Really Rocket Science

Global satellite machine-to-Machine (M2M) service revenues to reach $1.7B by 2017 according to new Gobal Industry Analysts report.
[San Francisco Chronicle – 04/15/2011]

U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency wants to lease a single commercial satellite for 15 years for $440M, meeting 78% of U.S. Central Command’s requirements in Afghanistan and Iraq while dramatically cutting costs.
[Next Gov – 04/15/2011]

Cheetah “Morale Satellite” system provides free phone calls home and fast Internet connectivity for soldiers in Afghanistan.
[DIVIDS – 04/15/2011]

Comtech receives $1.2M satellite ground station equipment order from a large integrator for a military requirement in a Latin American country.
[Your Industry News – 04/15/2011]

Senators Pat Roberts (R-Kan) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb) in an open letter ask fellow senators to call on FCC to stop LightSquared from deploying its nationwide LTE network until it proves service does not interfere with GPS services.
[Fierce Wireless – 04/15/2011]

Space Data Association announces full operational capability of its Space Data Center, established by commercial satellite operators to improve the safety and efficiency of space operations.
[SatNews – 04/14/2011]

United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carries National Reconnaissance Office’s L-34 secret satellite payload aloft from Vandenberg.
[SatNews – 04/14/2011]

Arianespace to launch ASTRA 2E satellite for SES ASTRA in 2013.
[Brahmand – 04/14/2011]

New way to cool military satellite payloads to be tested by Northrop Grumman Corporation with an experiment on the International Space Station.
[SatNews – 04/14/2011]

Newtec extends invitation to all to join their 2011 Business Seminar “How to Keep Satellite Services Profitable” in Miami May 11 and 12, with first day capped by leisurely cruise and dinner.
[SatNews – 04/14/2011]

ITT successfully concludes Critical Design Review for imaging payload for the Worldview-3 Earth observation satellite being built for DigitalGlobe.
[SatNews – 04/14/2011]

Iridium excecutive states that the biggest opportunity ever for placing hosted payloads aboard telecommunications satellite system (the 66-satellite next generation Iridium system) may be lost because of slow-moving government bureaucracies.
[Space News – 04/14/2011]

Gilat’s SkyEdge II Broadband Satellite Network selected by Telecom Namibia to provide hundreds of locations throughout Namibia with VOIP and Internet services.
[SatNews – 04/14/2011]

New satellite to be launched from Kodiak Alaska, TACSAT-4, will carry UHF payload in highly elliptical orbit that will allow soldiers to communicate from deep canyons rather than out in the open, saving lives, though only available 6-7 hours a day.
[National Defense – 04/14/2011]

Advantech Wireless signs contract with Hoje Telecom of Brazil to provide VSAT upgrade hub, RF equipment, and more than 1,000 remote terminals.
[SatNews – 04/14/2011]

Globalstar Europe Satellite Services, in conjunction with Globalstar Avrasya of Turkey, provisioned to cover all of European sub-continent as well as northern Africa, Middle East, and most of Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic ocean maritime region.
[SatNews – 04/14/2011]

U.S. Air Force awards Integral Systems $6.99M contract for Rapid Attack Identification, Detection, and Reporting System to provide near real-time detection, characterization, geolocation, and electromagnetic Interference reporting for critical satellite communication systems.
[SatNews – 04/14/2011]

Dynetics and Pratt & Whitney join Rocket City Space Pioneers team competing for Google $30M Lunar X Prize to be awarded to first team to build and launch to the moon a privately funded spacecraft capable of completing a series of exploration and transmission tasks.
[SatNews – 04/14/2011]

MDA signs contract worth more than $40M to provide technology support for satellite communications and information service for a confidential customer.
[Windsor Star – 04/14/2011]

92,708 total registered attendees for 2011 NAB show in Las Vegas, with 25,691 international attendees and 1,314 news media, beating 2010 final attendance of 88,044.
[SatNews – 04/13/2011]

German aerospace contractor approved for taking lead role in designing European data relay satellite to promptly relay images of Earth from orbiting spacecraft back to ground stations.
[Spaceflight Now – 04/13/2011]

Top Azerbaijani official says country will launch communications satellite in 2012.
[RFE/RL – 04/13/2012]

Russia plans to test a next-generation spacecraft, build a new cosmodrome and even consider a manned mission to Mars after 2035.
[R&D Magazine – 04/13/2011]

China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology announces launch of eighth satellite of the Beidou-2 global navigation system aboard a Long March 3A rocket on April 10, 2011.
[Examiner – 04/13/2011]

RRSAT grows global broadcast network to over 590 channels featuring SD, HD, and 3D formats and increased number of playout centers in Israel and U.S.
[PR Newswire – 04/13/2011]

Arqiva will launch dedicated DVB-S2 MPEG-4 shared platform at Los Angeles teleport, affording broadcasters and mobile providers access to 100% of U.S. cable headends via SES WORLD SKIES’ AMC-10 satellite.
[TMCnet – 04/13/2011]

Raytheon leads team bidding on U.S. Air Force Launch and Test Range System (LTRS) Integrated Support Contract (LISC).
[Defense – Aerospace – 04/13/2011]

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission approves merger of XM Canada and Sirius Canada.
[Satellite Today – 04/13/2011]

Intelsat’s New Dawn African satellite rescheduled for April 22 launch.
[Engineering News – 04/12/2011]

SES ASTRA Platform Services opens new playout centre near Munich, significantly expanding capabilities to provide broadcasters and production houses around the world with state-of-the-art playout and platform services.
[SatNews – 04/12/2011]

