Really Rocket Science

Defense Information Systems Agency proposes completely new approach to commercial satcom buying practices by creating Assured SATCOM Services in Single Theater program.
[Defense Systems – 10/14/2011]

From Skyterra to present day LightSquared – tiny satellite company takes gutsy risks in ambitious plan for nationwide wholesale satellite/terrestrial LTE network, finds itself embroiled in political partisan and lobbying battle.
[National Journal – 10/14/2011]

KORE makes available their KORE Global Connect M2M network delivering cellular and satellite services complemented by Iridium satellite services, enabling ubiquitous global coverage.
[SatNews – 10/14/2011]

Viasat airborne satellite communications systems exceed 500,000 operational flight hours; over 200 satcom equipped government aircraft transmitting ISR and C2 in theater.
[MarketWatch – 10/14/2011]

October 20 launch of Europe’s first Galileo navigation satellites will also mark the first Russian Soyuz rocket launch from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
[SatNews – 10/13/2011]

Charlie Ergen moving to fashion Dish Network into media empire based on delivery of video and data, leveraging acquired assets such as Hughes Communications and Blockbuster, and targeted online TV service Hulu.
[Business Week – 10/13/2011]

Eutelsat Board of Directors proposes Jean-Martin Folz as Board member; if elected he will be appointed by the Board as Chairman of Eutelsat, to succeed Giuliano Berretta.
[SatNews – 10/13/2010]

Orbcomm successfully launches VesselSat1, an Automatic Identification Service (AIS) enabled satellite built by OHB affiliate LuxSpace Sarl, onboard Indian Space Research Organization rocket.
[Satellite Today – 10/13/2011]

Two companies working on “remote robot gas stations” that could extend life of aging satellites running out of fuel.
[Space.com – 10/13/2011]

KVH bundles TracPhone V3 hardware with 1 GB data plan in special 3-year mini-VSAT broadband package in bundle promotion.
[MarketWatch – 10/13/2011]

Emerging Markets Communications announces first HD on demand pay as you go satellite videoconferencing service available for deployment to Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia (soon to include China and Central and South America).
[AMEinfo – 10/13/2011]

ORBCOMM and Locas Traxx to enable shipment tracking and monitoring solution.
[MarketWatch – 10/13/2011]

Connectify announces strategic partnership to offer Iridium AxcessPoint Connect to the mobile communications market.
[MarketWatch – 10/13/2011]

Home2US renews long-term capacity agreement on SES-1 and adds six new television networks and five new radio channels from Greece and Cyprus to its DTH lineup.
[MarketWatch – 10/13/2011]

French Navy patroller Cormoran to use Vizada’s satellite broadband connection and airtime for everything from surveillance to crew welfare.
[SatNews – 10/13/2011]

Netherlands plans to join the Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) program to increase its satellite communications capacity.
[Aviation Week – 10/12/2011]

Indian Space Research Organization uses strategic delay to avoid possible encounter with space debris; accomplishes successful launch of four satellites, including Indo-French Megha-Tropiques.
[SatNews – 10/12/2011]

Lockheed Martin successfully completes end-to-end system test of first MUOS satellite, whose payload will provide immediate 16-fold increase over legacy UHF satellite communications in number and capacity of satellite links.
[PR Newswire – 10/12/2011]

Fort McMurray, Alberta to become major gateway for satellite broadband in Canada, as Xplornet Communications announces completion of 4G satellite ground station.
[Canada Newswire – 10/12/2011]

General Dynamics SATCOM technologies chooses Wavestream’s 16 Ka-band amplifier for their Model 20 Satcom-on-the-Move terminal.
[SatNews – 10/12/2011]

Eutelsat announces successful launch of W3C satellite by a Longh March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China, Eutelsat’s 2nd launch in 2 weeks.
[TMCnet – 10/11/2011]

United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket placed atop its Cape Canaveral pad for the next Delta 4 launch which will carry the 4th WGS satellite aloft in January 2012.
[Spaceflight Now – 10/11/2011]

Canadian Telesat satellite outage blamed on software error.
[Satellite Spotlight – 10/11/2011]

Sofradir wins key contract to supply technology to new European Union Earth observation satellites.
[Satellite Today – 10/11/2011]

Spacenet Mexico launches digital cinema distribution network powered by iDirect’s Evolution platform.
[PR Newswire – 10/11/2011]

NASA releases interactive educational video game called NetworKing that allows players to “build” complex communications systems and gives an insider’s perspective into how astronauts, mission controllers, and scientists communicate during space missions.
[MarketWatch – 10/11/2011]

RRSAT offers customers 26% data rate increase using NovelSat3G-Sat modulation technology.
[The Street – 10/11/2011]

