Really Rocket Science

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Deep Blue, a Technip vessel – Digital Ship

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OCO 2 launch. Photo: ULA – Via Satellite

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Euroconsult’s newly released report, Prospects for In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity, expects the global in-flight connectivity market to reach $2.1 billion by 2023.
[SatNews – 06/27/2014]

SpaceX president says launch of six Orbcomm satellites unlikely to occur before July 14.
[Space News – 06/27/2014]

SES leans on Europe to meet SpaceX launch prices, and to develop a commercial electric-satellite product, to compete with Boeing and other U.S. providers.
[Space News – 06/27/2014]

A rendering of an SBRIS GEO spacecraft. Photo: Lockheed Martin. – Via Satellite

U.S. Air Force awards Lockheed Martin GEO 5 and GEO 6 contract for SBIRS geosynchronous earth orbit satellites.
[Via Satellite – 06/26/2014]

The Satellite Broadcasting & Communications Association (SBCA) awarded the organization’s Arthur C. Clarke Award to Joseph P. Clayton, President and CEO of DISH.
[SatNews – 06/27/2104]

Dauria Aerospace successfully launched two Perseus M spacecraft into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) on June 19, 2014 aboard a Kosmotras Dnepr rocket.
[Via Satellite – 06/26/2014]

NewSat Limited has secured a US$13.6 million teleport customer contract with an Asian telecommunications company.
[proactiveinvestors Australia – 06.26/2014]

Australian startup satellite operator NewSat Ltd. has purchased capacity on the Russian Satellite Communications Co.’s Express-AM3 satellite.
[Space News – 06/26/2014]

Newsat is on the shortlist for Satellite Operator of the Year award in the ACOMMS 2014.
[SatNews – 06/26/2014]

Satellite Internet of Britain puts forward its solution, partnering with SES, for homes and businesses which cannot benefit from a Fiber-to-the-Cabinet deployment due to their remote locations.
[SatNews – 06/26/2014]

Spot 5 satellite image of Lake Winnipeg in Canada. Photo: Airbus Defence and Space – Via Satellite

Airbus inaugurates its first multi-satellite Direct Receiving Station for Alaskan client GeoNorth, for receiving high-resolution earth imaging data from Spot 5, 6, and soon 7 satellites.
[Via Satellite – 06/26/2014]

Millicom, owner of the Tigo brand, has set its sights on Latin America as a top growth market for satellite pay-TV.
[Via Satellite – 06/26/2014]

ASC Signal Corporation was selected by government and commercial customers to deliver 115 Ka-band gateways and large antennas systems over the course of the past six months.
[Via Satellite – 06/26/2014]

Hughes Network Systems has announced the availability of Hughes Emergency Solutions to help businesses and government offices prepare for the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season.
[SatNews – 06/26/2014]

IDC partners with Sony and Vue Entertainment to deliver world first live 4K streamings of FIFA World CupTM matches to cinemas.
[IDC – 06/26/2014]

Predator drone crashes in New Mexico desert near Holloman Air Force base after losing its satellite communications link.
[The Washington Post – 06/26/2014]

Worldview balloon – Satellite Evolution Group file image

World View successfully completed scaled test flight of its high-altitude balloon spaceflight system, breaking the world record for highest parafoil flight in the process.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 06/26/2014]

Air Force orders 2 more antimissile satellites from Lockheed Martin for $1.9 Billion.
[Nextgov – 06/25/2014]

Falcon 9 back in hangar. Credit: SpaceX – Space News

Latest SpaceX delay costing Orbcomm money.
[Space News – 06/25/2014]

Arianespace says lower prices offered for smaller satellites launched on its heavy-lift Ariane rockets in response to SpaceX pricing have already resulted in several new launch contracts.
[Space News – 06/25/2014]

AT&T and DirecTV officials face Congress to defend their proposed merger.
[Via Satellite – 06/25/2014]

UAE Aerospace industry takes giant step forward with plans to launch Yahsat’s third satellite, Al Yah 3, in 2016.
[MIddle East Events – 06/25/2014]

Scanning of new area in search for Flight 370 has begun by a commercial vessel under contract from the Australian government, but the search has been complicated by a lack of satellite images.
[Houston Chronicle – 06/25/2014]

General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies to build and install a 100-ton, 12-meter radio telescope antenna for the new Large Latin American Millimeter Array (LLAMA) observatory.
[Market Watch – 06/25/2014]

Aerojet Rocketdyne successfully performed a series of hot-fire tests on a Bantam demonstration engine made entirely through additive manufacturing.
[Via Satellite – 06/25/2014]

Brazilian Air Force personnel have completed training in France on operating the South American country’s future military communications satellite.
[UPI – 06/25/2014]

UK based Cobbett Hill Earth Station Boosts Maritime Broadband Services With Upgrade To iDirect Evolution.
[The Maritime Executive – 06/25/2014]

New Thuraya Top-Up App is the first of its kind and allows users from all over the globe to purchase 20, 50 and 160 unit Thuraya Prepaid airtime vouchers easily and securely.
[SatNews – 06/25/2014]

SSTL-built earth observation satellite KazEOSat 2, for Kazakhstan, was successfully launched aboard a Kosmotras Dnepr rocket from Russian launch pad in Yasny on June 19, 2014.
[Via Satellite – 06/24/2014]

Research to shrink GPS electronics could enable hosted GPS satellite transceiver payloads on other satellites, and small, ubiquitous, even wearable GPS navigation devices.
[Military & Aerospace – 06/24/2014]

AEHF-3 Protected Communications Payload, Built by Northrop Grumman, Completes On Orbit Testing Ahead of Schedule.
[The Wall Street Journal – 06/24/2014]

ViaSat’s Exede service tops FCC Measuring Broadband report for second year.
[Via Satellite – 06/24/2014]

Early bird offer to attend Global MilSatCom in November expires next week, with places for this event extremely limited.
[Satellite Spotlight – 06/24/2014]

Singapore offers incentives to entice space companies – Eutelsat announces expansion plans in Singapore.
[Business Wire India – 06/24/2014]

Intermatica partners with Avanti Communications to extend its European satellite broadband coverage.
[Yahoo Finance – 06/24/2014]

NorthernAxcess prepares for Iridium GO! release with its own style of branding, and marketing that’s leading the industry.
[PR.com – 06/24/2014]

KVH introduces inertial navigation system for battlefield vehicles.
[Via Satellite – 06/24/2014]

Globalstar’s newest satellite hotspot, Sat-Fi, is now available.
[Via Satellite – 06/24/2014]