Harris to deliver shipboard satellite communications terminals to Canadian Navy.
[Satellite Spotlight – 04/12/2011]

SES WORLD SKIES announces AMC-3 C-band capacity deal with Weigel Broadcasting to deliver new digital ME TV channel to broadcast stations and viewers across U.S.
[Business Wire – 04/12/2011]

GMPCS unveils IsatTruck vehicular satellite phone package.
[PR Web – 04/12/2011]

TeleCommunications Systems selected as participant in FCSA contract allowing government agencies to procure services from commercial satellite services providers.
[Market Wire – 04/12/2011]

NSR press release – Revenues for Broadband Satellite Satellite Services to Exceed S$9 Billion by 2020.
[NSR – 04/12/2011]

GlobeCast selects Eurobird 9A to launch HD distribution platform.
[Indian Television – 04/12/2011]

Level 3 buys Global Crossing in effort to create a networking giant.
[Business Insider – 04/11/2011]

Maiden voyage of Ocean Star Pacific, first ship of the first national cruise line based in Mexico, to offer MTM satellite communications VSAT, crew calling, and Internet services.
[PR Newswire – 04/11/2011]

Qatar plans early 2013 launch of its high-powered communications satellite Es’Hail, being built under joint investment with Eutelsat.
[Gulf Times – 04/11/2011]

TerreStar GENUS satellite-enabled cellular smartphone provides expanded voice and data roaming coverage for mobile users.
[SatNews – 04/10/2011]

Iran’s claims about satellite service raise difficult question for ITU – “Can regulators refuse to accept word of sovereign nation about its own assets even if they are convinced it is lying?”
[Spacenews – 04/08/2011]

NSR Report “Broadband Satellite Markets” – VSAT networking and broadband access continue gains; a turning point for IP trunking.
[NSR – May 2011]

NSR Report “Global Satellite Manufacturing and Launch Markets” – 109 payloads were carried by 74 launch missions worldwide over the past 12 months, down from 2009 by 6.5%.
[NSR – May 2011]

Raytheon seeks new applications for System designed to communicate with deeply submerged swiftly moving submarines using satellites and underwater communications systems tied to buoys, since Navy has yet to come to decision on deployment.
[National Defense Magazine – May 2011]

NSR upcoming – HTS and KA-SAT: “Changing the European Telecom Landscape” – An Interview with Eutelsat.
[gotomeeting – May 24, 2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

Iran attempting to retrieve Mesbah-1 satellite from Italy – satellite was to have been launched by Russia in 2005, but Russia denies having received satellite.
[Payvand Iran – 04/08/2011]

KVH creates Brazilian subsidiary in ongoing effort to offer sales, service, and support in key commercial maritime regions.
[SatNews – 04/08/2011]

Intelsat gets series of new contracts with media customers using Intelsat’s video satellite neighborhoods.
[SatNews – 04/08/2011]

Innovations related to space technologies developed today define crucial role of space in first step toward an integrated European Space Policy under Lisbon Treaty.
[Space Daily – 04/07/2011]

Dish Network may be preparing for competition with Netflix, with a winning bid of $228M at auction for bankrupt Blockbuster.
[Wall Street Journal – 04/07/2011]

Harris merges Schlumberger, CapRock, and Core180 acquisitions into a single unit.
[Satellite Today – 04/07/2011]

U.S. Space launches mobile communications business targeting government agencies.
[PR Newswire – 04/07/2011]

Row 44 partners with Hughes and Intelsat to expand Ku-band in-flight coverage of international in-flight broadband platform.
[Satellite Today – 04/07/2011]

U.S.A.F. forwards contract modification directing SBIRS contractor team to implement revised ground delivery strategy to receive data from both DSP satellites and SBIRS satellite.
[SatNews – 04/07/2011]

Ocean Systems Engineering Corporation wins $12M task order from U.S. Marines for engineering and scientific support for networking and satellite communications.
[SIGNALSCAPE – 04/07/2011]

MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates contracts with Boeing to provide advance technology solutions for the 702HP satellites.
[SatNews – 04/07/2011]

Vizada is among first Inmarsat Distribution Partners to roll out new IsatPhone Pro email and data transfer capability to its entire network of service provider partners.
[SatNews – 04/07/2011]

GMPCS Personal Communications offers Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro data service and email.
[Benzinga – 04/07/2011]

Bosnia’s Mreza Plus TV now distributed by AMOS satellite fleet.
[SatNews – 04/07/2011]

RRsat’s new MCPC platform on Hispasat 1E to bring digital HD, 3D, and SD satellite video to tens of millions of viewers in Latin America.
[SatNews – 04/07/2011]

Space X unveils plans to launch the world’s most powerful rocket since man went to the moon.
[R&D Magazine – 04/06/2011]

Mitsubishi announces completion of construction of the ST-2 communications satellite ordered by Singapore Telecommunications and Taiwan’s Chunghwa Telecom.
[4-traders – 04/06/2011]

Twice last week space junk approached International Space Station too closely for comfort, and experts predict more close calls over next several years.
[Fox News – 04/06/2011]

U.S. Army’s WIN-T program accelerates efforts in the at-the-halt and fixed satellite communications programs.
[Defense Systems – 04/06/2011]

Recently signed multi-year network partnership agreement with Open Range Communications may be key to filling out LightSquared’s nationwide network.
[Urgent Communications – 04/06/2011]

Integral Systems wins $8.6M contract modification to its Command and Control System-Consolidated with U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.
[Satellite Today – 04/06/2011]

Eutelsat signs another deal, with French Internet service provider Sat2Way, as it looks to fill Ka-Sat before operations begin.
[Satellite Today – 04/06/2011]