Expand Networks to demonstrate innovative satellite network optimization techniques that dramatically increase bandwidth efficiency at SATCON NY,
[SatNews – 10/11/2011]

Globecomm to discuss “File-based Distribution Over Satellite” at SATCON NY.
[Business Wire – 10/11/2011]

Satcom Direct includes Aircare Access(R) assistance 24/7 tele-medical support in suite of business aviation services.
[San Francisco Chronicle – 10/11/2011]

European Commission adopts decision meant to allow it to “adopt appropriate enforcement measures” in use of 2 GHz MSS spectrum as deadlines for 2 operators to deploy services there expired in May.
[EUROPOLITICS – 10/10/2011]

Hughes Europe will provide satellite communications support to the Istanbul Seismic Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness project in Turkey.
[Satellite Today – 10/10/2011]

Satcom Direct launches Satcom Integration, offering consulting services, products, custom integration, and software applications.
[Digital Journal – 10/10/2011]

WBMSAT satellite communications systems consulting services

Convenient launch window for QuetzSat-1 launch on Friday, and you can watch it live from the Baikonur Cosmodrome via Proton/Briz-M on 29 September 2011 @ 18:32 GMT (00:32 a.m. local time on 30 September 2011; 20:32 p.m. CEST, 14:32 p.m. EDT).

In North America, DISH Network Channel 101, and via C-band on AMC-3 at 87 degrees West, C4, downlink frequency 3780.0 MHz, vertical polarization, service ID 136201.

In Europe, Astra 19.2 degrees East, transponder 1.037, downlink frequency 11023.25 MHz, horizontal polarization, symbol rate 22.0 MSym/s, FEC 5/6, service ID 5232, service name QuetzSat-1 Launch.

A webcast is available via ILS Launch, beginning 20 minutes prior to launch window opening.

Go QuetzSat. Go Proton.

Nice to see Sea-Launch’s return to service after all that bankruptcy business in 2009.

Sea Launch AG has successfully launched the ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 7 broadcast satellite from the Equator on the ocean-based Odyssey Launch Platform, marking its first mission for Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) and its awaited return to launch operations following re-organization in late 2010.

The Zenit-3SL rocket carrying the ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 7 spacecraft lifted off at 13:18 Pacific Daylight Time (20:18 GMT/UTC) on September 24 from the launch platform, positioned at 154 degrees West Longitude in international waters of the Pacific Ocean. One hour and seven minutes later, the Block DM-SL upper stage inserted the satellite, weighing approximately 4,600 kilograms (10,141 lbs.) and built by Astrium, an EADS company, into geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital position at 7 degrees West Longitude. Operators at the Hartebeesthoek ground station near Pretoria, South Africa acquired the spacecraft’s first signals from orbit shortly after spacecraft separation. All systems performed nominally throughout the launch mission.

Here’s the video, with dual English and Ukrainian countdown in the beginning, followed by the camera operator trying to keep the rocket in the frame while out at sea…

First global map of salinity of ocean surface produced from data  collected by NASA’s Aquarius, aboard the Aquarius/SAC-D  satellite/observatory.
[SatNews  – 09/23/2011]

RRsat expands backup and disaster recovery with Spacecom, acting as  Spacecom’s remote and mirror Earth station for telemetry monitoring, tracking,  and commanding (TT&C) and In-Orbit Testing (IOT).
[SatNews –  09/23/2011]

U.S. Department of Defense tracks NASA’s Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite as its orbit decays, expecting to predict when – and possibly where – it will  re-enter the atmosphere.
[SatNews –  09/22/2011]

SES-2 satellite built by Orbital, with CHIRP hosted payload, successfully launched from French Guiana.
[Market Watch – 09/22/2011]

Japan launches new military Information Gathering Satellite known as  Optical-4, with primary mission to provide early warning of impending hostile  launches (prompted by 1998 North Korean missile launch).
[SatNewqs –  09/22/2011]

Two vessels receive Inmarsat-sponsored award recognizing extraordinary  courage and seamanship for their rescue of a party of 64 students from sinking  Canadian tall ship Concordia.
[SatNews –  09/22/2011]

Eutelsat’s ATLANTIC BIRD 7 satellite set for September 24 launch.
[Market Watch – 09/22/2011]

Defense Department’s 1000 lb., $150M 10-channel high power UHF satellite set  to launch September 27 from Kodiak, Alaska – expected to free troops in the  field from carrying heavy radio equipment and fiddling with antennas.
[Stars and Stripes – 09/22/2011]

