Really Rocket Science

TeleCommunication Systems is awarded additional incremental funding of $2.4 million to provide U.S. Marine Corps with field services support for its Wireless Point-To-Point Link-Delta Solutions.
[Satellite Spotlight – 06/24/2011]

Hughes Network Systems introduces new business-grade satellite Internet service plans for small- and mid-sized business offering download speeds up to 5 Mbps.
[Small Business Trends – 06/24/2011]

Spacecom, operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, pre-sells capacity on the AMOS-5’s Ku- and C-band beams to existing leading Southern African Internet technology provider.
[SatNews – 06/24/2011]

NASA’s plans to demonstrate on-orbit satellite refueling and encourage U.S. companies to enter that business causes great concern at Canadian company MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates, which plans to build its own spacecraft servicing vehicle.
[Space News – 06/23/2011]

Astrium continues to prepare Europe’s future propulsion technology by signing a 60 million euros rider with the European Space Agency (ESA) and its partners of the joint propulsion team consortium: Avio SpA (Italy) and SNECMA (SAFRAN Group) (France).
[SatNews – 06/23/2011]

Kazakhstan signs deal with the Russian Information Satellite System Reshetnev (ISS-Reshetev) Company to build KazSat3, a communications satellite for the country; Thales Alenia Space will build the communications payload.
[Satellite Spotlight – 06/23/2011]

Y1A satellite in-orbit testing is completed and satellite is handed over to Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (YAHSAT) by Astrium and Thales Alenia Space.
[WEBWIRE – 06/23/2011]

KVH announces that coverage for the last remaining region in its original plan – South America – is now under contract and scheduled to go live in July 2011 using the IS-14 satellite, making its seamless global network the largest Ku-band marine network.
[Market Watch – 06/23/2011]

Inmarsat launches IsatPhone Link, new global fixed satellite phone service offering same capabilities as IsatPhone Pro in a fixed rather than mobile installation.
[SatNews – 06/23/2011]

TeleCommunications Systems receives $12.8 M in funding from U.S. Army for equipment and field services in support of Secret Internet Protocol Router and Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Access Point VSAT satellite systems.
[Satellite Spotlight – 06/23/2011]

Alphabus, world’s largest communication satellite platform, meets all technical requirements and is ready to offer satellite operators worldwide unrivalled payload capacity and high power for new services.
[Space Ref – 06/22/2011]

Is NASA repeating European Space Agency mistakes resulting in high costs for Arianespace, with respect to SpaceX?
[NSR – 06/22/2011]

Dish Network wins approval of bankruptcy court to be opening ‘stalking horse’ bidder at auction of assets of TerreStar Networks.
[RTT News – 06/22/2011]

Globalstar, Inc. announces that the second launch of six new Globalstar satellites is scheduled for July 11, 2011, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
[SatNews – 06/22/2011]

Department of Defense military surveillance satellite is set to launch from Wallops Island aboard a 70-foot tall U.S. Air Force Minotaur I rocket June 28.
[delmarvanow – 06/22/2011]

Astrium is selected by the European Space Agency and the European Union as prime contractor for the Galileo Full Operational Capability Ground Control Segment.
[SatNews – 06/22/2011]

Integral Systems’ wholly owned subsidiary SAT Corporation successfully completes installation of a fully integrated carrier monitoring, satellite interference detection and spectrum scheduling system for MEASAT Satellite Systems.
[Market Watch – 06/22/2011]

DeLorme has just announces the Fall 2011 release of the DeLorme inReach, the first Iridium-based personal communicator to deliver truly global two-way satellite text messaging; delivery confirmations; SOS capabilities; remote tracking, and an Android smartphone interface.
[SatNews – 06/22/2011]

Intelsat allows MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates to extend the requirements phase of its service initiative to extend the life of Intelsat’s on-orbit satellites via a space-based service vehicle.
[Satellite Today – 06/21/2011]

SES continues trend by selecting Arianespace to launch its new Astra 5B satellite in mid-year 2013.
[SatNews – 06/21/2011]

University of South Pacific, owned by governments of 12 countries, switches VSAT service to iDirect’s Evolution platform.
[PR Newswire – 06/21/2011]

Affiliates of the bankrupt telecommunications firm TerreStar Networks are disputing a $104 million bill from Sprint Nextel, claiming that the invoice is based on a flawed interpretation of an earlier Federal Communications Commission ruling.
[Satellite Spotlight – 06/21/2011]

Space Systems/Loral named Top Performing Company in Space Systems category by Aviation Week.
[Market Watch – 06/21/2011]

Integral Systems’ wholly-owned subsidiary Newpoint Technologies introduces Mercury G3 Remote Site Manager with high redundancy and complete visibility into all remote site equipment.
[Market Watch – 06/21/2011]

Tuaropaki Communications Limited (Tuaropaki), a satellite service provider based in New Zealand, launches a broadband network built on iDirect’s Evolution DVB-S2 with Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) product line.
[PR Newswire – 06/21/2011]

Space Systems Loral contracted by Telenor Satellite Broadcasting to build multi-mission THOR 7, with Ka-band payload for maritime broadband, and Ku-band for expanded broadcast capacity in Central and Eastern Europe.
[SatNews – 06/20/2011]

Chinasat 10 communications satellite delivered to orbit aboard Long March rocket to replace aging 12-year old satellite serving Asia.
[Spaceflight Now – 06/20/2011]

Sky Perfect JSAT to Launch JCSAT-13 Two Years Early .
[Satellite Today Insider – 06/20/2011]