Hughes Europe to spotlight advanced satellite technology and services at Antibes Yacht Show in Antibes, France, from April 7 – 10.
[SatNews – 04/06/2011]

OnAir’s combined GSM and inflight internet services using SwiftBroadband prove to have sufficient capacity for passengers’ needs after 1 year of service.
[SatNews – 04/06/2011]

ViaSat and JetBlue finalize plans for Ka-band in-flight broadband service.
[Satellite Today – 04/05/2011]

TriaGnoSys launches GSMConneX, an end-to-end solution providing GSM services to aircraft passengers.
[SatNews – 04/05/2011]

Q-KON SA provides mobile satellite service for users in South Africa requiring high-speed Internet access in remote locations.
[PRLog – 04/05/2011]

Russian spacecraft named for Yuri Gargarin reaches orbit on way to International Space Station.
[SatNews – 04/05/2011]

International Launch Services gets Mitsubishi’s contract for launch of Turksat 4A and Turksat 4B on ILS Proton.
[SatNews – 04/05/2011]

Gilat partners with Ethiopian wireless business solution specialist Global Tracking to provide comprehensive fleet tracking services in Ethiopia.
[Satellite Today – 04/05/2011]

SkyVision establishes enterprise hub in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
[Satellite Today – 04/05/2011]

Communications crosslink between STSS satellites built by Grumman extends real-time “stereo tracking” of space objects.
[ComSpaceWatch – 04/04/2011]

Dual-purpose Indian satellite GSAT-8, with Ku-band and navigation payloads, arrives in French Guiana.
[SatNews – 04/04/2011]

Rafael Advance Defense Systems developing micro-satellite concept employing low-earth-orbit high resolution imaging satellites suitable for airborne launch.
[SatNews – 04/04/2011]

Iridium announces operational launch of Global Service Program to support all users of Iridium OpenPort broadband maritime satellite communication service.
[Traders Huddle – 04/04/2011]

New consortium headed by Astrium to demo telemedicine network for Africa under award by the European Space Agency.
[SatNews – 04/04/2011]

Surrey Satellite Technology expands on-line e-commerce product offering to include space-qualified satellite platforms.
[SatNews – 04/04/2011]

KVH extends availability of recently introduced simple, fast rate plans for mini-VSAT maritime broadband to all new miniVSAT broadband subscribers.
[Globe Newswire – 04/04/2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

Australian satellite services provider NewSat wins $4.4 million contract with U.S. military to provide communications to troops in Afghanistan.
[ARN – 04/01/2011]

Network structure designed by SPAWAR engineers piggybacks chat and secure data information on Iridium low data rate channels, and is assisting responders to Japan’s earthquake disaster.
[SatNews – 04/01/2011]

Chunghwa Telecom and Singapore Telecommunications to launch joint-venture communication satellite, ST-2, in mid-May 2011 to replace ST-1.
[DigiTimes – 04/01/2011]

Venezuela and Uruguay sign series of strategic agreements to advance satellite communications.
[venezuelanalysis – 04/01/2011]

South African National Space Agency and Russian counterpart Roscosmos expect to cooperate in Radioastron space telescope programme.
[SatNews – 04/01/2011]

Ariane launch of Abu Dhabi’s first satellite Yahsat Y1A and Intelsat satellite New Dawn is postponed due to technical problems.
[Reuters – 03/31/2011]

Inmarsat buys Norway’s Ship Equip for $159 million Euros.
[City A.M. – 03/31/2011]

Telesat Holdings said to be entertaining takeover offers from EchoStar Corp. and Carlyle Group, with decision possible within days.
[Bloomberg – 03/31/2011]

 Pentagon and Transportation Department officials write FCC, concerned about possible interference with GPS devices by LightSquared mobile broadband service.
[Wall Street Journal – 03/31/2011]

GeoEye supports relief efforts in Japan by providing satellite imagery of areas of devastation vie its online web services platform, EyeQ.
[SatNews – 03/31/2011]

KVH is presented 2011 MSUA Innovation Award for its revolutionary approach to satellite communications with its mini-VSAT Broadband SM network and TracPhone V7 hardware.
[Space Daily – 03/31/2011]

Earth observation satellite company RapidEye signs distribution agreement with Ramani Geosystems of Kenya for the entire continent of Africa.
[SatNews – 03/31/2011]

Vizada lands General Services Administration Schedule 70 Future COMSATCOM Services Acquisition contract to provide mobile satellite services to U.S. Government.
[TMCnet – 03/31/2011]

International spacecraft that will take NASA’s first space-based measurements of ocean surface salinity arrives at Vandenberg AFB launch site.
[SatNews – 03/31/2011]

Libyan opposition launches satellite television channel, Ahrar TV, with help of Qatari government, to counterbalance state-controlled media.
[SatNews and Really Rocket Science – 03/30/2011]

F4W’s technology improves quality, increases VoIP connections via satellite and cellular by 500%.
[PR Newswire – 03/30/2011]

Seven satellite industry companies agree to form alliance to increase awareness of benefits of hosted government payloads on commercial satellites.
[SatNews – 03/30/2011]

Distribution agreement between NextAlarm and Hughes will bring NextAlarm’s products and services to subscribers of HughesNet service.
[PR Newswire – 03/30/2011]

Vizada renews sponsorship contract with TSF, pledging to continue mobile satellite communications support in 2011, including current mission in Libya.
[SatNews – 03/30/2011]

Japanese spaceship loaded with garbage from International Space Station burns up in Earth’s atmosphere.
[Fox News – 03/30/2011]