Sea Launch, now 95% owned by Russian aerospace giant Rocket & Space Corp.  Energia and headquartered in Switzerland, set to launch its first rocket Friday  in over two years – ATLANTIC BIRD(TM) 7 for Eutelsat.
[LA Times – 09/22/2011]

Virgin Galactic unveils new $8M Final Assembly, Integration and Test Hangar  (FAITH) at Mojave Air and Space Port for final stages of production of  WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo.
[SatNews –  09/22/2011]

Thrane & Thrane to manufacture broadband terminals for Inmarsat’s Global  Xpress network.
[Reuters – 09/22/2011]

India seeks to disable satellite phones at the border to fight terrorism.
[ars technica – 09/22/2011]

Ariane 5 lifts off from French Guiana with Arabsat 5C and SES-2 one day after  being delayed by local strike by French Guiana workers.
[xinhuanet  – 09/21/2011]

China receives first contract in Europe to build communications satellite for  Belarus and launch from Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
[Satellite Today – 09/21/2011]

South Africa’s one and only satellite, Sumbandila, out of contact with its  Mission Control and not downloading any images since being hit by blast of solar  radiation in July.
[SatNews –  09/21/2011]

LightSquared claims filter developed by high-precision GPS receiver  manufacturer Javad GNSS will fix problem of potential interference by  LightSquared planned LTE network, can be adapted for receivers already in the  market, and won’t make devices more expensive for consumers.
[Wireless Week – 09/21/2011]

Following successful trial on one of its LNG tankers, MOL LNG Transport Co.  Ltd. is adding the KVH TracPhone V7 satellite communications system and  mini-VSAT Broadband service to three of its LNG tankers.
[SatNews –  09/21/2011]

MTN Satellite Communications and Sensory International partner to deliver  global VSAT services and connectivity to superyachts.
[Market Watch – 09/21/2011]

Harris opens new and totally advanced center for manufacturing of tactical  radios and assured communication systems.
[SatNews –  09/21/2011]

General Dynamics receives FCC license for its Coms-on-the-Move terminals  enabling continuous access to private- and government-owned communications  satellites while on-the-move in vehicles.
[PR Newswire – 09/21/2011]

UtiliSat joins Satellite Industry Association as Associate Member.
[space ref –  09/21/2011]

Eutelsat and MultiChoice Africa Announce Winners of the First DStv Eutelsat  Star Awards in competition by over 800 students from across Africa.
[Sacramento Bee – 09/21/2011]

Gilat subsidiary Spacenet gets renewal contract valued at up to $27M from  U.S. retail giant for critical network solutions and potential store expansion.
[Market Watch – 09/21/2011]

NASA expects 26 of heaviest metal parts of a 20-year-old research satellite,  which should break into more than 100 pieces as it enters the atmosphere this  week, to reach Earth – but no one knows where.
[R&D Magazine – 09/20/2011]

Russia’s Proton-M carrier rocket successfully launched with a military  purpose spacecraft aboard.
[SatNews –  09/20/2011]

Satmex signs multi-year multi-transponder lease agreement with Telefonica  subsidiary Media Networks Latin America.
[SatNews –  09/20/2011]

Ratheon fields first AEHF satellite communications terminals to U.S. armed  forces tactical units.
[Space Daily – 09/20/2011]

NewSat Jabiru-1 contracts reach $279M with latest $40.2M contract with  Quicklink Communications.
[Satellite Today – 09/20/2011]

Marlink and Sea Tel team up to provide satellite communications for third  Kaisei expedition seeking viable solutions to problems associated with marine  debris in North Pacific Gyre.
[Maritime Executive – 09/20/2011]

Vizada and ARINC renew partnership to deliver mobile satellite services to  commercial, government aviation customers.
[Military & Aerospace – 09/20/2011]

Gilat to supply VSATs for e-Education program in Latin American country.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/20/2011]

Zhongxing-1A satellite carried aloft by Long March-3B from Xichang Satellite  Launch Center in Sichuan Province, China.
[SatNews –  09/19/2011]

Senate Appropriations Committee approves $500M in funding for commercial  spaceflight as part of NASA’s 2012 budget.
[Satellite Today – 09/19/2011]

LightSquared CEO claims U.S. politicians using company as a pinata after  being denied opportunity to testify at U.S. House Armed Service Committee  hearing.
[Satellite Today – 09/19/2011]

Military communications satellite launched by China.
[Spaceflight Now  – 09/18/2011]

Component crunch slows delivery of Ka-band communications satellites as only  two companies manufacturing Ka-band TWTs, L-3 and Thales, are unable to keep up  with demand.
[Space News – 09/16/2011]

Low-cost Disaster Warning Dissemination System conceived by India Space  Research Organization can reach general public in local languages with early  warnings of potential weather dangers using satellite-based Direct-to-home  television broadcasts.
[Microwaves&RF – September 2011]

WBMSAT PS  satellite communications systems services

Say it ain’t so, Joe.