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions subsidiary SAT Corporation has provided a global satellite operator with Carrier Identification (CID) technology to help identify and mitigate RF interference.
[Market Watch – 06/23/2014]

A satellite promotion in Cochabamba, Bolivia, that reads, “Space is Ours”. Credit: Gustav Cappaert/IPS

Bolivia’s dream – put rural areas on the grid with its own satellite.
[Inter Press Service – 06/23/2014]

Hispasat will support communications and broadcasting for Ruta Quetzal 2014, a project which will enable a group of international young adventurers to discover Peru and the pre-Hispanic cultures.
[RAPID TV News – 06/23/2014]

KazSat-2 to be using its capacities to the full in 2016.
[Tengri News – 06/23/2014]

KazSat-3 commissioning to reduce import of telecommunications services by $21.8mln a year.
[TMCnet – 06/23/2014]

India’s Department of Space urges Antrix Corp to quickly seek out additional transponder capacity for Bharat Sanchar Nigam from global operators to ensure better communications services in strategically located Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep islands.
[Economic Times – 06/23/2014]

Gilat utilizes Intelsat satellite services to deliver broadband connectivity to schools and communities in rural Colombia.
[Business Wire – 06/23/2014]

The site was decommissioned in 2006 and has since been used for commercial purposes – BBC

A decommissioned former Nato “golf ball” style communications facility at Balado, near Kinross, is for sale.
[BBC – 06/22/2014]

SpaceX delays launch of six spacecraft for Orbcomm again, to early July, after engineers spot pressure fluctuations in Falcon 9′s second stage booster.
[The Register- 06/21/2014]

Inmarsat endorses GVF certification of satcom operators and installers in support of Global Xpress deployments.
[Inmarsat Press Release – 06/18/2014]

NSR’s Global Satellite Capacity Supply and Demand, 11th Edition (GSCSD11) is a comprehensive analysis of the commercial satellite capacity market.
[NSR – July 2014]

NSR’s Commercial Mobility via Satellite, 10th Edition (CMS10) offers a completely updated assessment for all satellite mobility markets around the globe.
[NSR – July 2014]

Falcon 9 after successful test firing – Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com – Universe Today

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket rolled out to Cape Canaveral launch pad in preparation for 6:08 P.M. EDT scheduled launch of six advanced OG2 satellites for ORBCOMM.
[Universe Today – 06/20/20014]

A Russian-Ukrainian Dnepr silo-launched rocket on June 19 successfully deployed 33 satellites ranging in size from several hundred kilograms to less than 5 kilograms each into low Earth orbit.
[Space News – 06/20/2014]

Airbus and Safran propose new Ariane 6 design and reorganization of Europe’s rocket industry.
[Space News – 06/20/2014]

Viasat asks court to halt SSL work on at least one satellite.
[Space News – 06/20/2014]

British satellite communications firm Inmarsat eyes disaster-response as a new market as it launches three satellites in the next nine months.
[Business Mirror – 06/20/2014]

Gerald Herbert/AP File Photo – Nextgov

FCC slams Chinese GPS jammer vendor with $34.9 million fine.
[Nextgov – 06/19/2014]

One of the ships searching for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Photograph: David Le-May/BBC/David Le-May – The Guardian

New revised search zone for Flight 370, based on an intensive study of satellite communications from the jet and other data, expected to be hundreds of miles south of the previous search zone.
[The Guardian – 06/19/2014]

Eutelsat plans a new triple-payload satellite designated Eutelsat 172B, to launch in 2017 at 172 degrees east to boost capacity and expand coverage across the Asia-Pacific.
[Via Satellite – 06/19/2014]

Belarusian satellite to be managed through Azerbaijan’s ground control center.
[TMCnet – 06/19/2014]

The Russian military will test its new mobile satellite communications system during the Vostok-2014 strategic exercise in Russia’s Eastern Military District.
[SatNews – 06/19/2014]

Dream Chaser – Credit: Sierra Nevada Corp. – Space News

Sierra Nevada Corp. to acquire ORBITEC.
[Space News – 06/19/2014]

Newtec M6100 modulators installed on Thaicom 6 platform, enabling TV Broadcasting services in both C-band and Ku-band in Thailand.
[realwire – 06/19/2014]

Harris publishes a patent application online titled “Portable Satellite Communication System.”
[4-traders – 06/19/2014]

Panasonic to bring satellite connectivity to Pacific aircraft routes in partnership with Eutelsat.
[Aviation Today – 06/19/2014]

Emerging Markets Communications adds 13 new field support centers in strategic remote areas worldwide in 2014.
[Satellite Spotlight – 06/19/2014]

Addvalue Innovation to preview Wideye iSavi for Smart Device Satellite Connectivity at this year’s CommunicAsia trade show in Singapore.
[CBS8.com – 06/19/2014]

Avanti launches “Avanti Mobile Assist” app for Android phones to assist satellite installation engineers with Ka-band satellite field installations.
[Satellite Spotlight – 06/19/2014]

IPSTAR Japan, a Thaicom subsidiary, reports that Tokyo-based shipping company Ocean Trans Co. has selected its end-to-end broadband service to provide its crew with Internet access.
[Digital Ship – 06/19/2014]

Obama administration opposes appropriations bill provision: $220 million to start development of a large rocket engine to replace the Russian-built RD-180.
[Space News – 06/18/2014]

Proton Rocket Launch – PHSY-ORG

A Russian startup says it will launch several satellites in the coming weeks, the country’s first private satellite constellation, to offer maritime monitoring services.
[PHYS-ORG – 06/18/2014]

Kymeta, commercializing innovative metamaterials-based flat-panel antennas for satellite communications, named by CNBC among world’s top 50 disruptors second year in a row.
[PCB007 – 06/18/2014]

SpeedCast of Australia acquires Oceanic Broadband, a leading integrator and solutions provider in the Oceania region.
[Bloomberg Businessweek – 06/18/2014]

ATCi tailors its Simulsat RF transport solution, a complete integrated RF ingest and distribution system, for the Asian market.
[Digital Journal – 06/18/2014]

SES CEO emphasizes the satellite industry’s “right to play” in the overall communications industry during address at CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2014.
[Via Satellite – 06/17/2014]

Global uptake of ultra HD via DTH to reach nearly 300 channels by 2023.
[NSR Press Release – 06/17/2014]

C-band spectrum essential to Asia Pacific Region according to new study released at CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 06/17/2014]