Thuraya selected by Spanish mountaineer as satellite communications partner for forthcoming climb of Mount Everest.
[SatNews – 03/30/2011]

Earth Observation market includes two extremes – free availability and distribution by agencies like NOAA, and large, lucrative military contracts.
[NSR – 03/30/2011]

MDA receives contract from Canada’s Department of National Defense to operate and maintain Sapphire System monitoring space objects around the clock.
[SatNews – 03/30/2011]

Applied Satellite Technology makes available onsatmail, a free compressed email service on IsatPhone Pro handheld satellite phones.
[SatNews – 03/30/2011]

L-3 introduces high-power density Microwave Power Module capable of 110 watts of saturated power in 20 to 21 GHz band in small form factor suitable for airborne applications.
[SatNews – 03/30/2011]

UN telecommunications agency reaches agreement with Intelsat and the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization to expedite restoration of vital telecommunications services following natural disasters.
[UN News Centre – 03/29/2011]

Skylogic and SkyDSL Global extend partnership and raise level of performance with new-generation broadband service using KA-SAT satellite.
[TMCnet – 03/29/2011]

iDirect improves security and enhances mobility for Defense and Government customers in its iDX 2.3 software and advanced hardware.
[PR Newswire – 03/29/2011]

JAXA sets up satellite communications at disaster-struck areas in Japan.
[Satellite Spotlight – 03/28/2011]

Telecoms Sans Frontieres provides more than 28,000 international calls in one month to Libyan refugees in La Chucha transit camp.
[SatNews – 03/28/2011]

Comet-hunting spacecraft is sent command to burn remaining fuel and shut down after 12 years in operation.
[R&D Magazine – 03/28/2011]

Japanese satellites in clean rooms survived quake.
[Spaceflight Now – 03/28/2011]

Eutelsat gets ‘Crystal Antenna of the World of Media’ award for spearheading Poland’s first live satellite transmission in 3D (football match).
[SatNews – 03/28/2011]

SkyTraq introduces GLONASS/GPS receiver that offers drop-in upgrade for existing GPS equipment.
[SatNews – 03/28/2011]

Integral Systems adds two satellite interference monitoring, detection, and geolocation sites in Republic of Cyprus and Republic of South Korea.
[SatNews – 03/28/2011]

MTN Government Services added to FCSA government contract.
[PR Newswire – 03/28/2011]

Comtech wins orders worth $1.7 million from domestic prime contractor supplying Electronic Warfare Systems.
[TMCnet – 03/28/2011]

Yahsat launches “A Nation’s Pride in the Sky’ school program in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council to educate students about satellite technology.
[Khaleej Times – 03/28/2011]

RRsat’s Station711 and Inmarsat’s FleetBroadband chosen by Swire Pacific Offshore as next-generation communications platform.
[PR Newswire – 03/28/2011]

Gilat awarded new contract for broadband services in rural Peru.
[Globe Newswire – 03/28/2011]

ViaSat expands Yonder high-speed satellite internet service in Brazil via StarOne C1 satellite.
[Satellite Today – 03/28/2011]

Transponders for India’s DTH: “Open Skies” behind closed doors.
[NSR – 03/28/2011]

The oil and gas trifecta:  voice, data, and video via satellite.
[NSR – 03/21/2011]

Irish start-up technology company Mandac signs East African deal bringing Internet access to rural East Africa.
[talk Satellite – EMEA – 03/21/2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

HYLAS 1 ready for service – Avanti needs to build up large customer base to recoup investment in satellite – faces stiff competition from up and coming terrestrial wireless broadband services.
[The Register – 03/25/2011]

Inmarsat and Boeing successfully complete key design and engineering milestone for three state-of-the-art Ka-band high-throughput satellites with broadband speeds up to 50 Mbps to make up new Inmarsat-5 constellation.
[SatNews – 03/25/2011]

Telesat receives high scores in WTA Teleport Operator Satisfaction Survey.
[Satellite Today – 03/25/2011]

Telkomunikasi Indonesia to launch Telkom-3 satellite this year.
[TeleGeography – 03/25/2011]

Astrium congratulates UK government on creation of National Space Technology Programme to be funded by government and industry to drive innovation in Britain’s thriving space industry.
[SatNews – 03/25/2011]

TerreStar Genus terrestrial/satellite phone wins innovation award at 2011 CTIA Wireless show.
[TMCnet – 03/25/2011]

Frost and Sullivan releases new report, “Defense Communications Funding Trends and Prospects,” focusing on defense communications technologies such as tactical radios and military satellite and network-centric communications.
[TMCnet – 03/24/2011]

Kore Telematics expands M2M network globally, featuring enhanced cellular data network services complemented by global satellite delivery.
[MSP News – 03/24/2011]

LightSquared signs Best Buy as second public wholesale customer just one day after signing Cricket Communications, giving indications it is well on its way to getting its business off the ground.
[Wireless Week – 03/24/2011]

Numerex partners with Tekelec to market new M2M solutions.
[Satellite Today – 03/24/2011]

Dish Network sues Dark Angel of Canada, and two of its customers, for pirating satellite television programming.
[Victoria Advocate – 03/24/2011]

Eutelsat wins “Crystal Antenna of the World of Media” award for Poland’s first live satellite transmission in 3D.
[PR Newswire — 03/24/2011]

Five year agreement between Spacecom of Israel and Mreza Plust TV of Bosnia will result in the news and entertainment being distributed throughout Bosnia on the AMOS satellites.
[SatNews – 03/24/2011]

International Launch Services launches aggressive protest against recurring subsidies to competitor Arianespace by the 18-nation European Space Agency.
[SatNews – 03/23/2011]