Goodrich and sub-contractor ATK Space Systems successfully complete all programs and deliver ORS-1 satellite to NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Facility.
[Satellite Today – 06/20/2011]

European Commission signs agreement transferring 104 million euros to the European Space Agency for the initial operations of the space component for the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security program.
[SatNews – 06/20/2011]

Iridium signs a contract with International Space Company (ISC) Kosmotras as a supplemental provider of launch services for its next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT.
[Market Watch – 06/20/2011]

LightSquared plans to use spectrum leased from Inmarsat instead of its own L-band spectrum until it can figure out how to avoid interfering with GPS..
[Wireless Week – 06/20/2011]

Raytheon gets $51.6M contract to provide logistics support for communication terminals of the Navy’s Extremely High Frequency Satellite Program.
[Space Daily – 06/20/2011]

Researchers use data from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory to study “magnetic rope” phenomenon, which could trigger solar storms; might be first step toward mitigating adverse affects the storms can have on earth’s communication satellites.
[msnbc – 06/20/2011

Surrey Satellite Technology moves its technical operations into The Kepler Building, providing assembly, testing and integration of satellite platforms and payloads in a single location.
[SatNews – 06/2011]

Ico Global Communications changes name to Pendrell Corp.
[Satellite Today – 06/20/2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

Navy selects Raytheon for satellite communications terminals under $51.6m contract for Navy’s Extremely High Frequency Satellite Program.
[Military Aerospace Electronics – 06/18/2011]

Top secret Menwith Hill project in Yorkshire, UK, defence shield inspired by Ronald Reagan’s ‘Star Wars’ program, ready to open with 33 satellite dishes receiving data from SBIRS’s four satellites, after almost two decades of construction.
[The Observer – 06/18/2011]

Globecomm Systems is awarded GSA FCSA Schedule-70 Transponded and Subscription service awards covering five-year period with two five-year renewal options and total IDIQ value of approximately $3 billion.
[SatNews – 06/17/2011]

Honeywell acquisition of rugged mobile vendor EMS Technologies gives is a foothold in rugged products for satellite communications.
[eweek – 06/17/2011]

LightSquared sees setbacks on two fronts – attempt by primary investor Harbinger to gain access to S-band frequencies is foiled by Dish Network’s acquisition of Terrestar; then public safety group testing affects of use of L-band reach verdict that “interference to public safety operations (using GPS) will occur” if LightSquared deploys its network as planned.
[Space News – 06/17/2011]

Rural Cellular Association and Cellular South join other tech companies in urging FCC to come up with a “win-win” solution for LightSquared and the GPS industry in the controversy over possible interference to GPS by LightSquared.
[Wireless Week – 06/17/2011]

Euroconsult expects global mobile satellite revenue to grow 7% per year over next 10 years in new report.
[Space News – 06/17/2011]

U.S. House of Representatives attempts to kill DISA plan for long-term lease of commercial satellite in favor of additional WGS satellite – questions emerge regarding long-term viability of defense-related commercial satellite capacity.
[NSR briefing – 06/16/2011]

Key House lawmaker asks FCC to kill LightSquared network, but FCC gives company extra two weeks to report on potential GPS interference issue.
[nextgov – 06/16/2011]

Cablevision executive John Bickham feels “Satellite penetration (of cable market) at 30% is unnatural and unsustainable.  It’s a one-way network.  It has no tricks I know of that we can’t do twice as well.”
[Multichannel News – 06/16/2011]

Intelsat confirms upcoming launch schedule for four satellites, part of $1.3b fleet investment program in the Asia-Pacific region.
[SatNews – 06/16/2011]

Is DISH Network transforming itself by acquiring valuable wireless frequency spectrum which could allow it to grow a viable pay-TV distribution network or become a wireless service provider?
[Zacks – 06/16/2011]

ATCi to provide uplink disaster recovery services for the Outdoor Channel from its Southwest operations center, located in a storm free/earthquake free/hurricane free zone.
[SatNews – 06/16/2011]

Integral Systems announces plans to combine development for its RT Logic TElemetrix-500 series and the Avtec Programmable Telemetry Processors into the Satellite Ground Systems division of its subsidiary RT Logic.
[Benzinga – 06/16/2011]

Advantech Wireless launches new series of VSAT hubs and terminals.
[SatNews – 06/16/2011]

Cont-Trak offers reliable container tracking worldwide via satellite.
[Web Wire – 06/16/2011]

KNS and H2OSatellite announce 100th successful installation of SuperTrack A-Series VSAT on H2O Lightspeed Service, a high speed broadband VSAT solution specifically developed for the maritime market.
[SatNews – 06/16/2011]

Iran launches second domestically built satellite.
[SatNews – 06/15/2011]

USAF 50th Space Wing successfully completes two-phase GPS constellation expansion known as “Expandable 24,” providing civil, military, and commercial GPS users with more robust signal and higher signal acquisition probability.
[SatNews – 06/15/2011]

Vizada Networks ramps up capacity on Eutelsat W7 satellite.
[PR Newswire – 06/15/2011]

SES ASTRA announces that N24 will be first German news channel broadcasting in HD on the ASTRA HD+ platform.
[SatNews – 06/15/2011]

WildBlue launches low-cost rural broadband plan funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
[socaltech – 06/15/2011]

Satellite manufacturers around the world prepare to compete for contract to build Nigeria’s second satellite.
[Vanguard – 06/15/2011]