Artist’s concept of GPS III satellite – Lockheed Martin/AP File Photo – Nextgov

Delays in delivery of GPS III satellites by Lockheed Martin prompt U.S. Air Force to ask other vendors for proposals to develop and build up to 22 satellites.
[Nexgov – 06/17/2014]

Laser Light Communications (LLC) enters into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) relating to LLC’s Global Hybrid Satellite-Terrestrial All Optical Network technology.
[4-traders – 06/17/2014]

India’s Telecom Commission has given the approval for introducing satellite-based mobile services in the country.
[The Hindu Business Line – 06/17/2014]

Indian Telecom panel gives nod to reduced licence fee for VSAT operators in the country.
[Business Standard – 06/17/2014]

C-COM Satellite Systems is listed amongst Canada’s fastest growing companies.
[Market Watch – 06/17/2014]

Gilat Satcom launches satellite phone service to provide connectivity in African underground mines.
[Mining.com – 06/17/2014]

Vislink and ND SatCom have announced a cooperation agreement to offer a wider product range to their broadcast and surveillance customers.
[RAPIDTV News – 09/17/2014]

Gilat announces a breakthrough in LTE backhauling using its Capricorn TDMA VSAT, following completion of tests of its 200Mbps terminal on Thaicom’s IPSTAR satellite.
[Market Watch – 06/17/2014]

Global mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat will launch its personal connectivity device IsatHub globally in August 2014..
[Satellite Evolution Group – 06/17/2014]

Parade marking 100th anniversary of Kim Il Sung’s birthday Pyongyang, North Korea. // DigitalGlobe/AP File Photo – Nextgov

Independent nonproliferation experts can now get images offering much greater detail about Iran’s and North Korea’s above-ground nuclear facilities.
[Nextgov – 06/16/2014]

Connecting to the internet via satellite. Flickr/Michael Josh Villanueva, CC BY-NC – The Conversation

News that Google representatives are in talks with Virgin Galactic seen as further evidence it is looking to set up a series of low-orbit satellites to help connect more people to the internet.
[The Conversation – 06/16/2014]

Crystal Solutions launches its Carrier ID Detection System, which allows users to quickly distinguish a satellite carrier.
[Via Satellite – 06/16/2014]

Nine Network Australia deploys several of Newtec’s solutions in order to boost efficiency in its satellite network, allowing 64% more data rate throughput.
[Newtec Press Release – 06/16/2014]

Eutelsat Communications, in partnership with ST Teleport, is set to introduce its 4K Ultra HD channel on the Eutelsat 70B satellite reaching Southeast Asia and Australia.
[Via Satellite – 06/16/2014]

INTEGRASYS has released their Satmotion Pocket Remote Commissioning Solution for Google Glass, at CommunicAsia2014 tradeshow.
[SatNews – 06/16/2014]

Gilat announces that Wireless Nation, a leading New Zealand ISP, will be deploying Gilat’s SkyEdge II VSATs powered by Optus’s wholesale satellite services.
[Globe Newswire – 06/16/2014]

ST Teleport and Eutelsat seal partnership to offer enhances connectivity solutions in Asia.
[Satellite Spotlight – 06/16/2014]

Hughes broadband satellite technology selected by Thaicom for in-flight connectivity services.
[Yahoo Finance – 06/16/2014]

TelOne of Zimbabwe says it expects its fledgling satellite broadband service, delivered in partnership with Avanti, to be contributing at least USD5 million to revenue annually within a year.
[4-traders – 06/16/2014]

Vislink & ND SatComm enter into agreement giving the companies access to each other’s product portfolios.
[IPTV News – 06/16/2014]

Scientist rescued after fall in Nepal in May will embark on a Peruvian expedition carrying the DeLorme inReach satellite communicator that saved him.
[Reuters – 06/16/2014]

As more MSS constellations and more powerful FSS and HTS satellites launch, the satellite mobility market is on the cusp of major change.
{NSR report – June 2014]

New report at ReportsnReports.com provides forecasts and analysis of the nanosatellite and microsatellite market 2014 – 2019.
[University Chronicle – 06/06/2014]

Senate defense bill urges expansion of launch competition.
[Space News – 06/06/2014]

Eutelsat CEO says “The proliferation of national telecommunications satellites in Africa, Asia and Latin America is a waste of resources that will introduce unhealthy pressure on the global satellite industry.”
[Space News – 06/06/2014]

Source: Eutelsat – Spacenews Graphic

Eutelsat points finger at Ethiopia as incidents of jamming triple in 2013.
[Space News – 06/06/2014]

Canadian satellite component builder Com Dev sees shrinking U.S. losses – is searching for a U.S. acquisition target.
[Space News – 06/06/2014]

Managing EDRS. Credit: ESA artist’s concept – Space News

Airbus seeks new terms on data-relay contract with ESA.
[Space News – 06/06/2014]

Will Google be the new big “G” in the satellite industry? – NSR cautiously optimistic.
[NSR – 06/06/2014]

Asia to dominate satellite backhaul market with 27% of global revenue per NSR report.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 06/05/2014]

Measat 3B launch rescheduled from June 6 to September 2014.
[Via Satellite – 06/05/2014]

The search for the doomed Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has been moved to another area of the Indian Ocean dubbed “the 7th arc” following new analysis of satellite communications data.
[USA Today – 06/05/2014]

Arianespace scheduled to launch four more satellites for the O3b constellation on July 10, 2014.
[SatNews – 06/05/2014]

China bids to build Bolivia’s second satellite, an exploration satellite.
[Global Post – 06/05/2014]

EuropaSat/Hellas-sat 3 satellite – Credit: Thales Alenia Space – Space News

Arabsat, Inmarsat order dual-purpose satellite from Thales Alenia – Ku-band satellite TV payload for Arabsat, and S-band mobile payload for Inmarsat.
[Space News – 06/05/2014]

Mexico to auction two orbital slots.
[telecompaper – 06/05/2014]

ESA chief says ties with Roscosmos remain strong.
[Space News – 06/05/20104]

New T2C2 Lite suitcase-sized satcom terminal adds Ka and X bands to L-band capability, boosting performance to megabits per second and allowing soldiers to use advanced applications.
[Defense Systems – 06/05/20104]

Photograph by: Justin Tallis/AfP/Getty Images, Postmedia News – canada.com

British Airways to be first airline to offer in-flight internet in Europe.
[Canada.com – 06/05/2014]

Inmarsat to launch pan-European in-flight broadband, with British Airways in talks to become launch partner.
[The Wall Street Journal – 06/05/2014]

Global fixed satellite service market forecast for 5.4% CAGR growth between 2012 – 2016 by new market research report on companiesandmarkets.com.
[LIVE-PR – 06/04/2014]