Viasat enters into agreement with Asia Broadcast Satellite to provide Ka-band satellite IP transit service in key areas of Middle East using the ABS satellite.
[TMCnet – 03/23/2011]

SES ASTRA extends its technical reach across Europe and now serves 135 million TV homes in Europe and North Africa via its satellite fleet.
[SatNews – 03/23/2011]

Skylogic, the broadband subsidiary of Eutelsat, and Sat Internet Services sign 3 year agreement for broadband services using the KA-SAT High Throughput Satellite.
[Techzone 360 – 03/23/2011]

First Responders in Minnesota have access to SATCOW (Satellite-equipped Communication Site on Wheels), operated by Hennepin County.
[KAAL TV – 03/23/2011]

Satellite operators may no longer have to throw away good geostationary satellites if deal between Intelsat and Canada’s MDA to build robotic satellite refueler works out.
[Aviation Week – 03/22/2011]

Lockheed Martin shows off test version of Orion spacecraft, initially meant to return humans to the moon, but may be escape vehicle for International Space Station or taking astronauts beyond Earth Orbit.
[R&D Magazine – 03/22/2011]

Arianespace readies for dual launch of Intelsat New Dawn and Yahsat Y1A on March 30, as Soyuz prepares for launch of six Globalstar satellites in Kazakhstan in May.
[SatNews – 03/22/2011]

O3b awards Integral Systems contract to provide carrier monitoring and interference detection.
[The Street – 03/22/2011]

Indian broadcaster Sun TV signs multi-year multi-transponder lease agreement with Intelsat for C-band capacity on IS-17.
[Satellite Today – 03/22/2011]

JetBlue deal for Ka-band in-flight broadband service for entire 160-aircraft fleet huge win for ViaSat.
[Satellite Today – 03/22/2011]

Western spy satellites monitor the remaining containers of mustard blister agent in the Libyan desert.
[SatNews – 03/22/2011]

Four high-level speakers joins roster of illustrious participants in Space Foundation’s Cyber 1.1 conference next month.
[SatNews – 03/22/2011]

Albanian government awards contract to EMA Group for Iridium-based Vessel Monitoring Systems on the country’s commercial fishing fleet.
[Satellite Today – 03/22/2011]

Newtec marks 10 years in Asia by joining the Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council.
[SatNews – 03/22/2011]

Maritime satellite communications provider Marlink extends contract with seismic vessel operator Fugro-Geoteam for another five years.
[Satellite Today – 03/22/2011]

United Nations OCHA and GVF join forces to facilitate global disaster preparedness and response efforts.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 03/15/2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

The AIAA did the right thing in denying a “truther” group participation in Newtown. The story, via the Courier-Times…

A local symposium about the future of aerospace has attracted the attention – and indignation – of a group of engineers that was denied participation.

Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth wanted to set up a table alongside other symposium participants today at Lockheed Martin in Newtown Township, but the local chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, sponsor of the symposium, denied the application.

The 9/11 group contends that official reports describing the fall of the World Trade Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, paint a false picture of how Building 7 collapsed. It fell not because of fire, as the report describes, but because an unknown group deliberately planted explosives in the building, according to the group.

Klaus Dannenberg, deputy executive director of the American Institute, said it’s just unreasonable to include the group in this symposium, which is about the next generation of aerospace, including advancements in controls, aircraft design and materials.

Have questions about WTC #7? Look it up and draw your own conclusions — and leave the rocket scientists out of it.

Imagery from MDA Systems Information Group’s RADARSAT-2 satellite is being used to assess damage and direct relief efforts to the main stricken areas of Sendai, Japan, in the wake of the March 11 earthquake.
[SatNews – 03/18/2011]

Imagery from the Formosat-2 high resolution satellite, the only one capable of imaging the same point every day because of its atypical orbit, allow international community to follow evolution of Japanese earthquake disaster day by day.
[SatNews – 03/18/2011]

NAB sets off debate over “Spectrum Hoarding.”
[PC World – 03/18/2011]

Arqiva is expanding its U.S.-based government and domestic operations in Washington, D.C. by developing and refining its teleports for secure transmissions.
[Satellite Today – 03/18/2011]

The first experiment to investigate the effects of solar plasmasphere disturbances on satellite communications will be launched aboard the UK Space Agency’s maiden CubeSat mission.
[the engineer – 03/18/2011]

Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSB) signs five-year agreement with NewWave Broadband to provide iDirect’s Virtual Network Operator services for its maritime customer ShipEquip.
[Satellite Today – 03/18/2011]

Integrating SCPC Return Channel technology, iDX v3.0 software enables service providers to manage TDMA and SCPC networks over same platform.
[ThomasNet News – 03/18/2011]

Satellite broadband provider Wildblue moves to larger headquarters, with plans to hire 30 workers.
[Business Week – 03/18/2011]

NASA-affiliated scientists propose using low-powered, ground-based laser to nudge pieces of space debris off of collision courses with each other.
[SatNews – 03/17/2011]

SES selects International Launch Services (ILS) to launch the SES-6 satellite on a Proton rocket in 2013.
[Satellite Today – 03/17/2011]

Globalstar takes delivery of six next generation (2G) satellites at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
[SatNews – 03/17/2011]

LightSquared working group formed to test for possible interference to GPS has 34 members including Garmin and other GPS vendors as well as Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, NASA, FAA, and other government agencies.
[PC World – 03/17/2011]

ITU assists communications in Japan by sending 13 Iridium satellite phones, 37 Inmarsat BGAN terminals, and 78 Thuraya satellite phones with GPS to assist in search and rescue work.
[Computer World – 03/17/2011]