DISH Network’s Blockbuster brand will unveil a streaming service on Friday, via the Denver Business Journal…

CEO Joe Clayton and Blockbuster President Michael Kelly are scheduled to unveil the service from San Francisco in a press conference dubbed “A Stream Come True” (held via Ustream web streaming service, appropriately enough).

Dish Network (Nasdaq: DISH), which rarely underplays a promotional opportunity, promises the service will be “the most comprehensive entertainment package ever!”

In addition to having the webstreaming technology that Blockbuster used, Dish Network has been rumored to be bidding for the online video service Hulu.

Whatever the outlines of the new Dishbuster service, it’s likely to salt Netflix’s recent wounds.

Shortly after buying Blockbuster, Ergen said the purchase wasn’t meant to knock Netflix from the top spot in movie-streaming, because Netflix likely had an insurmountable subscriber lead.

Last week, though, Netflix forecast actually losing subscribers this quarter, and falling 1 million short of its third-quarter projections.

On Monday, the 24 million-subscriber company surprised observers and sent its stock price lower by announcing it’s splitting the company — Netflix will focus exclusively on online movie streaming, and a new wholly owned subsidiary, called Qwikster, will carry on Neflix’s legacy business of shipping DVDs to subscribers by mail.

Satellite operators SES SA and Telesat Holdings may need to stick to  partnerships to expand in fast-growing emerging markets as acquisitions are  often blocked by politics.
[Bloomberg – 09/16/2011]

Avanti Communications announces contract win for UK rural broadband supply.
[Proactive Investors – 09/16/2011]

Space Systems/Loral’s Viasat-1 Ka-band satellite arrives at Kazakhstan’s  Baikonur Space Center launch base.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/16/2011]

SES S.A. contracts with Osterreichischer Rundfunksender of Austria for a  fourth transponder at 19.2 degrees East to launch two new public broadcasting  channels in Austria.
[SatNews –  09/16/2011]

Space Weather research report states that solar superstorm could kill  majority of in-orbit weather, telecommunications, and military satellites in  less than a year.
[Satellite Today – 09/15/2011]

NASA selects designs of new heavy-lift rocket and crew capsule for ferrying  cargo, equipment, and science experiments to Earth’s orbit and beyond, as well  as serving as backup for transportation services to International Space Station.
[SatNews –  09/15/2011]

U.S. National Reconnaissance Office gets hit with budget cuts but preserves  science and technology funding used to develop unique capabilities including  advanced satellites, six of which have been launched in last seven months.
[Federal Times – 09/15/2011]

Weathernews Inc. of Tokyo, Japan sets date for launch of WNISAT-1 from the  Yasny Cosmodrome in Russia for next September – satellite will monitor ice  conditions in the Artic Sea.
[SatNews –  09/15/2011]

House Armed Services Committee hearing delves into LightSquared LTE plans and  potential interference with military GPS systems – FCC Chairman chooses not to  appear.
[Washington Post – 09/15/2011]

Eutelsat extends agreement with Russian Satellite Communications Company for  satellite control from Dubna.
[Market Watch – 09/15/2011]

European Space Agency and Arianespace sign contract for launch of BepiColombo  spacecraft, designed to explore planet Mercury.
[SatNews –  09/15/2011]

New Iridium personal services package includes capability to use Iridium  satellite communications device together with your smart phone in areas where  there is no wi-fi or cellular phone service.
[digital energy – 09/15/2011]

Globecomm Systems gets contract to host the enhanced and extended GSM  wireless network of Chariton Valley Wireless Services of Northeast Missouri.
[SatNews –  09/15/2011]

TCS does it again- $9.3M order from U.S. Army for SNAP deployable satellite  systems upgrades and spares equipment following earlier $20.7M in funding for  equipment and field services support of SNAP systems. .
[Market Watch – 09/15/2011] – [Market Watch – 09/14/2011]

ViaSat receives delivery order valued at approximately $27.6M for  Multifunctional Information Distribution System – Low Volume Terminals from the  Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command.
[SatNews –  09/15/2011]

Gilat U.S. subsidiary Spacenet Integrated Government Solutions wins third  U.S. government contract to provide satellite communications services.
[Globes – 09/15/2011]

Northrop Grumman signs three-year agreement to become leased services  provider and network services distribution partner of Inmarsat’s satellite  services around the world.
[Emoney Daily – 09/15/2011]