Scientists say magnitude of decrease in solar activity may indicate that the current solar maximum might be the last we’ll see for a few decades, as sunspot cycle may be going into hibernation.
[Bloomberg – 06/15/2011]

The Satellite Interference Reduction Group teams up with the Global VSAT Forum to develop initiatives to combat satellite interference.
[Satellite Today – 06/15/2011]

Vizada and Thrane & Thrane sign partnership agreement to launch new broadband offering to the maritime market.
[Satellite Today – 06/15/2011]

Satellite and cellular phone provider Mobal expands Website with comprehensive buyer’s guide to prepaid and postpaid phones and rental options.
[MailWire – 06/15/2011]

Air Force recoups costs to save AEHF satellite that failed to reach orbit, as Lockheed Martin will offset up to $25m of those costs.
[SpaceFlight Now – 06/14/2011

U.S. climate experts stress importance of new weather satellites in era of tight federal budgets, as current earth observation satellites have served past their lifetimes.
[R&D Magazine – 06/14/2011]

U.S. Air Force’s newest Space Based Infrared Systems GEO-1 satellite successfully achieves orbital slot postion.
[SatNews – 06/14/2011]

Burma to launch first state-owned satellite, expand communications.
[Mizzima – 06/14/2011]

MultiChoice Africa and Eutelsat initiate pan-African student competition called “DStv Eutelsat Star Awards” to inspire innovative thinking among secondary and high-school students, create awareness how science and technology can be applied in everyday life, and show impact of satellites on African continent development.
[PR Newswire – 06/14/2011]

ARY Digital leases C-band capacity on AsiaSat 3S.
[Satellite Today – 06/14/2011]

SpaceX is chosen to launch new Thaicom 6 telecommunications satellite into geosynchronous orbit.
[SatNews – 06/13/2011]

House appropriators slam USAF satellite block buy proposal, stating that detailed information on the strategy is “woefully lacking,” and denying request for advance appropriations.
[Space News – 06/13/2011]

Orbital Sciences wins contract to build Thailand communications satellite.
[Examiner – 06/13/2011]

Norsat granted $3.5 million satellite-based communications network and services contract by First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of British Columbia.
[Satellite Today – 06/13/2011]

San Marino RTV signs three-year contract with Eutelsat to broadcast SMtv channel on Eurobird 9A satellite.
[Satellite Today – 06/13/2011]

Inmarsat and Thrane complete IPv6 trials over BGAN.
[Satellite Today – 06/13/2011][

Expanding use of remotely piloted aircraft by Defense Department consumes large amounts of satellite bandwidth – currently over 80% is commercial capacity – commercial operators are expected to upgrade geosynchronous fleets over next few years to meet increasing demand.
[National Defense Magazine July Report]

Air Force embraces small satellites as budget outlook grows dim.
[National Defense Magazine July Report]

One of many interesting, fantastic details of the film “Avatar” was the bioluminescent plants — and the inter-networked biosystems on Pandora.

Why am I thinking about this? NASA just released details of maps illustrating land plant fluorescence, based on the work of several scientists who published “First observations of global and seasonal terrestrial chlorophyll fluorescence from space.” The abstract:

Remote sensing of terrestrial vegetation fluorescence from space is of interest because it can potentially provide global coverage of the functional status of vegetation. For example, fluorescence observations may provide a means to detect vegetation stress before chlorophyll reductions take place. Although there have been many measurements of fluorescence from ground- and airborne-based instruments, there has been scant information available from satellites. In this work, we use high-spectral resolution data from the Thermal And Near-infrared Sensor for carbon Observation – Fourier Transform Spectrometer (TANSO-FTS) on the Japanese Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) that is in a sun-synchronous orbit with an equator crossing time near 13:00 LT. We use filling-in of the potassium (K) I solar Fraunhofer line near 770 nm to derive chlorophyll fluorescence and related parameters such as the fluorescence yield at that wavelength. We map these parameters globally for two months (July and December 2009) and show a full seasonal cycle for several different locations, including two in the Amazonia region. We also compare the derived fluorescence information with that provided by the MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). These comparisons show that for several areas these two indices exhibit different seasonality and/or relative intensity variations, and that changes in fluorescence frequently lead those seen in the EVI for those regions. The derived fluorescence therefore provides information that is related to, but independent of the reflectance.

Real science is never too far from science fiction, is it?

That reminds me: I should water the garden.

NBN Co steps up satellite plans to provide broadband service to remote communities in Australia.
[Satellite Today – 05/27/2011]

SES Astra signs first contract with an Italian broadcaster, Promosat, for DTH services in Italy.
[Satellite Today – 05/27/2011]

NASA selects Fibertek to design, develop, fabricate, test and deliver laser systems for the Ice,Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 mission to measure Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, scheduled for 2016 launch.
[SatNews – 05/26/2011]

U.S. Military satellite, the first Space Based Infrared System satellite, successfully reaches orbit and is performing as required.
[Satellite Today – 05/26/2011]

Northrop Grumman to transition work from NPOESS program to Defense Weather Satellite System (successor to the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) under authorization from U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.
[SatNews – 05/26/2011]

Satellite broadband gets contentious as smaller and independent companies and cooperatives fight for a share of funds to be provided government broadband programs.
[TMCnet – 05/26/2011]

Aquarius/SAC-D satellite with Argentina-built observatory to be launched June 9 on a three-year mission to map global changes in salinity at the ocean surface.
[PR Newswire – 05/26/2011]