Mobile Internet usage to increase at twice the global rate in 5 years in sub-Saharan Africa.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 06/04/2014]

OTT and multiscreen TV drive spending on broadcast and streaming video equipment.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 06/04/2014]

Intelsat hopes its Boeing-built Epic satellites, each with up to 3 times the capacity of a WGS satellite, and changes in defense acquisition approach, will supply the U.S. military with enormous on-call bandwidth.
[Breaking Defense – 06/04/2014]

KazSat-3 reaches its orbital position.
[TMC News – 06/04/2014]

SpaceX aims to increase rocket production to two per month by year-end 2014.
[Space News – 06/04/2014]

Raytheon wins when U.S. Air Force switches contractors with $298 million award for FAB-T satellite terminals.
[Defense Systems – 06/04/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space BYOD solution enables a vessel’s crew to use their own devices on board for voice and data communication, seamlessly with Pharostar VSAT, FleetBroadband or Iridium OpenPort.
[SatNews – 06/04/2014]

New high-speed satellite broadband service from Broadband Everywhere, using Astra Connect, will help bridge Scotand’s digital divide.
[University Chronicle – 06/04/2014]

Marlink to roll out its customised Ku-band VSAT service, Sealink, on 27 Stena line ferries operating in Scandinavia, the Irish Sea and the North Sea.
[Digital Ship – 06/04/2014]

Northrop Grumman introduces high power GaN amplifiers for Ka-band satellite communication terminals.
[Satellite Spotlight – 06/04/2014]

API Technologies unveils new line of radiation-hardened products.
[Via Satellite – 06/04/2014]

‘Analysis of the US Government and Military Commercial Satellite Market’ report – new satellite initiatives for Ku- and Ka-band technology in the Middle East drive adoption.
[LIVE-PR – 06/03/2014]

As announced by Russian Deputy Prime Minister in May, 2014, IGS GPS tracking stations co-sponsored by U.S. interests have stopped making their data available to scientists and others.
[Space News – 06/03/2014]

ABS ramps up for more launches after it’s sixth satellite launch in February 2014 expanded its coverage to 80% of the world’s population.
[SatNews – 06/03/0214]

Avanti Communications gets significant sale of service using Artemis capacity and considers further use of U.S. bond market to finance new satellite build.
[4-traders – 06/03/2014]

C-COM Ka-band flyaway antenna gets type approval from Eutelsat. [Market Wired – 06/03./2014]

Comtech Telecommunications is awarded $1 million order for infrastructure equipment to support satellite mobile backhaul network in Africa.
[Yahoo Finance – 06/03/20154]

TriQuint’s high performance GaN Ka-band solutions showcased at IEEE IMS/MTT.
[Satellite Spotlight – 06/03/2014]

Spanish infrastructure firm Abertis has sells its 5.01% stake in Eutelsat Communications.
[Broadband TV News – 06/03/2014]

Chinese satellite service companies are planning to form an alliance to expand their share of an increasingly competitive global market.
[TMC News – 06/02/2014]

Greg Wyler goes from O3b to Google to head up 180 satellite project.
[CED Magazine – 06/02/2014]

Globalsat Group and MultiSAT Mexico form a strategic alliance for the continental provision of satellite services and the development of advanced solutions.
[Market Watch – 06/02/2014]

RSCC’s Express AT2 satellite enters service, and Express AM6 is delivered to its launch base.
[Via Satellite – 06/02/2014]

Intersputnik negotiating joint ventures for unused orbital slots.
[Space News – 06/02/2014]

KVH plans to offer affordable delivery of AWT’s Global Weather Data to subscribing vessels Over the mini-VSAT Broadband(SM) Network.
[Wall Street Journal – 06/02/2014

ViaSat prepares to launch new M2M satellite services worldwide.
[Via Satellite – 06/02/2014]

Integrasys image – SatNews

Monitoring High Throughput Satellites presents a challenge – Integrasys addresses it with an upgrade of its ControlSat Carrier Monitoring System.
[SatMagazine – June 2014]

The June issue of Satellite Executive Briefing Magazine includes ‘Asia-Pacific Satellite Lead in All Indicatiors’ by Virgil Labrador, ‘Technical Tutorial on Ground Communications Segment’ by Bruce Elber, ‘Back and Forth on Antennas and Terminals’ by Lou Zacharilla and ‘The Oil and Gas Bandwidth Optimization Imperative’ by Martin Jarrold.
[Satellite Executive Briefing magazine – June 2014]

Free NSR webinar June 16 – ‘Wireless backhaul via satellite: the battleground between FSS and HTS.’
[NSR – June 2014]

[WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

SpaceX completes qualification testing for the SuperDraco thruster, a 3-D printed rocket engine that will power the Dragon spacecraft’s launch escape system and enable propulsive landings.
[R&D Magaazine – 05/30/2014]

A group of amateur astronomers working with NASA’s blessing raised money, did the work, and successfully reestablished communications with a satellite called ISEE-3 that launched in 1978.
[technabob – 05/30/2014]

Industry officials expect the U.S. Air Force to release a draft solicitation within the next month for a contract worth about $500 million for another ground-system consolidation effort.
[Space News – 05/30/2014]

Buoyed by initial court victory, ViaSat girds for protracted legal battle with Loral.
[Space News – 05/30/2014]

ViaSat launches new worldwide network service for M2M market designed to provide higher speeds, greater security, and faster response to small fixed and mobile terminals.
[Yahoo Finance – 05/30/2014]

Google-backed global broadband venture secures spectrum for satellite network.
[Space News – 05/30/2014]

SpaceX unveils capsule to ferry astronauts to space.
[Space Travel – 05/30/2014]

HISPASAT to broadcast soccer match live in Ultra High Definition in run up to World Cup.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 05/30/2014]

Iridium extends its agreement to provide satellite connectivity to SkyBitz in support of their new SkyBitz as a Service offering for the M2M market.
[SatNews – 05/30/2014]

Azerbaijani satellite launched in February 2013 now broadcasts 97 channels.
[ABC.AZ – 05/30/2014]

At Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre from 17 – 20 June, SatComm2014 will once again unveil the largest contingent of satellite companies witnessed at any single ICT trade event in Asia.
[ACN Newswire – 05/29/2014]

Thales Alenia Space signs agreement with Snecma to use its PPS 500 plasma thruster as standard equipment on the new Spacebus platform, making for a satellite platform with all-electric propulsion.
[Via Satellite – 05/29/2014]