Euroconsult 8th annual awards go to:  Global Satellite Operator of the  Year – Inmarsat; Strategic Transaction of the Year – EchoStar Corporation;  Regional Satellite Operator of the Year – AsiaSat; Broadband Satellite Operator  of the Year – Hughes Communications.
[SatNews –  09/14/2011]

European Space Agency shut down the second European Remote Sensing satellite  ERS-2 after 16 years of providing data for thousands of scientists and projects.
[SatNews –  09/14/2011]

FCC wants further tests of LightSquared’s proposed mobile broadband network  as concern mounts over possible interference with GPS.
[Mobiledia – 09/14/2011]

Sirius XM CEO expects significant revenue growth in 2012 after company raised  subscription fees for first time in about a decade.
[LA Times – 09/14/2011]

KVH to unveil new 1-meter TracVision(R) HD11 marine satellite TV system for  global HD with digitally programmable multi-beam Universal World LNB.
[Market Watch – 09/14/2011]

U.S. Navy announces plans to launch September 27 the Tactical Microsatellite  (TacSat)-4, funded by Office of Naval Research and developed by Naval Research  Laboratory to allow service members around the world to use handheld radio for  mobile communications in the field without having to set up a satellite antenna.
[Stars & Stripes – 09/13/2011]

Worries about Russian rocket reliability delay launches of U.S. and French  satellites and crew rotation for International Space Station.
[The Hindu –  09/13/2011]

Graduate students at Purdue designing and building rocket engine that could  land a vehicle on the moon.
[R&D Magazine – 09/13/2011]

Farstaed Shipping signs 5-year satellite communications contract with Harris  CapRock Communications for 53 offshore supply vessels.
[Market Watch – 09/13/2011]

Comtech receives $12.1M in orders for broadband high-power amplifiers to  un-named U.S. contractor.
[Bloomberg  Business Week – 09/13/2011]

Eutelsat aims to improve quality assurance standards for satellite TV ahead  of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
[Cable – 09/12/2011]

Hughes is awarded extension contract for U.S. Air Force study of commercial  communications satellite systems capabilities.
[Market Watch – 09/12/2011]

LightSquared forges ahead with another wholesale agreement, with VoX  Communications.
[Market Watch – 09/12/2011]

Arabsat announces that all necessary technical and logistics requirements for  global distribution of Saudi League matches in Europe and the U.S. have been  finalized.
[SatNews –  09/11/2011]

Thuraya IP, world’s smallest satellite high throughput solution, attracts  praised from British and French Ministries of Defence, will be showcased at  upcoming DSEi exhibition in London.
[Teletechwire – 09/11/2011]

LightSquared says it can avert interference problems with GPS systems by  limiting power levels and adjusting height and tilt of antennae.
[Kansas City Star – 09/10/2011]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

In spacecraft operations, the last thing you want is a ground controller who decides following the standard operating procedure is for idiots. Not sure if that’s what happened at the Ciel-2 TT&C facility, but something bad did, causing the spacecraft to go into safe mode.

The customer, DISH Network, leases capacity from SES, who leases from Ciel Satellite Group, owners of the spacecraft, acknowledged the anomaly…

DISH Network restored all affected television channels for its customers Wednesday morning after experiencing a temporary interruption of service on some of its channels overnight.

The interruption mainly affected high definition channels to a portion of DISH Network customers. Standard definition channels were largely unaffected resulting in a majority of DISH Network customers not being affected at all.

The interruption began at approximately 5 p.m. ET Tuesday and involved the Ciel2 satellite, which is operated by SES at 129 degrees West Longitude through a Canadian subcontractor and leased to DISH Network. SES has attributed the anomaly to human error in its ground operation of the spacecraft. According to SES, there is no issue with the health of the satellite.

I’m glad I’m in the eastern arc and unaffected by this outage. I feel sorry for the folks in Saskatoon — those who committed the “human error” in question. The spacecraft lost its orientation and therefore automatically went into safe mode, a near total shutdown. Afterwards, it take a few hours to turn on the tubes.

SES S.A. presents new brand identity and logo as operating units merge into single entity, with independent subsidiary SES Government Solutions to market to U.S. government.
[SatNews – 09/09/2011]

New unified approach and identity of merged entities forming SES S.A. outlined by CEO of SES Government Solutions.
[SatNews – 09/09/2011]

Iridium adds new services to “personal mobile satellite communications” product, including extending beyond satellite phones to include enabling a Wi-Fi hotspot capability for connecting devices.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/09/2011]

Launch of ViaSat-1, delayed in August due to Proton Breeze-M failure, is now scheduled for October.
[SatNews – 09/09/2011]