AsiaSat expands its Tai Po Earth Station in Hong Kong.
[Satellite Today – 05/26/2011]

Nordic Maritime Singapore chooses KVH’s TracPhone V7 for onboard communications.
[GlobeNewswire – 05/26/2011]

OnAir and TriaGnoSys launch most lightweight inflight connectivity solution for business jets, connecting to the plane’s existing satellite communications system to provide inflight wireless connectivity for passengers.
[Business Video News – 05/26/2011]

SES Astra increases download speed of its broadband service beyond 10 Mbps.
[Satellite Today – 05/25/2011]

Space Micro wins NASA award for research and development of Satellite Interoperability for Microwave Access – SIMAX – intermodule cluster communications system.
[SpaceRef – 05/26/2011]

Remembering – on May 25, 1945, Arthur C. Clark predicts the future by inventing it, as he proposes using space satellites for global communications including television broadcast.
[Wired – 05/25/2011]

Space shuttle Endeavour, on its final mission, successfully delivers MIT researchers’ Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, designed to search for antimatter and dark matter and measure cosmic rays, to the International Space Station.
[R&D Magazine – 05/25/2011]

Singapore’s first locally-built micro-satellite in space, X-Sat, begins transmitting images back to Singapore.
[Satellite Today – 05/25/2011]

Telesat satellite 14R Estrela do Sul 2 hits a snag as its northern solar array fails to fully deploy.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/25/2011]

Busy launch schedule for Arianespace continues – next up, two launches in July – from French Guyana (ASTREA 1N and BSAT 3c/JCSAT 110R), and from the Baikonur Cosmodrome (six Globalstar satellites).
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/25/2011]

Vizada unveils Vizada XChange, their new all-in-one maritime satellite communications platform providing secure and controlled communications integrating voice and broadband data for ship operations and crew.
[SatNews – 05/25/2011]

New Brunswick telecommunications company Xplornet Communications gets $230M in private financing as it plans two new satellites to expand its wireless and satellite broadband networks across Canada to reach rural households.
[Business Journal – 05/25/2011]

Iridium offers free calling from ships equipped with its terminals to the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations center, in newly announced anti-piracy program.
[GlobeNewswire – 05/25/2011]

South Africa should develop its own satellite manufacturing capacity and stop relying on other countries, says its Science and Technology Minister, as its Cabinet approves in principal buying an equity stake in satellite manufacturer SunSpace.
[Business Day – 05/25/2011]

Working group evaluating 150 different GPS devices and will explore mitigation solutions to address perceived problems with GPS signal interference by LightSquared’s plans for ground-based use of its satellite spectrum.
[PoliceOne.com – 05/24/2011]

Eutelsat’s Skylogic signs distribution agreement with Tliasonera for Tooway service in Finland.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/24/2011]

SES Astra signs new 3-D TV capacity deal with Penthouse Digital Media Productions.
[ANTESKY – 05/24/2011]

Spot Connect satellite communications app available on App Store; allows iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users to transmit messages via satellite from virtually anywhere in the world.
[GlobeNewswire – 05/24/2011]

Qualcomm announces product support for Russian GLONASS satellite system, with ability to utilize both the GPS and GLONASS networks simultaneously for greater location performance.
[USA Market News – 05/24/2011]

Congolese service provider Microcom upgrades its network to extend the range of services for Central and Western Africa clients with Newtec Elevation hubs in Germany and the U.S.
[SatNews – 05/24/2011]

Detecon Al Saudia launches Geo-Redundant VSAT service in Saudi Arabia powered by iDirect’s Evolution platform.
[PR Newswire – 05/24/2011]

Comtech EF Data and KNS integrate SuperTrack marine stabilized antenna systems and ROSS Open Antenna Management technologies for enhanced maritime solutions.
[GlobeNewswire – 05/24/2011]

Former Virginia Congressman Rick Boucher and communications consultant and political analyst Jamal Simmons join Internet Innovation Alliance, the broad-based coalition supporting broadband availability and adoption for all Americans, as honorary Chariman and Co-Chairman.
[EON – 05/24/2011]

Recent discoveries in remote areas such as the Artic push the Oil & Gas sector further away from terrestrial service, driving satellite connectivity in the digital oilfield.
[NSR – 05/24/2011]

Both satellites launched May 20 by Ariane 5 ECA rocket, ST-2 and Gsat-8, are on-orbit and healthy in geosynchronous orbit.
[Space News – 05/23/2011]

New incoming Dish CEO Joe Clayton makes known that Dish plans to aggressively utilize recent acquisitions Blockbuster, Hughes Communications, and DBSD North America to create new video platform to compete with streaming providers like Netflix.
[Home Media Magazine – 05/23/2011]

Globalstar Europe Satellite Services signs authorized distribution agreement with Spanish company Equipos Navales Industriales.
[Satellite Today – 05/23/2011]

KVH ships 1000th CommBox Ship/Shore Network Manager, supporting changing needs for commercial maritime industry onboard communications.
[Globe Newswire – 05/23/2011]

Judge rules that creditors can vote on DBSD sale to Dish Network.
[Wall Street Journal – 05/23/2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

There’s got to be a good story behind this one. Some looney wanted to sell moon rocks. Yeah, she’s from California…

A woman who tried to sell what she said was a rare piece of moon rock for $1.7 million was detained when her would-be buyer turned out to be an undercover NASA agent, officials said Friday.

The gray rocks, which are considered national treasures and are illegal to sell, were given to each U.S. state and 136 countries by then-President Richard Nixon after U.S. moon missions and can sell for millions of dollars on the black market.