Lockheed Martin successfully tests next generation GPS integrated flight software and computer processors, demonstrating enhanced ability to communicate among the satellite, network communications and navigation elements.
[emoney daily – 03/17/2011]

Norsat International Inc. releases multi-band versions of its GLOBETrekker™ and Rover™ satellite systems, which will now be available in Ka-band.
[SatNews – 03/17/2011]

Intelsat renews contract with social media company dBase Media, who will provide social media strategy, implementation and reporting in preparation for New Dawn satellite launch.
[The Street – 03/17/2011]

Skylogic to market Eutelsat’s next generation Tooway product on the powerful KA-SAT high throughput Ka-band satellite.
[SatNews – 03/17/2011]

EMA Group (EMA) announces that the Albanian government has awarded the Company a contract to implement Iridium-based Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) for the country’s commercial fishing fleet.
[SatNews – 03/17/2011]

Intelian Technologies unveils its largest VSAT communications antenna, a 2.4m C-band antenna for marine applications.
[Satellite Spotlight – 03/17/2011]

Intelsat contracts Canada’s MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) to develop commercial satellite-refueling business that will include launch of a Proton-class servicing spacecraft and a test mission on a disused communications satellite.
[Aviation Week – 03/16/2011]

Launch providers in tough panel discussion at Satellite 2011, with some bullish about their futures, others not so bullish, and a bit of criticism of one another.
[Satellite Spotlight – 03/16/2011]

Integral Systems announces that the Company has been selected by Intelsat to provide its EPOCH Integrated Product Suite (IPS) satellite command and control software to manage Intelsat’s newest satellites – Intelsat 21 and 22.
[SatNews – 03/16/2011]

Inmarsat and partner Skywave Mobile Communications make data service available on global handheld satellite phone, IsatPhone Pro.
[PR Newswire – 03/16/2011]

DISH Network receives approval from a U.S. bankruptcy court to acquire a 100% stake of DBSD North America Inc.
[Zacks – 03/16/2011]

iDirect announces that Bentley Walker Ltd., one of the largest VSAT network operators in Europe, has purchased iDirect’s SatManage network management system.
[SatNews – 03/16/2011]

Thales Alenia Space selects EMS Defense & Space for L-band communications hardware for low-earth orbiting, cross-linked satellites produced by a third company.
[Government Video – 03/16/2011]

Gateway Communications selects Gilat as its primary VSAT provider, enhancing services to mobile and fixed line operators with connections in Africa and to the rest of the world.
[SatNews – 03/16/2011]

Thuraya announces signing of key distribution agreement with Athens-based Tetra Communications, who will market Thuraya’s voice and broadband data services in Greece and surrounding NATO countries.
[SatNews – 03/16/2011]

INPE of Brazil selects Brüel & Kjær to be the supplier of their replacement data acquisition and vibration test system for satellite launch simulation and qualification testing.
[SatNews – 03/16/2011]

ViaSat and Asia Broadcast Satellite enter into a multi-year agreement to provide Ka-band satellite service in key areas of the Middle East using the ABS-7 satellite.
[SatNews – 03/16/2011]

Integral Systems announces release of a new version of the satID® Geolocation System by its wholly-owned subsidiary, RT Logic.
[SatNews – 03/16/2011]

XTAR is awarded bandwidth contract by Intelsat for 79.5 MHz of X-band capacity from its XTAR-EUR satellite sitting over Europe and Middle East.
[SatNews – 03/16/2011]

Globecomm Systems introduces auto-aligning VSAT antenna using band-specific feed cartridges with integrated RF electronics to enable quick switch in the field from X- to Ka- to Ku- satellite bands.
[SatNews – 03/16/2011]

Avanti’s Hylas 1 in-orbit testing complete; satellite ready to begin servicing broadband customers in Europe.
[ZDNet – 03/15/2011]

Yahsat selects Hughes Networks Systems to enable broadband services on Yahsat’s high performance Y1B Ka-band satellite.
[PR Newswire – 03/15/2011]

World Teleport Association announces recipients of 16th annual Teleport Awards of Excellence during luncheon ceremony at Satellite 2011.
[SatNews – 03/15/2011]

Globecomm introduces its FAST terminal for rapid deployment of enterprise-class communications solutions.
[Business Wire – 03/15/2011]

Tachyon is expands its broadband capacity over Southwest Asia with a capacity lease on Eutelsat’s SESAT 2 satellite.
[SatNews – 03/15/2011]

Satlink selects Zixi’s broadcast-quality HDTV over the cloud in place of satellite trunk lines and where satellite or fiber optic transmission services are not feasible.
[Business Wire – 03/15/2011]

SES WORLD SKIES has a new capacity deal with Axesat that’s aimed at meeting escalating corporate service demand across Latin America and the Caribbean.
[SatNews – 03/15/2011]

DigitalGlobe contracts with Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services for the launch of WorldView-3.
[SatNews – 03/15/2011]

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) will launch the SES-8 medium-sized communications satellite on a Falcon 9 vehicle in 2013, under the startup launch service provider’s first geostationary communications satellite launch contract.
[Aviation Week – 03/14/2011]

Iridium Communications wins $13.4 million follow-on task order from the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren to implement Phase 3 of the Distributed Tactical Communications System (DTCS) program.
[TMCnet – 03/14/2011]

Stratos Government Services (SGSI) wins General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule 70 FCSA contract to provide commercial satellite communications products and services to the U.S. Government.
[Satellite Spotlight – 03/14/2011]

Dire state of communications in Japan following earthquake evident in NBC report where reporter provided satellite phone to American teacher so she could reach out to her family in the states.
[Computer World – 03/14/2011]

RRSat assists in launch of HIGHTV, reportedly the first international entirely 3D entertainment channel.
[TV Technology – 03/14/2011]

Top secret military payload NROL-27 lifts off from Cape Canaveral on Delta IV rocket.
[Universe Today – 03/12/2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

Who would dare compete for the attention of hip techies with SXSW in Austin? Quite a few, actually, and none of them are hip.