MIT led NASA GRAIL moon mission, twin spacecraft set to precisely map moon’s gravitational field, suffered launch delay yesterday due to high winds.  Re-scheduled to launch today, Friday September 9,
[R&D Magazine – 09/09/2011]
the launch is scrubbed a second time.
[SatNews – 09/09/2011]

Skyware Global debuts new Cielo Ka-band product range with world’s first truly integrated Ka-band VSAT transceiver.
[SatNews – 09/09/2011]

International Datacasting announces debut of IDC Systems & Solutions, offering comprehensive end-to-end systems integration for broadcasters.
[SatNews – 09/09/2011]

Satellite operators SES SA and Intelsat SA push services such as military drones in preparation for biggest increase in satellite capacity in at least 10 years (more than 200 commercial communication satellites to be launched by 2020).
[Bloomberg – 09/08/2011]

Orbit of NASA’s Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite decays, with re-entry into atmosphere expected by late September or early October.
[SatNews – 09/08/2011]

Satlink Communications’ live trial of Novelsat’s 3G-SAT NS3(TM) technology shows over 50% increase above DVB-S2 in bandwidth efficiency.
{MarketWatch – 09/08/2011]

TRACE selects Eutelsat’s EUROBIRD 9A satellite to broadcast its platform of HD channels across Europe and Middle East.
[PR Newswire – 09/08/2011]

Newtec signs contracts with Eutelsat’s Skylogic (for TOOWAY product), SES ASTRA (for ASTRA2Connect product), and African company SkyVine for the Newtec Sat3Play hub systems to provide two-way IP broadband services.
[SatNews – 09/08/2011]

Space Systems/Loral selected to provide two high-power satellites to Intelsat.
[Market Watch – 09/08/2011]

SES S.A. gets contract from GlobeCast for transponder on SES-4 as well as additional transponder on ASTRA-4A to launch two new broadcast platforms for sub-Saharan African region.
[MarketWatch – 09/08/2011]

TCS continues its successes with the U.S. military as the U.S. Marine Corp signs contract for integrated communications system that carries potential value of $139.8M.
[UPI – 09/08/2011]

Vizada expands Satcom portfolio to include new Iridium Extreme and Iridium AxcessPoint with location-based services like online tracking and emergency SOS notification.
[Market Watch – 09/08/2011]

Globecomm Systems is awarded two contracts from US Government customers valued at $12.8M, with options that could potentially increase value up to $66.6M for both contracts.
[Market Watch – 09/08/2011]

Emergency services professionals choose KVH TracPhone V3 Mini-VSAT for portable satellite communications.
[4-traders – 09/08/2011]

Marlink signs agreement with Wilson Ship Management to provide 80 of its ships with SCAP FleetBroadband on 36 month contract.
[SatNews – 09/08/2011]

C-COM debuts new 98cm iNetVue Ka-band antenna, tested by Gilat and fully integrated with Gilat’s SkyEdge II Ka-band terminals.
[SatNews – 09/08/2011]

ATCi tailors Simulsat transport system for European market.
[PR Newswire – 09/08/2011]

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory provides scientists with new information that energy from some solar flares is stronger and lasts longer than previously thought.
[R&D Magazine – 09/08/2011]

Sea&Space of Belgium signs for capacity on Telesat’s Telstar 11N to bring advanced broadband services to remote African communities.
[SatNews – 09/08/2011]

DIRECTV Latin America signs with Intelsat for capacity on two new satellites to expand its DTH offerings and provide backup and restoration services.
[SatNews – 09/08/2011]

Advanta Technologies joins list of companies signing wholesale-only compacts with LightSquared.
[SatNews – 09/08/2011]

Optimal Satcom awarded multi-year contract by Asia Broadcast Satellite to provide enterprise satellite capacity system to help manage ABS’ growing commercial satellite business.
[SatNews – 09/08/2011]

Work Microwave announces new-generation DVB-S/S2 modulator.
[SatNews – 09/08/2011]

British scientists attempt to revive only satellite ever launched by the British (in 1971) – Prospero was only launched because it was finished; Ministers had already pulled the plug on the Black Arrow project.
[Daily Mail – 09/07/2011]

SES and Gazprom agreement boosts Russian satellite capacity with relocation of Astra 1F satellite.
[Digital TV Europe – 09/07/2011]

Eutelsat and Eser Telekom announce agreement to expand reach of Tooway(TM) satellite broadband into Turkey and neighbouring countries.
[Market Watch – 09/07/2011]

Hughes ships Ka-band broadband satellite solution to YAHSAT.
[Market Watch – 09/07/2011]

Hispasat selects Arianespace to launch its new Amazonas-3 telecommunications satellite.
[SatNews – 09/07/2011]