NASA investigators and Riverside County sheriff’s deputies detained the woman after she met Thursday with an undercover NASA investigator at a restaurant in Lake Elsinore, about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles, the sheriff’s office said. The investigation was conducted over several months.
Authorities swooped after the two agreed on a price and the woman, whose name has not been released, pulled out the rock.

NASA planned to conduct tests to determine whether the rock came from the moon as the woman claimed.

“We don’t know if it’s lunar material,” said Gail Robinson, deputy inspector general at the space agency.

Joseph Gutheinz, a University of Phoenix instructor and former NASA investigator who has spent years tracking down missing moon rocks, said a lunar curator at a special lab at Johnson Space Center would carry out the testing. Among the substances the rock could contain is armalcolite, a mineral first discovered on the moon and named for Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, who was on the Apollo 11 lunar mission crew.

The woman has not been arrested or charged. It was unknown how she obtained the rock or came to the attention of NASA.

Gutheinz said the woman could face theft charges if the rock is genuine, or fraud charges if it is not.

What would you do with a moon rock if you had one? “That’s my moon rock.”

“You’re a looney!”

Space shuttle Atlantis on deck for grand finale launch of the space shuttle program on May 31.
[SatNews – 05/20/2011]

Ariane 5 rocket lifts two satellites into orbit; ST 2 of joint company Singapore Telecommunications and Chunghua Telecom of China, and India’s GSAT 8 satellite.
[Spaceflight Now – 05/20/2011]

American Geophysical Union calls on Congress to restore funding to the Joint Polar Satellite System for continuous data for weather forecasting, as an expected active hurricane season approaches.
[SatNews – 05/20/2011]

Hughes Europe forms U.K. initiative to promote satellite broadband.
[Satellite Today – 05/20/2011]

Smart, of the Philippines, to offer first satellite phone service for Filipino seafarers.
[Pinoy Worldwide – 05/20/2011]

ORAS-1 space vehicle approved for shipment to NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Facility for integration with Minotaur I launch vehicle.
[SatNews – 05/20/2011]

Camber Corporation acquires EADS North America Defense Security and Systems Solutions.
[Washington Technology – 05/19/2011]

West Point balloon satellite successfully travels to edge of space (85,000 ft.) and back, bringing high quality videos and still pictures.
[Army – 05/19/2011]

SES satellite ASTRA 1N arrives at European Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.
[SatNews – 05/19/2011]

Stratos nears completion of FleetBroadband deployment on 55 vessels for Harren & Partner.
[PR Newswire – 05/19/2011]

Thales Alenia Space awards GMV contract to supply flight dynamics system for O3b satellite constellation.
[SatNews – 05/19/2011]

Tesacom is first business to have Iridium license in Panama.
[Globe Newswire – 05/18/2011]

ORBCOMM signs MOU with Taiwan’s Council for Economic Planning and Development to assist in its plans to enter Taiwan market through potential partnership with local businesses.
[EON – 05/19/2011]

Space shuttle Endeavor carries postage stamp-sized satellites into space.
[The Atlantic – 05/18/2011]

ORBCOMM completes acquisition of substantially all of the assets of StarTrak Systems from Alanco Technologies.
[SatNews – 05/18/2011]

GATR supports local agencies and tornado victims with critical satellite connectivity.
[EON – 05/18/2011]

The Shipping Corporation of India selects Stratos to deploy FleetBroadband on its fleet of 156 ships.
[PR Newswire – 05/18/2011]

Cubic Defense Applications introduces digital data link that operates in KU, C, S, L and UHF-bands at data rates from 200Kbps to 45 Mbps, can fit in a shirt pocket, and weighs less than 1.7 pounds.
[SatNews – 05/18/2011]

Debate over LightSquared’s plans for first broadband network based on satellites hinges on plan for traditional land-based transmitters.
[National Journal – 05/18/2011]

Integral Systems introduces ultra-compact and efficient 200 Watt Ku-band SSPA offering small package and minimal heat production.
[SatNews – 05/18/2011]

Advantech Wireless signs distributionagreement with TRISPEC for resale of Advantech products throughout Canada.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/18/2011]

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on NASA’s Terra satellite provides images of smoke across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Northwest Territories, Canada, from over 100 fires.
[SatNews – 05/18/2011]

ViaSat receives award from Thales Alenia Space to supply Ka-band transceiver modules for the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation.
[PR Newswire – 05/17/2011]

TeleCommunication Systems announces immediate availability of commercial service for the Cisco Internet Routing in Space solution aboard the Intelsat IS-14 satellite.
[SatNews – 05/17/2011]

At Newtec-hosted seminar in Miami, President of Euroconsult USA Susan Irwin predicts robust growth in emerging markets for satellite broadcasting in next decade.
[Advanced Television – 05/17/2011]

New Deloitte business case study states that transforming the global air transportation system from ground-based communications and radar control to satellite-based navigation systems will generate significant savings for airlines and passengers.
[SatNews – 05/17/2011]

MTN Satellite Communications receives Hot Companies and Best Products award from Network Products Guide.
[PR Newswire – 05/17/2011]

Indian Space Research Organisation plans to set up advanced R&D center in field of spacecraft technologies in Karnataka’s Chitradurga and rocket sub-systems integration facility near spaceport of Sriharikota in coastal Andhra Pradesh.
[SatNews -= 05/17/2011]

TS2 Satellite Technologies selected by Polish Government to provide global accessibility for its anti-terrorism and VIP security services.
[TMCnet – 05/17/2011]