Britain opposes Iridium bid for certification as maritime safety services provider.
[Space News – 05/29/2014]

Virgin Galactic signs deal with US aviation authorities to let it blast paying customers into space.
[Space Travel – 05/29/2014]

Wireless Innovation selects Eutelsat’s KA-SAT satellite for Thales contract to help protect EDF’s UK critical energy infrastructure.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/29/2014]

Arabsat is subject to jamming and its engineers succeed in locating the source.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 05/29/2014]

KVH introduces the TracVision(R) RV1, a powerful and compact stabilized antenna designed to provide superior performance for satellite TV reception from RVs and other vehicles.
[05/29/2014]

Australian company Ocean Signal introduces rescueME PLB1, the world’s smallest personal locator beacon, through new distributors All Sat Communications at Sanctuary Cove Boat Show.
[mysailing.com – 05/29/2014]

Korean antenna manufacturer KNS announced that it has been awarded Ka-band Type Approval from satellite operator Avanti Communications.
[The Digital Ship – 05/29/2014]

Satellite industry seen outpacing global economic growth in new SIA report.
[Via Satellite – 05/28/2014]

Global market for satellite communications seen as driven by challenging environment of oil and gas rigs in C&M report.
[LIVE-PR – 05/28/2014]

String of delays portends summer traffic jam for launch providers.
[Space News – 05/28/2014]

Earth Science managers attempt to get IceSat-2 back on track after technical problems with its instrument busted the budget by about $200 million.
[Space News – 05/28/2014]

Traffic offload is central to mobile operators in order to relieve spectrum congestion and maximize revenue potential – satellite operators appear poised to play increasing role.
[NSR – 05/28/2014]

As more MSS constellations and more powerful FSS and HTS satellites launch, the satellite mobility market is on the cusp of major change.
[NSR – 05/28/2014]

Virgin Galactic hopes replacing original rubber fuel with new plastic fuel will allow SpaceShipTwo to reach new heights.
[Space News – 05/28/2014]

Aselsan of Turkey signs a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus Group of France to develop civil and military avionic systems, satellite communication systems and secure radio communications.
[Industrial Info Resources – 05/28/2014]

Russian Express-AT2 satellite enters commercial service.
[Broadband TV News – 05/28/2014]

At Qitcom, Qatar’s largest ICT event, Es’hailSat showcased Es’hail 1, Qatar’s first satellite, and the Es’hailSat satellite program.
[SatNews – 05/28/2014]

COM DEV wins contract for communications satellite switches and multiplexers.
[The Wall Street Journal – 05/28/2014]

The SWE-DISH CCT120 Suitcase® satellite terminal by Rockwell Collins has been selected by the Canadian Army for its Land Forces Portable Satellite Terminal program.
[SatNews – 05/28/2014]

NorthernAxcess implements eye catching design, easy navigation, and personal support in guides to using satellite phones and BGAN terminals.
 [PR.com – 05/28/2014]

Laos to launch its first satellite in 2015.
[Bangkok Post – 05/27/2014]

Successful launch of Eutelsat 3B helps Sea Launch put behind it the failed launch of Intelsat 27 in February of 2013.
[SEN – 05/27/2014]

Malaysia and Inmarsat release satellite data on missing MH370 flight.
[Reuters – 05/27/2014]

Arctic Oil and Gas market does not provide green light for widespread satellite communication solutions as found in other regions of the globe, per new NSR report.
[Yahoo Finance – 05/27/2014]

C-COM and ViaSat to develop low profile land mobile Satcom-On-The-Move Ka-band antenna.
[Market Wired – 05/27/2014]

Future Media Concepts and the NAB add the NY Post|Production Conference to the 2014 Content and Communications World (CCW) and Satellite Communications Conference and Expo (SATCON).
[TV Technology – 05/27/2014]

ViaSat gets patent for weather detection using satellite communication signals.
[TMCnet – 05/26/2014]

SES signs capacity agreement to serve CETel in Africa on NSS-7.
[Yahoo Finance – 05/26/2014]

Hedge-fund manager Mark Rachesky may be playing a game that jeopardizes the pending sale of Loral Space & Communications, a majority owner of Telesat.
[NY Post – 05/25/2014]

US Air Force AFSMC budget was cut from $10 billion to $5.6 billion without a drop in the services it must provide; this will likely lead to a greater reliance on the commercial satellite industry.
[Defense News – 05/24/2014]

SpaceX CEO alleges revolving door exists in national security launch business.
[Space News – 05/24/2014]

COSPAS-SARSAT satellite rescue network, including NOAA’s geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites, inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame.
[Nextgov – 05/23/2014]

NSR’s FREE Wireless Backhaul via Satellite webinar will discuss and examine the role and opportunities for satellite technology in the wireless backhaul, trunking and video offload markets.
[NSR – 05/22/2014]

U.S. and European space chiefs urge public to look past incendiary Russian rhetoric and see the durable underlying value of the space station partnership.
[Space News – 05/23/2014]

Soyuz rocket with Fregat restartable upper stage – Credit: ESA/Starsem photo – Space News

Russian launch countdown resumes without Canadian satellite, carrying U.S., British and Norwegian satellites.
[Space News – 05/23/2014]

National Intelligence Director James Clapper hailed upstart launch services provider SpaceX during a keynote address, endorsing competition in the U.S. government launch industry.
[Space News – 05/23/2014]

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has successfully completed their latest milestone, a wind tunnel test, in the company’s NASA Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) agreement.
[SatNews ] 05/23/2014]

Europe’s work on the service module for NASA’s Orion crew-transport vehicle has made up most of the slip in schedule and is on track for delivery to NASA in time for a late 2017 launch.
[Space News – 05/23/2014]

Water was discovered in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that recently returned to Earth from a month-long stay at the international space station, but so far as NASA knew May 21, none of the agency’s cargo was damaged.
[Space News – 05/23/2014]

Antares’ AJ-26 engine, slated to power Orbital Sciences Cor[.’s 2015 mission to ISS, suffers test stand failure.
[Space News – 05/23/2014]

NROL-33 launch on Atlas % – Credit: ULA photo – Space News

An Atlas 5 rocket lifted off May 22 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida carrying a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
[Space News – 05/22/2014]

SES Broadband Services announces partnership with Meanswhat to deliver satellite communications for multi-national enterprises and Governmental Agencies with branch offices or production facilities in remote areas.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 05/22/2014]

Millicom selecs Eutelsat Americas satellite capacity to support its recent entry into the satellite pay-TV market in Latin America.
[Yahoo Finance – 05/22/2014]