GlobeCast cuts ribbon on new Rome teleport.
[Satellite Today – 09/07/2011]

New Globalstar satellites now providing improved voice and data service for North American customers.
[GlobeNewswire – 09/06/2011]

ORBIT aims to expand tracking and telemetry/satellite earth observation business in the U.S.
[Market Watch – 09/06/2011]

ViaSat wins contracts from Boeing for ground based beam forming system for Mexican satellite.
[Market Watch – 09/06/2011]

KVH mini-VSAT broadband service now available in South America to all subscribers, completing original global coverage plan for the maritime satellite communications network.
[Market Watch – 09/06/2011]

Broadcom announces entry into Out Door Unit market with Full-Band Capture Satellite Channel Stacker solution supporting 24 independent channels, delivering more HD streams, multi-room DVR and IP services throughout the home.
[Market Watch – 09/06/2011]

Independent mobile and satellite networks likely to benefit from AT&T’s antitrust woes, and Justice Department sues to prevent AT&T merger with T-Mobile.
[Seeking Alpha –  09/05/2011]

Pakistan Chairman SUPARCO confident that recently launched PAKSAT-1R has capacity to bring revolution to national education programme.
[Pak Observer – 09/05/2011]

Croatia’s KLasik TV joins AMOS satellite system.
[News on News – 09/05/2011]

Hong Kong-based telco PCCW Global and Vizada Networks team up to expand international terrestrial and satellite services coverage of both companies.
[Trade Arabia – 09/04/2011]

Inmarsat launches a price War and goes direct – the risks and the possible rewards.
[SatMagazine – September issue]

WBMSAT PS satellite communications systems services

Two-foot-wide model of world’s first geosynchronous commercial communications satellite, Syncom, shares the stage at Boeing celebration of 50 years in the satellite business.
[SatNews – 09/02/2011]

Stellar Group utilizes Newtec’s Flex ACM and three transponders on inclined orbit satellite to provide reliable high speed satellite link to camp of 40,000 in Afghanistan.
[SatNews – 09/02/2011]

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) pre3pares for launch of Megha-Tropiques advanced weather and climate satellite later this month aboard Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
[SatNews – 09/02/2011]

Orbital Sciences receives Commercial Space Transportation License from Federal Aviation Administration to conduct Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program demonstration mission in 2012.
[SatNews – 09/02/2011]

National Polar-orbiting Operational Environment Satellite System Preparatory Project satellite,. first of new generation of satellites to observe many facets of our changing Earth, arrives at Vandenberg for October launch.
[SatNews – 09/02/2011]

Aljazeera invests in several Multimedia Exchange Network over Satellite TV interactive terminals from Newtec.
[SatNews – 09/02/2011]

Comtech EF Data’s new LPOD to get deployed by U.S. Government under $1.2M satellite earth station equipment order from leading solutions provider.
[SatNews – 09/02/2011]

iPONT International and SES Astra to demonstrate glasses-free 3DTV on SES stand at IBC 2011.
[SatNews – 09/02/2011]

Orbital awarded $135M contract by NASA for Icesat-2 earth science satellite program.
[Reuters – 09/01/2011]

Inmarsat GX and Rockwell Collins team up to expand airborne connectivity for aeronautical industry.
[Satellite Spotlight – 09/01/2011]

Gaps in smart grid network communications technologies lead many utility companies to consider two-way satellite IP networks.
[Electric Light & Power – 09/01/2011]

Worried National Research Council committee urges NASA to place greater focus on space junk.
[Science Magazine – 09/01/2011]

Repaired Amos 5 satellite to be launched in December 2011.
[Globes – 09/01/2011]

Three men responsible for damaging Waihopai Valley intelligence gathering satellite dome in 2008 found liable for damages by High Court at Wellington, NZ
[NZ Herald – 09/01/2011]

New Euroconsult report says growth continues but slows as challenges emerge for the satellite communications sector.
[Broadcast Engineering – 08/31/2011]

Roscosmos considers returning the federal space program to the framework of the state defense order to ensure steady financing and reduce the number of accidents with space launches.
[SatNews – 08/31/2011]

Launch of China’s Tiangong satellite will be delayed due to failure of experimental orbiter SJ-11-04 to enter orbit following its launch last weerk.
[SatNews – 08/31/2011]

Hughes wins two orbital slots in Brazilian auction.
[PR Newswire – 08/31/2011]

Thuraya partners with SRT Wireless to redefine the future of satellite data transmission.
[MarketWatch – 08/31/2011]

LightSquared and Inmarsat join forces to support hurricane Irene emergency responders.
[Satellite Spotlight – 08/31/2011]

Expand Networks offers satellite optimization for reliable communications in disaster events.
[Satellite Spotlight – 08/31/2011]