Ball Aerospace & Technologies successfully completes thermanl vacuum testing for NASA’s NPOESS Prepatory Project satellite, advancing it toward planned October 25, 2011 launch.
[SatNews – 05/17/2011]

Russian Satellite Communications Company and Eutelsat Communications will partner on commercialisation of broadband and data network services in Russia using KA-SAT.
[PR-USA – 05/17/2011]

VT iDirect to offer new web and UDP optimization solutions through reseller agreement with ZipLink.
[SatNews – 05/17/2011]

According to International Telecommunications Union, the price for broadband service is falling dramatically across the globe.
[Satellite Today – 05/17/2011]

PortVision introduces WorkBoat communications and tracking service with two-way cellular and satellite service with least cost routing at half the cost of satellite-only services.
[EON 05/17/2011]

Space shuttle Endeavor lifts off on its final flight as wife of flight commander, wounded Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, watches from wheelchair.
[NY Times – 05/17/2011]

Satellite Industry Association applauds release by Departments of Defense, State, and Commerce of interim report assessing national security impact of reforming United States export control policy for satellites.
[SatNews – 05/16/2011]

ISRO to launch France’s Spot 6 satellite.
[Satellite Today – 05/16/2011]

Opening of Morganza Spillway on Mississippi River is captured in image from NASA’s EO-1 satellite.
[SatNews – 05/16/2011]

Integral Systems, a Columbia company providing services to the satellite industry, to be acquired by San Diego military contractor Kratos.
[Gazette – 05/16/2011]

About 3,000 fishing vessels in 28 coastal provinces of Vietnam to be equipped with satellite monitoring devices in August.
[SatNews – 05/16/2011]

Globecomm Systems ranked 12th in large-sized companies category as one of best companies to work for in New York.
[SatNews – 05/16/2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

In addition to Cornell’s cracker-sized satellite, another part of STS-134‘s payload is WISPERS or Canary — a plasma spectrometer designed and built by the Applied Physics Lab at Johns Hopkins University in Laurel, Maryland.

Canary, a plasma spectrometer, will investigate the interaction of approaching spacecraft with the background plasma environment around the ISS and disturbances in the ionosphere caused by space vehicles. The device will also provide a better understanding of the origin and impact of plasma irregularities in the Earth’s ionosphere, and demonstrate low-cost techniques for monitoring those conditions. Canary is the second Wafer Integrated Plasma Spectrometers (WISPERS) device created by APL; engineers used innovative MicroElectroMechanical (MEMS) technology when designing WISPERS to reduce size and energy consumption while increasing sensitivity. The first WISPERS device was launched last year aboard FalconSat-5. “Canary and WISPERS will provide on-orbit data for understanding how spacecraft operations affect the natural environment,” says Robert Osiander, principal investigator for WISPERS at APL.
Canary gathers particles of plasma (an electrically-charged gas) through a hole smaller than the diameter of a human hair; the particles are then sorted according to energy and type by a titanium electrostatic analyzer less than a tenth of an inch thick. By measuring the type and energy levels of plasma around it, Canary can provide warnings of potentially hazardous operating conditions.

“Canary will add an important new tool to those we use to understand the near-Earth space environment,” says Larry Paxton, a space scientist at APL and member of the Canary team. “Canary will also demonstrate a new, cost-effective approach to supporting our nation’s operations in space.”
Canary was built by APL in coordination with the Space Physics and Atmospheric Research Center (SPARC) at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and was funded in part by the Naval Research Laboratory‘s Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) program. Canary is part of the STP-H3 payload, which is integrated and flown under the direction of the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program. Canary is scheduled to be installed on the ISS on flight day 3.

Endeavour lifted-off beautifully on its final mission. Commander Mark Kelly exchanged wedding bands with Rep. Gabby Giffords, just so she could wear one from “out of this world” upon his return.

Here’s the MECO (main engine cut-off) and separation…

In the report by Al Jazeera, Gabby was reported to have said “good stuff.”

Import-Export bank provides financing allowing Inmarsat to purchase Boeing satellites.
[SatNews – 05/14/2011]

At Global Space and Satellite Forum in Abu Dhabi, a call for an international space traffic management body.
[Gulf News – 05/14/2011]

Smart Communications lends Smart Link $-190 satellite phones and provides airtime to keep group in touch during 7-day trek through deep forest in Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park in the Phillipines.
[Phillipine Star – 05/14/2011]

Thaicom sees IPStar bandwidth business booming in first quarter.
[Satellite Today – 05/13/2011]

Astrotech wins $16.2M contract to fabricate, install, and test satellite Ground Support Equipment for U.S. government.
[SatNews – 05/13/2011]

Congressman Mike Turner successfully includes language in National Defense Authorization Act requiring the Secretary of Defense to notify Congress in case of widespread interference with military’s use of GPS satellites.
[POB online – 05/13/2011]

Integral Systems chosen by SES to provide global geolocation services to help protect its global fleet of satellites from effects of radio frequency interference.
[SatNews – 05/13/2011]

Second-Generation Orbcomm satellites delayed until late 2011.
[Space News – 05/13/2011]

MDA selected by Thales Alenia Space to provide 486 high-performance Ka-band cross link and feeder link antennas for Iridium NEXT satellites.
[SatNews – 05/13/2011]

C-COM Satellite Systems receives its largest order in history for its iNetVu mobile satellite antenna systems from Telemann Communications Company, a reseller in Japan.
[TechZone360 – 05/13/2011]