There’s the Indiana Flower & Patio Show and the NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education annual conference in Philadelphia. There’s also the PITTCON Conference & Expo (laboratory science),  International Summit & Exhibition on Health Facility Planning, Design & Construction and one in Seattle: the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.  Wait, there’s one more: Satellite 2011.

That’s right: satcom has yet to come across as being “hip.” OK, so investors may want to stick with traditional, risk-minimizing returns from the major player. That good for now. What about the future? Who will be making the decisions whether to use satellite technology in the future?

Ed Horowitz was alluding to the coming change in the marketplace in his pre-conference luncheon speech yesterday…

There is an impending conflict between media distributors and media providers. New media is growing faster than traditional media. It is about carrying your content around with you. New media consumers want to do more than just consume available information. They want to create it. Five out of the 10 fastest growing websites have user-generated content. Very soon, 50 percent of the workforce will be Generation X and Generation Y. 2011 marks a new rubicon for our business. Traditional media connections are changing. The new model is an open model with a direct connection between the consumer and media.

The concept of prime time is gone. Prime time is all the time. You have Google, Apple, Netflix, etc. TVs are becoming Web browsers. The revolution is global. The convergence of the TV and the PC is happening. Lastly, this generation that has grown up with this empowerment. If you don’t serve them what they want, you die (AOL and MySpace). Satellite must be ready to serve customers on the move. It has to be at the network’s core. This will require the industry to team up with new players.

TV Everywhere. Who’s on it? TimeWarner’s CNN, according to a piece by Staci Kramer in paidContent.org…

The launches are still months away but CNN Digital has a pair of announcements from SXSW tonight that mark significant advancements for the network’s online and mobile video offerings. In early summer, CNN plans to flip the switch on its version of Time (NYSE: TWX) Warner’s CEO Jeff Bewkes’ TV Everywhere, making it possible for subscribers of Comcast (NSDQ: CMCSA) Xfinity, Dish, Cox and Verizon FiOS to watch CNN live across platforms and devices. Other Turner Broadcasting networks, including TNT and TBS are likely to offer authenticated live streaming of linear channels at the same time.

CNN also will launch a new video player taking full advantage of the native HD being used for nearly all its footage now, the first major update for CNN’s online video experience in three years. KC Estenson, SVP and GM of CNN.com, showed me the new player on multiple bank of screens during a practice session before I left Austin; the quality of the video being streamed over WiFi in 19:9 format to the large screen array doing double duty as a computer monitor was stunning. Equally important, the player is designed to work across platforms, including Google (NSDQ: GOOG) TV. Eventually Estenson, who calls the new player a “quantum leap,”  expects it be to be available through any internet-connected TV.

In addition to various technical improvements, the player features a playlist that moves with the user from device to device. Start watching on a computer, switch to an iPhone or iPad, pick it up later on a connected TV and the player will know where the user left off and what is in the queue. One hitch: at launch, it will only work with internet access. Eventually, CNN hopes to make offline viewing possible. Estenson is striving for the quality of Vimeo, the serendipity of YouTube, the experience of Hulu and the portability of Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX).

Meanwhile, back at satcom ranch, the most exciting news is SES signing with SpaceX for a Falcon-9 launch. That’s a good one, compared to other news surrounding Satellite 2011.

The SPPI Gala is going hip? Yeah, no more black-tie attire.  Let me make a bold prediction: nobody will dress like the partygoers at the Angry Birds event at SXSW…

How about on-site promotion? Have you ever seen anything resembling this at the satellite show? A Nokia N8 promotion in Austin. Why? Because they’re competing for relevancy and satcom should do likewise.

ATTENDING SATELLITE 2011?  Send me an email if you’d like to meet.  Bill

Russia’s Raduga-1 geostationary military communication satellite has likely lost communications with the flight control center and may have run out of fuel.
[CRI English – 03/11/2011]

Naval Research Laboratory positions unique elliptic-orbit TacSat-4 for launch in May 2011.
[Business Wire – 03/11/2011]

Group of 17 major stakeholders in GPS industry want FCC and NTIA to make LightSquared guarantee its planned network won’t interfere with GPS systems.
[Wireless Week – 03/11/2011]

Yahsat’s Y1A satellite, Abu Dhabi’s first, ready for March 30 launch by Arianespace from French Guiana.
[Gulf News – 03/11/2011]

Hughes Network Systems high-performance commercial satellite router receives National Institute of Standards and Technology security certification.
[SatNews – 03/11/2011]

New technology from SES ASTRA base on ASTRA2Connect allows telecommunications operators and Internet service providers to offer satellite-base broadband via existing last-mile infrastructure.
[SatNews – 03/11/2011]

Germany’s Fairplay Towage selects FleetBroadband from Stratos for deep-sea tugboats.
[PR Newswire – 03/11/2011]

UK Royal Academy of Engineering report claims that growing dependence on satellite navigation systems poses serious economic and safety risks to society.
[The Register – 03/10/2011]

Euroconsult reports that revenue in global aeronautical satellite communications market grew by almost 25% in 2010; growth expected to continue at slower pace over next decade.
[SatNews – 03/10/2011]