Commercial Launch Services (LMCLS) will launch the WorldView-3 commercial remote sensing spacecraft, placing it into orbit on August 13 for DigitalGlobe.
[SatNews – 05/22/2014]

Hughes is selected to power delivery of high-speed satellite internet service in Columbia by HISPASAT Colombia.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 05/22/2014]

ITC Global expands presence in Asia-Pacific, opening branch office in Singapore.
[Satelllite Evolution Group – 05/22/2014]

Gogo gets STC from the FAA and certification from the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) to install Gogo’s Ku-satellite based connectivity service on Japan Airlines’ 767-300 aircraft.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 05/22/2014]

M7 Deutschland will acquire Kabelkiosk platform from Eutelsat.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 05/22/2014]

The United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada have signed a memorandum of understanding to work more closely together on space situational awareness activities.
[Space News – 05/21/2014]

Eutelsat Americas aligns names of satellites acquired with Mexsat with the Eutelsat brand.
[Market Watch – 05/21/2014]

Yahsat gets Satcom Africa “Satellite Operator of the Year” award for 2014.
[Star Africa – 05/21/2014]

Orbital Scinces begins production of Thaicom 8 commercial communications satellite, to be the second built for Thaicom by Orbital.
[Satellite spotlight – 05/21/2014]

Markets and Markets study projects M2M satellite communication market to be worth $4.76 billion by 2019.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/21/2014]

Cobham’s new Aviator 5 series airborne satellite communications system will support wide range of communication applications in both the cockpit and the cabin.
[SatNews – 05/21/2014]

HeliosNet selects Newtec to provide Business-to-Consumer and Business-to-Business VSAT services across Eastern Russia.
[Via Satellite – 05/21/2014]

“Global M2M Satellite Communications Market Report 2014 – 2019″ added to Research and Markets offering; ) market represents an interesting and potentially huge revenue stream for the satellite industry.
[Business Wire – 05/20/2014]

Under pressure from families of passengers of Malaysia Flight 370, Inmarsat confirms it will publish full record of communications received from the plane the day it disappeared.
[New York Times – 05/20/2014]

Australian Communications Minister and his Parliamentary Secretary give contradictory statements within 3 months regarding possible sale of NBN’s satellite infrastructure soon.
[Delimiter – 05/20/2014]

Human error likely led to the recent failure of a Proton-M rocket carrying Russian telecommunications satellite, a source close to the commission investigating the incident told RIA Novosti.
[Space News – 05/20/2014]

Orbit 2.4m and 3.7m three axis tracking antennas, with radomes for withstanding extreme environments, can be mounted on building roofs and eliminate keyhole effect while tracking low earth orbit satellites. [SatNews – 05/20/2014]

Airbus delivers X-band satellite communications capabilities using Airbus’ Skynet 5 constellation to four United Kingdom Mine Counter Measure Vessels in the Arabian Gulf.
[Via Satellite – 05/20/2014]

NSR report – satellite industry generated almost $35 billion in 2013, and is expected to deploy 1000+ satellites and generate $275 billion in next 10 years.
[Yahoo finance – 05/19/2014]

“The Military Communications Report 2014-2024″ now available on ASDReports judges the market to be worth $16.35 billion in 2014. [SatNews – 05/19/2014]

Competition shrinks with more mergers – Credit: AP – Think Progress

AT&T $49 billion offer to acquire DirecTV includes promise of net neutrality.
[Think Progress – 05/19/2014]

AFP Getty Images – Daily Mail

UFOs found in Chinese fields identified as space debris, after Russion rocket failed in satellite launch attempt.
[Daily Mail – 05/19/2014]

Satcom1 accredited as Inmarsat SwiftBroadband Distribution Partner, acheiving highest level of partnership with Inmarsat.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/19/2014]

Lockheed Martin begins final assembly of new GOES-R U.s. weather satellite.
[Reuters – 05/18/2014]

Military missions simply cannot succeed without reliable communications – this means satellite technology is essential for operations.
[MilsatMagazine – May 2014]

[WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services

Inmarsat refutes Malaysia’s claim that it does not have the raw data from Inmarsat used in the MH370 search, insisting it surrendered all information to investigators early on.
[The Malay Mail online – 05/16/2014]

New NSR report examines the potentials of the utility market for satellite communications.
[SatNews – 05/16/2014]

Azerbaijan’s next moves in satellite communications depend upon cooperation with France.
[TMCnet – 05/16/2014]

SpaceX launch of Canadian government space-weather satellite. Credit: SpaceX photo – Space News

Aerospace Corp., hired by U.S. Air Force to evaluate the Falcon 9 rocket for national security launches, says it won’t cut corners on SpaceX certification.
[Space News – 05/16/2014]

RapidEye+ will be a constellation of five satellites with an imaging capacity that will far exceed the current RapidEye constellation’s capacity of 5 million km2 per day.
[SatNews – 05/16/2014]

O3b signs agreement with FSM Telecommunications Corporation to provide its O3bTrunk service to Chuuk in Micronesia.
[SatNews – 05/16/2014]

KNS launches satellite antenna Z18MK3, Ku- and C-Band, to provide advanced communications for ships requiring broadband speeds at sea with exception reliability and durability.
[SatNews – 05/16/2014]

Dubai sunset – ThreatPost file photo

The emerging threat to satellite communications – satellite communications systems and devices subject to security risks.
[Threat Post – 05/15/2014]

Russian Proton-M rocket crashes while attempting to launch Express-AM4R satellite intended to provide affordable internet access to people in remote parts of Russia.
[NBC News – 05/15/2014]

Launch of GPS IIF-6 delayed because of poor weather.
[NASA Spaceflight – 05/15/2014]

Inmarsat 5 F2 – Boeing artist’s concept – Space News

State Department issues shipping licenses for two Russia-bound satellites.
[Space News – 05/15/2014]

Russian space program gets $52 billion boost as sanctions war vaporizes U.S.-Russian space cooperation.
[Space News – 05/15/2014]

Physicists and engineers research technique to ‘sweep’ Low Earth Orbit (LEO) debris from space using an Active Debris Removal (ADR) system of deployed micron-scale dust.
[SatNews – 05/15/2014]

COMSYS report confirms Hughes as the leading provider in VSAT. [Satellite Evolution Group – 05/15/2014]

ARKA file photo

Armenia’s government makes decision to create a satellite communication department in the national center for telecommunications.
[ARKA Telecom – 05/15/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space delivers full X-band operational capabilities to four UK Royal Navy Mine Counter Measure Vessels in Arabian Gulf ahead of equipping additional vessels.
[GISuser – 05/15/2014]

