, DISA ready $5B satellite opportunity.
[Washington Techonology – 02/08/2010]

Telespazio renews contract with Eutelsat.
[TMCnet – 02/08/2010]

TS2 Satellite Technologies company introduces new broadband services on Eutelsat EB4 & W6 satellites for the Afghan market.
[SatNews – 02/08/2010]

Sirius brings satellite radio to the BlackBerry.
[Satellite Today – 02/08/2010]

Spacecom announces additional clients since announcing operational status of AMOS-5i on January 28th.
[SatNews – 02/08/2010]

Iridium Communications selects Hughes Network Systems to develop Access Network Controller in its gateway ground radio control network.
[TMCnet – 02/08/2010]

Globalstar and Arion form joint venture to offer mobile satellite services in Korea.
[Trading Markets – 02/08/2010]

Dish Network and Rentrak sign TV audience agreement
[CED Magazine – 02/08/2010]

China International TV Corporation, a division of Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, contracts with Castalia Communications to deliver TV content to Latin America.
[WorldScreen – 02/08/2010]

Commercial Satellites:  The Pillars of Government and Military Satcom?
[NSR Free Webinar – February 17, 2010]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

The Army’s planned satellite frequency changeover from Ku- to Ka-band may seem insignificant; however, this small change represents a multibillion dollar transition.
[Satellite PR News – 02/05/2010]

Astrium has been awarded a follow-on contract for the delivery of a second set of subsystems to the Turkish Navy’s Milgem satellite communications program…
[Satellite Today – 02/05/2010]

Solaris Mobile signed a corporate partnership with European car rental company Europcar
[Satellite Today – 02/05/2010]

EADS North America has received a five-year contract to provide commercial radar satellite data to the U.S. government’s National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) for use in intelligence, military and homeland security applications.
[SatNews – 02/04/2010]

International Launch Services gets ready to launch the Intelsat-16 satellite aboard a Proton M/Breeze M rocket on February 11th at 7:30 p.m., EST.
[SatNewa – 02/04/2010]

Harris, prime contractor and systems integrator for the 10 year $736M Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – Series R Ground Segment, expands its Washington DC presence with new 24,000 sqaure foot facility for the contract.
[SatNews – 02/04/2010]

White House plans to dismantle the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) program and split it between separate projects.
[Satellite Today – 02/04/2010]

Space X’s Dragon Program completes testing, demonstration.
[Satellite Today – 02/04/2010]

Eutelsat firmly denies Georgian Public Broadcaster’s claims that its offer of W2A capacity instead of W7 capacity will inconvenience GPB’s Russian customers, since Russian customers would have to purchase linear antennas for either spacecraft.
[PR Newswire – 02/04/2010]

ViaSat receives additional orders for its LinkWayS2 satellite modem systems to support U.S. government networks.
[SatNews – 02/04/2010]

Northrop Grumman Corporation selected by ITT Corporation to provide flight cryocoolers for the sensor payloads for two international weather satellites to reduce thermal noise in the space-based sensors.
[SatNews – 02/04/2010]

Technical problems on the W2A satellite have been a major setback for Solaris Mobile.
[Satellite Today – 02/04/2010]

SIRIUS XM Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) has announced the availability of a free application for BlackBerry(R) smartphones,
[SatNews – 02/04/2010]

Orbital Sciences Corporation announces strong support for the Obama Administration’s new direction for the country’s civil space programs.
SatNews – 02/03/2010]

TechniSat, known in Germany for digital receivers and a provider of IDTVs, is expanding into the French market and has set up TechniSat Digital France E.U.R.L. in the French capital, Paris.
[SatNews – 02/03/2010]

Stratos Global Corporation is supplying Inmarsat BGAN mobile satellite communications service to University of California San Diego (UCSD) researchers to support their ambitious archaeological survey in remote Mongolia.
[SatNews  – 02/03/2010]

Orbital Sciences Corporation announces strong support for the Obama Administration’s new direction for the country’s civil space programs.
[SatNews – 02/03/2010]

Reportlinker.com has a new market research report available in its catalogue — Satellite Transponders – International Technology & Market Trends.
[SatNews – 02/03/2010]

Iran successfully launches a home-produced satellite on the Kavoshgar 3 (Explorer) satellite launcher.
[SatNews – 02/03/2010]

TechniSat, known in Germany for digital receivers and a provider of IDTVs, is expanding into the French market and has set up TechniSat Digital France E.U.R.L. in the French capital, Paris.
[SatNews – 02/03/2010]

Stratos Global Corporation is supplying Inmarsat BGAN mobile satellite communications service to University of California San Diego (UCSD) researchers to support their ambitious archaeological survey in remote Mongolia.
[SatNews – 02/03/2010]

ViaSat on new trajectory following deal to create satellite-based high speed internet.
[Xconomy – San Diego – 02/03/2010]

Iran unveils three new satellites and satellite carrier.
[Al Bawaba – 02/03/2010]

It’s not going to be business as usual — that is perhaps the only definitive thing the Space Foundation can say about President Obama’s FY 2011 NASA proposal, released on February 1st.
[SatNews – 02/02/2010]

Dan Losada, Senior Director of the Defense & Intelligence Systems Division at Hughes, will discuss ]ow shipboard satellite communications are critical to maintaining net-centric operations during missions at the SIA SATCOM User’s Workshop.
[SatNews – 02/02/2010]

NASA streams video from International Space Station.
[Information Week – 02/02/2010]

KVH opens Singapore office to support growing Asia region and commercial sales.
[PR Newswire – 02/03/2010]