International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight to be held in New Mexico in October to focus on how technical advances are driving success of companies in commercial space industry.
[SatNews – 03/10/2011]

South African Maritime Safety Authority installs sophisticated navigation satellite systems to protect the country’s waters from piracy and other threats.
[The New Age – 03/10/2011]

NASA soon to unveil its new rocket integration facility at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia; first customer to be Orbital Sciences Corp with its Taurus II launch vehicle.
[SatNews – 03/10/2011]

FCC to determine whether to extend rate caps on SiriusXM satellite radio beyond July 28 – final comments due March 11.
[Twice Mobile – 03/10/2011]

SpeedCast signs multi-year agreement with SES WORLD SKIES for additional capacity on NSS-6, NSS-7, and NSS-12 to serving growing demand of maritime customers in Middle East, Africa, and South America.
[SatNews – 03/10/2011]

First Space Based Infrared Systems satellite delivered by Air Force to Florida base for May launch.
[U.S. Air Force web site – 03/10/2011]

New Zealand satellite communications provider Farmside and IPStar provide free of charge wireless communications via satellite in support of post-earthquake rescue efforts.
[SatNews – 03/10/2011]

Satellite communications provider NSSLGlobal assists Associated Press communicate with world during Eqyptian uprising.
[SatNews – 03/10/2011]

French capital development fund acquires Thomson Video Networks, promising revamped satellite product line.
[Satellite Today – 03/10/2011]

Blue Sky Network debuts new SkyRouter 2, allowing customers to more easily track and communicate with all their mobile assets.
[SatNews – 03/10/2011]

Satcom Direct partners with AirCare Solutions Group to offer in-flight tele-medicine service to FDF customers.
[Satellite Today – 03/10/2011]

The Satellite Users Interference Reduction Group changes its name to Satellite IRG, and re-aligns its management structure.
[Satellite Today – 03/10/2011]

Vizada and Telemar win 85-ship maritime broadband contract in Germany.
[Satellite Today – 03/10/2011]

Boeing announces completion of Preliminary Design Review for three Ka-band satellites with hosted payloads to be built for Inmarsat as Inmarsat-5 spacecraft.
[SatNews – 03/09/2011]

UltiSat wins contract from AT&T Government Solutions to provide satellite-based Internet services to U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan.
[Satellite Today – 03/09/2011]

Inmarsat selects Cobham as intital launch partner for maritime satellite terminals for its forthcoming Global Xpress service.
[Trade Arabia – 03/09/2011]

Hiding in plain site at Satellite 2011 – a Norsat 1.8 meter transportable terminal concealed in a ConcealFab Corp PVC barn.
[SatNews – 03/09/2011]

Aircell announces plans to migrate its Gogo airborne Wi-Fi service to international flights as well as increase performance of its domestic services.
[PC Magazine – 03/09/2011]

Globecomm Systems launches Globecomm Maritime, bringing together its four business units Telaurus, Mach6, Evosat, and Carrier2CVarrier to provide a comprehensive suite of maritime communication solutions.
[SatNews – 03/09/2011]

Hughes executive to address military forum at Satellite 2011 on commercial satellite capabilities for government/defense communications-on-the-move (COTM).
[PR Newswire – 03/09/2011]

NSR report – Earth Observation value-added services may not offer the easy cruise anticipated, but could become a bumpy ride.
[NSR – 03/09/2011]

Turkey signs $571M deal with Mitsubishi Electric of Japan for two satellites.
[Satellite Today – 03/08/2011]

Iridium is making a push into lower-cost satellite services.
[Space News – 03/08/2011]

CapRock selected as one of 46 prime vendors to be awarded basic ordering agreement by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; continues string of successful GSA Schedule 70 awards.
[Globe Newswire – 03/08/2011]

C-Com set to unveil two mobile satellite antenna systems at Satellite 2011, including its iNetVu Airline Checkable antenna.
[marketwire – 03/08/2011]

Air Force awards contract to study Ka-band architectures and acquisition strategies to Hughes Network Systems.
Defense Systems – 03/07/2011]

Spacenet receives 2010 Satellite Spotlight Product of the Year Award.
[Business Wire – 03/07/2011]

Thuraya announces launch of new Seagull 5000i maritime terminal in partnership with Addvalue Communications.
[AMEinfo – 03/07/2011]

Matys Satcom Ltd. introduces new LP-90 low profile phased array Ku-band satellite antenna system intended for high-performance broadband connectivity to defense, homeland security and commercial land vehicles on the move as well as maritime.
[Government Video – 03/07/2011]

SES enters framework understanding with Sea Launch regarding possible cooperation on future launch of SES satellites on Sea Launch launch vehicles.
[SatNews – 03/07/2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

STS-133 and Canada’s Dextre.  Photo courtesy of NASA, naturally.

Dosvedanya Mio Bombino: Musical best wishes to astronauts Paolo & Aleksandr for ATV docking from Daniel Scuka on Vimeo.

Nice mashup by the ESA.

 Seattle, USA-based band Pink Martini have sent in a fantastic video greeting for the entire ISS crew and especially ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli, from Italy, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Kaleri as they get ready for today’s ATV Johannes Kepler docking. Lead singer China Forbes sends the group’s best wishes and she’s dedicated one of their favourite tracks, Dosvedanya Mio Bombino – a song about Russia and Italy – to the two astros in space. We’ve mashed up her greeting with some recent ISS and ATV footage, which we hope you’ll enjoy. Thanks, China, and thanks to everyone at Pink Martini for your support and encouragement! Music, Lyrics Copyright (C) Pink Martini – used with permission.