American Family Radio chooses Ka You Communications and VSAT Systems to connect 156 of their transmitter sites to the Internet to comply with new Common Alerting Protocol for the Emergency Alert System.
[PR Newswire – 08/31/2011]

Gilat is selected to provide multi-million dollar SkyEdsge II broadband network and services for security communications in Latin America.
[MarketWatch – 08/31/2011]

Russia lifts suspension on launches of main Proton-M rockets, pointing to problem with Briz-M booster stage as cause of August 18 failed launch.
[Reuters – 08/30/2011]

Kratos wins $6M in contracts to provide critical SATCOM situational awareness products and value added services to the military, government and intelligence communities.
[MarketWatch – 08/30/2011]

Eutelsat Communications announces six-year distribution agreement between Skylogic subsidiary and Egyptsat, bringing satellite broadband to Egyptians.
[Broadband TV News – 08/30/2011]

RRsat signs with Spacecom for Amos-5 satellite remote and mirror earth station for telemetry monitoring, tracking, and commanding, and In-Orbit Testing of the satellite following its December launch.
[PR Newswire – 08/30/2011]

KVH and ViaSat enhance KVH’s Mini-VSAT Broadband network, doubling uplink speeds and implementing adaptive return-link technology.
[SatNews – 08/30/2011]

Vizada launches SkyFile C Store & Push to offer customers highly-reliable data reporting and polling services, enabling shipping companies to adhere strictly to international maritime law.
[SatNews – 08/30/2011]

Arianespace places hold on launch of Arabsat 5X and SES-2 in order to carry out supplementary checks on the ESC-A upper-stage cryogenic engine.
[SatNews – 08/30/2011]

One-day International satellite-industry forum organized by Global VSAT Forum and Satellite Interference Reduction Group will be held in Netherlands September 8 to target satellite interference.
[SatNews – 08/30/2011]

TSF lands in Tripoli, and establishes satellite links to benefit medical establishments and organizations charged with treating injured that have been evacuated.
[SatNews – 08/30/2011]

Dish Network unveils portable satellite TV antenna for tailgaters, campers, and customer engaging in other outdoor activities.
[Satellite Today – 08/30/2011]

Pakistan telco awards $134M satellite contract to NewSat.
[The Express Tribune – 08/30/2011]

As 6,500 cell sites in four states are knocked out by Irene, Army North coordinates with FEMA and dispatches defense coordinating officer teams equipped with Chevrolet Suburban Emergency Response vehicles with satellite communication systems.
[NextGov – 08/29/2011]

ViaSat completes Yonder mobile high-speed Internet coverage over South America.
[MarketWatch – 08/29/2011]

X Class solar flare of August 9, 2011 and subsequent disruption to Japan’s Kodama communications satellite illustrate the vulnerability of Earth’s communication systems to astronomical events – underscores need to prepare.
[PR Web – 08/29/2011]

Globalstar completes French authorization of new satellite constellation.
[MarketWatch – 08/29/2011]

Raytheon ground system passes launch test for critical Polar orbiting satellite.
[Ottawa Citizen – 08/29/2011]

Dish Network and DirecTV take opposite tacks, as Dish embraces diversification including launch of new LTE network, while DirecTV is “well-advanced on a debt-fueled share buyback.”
[DSL Reports – 08/29/2011]

T-Mobile rolls out new satellite backhaul-supported emergency voice service.
[Satellite Today – 08/29/2011]

Research satellite set for launch from Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska on September 27.
[Chron – 08/28/2011]

ISRO issues request for proposal seeking available satellite capacity to lease.
[SatNews – 08/28/2011]

Dish Network seeks FCC approval of TerreStar-DBSD merger.
[Space News – 08/26/2011]

Nigerian satellite launched August 17 returns first pictures.
[BBC News – 08/26/2011]

Russian cargo rocket bound for International Space Station with food and fuel fails and lands in Siberian forest.
[The New York Times – 08/24/2011]

Dish Network wants FCC to let it use Terrestar’s satellite spectrum to roll out LTE-Advanced, although the new standard is not yet ready.
[Wireless Week – 08/23/2011]

Another spectacular launch from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana (technically a “department of France”). The payload included ASTRA 1N and BSAT-3c/JCSAT-110R satellites — both big geo spacecraft, an Astrium Eurostar 3000 and a Lockheed Martin A2100, respectively. Both are intended as replacement capacity for DTH services in their respective markets in Europe and Japan.

Love the ASTRA version, complete with interviews and German voice-over, “ASTRA 1N Satellitenstart an Bord einer Ariane 5 Rakete by SES ASTRA”