National Broadband Network of Australia reaches agreement with Optus to provide Internet Satellite Services as part of its rollout.
[Broadband Expert – 05/13/2011]

Lockheed Martin wins $105M WIN-T contract to deliver on-the-move broadband networking capability using satellite and radio links.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/12/2011]

Arianespace begins initial build-up at French Guiana Spaceport for its fourth heavy-lift mission of 2011, to launch BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R and ASTRA 1N.
[SatNews – 05/12/2011]

Guardian Mobility intends to acquire Alakai Technologies in order to incorporate its data monitoring technology into Guardian’s open platform satellite communications and data management systems.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/12/2011]

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency decides to send halt command to DAICHI infrared earth observation satellite after three weeks of unsuccessful attempts to communicate with it.
[SatNews – 05/12/2011]

Vizada adds VSAT capability to Universal Card prepaid voice service.
[Satellite Today – 05/12/2011]

iDirect VSAT platform chosen for Iridium Next ground-control upgrade.
[Satellite Today – 05/12/2011]

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft obtains first image of giant asteroid Vesta.
[SatNews – 05/12/2011]

Northrop Grumman and Applied Minds announce success of recent launch and orbit of a Mayflower test microsatellite.
[SatNews – 05/12/5011]

Israel’s Defense Ministry to invest millions in upgrading country’s space communication capabilities.
[Space News – 05/11/2011]

Florida’s governor and legislators commit more than $43M for growth of space industry in Florida.
[SatNews – 05/11/2011]

Northrop Grumman wins $372M Air Force contract to provide satellite antenna system for B-2 stealth bomber that will help it send and receive information up to 200 times faster than now.
[Business Week – 05/11/2011]

Pau Pyrenees in southern France becomes Europe’s first airport to use new EGNOS Safety-of-Life Service to guide aircraft in for landing using only this space-based navigation signal.
[SatNews – 05/11/2011]

Afcom Satellite Network deploys first dual mode Satellite/TETRA communications system for emergency response vehicle in Niger Delta.
[Business Wire – 05/11/2011]

Hughes deploys HX System broadband satellite networks for Microcom in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
[Satellite Today – 05/11/2011]

Russian Satellite Communications Company and Eutelsat announce signing of MOU to launch new satellite at 36 degrees East.
[Traders Huddle – 05/10/2011]

Arianespace’s third Ariane 5 mission enters final preparations, readying for May 19 launch of GSAT-8 and ST-2.
[SatNews – 05/10/2011]

Landsat images capture Memphis, Tennessee flooding.
[SatNews – 05/10/2011]

GlobeCast and JIB launch NHK World HD on Eurobird 1.
[Satellite Today – 05/10/2011]

RapidEye works with SST Software to integrate its precision farming maps into SST’s information management products and services.
[SatNews – 05/10/2011]

NewCom International develops Emergency Communications Response Network to provide instant, cost-effective contingency or back-up communications for government and law enforcement personnel.
[SatNews – 05/10/2011]

Sky Italia orders IP video solutions from T-VIPS.
[Satellite Today – 05/10/2011]

Syria blocks satellite phone communications.
[Financial Times (MENA) – 05/09/2011]

United Launch Alliance launches Space-Based Infrared System Satellite into orbit for U.S. Air Force.
[Military Aerospace – 05/09/2011]

Gilat wins Australia NBN satellite contract.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/09/2011]

Mitec of Montreal sells satellite communications business to Quebec-based provider of microwave components.
[Montreal Gazette – 05/09/2011]

At Global Space and Satellite Forum, UAE’s DubaiSat-1 seen as part of focus on space technology as new common ground for organisations, governments, and individuals in the region and globally.
[AMEinfo – 05/09/2011]

Yahsat’s new satellite, Y1A, reaches orbital position.
[7DAYS – 05/09/2011]

Use of Ka-band along with L-band satellites with 400 narrow beams (planned Alphasat 1-XL by Inmarsat) and use of lighter materials allow very compact, lightweight satellite systems for the warfighter.
[Defense Systems – 05/09/2011]

DigitalGlobe cooperates with two German companies to provide new range of high quality 3D data maps.
[SatNews – 05/09/2011]

MDA signs multi-year contracts to supply oil field monitoring products utilizing advanced RADARSAT-2 surveillance capabilities covering entire Canadian oil field.
[SatNews – 05/09/2011]

U.S.-based Space Adventures offers to equip Soyuz launch vehicle with additional living space for eight-day commercial flights around the moon.
[SatNews – 05/09/2011]

Mercury Computer Systems to provide leading prime contractor with Ensemble and Echotek products for use in high-speed satellite communications system to transfer ISR data from UAVs to ground forces.
[SatNews – 05/09/2011]

Norsat satellite terminals used by U.S. military as part of relief efforts in Japan following earthquake and tsunami.
[SatNews – 05/09/2011]

Arianespace receives “keys” to Soyuz launch complex at Guiana Space Center from the European Space Agency.
[SatNews – 05/08/2011]

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo hits another milestone on way to beginning commercial operations in suborbital space.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/06/2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

Spectacular light show over Russia’s Ural mountains not Aurora Borealis or
UFO, but a Russian military rocket launching a military communications
satellite.
[Mail Online – 05/06/2011]

U.S. to finance Azerbaijan’s first communications satellite, AzerSat, from
Orbital, despite objections from some U.S.-based Armenian groups that it could
be used for military purposes.
[eurasianet – 05/06/2011]