U.S. Air Force is discussing the possibility of building at least two more Wideband Global Satcom communications satellites with funding from potential international partners, according to Boeing.
[Space News – 05/15/2014]

Via Sat Brasil books full high throughput payload on EUTELSAT 3B for broadband services across Brazil.
[Market Watch – 05/15/2014]

SES launches new video distribution neighborhood for Latin America and new antenna seeding program for the NSS-806 satellite.
[SatNews – 05/15/2014]

MTN releases new connectivity solution for yachts.
[Via Satellite – 05/15/2014]

KVH receives $5.2 million international military order for its TACNAV tactical navigation system.
[SatNews – 05/15/2014]

Valleypoint Telecoms of Africa contracts with Avanti Communications to extend broadband coverage across Western Kenya.
[SatNews – 05/15/2014]

New report by Euroconsult provides comprehensive analysis of the how and why of the military’s usage of satellite communications, which saw tremendous growth over past 15 years.
[Space Daily – 05/14/2014]

U.S. officials complete final draft of regulations that will remove some satellite hardware and technology from the U.S. Munitions List.
[Space News – 05/14/2014]

Kennedy Space Center director says that without NASA’s planned heavy-lift Space Launch System rocket and Orion deep-space capsule, the center has no reason to exist.
[Space News – 05/14/2014]

Malaysia PM calls for real-time tracking of planes.
[abc News – 05/14/2014]

Rivals say Inmarsat’s offer of free tracking service for airlines is misleading, since outfitting a jet with the system could cost more than $100,000.
[Reuters – 05/14/2014]

Satellite Today file photo

Inmarsat states that its equipment is onboard almost 11,000 aircraft already and free global aircraft tracking can be done “almost instantaneously.”
[Via Satellite – 05/14/2014]

Via Satellite Asia covers various aspects of the satellite market in Asia, which “remains a showcase for satellite.”
[Via Satellite – 05/14/2014]

High Throughput Satellites are a growing opportunity in Asia.
[Via Satellite – 05/14/2014]

Abducted school girls – Leadership file photo

Delegate to Nigerian National Conference claims foreign intervention over rescue of abducted girls resulted because of NigComSat’s inability to locate the girls by satellite.
[Leadership – 05/14/2014]

India’s Telecom regulator TRAI recommends that BSNL be allowed to set up a new gateway for providing satellite phone services to address an urgent requirement by security forces.
[BGR – 05/14/2014]

[KVH introduces IP-MobileCast content delivery service, an industry first that will enable seafarers to receive daily digital newspapers, television news, sports updates, music, movies, and more.
[SatNews – 05/14/2014]

The International Media Associates (TIMA) signs three-year contract with Eutelsat for Eutelsat 10A capacity to serve the growing market for satellite news gathering (SNG) across Europe,
[Broadband News – 05/14/2014]

Xplornet and Hughes sign agreement for all Echostar XIX High Throughput Satellite broadband capacity over Canada.
[MarketWatch – 05/14/2014]

Mitsubishi to provide launch services for Sky Perfect JSAT for the first time, in 2016 from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.
[Via Satellite – 05/14/2014]

Hispasat signs an agreement with Intelsat to co-locate its Amazonas 1 satellite at the same position as Intelsat’s Galaxy 11, at 55.5 degrees west.
[Via Satellite – 05/14/2014]

Skycasters unveils new portable, easy-to-assemble antenna system for installers who need to establish satellite Internet connections in remote areas at Governor’s Hurricane Conference.
[News9 – 05/14/2014]

Advantech Wireless announces release of new 2300-G series 60W to 125W Ku-Band SSPA/BUC designed to withstand extreme temperatures.
[University Chronicle – 05/14/2014]

South-Korean antenna manufacturer Intellian has officially opened its newly expanded Innovation Centre in Seoul, saying that the extra space will allow it to increase production.
[The Digital Ship – 05/14/2014]

Federal court lifts ban on RD-180 engines, but Russian cooperation is uncertain.
[Via Satellite – 05/13/2014]

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Rogozin calls for ban on U.S. military use of RD-180 engine, and says that Russia does not intend to continue cooperation with the U.S. on the international space program beyond 2020.
[Space News – 05/13/2014]

AT&T in talks to buy satellite TV provider DirecTV for $50 Billion as telecoms megadeal war looms.
[MailOnline – 05/13/2014]

Teachers and pupils in a GEC program classroom. Photo: Department for International Development – Via Satellite

Avanti Communications has partnered with the British Department for International Development (DFID) to deliver education programs to 60,000 students in Kenya.
[Via Satellite – 05/13/2014]

Speedcast announces buyout of Satcomms Australia.
[University Chronicle – 05/13/2014]

A North Sea oil rig. Photo: Snapper (Flickr) – Via Satellite

ITC Global confident that oil and gas sector is on a long-term upswing for satellite connectivity; the sector counted for roughly half of its first quarter 2014 business.
[Via Satellite – 04/13/2014]

Image taken from the DubaiSat 2 satellite of the Emirates palace in Abu Dhabi on December 1, 2013. Photo: EIAST – Via Satellite

Emirates Institution for Advance Science and Technology unveils results from its Super Resolution Tool which improved resolution of satellite imagery by 2.5 feet, including images from DubaiSat 2.
[Via Satellite – 05/13/20104]

Marlink announces that it has been contracted to provide its new WaveCall Plus bundle to MSC Cargo Italy’s entire fleet of 124 vessels.
[Digital Ship – 05/13/2014]

Satellite operators to proceed with launches from Russia.
[Spaceflight Now – 05/12/2014]

Thales Alenia Space signs a contract with the Korean satellite service operator KT Sat to build two telecommunications satellites, Koreasat-7 and Koreasat-5A.
[SatNews – 05/12/2014]

U.N. agency gathers in Canada to discuss better flight-tracking solutions after Malaysia jet loss.
[Reuters – 05/12/2014]

Satellite operator Inmarsat is to offer a free, basic tracking service for almost all of the world’s passenger jets after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.
[NBC News – 05/12/2014]

SMU Research file photo – PHYS ORG

Satellite view of volcanoes finds the link between ground deformation and eruption.
[PHYS ORG – 05/12/2014]

Inmarsat Maritime to provide communications services to small vessels.
[Via Satellite – 05/12/2014]

NSR’s regional-centric analysis of DTH platforms points to a significant divergence in market trends not just between “developing” and “developed” markets, but also within the markets of the “developing world”.
[NSR – 05/12/2014]

Satcom Direct is expanding outside its traditional aeronautical market through a partnership with Thuraya.
[Via Satellite – 05/12/2014]

Tigo Star, owned by Millicom International Cellular, launches DTH service in Bolivia.
[Via Satellite – 05/12/2014]

Afghanistan’s first satellite begins formal operations.
[KHAAMA PRESS – 05/10/2014]

MarketBrief report examines the current trends and opportunities in the Canadian Fixed Satellite Services in the light of recent regulatory changes and industry developments.
[Satellite Markets – May 2014

Elon Musk is standing up to Russian imperialism: “It’s very questionable in light of international events. It seems like the wrong time to send hundreds of millions of dollars to the Kremlin.”