In an effort to recover and reinvest in our nation’s businesses, NASA has awarded $50 million through funded agreements to further the commercial sector’s capability to support transport of crew to and from low Earth orbit.
[SatNews – 02/02/2010]

Mega Hertz, Inc. joins the ViP-TV™ Reseller Program of EchoStar Satellite Services L.L.C.
[SatNews – 02/02/2010]

International Datacasting Corporation receives a $2.8 million CDN contract from the Canadian Department of National Defence, (DND) for the continued operation of Canadian Forces Radio and Television, (CFRT).
[SatNews – 02/02/2010]

EchoStar Satellite Services L.L.C.to deliver its ViP-TV(TM) video transport service to BTC Broadband, a provider of whole home telecommunications services in Oklahoma.
[SatNews – 02/02/2010]

atrexx offers to restore the services of Intelsat-4 customers after the satellite experienced an anomaly resulting in the switching off of the communication payload to conserve battery power.
[SatNews – 02/02/2010]

Russia is preparing to launch a Progress cargo spaceship on a resupply mission to the International Space Station.
[Space Travel – 02/02/2010]

Intense public debate on how rapidly Himalayan glaciers are shrinking highlights importance of satellites in monitoring glaciers worldwide.
[Space Mart – 02/02/2010]

India is building a spacecraft for mobile applications that will enable satellite phone use without depending on foreign companies.
[Space Mart – 02/02/2010]N

Gilat Satellite Networks, Ltd.’s Bandwidth Optimizer (BWO) solution has been successfully deployed at hub sites in Asia.
[Satnews – 02/01/2010]

White House proposed budget cuts NPOESS program in half; directs NOAA and Air Force to continue developing their own weather observatories.
[Spaceflight Now – 02/01/2010]

Rascomstar-Qaf will launch a new satellite in May, two years after launching their Rascomstar-QAF1 that is expected to cease functioning by the close of 2010.
[SatNews – 02/01/2010]

Intelsat 4 experiences anomaly; Intelsat and Boeing work together to identify cause; Intelsat works with customers to identify restoration capacity.
[Business Wire – 02/01/2010]

Obama budget extends U.S. involvement in the International Space Station to 2020 or beyond.
[Space Travel – 02/01/2010]

Shuttle Endeavour to deliver a new technological module, Tranquility, to the International Space Station for its U.S. segment.
[Space Travel – 02/01/2010]

Next generation weather environmental satellite marks significant milestone with delivery and beginning of integration for a key science instrument.
[Space Mart – 02/01/2010]

Strong bipartisan congressional rebuke against Obama plan to kill NASA’s moon-bound Constellation program.
[Space.com – 02/01/2010]

Obama kills moon program; endorses NASA support for the commercial space program.
[NASA – 01/31/2010]

ORBCOMM AIS data used to help rescue two yachters in distress, and in detecting low power search and rescue transponders from space.
[TMCnet – 02/01/2010]

Thuraya helps rural communities to improve communications, often facilitating access to satellite services in areas usually not penetrated by traditional terrestrial networks.
[AME Info – 01/31/2010]

Pentagon’s recent announcement that it will buy 50 more extended range UAVs sends signal that more Communications-on-the-Move (COTM) for UAVs will be needed in the coming years.
[NSR Report – February 2010]

U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) awards two of three contracts for radar data to foreign companies; data for all three awards came from foreign satellites.
[NSR Report – February, 2010]

Supporting the Warfighter: Adapting to the Changing Paradigm of the Defense Market This article discusses how businesses will need to change the way they do business with the military under the mounting budget pressures on the military.
[Microwave Journal – January 2010]

WBMSAT PS – Satellite Communications Consulting Services

Think Mongolia is technologically challenged? Think again, rocket scientists. They’re jumping all over the Internet and the authorized Apple reseller in Mongolia, MCS Electronics, also happens to be one of its hip ISPs. They’ll be selling iPads in no time via their IT Zone shops.

What do they use to hook up their customers across the vast Asian steppe? Satellite, of course. They’ve got their own teleport and they’ve just signed up with Canada’s Telesat for a chunk of space on Telstar 18.

Telesat, the world’s fourth largest fixed satellite services operator, announced today that Orbitnet LLC of Mongolia (ORBITNET) has signed a multi-year agreement for Ku-band capacity on Telesat’s Telstar 18 satellite.  ORBITNET is a leading provider of advanced Internet solutions in Asia and is using Telstar 18 to bring broadband connectivity to business, government, and cellular operators in the region.

"Broadband satellite services combine the reliability, high speed and cost effectiveness that make them an ideal solution to meet the growing needs of developing Asian countries like Kazakhstan and Mongolia," said Sukhbaatar Pagvajav, Technical Director of ORBITNET.  "Our company began using Telstar 18 in 2008 and our customers are very impressed with the quality of service we have been able to deliver.  ORBITNET’s business in Mongolia is going well.  We have expanded into Bhutan and Kazakhstan and look forward to bringing broadband satellite services to more countries in 2010."

"The coverage and capabilities of Telstar 18 are ideal for meeting the needs of Asian broadband providers like ORBITNET," said Nigel Gibson, Vice President, International Sales for Telesat.  "Telstar 18 is one of the most versatile satellites in the region with C-band that connects Asia to the Americas and Ku-band to serve video broadcasters and broadband networks.  We see good opportunities for continued growth in Asia with Telstar 18."

Typical customer quote, followed with a happy quote from the guy who gets the commission.

Why do we consider MCS Electronics "hip?" Check out their TV spots and you might agree…