Hughes Communications adds 613,000 satellite broadband subscribers in first
quarter, and credits governments broadband stimulus package for much of the
gains.
[Space News – 05/06/2011]

Telesat CEO silent on acquisition rumors during first quarter report.
[Satellite Today – 05/06/2011]

NASA Earth Observatory images created using Landsat data from US Geological
Survey illustrate extensive Mississippi River flooding.
[SatNews – 05/06/2011]

Gilat Satellite Networks to initiate hubs and VSATs in Australia under new
contract with Optus Networks Pty Limited.
[SatNews – 05/06/2011]

OmniGlobe EMEA assets acquired by satellite communications start-up iSat.
[Satellite Today – 05/06/2011]

Slovenia National TV renews broadcast relationship with Eutelsat with new
10-year contract for the Hot Bird neighbourhood.
[PR Newswire – 05/06/2011]

Data gathered by the Gravity Probe B satellite during 16 month mission
confirms two previously unproven subtle physical affects predicted by
Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.
[SatNews – 05/06/2011]

U.S. Air Force’s GEO-1 SBIRS satellite scheduled for launch May 6 is delayed
due to weather.
[Aviation Week – 05/06/2011]

BGAN from Stratos Connectivity plays vital role in expanding archaeological
study in remote Mongolia.
[PR Newswire – 05/05/2011]

Satellites made Osama bin Laden raid possible.
[Spaceflight Now – 05/05/2011]

Russian Meridian series military communications satellite is placed in orbit
aboard a Soyuz-2.1a rocket with a Fregat booster.
[RIA NOVOSTI – 05/05/2011]

Newtec is awarded acclaimed Trends Gazellen award.
[SatNews – 05/05/2011]

Mercury Computer Systems selected to deliver multiple high-speed satellite
communications subsystems for transferring ISR data from UAVs to ground forces.
[Bradenton – 05/05/2011]

Integral Systems, with signal processing systems used by more than 85% of
U.S. space missions, is awarded more than $30M  in multiple contracts
during past three months.
[SatNews – 05/05/2011]

Newsat signs new contracts in April worth $1.7M in additional revenue,
providing satellite communication services in Australia and internationally.
[SatNews – 05/05/2011]

Research fleets choose Mini-VSAT broadband from KVH for onboard Internet and
data connections.
[Globe Newswire – 05/05/2011]

KVH downgrades future outlook though VSAT sales increase 59%, because of
losses in other divisions affected by rising fuel prices and decline in new
boat sales.
[Satellite Today – 05/02/2011]

At Global Space and Satellite Forum in Abu Dhabi May 9-11, leading experts
will discuss how satellite communications play important role in disaster
relief.
[AME info – 05/04/2011]

Telenor Satellite Broadcasting signs agreement with Elektrikom for IS 10-02
Spot 1 capacity, to deliver VSAT services for oil, gas, and cruise ship
industries throughout Europe.
[SatNews – 05/04/2011]

Australian communications regulator warns that more spectrum (to come from
satellite, broadcast, or government agencies) must be allocated to mobile
companies to support traffic growth by end of decade to 1000 times that at end
of 2007.
[Sydney Morning Herald – 05/04/2011]

NTD Asia Pacific Television files appeal at Taiwan’s National Communications
Commission charging that Chunghwa Telecom Company is unlawfully refusing to
renew satellite capacity lease.
[NTD Television – 05/04/2011]

Intelsat reports antenna reflector deployment delay with Intelsat New Dawn
satellite.
[Business Wire – 05/03/2011]

Charlie Ergen says acquired DBSD North America should be viewed as asset
whose existing S-band satellite and U.S. operating license are sufficient for
Dish Network and EchoStar to create wireless broadband business.
[Space News – 05/03/2011]

SES Astra’s German HD Plus service subscriber gains exceed expectations.
[Satellite Today – 05/03/2011]

Gilat Satcom launches iDirect Evolution-based service in Nigeria to deliver
high-speed C-band satellite service throughout the country.
[SatNews – 05/03/2011]

Pakistan will have its first satellite broadband service by the end of this
year using Yahsat YahClick satellite broadband product using satellite launched
April 23.
[TMCnet – 05/03/2011]

United Arab Emirates launches fifth communications satellite, the first to
provide secure and independent telecommunications for its armed forces as Persian Gulf Arab state boosts its military capabilities against Iran.
[UPI – 05/02/2011]

Arianespace wins launch contract for ABS-2 satellite for Asia Broadcast
Satellite.
[Satellite Today – 05/02/2011]

Dish Network and Echostar settle with TiVo for $500M as chances dwindle in
DVR patent suit.
[CED Magazine – 05/02/2011]

iDirect Government Technologies to resell Riverbed Technology products to
maximize bandwidth efficiencies and increase satellite network performance.
[marketwire – 05/02/2011]

Find loved ones anytime, anywhere, with new GPS bracelets.
[Satellite Spotlight – 05/02/2011]

Myanmar sets up central committee and working committee for launching a
satellite, the first for Myanmar.
[TMCnet – 4/30/2011]

Satellite images taken by GeoEye the day after tornadoes blasted through the
South, in an interactive display, show before and after the tornadoes.
[NY Times – April 29, 2011]

More competition, new entrants, fluctuating levels of usage in a slow and
uncertain recovery, and a flurry of new products with High Throughput
Satellites hitting the market in the coming years, all keep the Mobile
Satellite Services sector dynamic.
[NSR Mobile Satellite Services report – June 2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services