Not only is he standing up for doing the right thing, he’s standing up to two 800-lb. gorillas in the military-industrial-complex: Boeing and Lockheed Martin. They’re co-owners of United Launch Alliance, launch service providers to the U.S. Air Force. ULA buys RD-180 engines from NPO Energomash in Russia. Like most important businesses in Russia, it’s controlled by Putin’s Mafia State.

So the pussy lawyers had this to say…

“ULA and the U.S. Department of Justice filed motions to dissolve the preliminary injunction supporting ULA’s earlier statements that the purchase of the RD-180 engines from our suppliers and partners, RD AMROSS and NPO Energomash, does not violate the Ukraine sanctions.

“Unfortunately, SpaceX has made many public but unfounded speculations to create negative perceptions of a competitor solely for purposes of its own self-interest. This frivolous lawsuit caused unnecessary distraction of our executive branch leaders during a sensitive national security crisis.

“The letters from U.S. Departments of State, Treasury and Commerce clearly state that NPO Energomash is not subject to any of the current sanctions and that ULA’s continued purchase of the RD-180 does not directly or indirectly contravene the Ukraine sanctions.

“As a result, both ULA and the Department of Justice have requested that the injunction be immediately lifted.”

As he’s been doing to honest business people in Russia, Putin is now fucking with international business.

Take this business away from entities controlled by Russian mafia and give it to an honest, smart, hard-working American company: SpaceX.

Who would you rather do business with: innovative leaders or murderous managers?

And which launch system is more reliable? The American one, naturally. Atlas launches cost 40-50% more than Russian launches (86% success rate since December, 2010). It’s worth it to keep the engineering talent and expertise here in the U.S.

Here’s another Proton failure, an anomaly at T+9:00 with the third stage. With a beast of a bird onboard (Express-4R/«Экспресс-АМ4Р» — a Eurostar 3000 bus built by Astrium), its payload had 30 C-band, 28 Ku-band, 2 Ka-band, and 3 L-band transponders — so this has to hurt.

When Russian contractors work for American or European customers, everything they do has to be diligently verified. With only Russian customers, nobody really cares that much. This is a remnant of the Soviet system and must be changed. You can’t complete as a world-class company with this attitude.

Here’s the video (warning: there’s no dramatic explosion)…

The detail given comes to us courtesy of SpaceFlightNow.com

The Express AM4R spacecraft, worth approximately $200 million, was supposed to begin a 15-year mission beaming radio, television, broadband Internet and telephone services across Russia and neighboring countries.

But a few minutes after the 12,720-pound (5,770-kilogram) Express AM4R satellite launched from Baikonur, Russia’s primary space base, its Proton rocket ran into a problem.

The failure occurred during the third stage of the Proton’s ascent into orbit, according to a statement by the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, the Moscow-based manufacturer of the Proton launcher.

An announcer declared an emergency during a live webcast of the launch, and Khrunichev’s statement also described the incident as an “emergency situation.”

Khrunichev said experts were analyzing telemetry to determine the cause of the failure.

A report by Interfax said debris from the rocket may have fallen the Altai or Amur regions of Russia’s Far East.

Spewing a brilliant flame of blue exhaust, the 19-story Proton rocket lifted off at 2142 GMT (5:42 p.m. EDT) to start a nine-hour flight to deploy the powerful European-built Express AM4R telecommunications satellite for Russian government and commercial customers.

The launch was at 3:42 a.m. local time at Baikonur.

The hydrazine-fueled rocket disappeared from the view of a ground-based tracking camera a few minutes later, with no visible signs of any trouble.

But a problem occurred about 545 seconds, or about 9 minutes, after liftoff, according to a report by the semi-official Itar-Tass news agency.

Another report by the Interfax media service said the time of the failure was about 500 seconds after launch.

Both of the times reported for the anomaly occurred during the firing of the Proton rocket’s third stage, which is powered by an RD-0213 main engine generating 131,000 pounds of thrust. A four-nozzle vernier steering engine is also mounted on the third stage to keep the rocket pointed in the right direction.

The rocket’s guidance, navigation and control system is a triple-redundant digital avionics package on the third stage.

Thursday’s mishap marks the fifth launch failure of the Proton rocket or its Breeze M upper stage in 36 flights since December 2010. Another Proton/Breeze M mission put the Russian Yamal 402 communications satellite in the wrong orbit, but the spacecraft was able to boot itself to the correct location.

The string of mishaps has brought focus on the quality control procedures of Khrunichev and its suppliers, with the Russian space contrator announcing expanded inspections, video monitoring in its factories and other measures to bolster the Proton’s reliability.

I suspect commercial payload customer on the Proton manifest are scrambling: Express AM6, Inmarsat 5 F2, ASTRA 2G and Turksat 4B.

Get ready, watchers of the skies!

Periodic Comet 209P/LINEAR is predicted to put on a show for us.

Preliminary results by Esko Lyytinen and Peter Jenniskens, later confirmed by other researchers, predict 209P/LINEAR may cause the next big meteor shower which would come from the constellation Camelopardalis on the night of 23/24 May 2014. There may be 100 to 400 meteors per hour. All the trails from the comet from 1803 through 1924 may intersect Earths orbit during May 2014. The peak activity is expected to occur around 24 May 2014 7h UT when dust trails produced from past returns of the comet may pass 0.0002 AU (30,000 km; 19,000 mi) from Earth.

This April 30, 2014 image was taken using the NASA Marshal Space Flight Center 20″ telescope located in New Mexico. A 3-minute exposure, it shows 14th magnitude Comet 209P/LINEAR shining faintly among the stars of Ursa Major. At the time of this image, 209P was just over 40 million km from Earth, heading for a relatively close approach (8.3 million km) with us on May 29, 2014.

Image credit: NASA/MSFC/Bill Cooke