Really Rocket Science

Financing no longer expected to be an issue for U.S. satellite exporters as Export-Import Bank plans to maintain aggressive satellite financing position. [Space News – 03/22/2013]

Arianespace announces contract to launch three satellites for Intelsat S.A. [Space Daily – 03/22/2013]

Orbit Communications systems launches new VSAT product line for the maritime market called OceanTRx. [Satellite Spotlight – 03/22/2013]

Intelsat S.A. gets multi-year extension agreement with ART/International Network Distribution of Lebanon for capacity on Intelsat 21 and Intelsat 805, [SatNews – 03/22/2013]

Estonia’s student cubesat satellite is ready for the next Vega launch. [Space Travel – 03/22/2013]

PolarSat receives order for VSATPlus3 from Guangdong Dapeng LNG Company of China to be used for real time SCADA, voice, and corporate services. [SatNews – 03/22/20103]

U.S. Air Force launches second satellite for SBIRS, GEO-2, from Vandenberg AFB. [Satellite Today – 03/21/2013]

High-Throughput dominates Satellite 2013 discussion as NovelSat CEO predicts demand for international satellite bandwidth services will have increased 2,000% in a 10-year timespan between 2002 and 2020. [Satellite Today – 03/21/2013]

Yahsat system is certified for use with the U.S. Air Force’s Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) – WGS terminals will be interoperable with Yahsat’s Ka-band military satellite frequencies. [Space News – 03/21/2013]

Echostar subsidiary Hughes Network Systems announces that it has selected Space Systems/Loral to build the world’s highest capacity broadband satellite, JUPITER2/EchoStar XIX, with over 150 Gbps throughput. [SatNews – 03/21/2013]

ViaSat executive says the company’s refusal to decide on a builder for its ViaSat-2 Ka-band satellite has nothing to do with its lawsuit against Space Systems Loral. [Space News – 03/21/2013]

Sea Launch and EchoStar reach preliminary agreement for launch services in 2015. [Space Travel – 03/21/2013]

Astrium Services expects to partner with MDA on Earth Observation satellite network. [Space News – 03/21/2013]

Apollo-era rocket engine parts are recovered from beyond 3 miles deep in the Atlantic by an expedition funded by Rick Bezos of Amazon. [R&D Magazine – 03/21/2013]

SES reach in 2012, driven by strong gains in India and Germany, extends to 276 million TV homes worldwide. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/21/2013]

ESA’s Planck satellite telescope data used to map the Universe’s most ancient light. [BBC – 03/21/2013]

Space Exploration Technologies’ Merlin 1D engine achieves flight qualification and is now fully qualified to fly on the Falcon 9 rocket. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/21/20103]

Mitsubishi Electric completes expansion of satellite production facility at its Kamakura Works in Kamakura, Japan. [Daily Herald – 03/21/2013]

Armarda Group subsidiary China Mobile Satellite Communications Group (CMSCG) and Thuraya Telecommunications announce distributorship arrangement with China Telecom Satellite (CTS) for the Thuraya SatSleeve, a module that transforms an iPhone into a dual mode satellite phone. [The Business Times – 03/21/2013]

C-COM Satellite Systems introduces new generation of Ka-band flyaway antennas at Satellite 2013. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/21/2013]

SingTel’s ConnectPortal allows shore side professionals to have total control over their shipboard crews’ internet usage by implementing a flexi-time allowance. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/21/2013]

Spacecom adds eighth DTH platform on AMOS-5 over Nigeria. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/21/2013]

Signalhorn has completed the rollout of over 400 point of sale (PoS) sites which service a global fuel retailer’s South African network. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/21/2013]

Free ESA iPhone app allows quadcopter owners to attempt simulated dockings with International Space Station while flying their drones for real. [Space Daily – 03/21/2013]

Voyager 1 leaves our solar systems after traveling 11 billion miles. [R&D Magazine – 03/20/2013]

Radio Frequency Interference-End Users Initiative and Global VSAT Forum collaborate, with support and commitment from World Broadcasting Unions – International Satellite Operations Group, to launch training of satellite newsgathering operators to reduce interference. [SatNews – 03/20/2013]

NSR report grades the financial performance of the big four satellite operators. [SatNews – 03/20/20013]

Newtec wins WTA Teleport Technology of the Year award, presented at WTA luncheon at Satellite 2013. [Newtec Press Release – 03/19/2013]

Launch Services Panel at Satellite 2013 recognizes common challenges while examining cooperative approch to increase business and profitability for the sector. [Satellite Today – 03/20/2013]

Kratos introduces new SATCOM Cybersecurity Assessment service addressing increasing threats and unique requirements of the satellite industry. [Satellite Spotlight – 03/19/2013]

Chinese collaboration with neighbouring countries’ space-related programmes sparks off a fresh scare in India’s national security establishment. [The Economic Times – 03/19/2013]

Nupoint Systems selects Globalstar Data Services for M2M satellite connectivity. [Daily Herald – 03/18/2013]

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Italy blocks completion of controversial U.S. military satellite station in Sicily pending results of a health and environmental study. [Space News – 03/15/2013]

NASA’s first laser-based space communications system, for the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft, has been integrated into the spacecraft and is ready for launch. [R&D Magazine – 03/15/2013]

Swiss company announces plans to develop reusable air-launched suborbital vehicle to launch small satellites into orbit for around $10 million per launch. [Space News – 03/15/2013]

Newest U.S. missile warning satellite encapsulated into payload fairing for March 19 launch from Cape Canaveral. [Space Daily – 03/15/2013]

Preparations for the second Vega launch from French Guiana are underway, with VNREDSat-1A and Proba-V undergoing initial checkout. [SatNews – 03/15/2013]

Idaho Department of Water Resources eagerly awaiting data from recently launched Landsat 8 for use in developing hydrologic models and reaching legal decisions on water rights. [SatNews – 03/15/2013]

ESA and Roscosmos sign ExoMars deal after NASA bows out mainly due to funding restrictions. [NASA Spaceflight – 03/14/2013]

ResearchMoz report on Global Military Satellites Market provides detailed analysis of the current industry size and growth expectations from 2012 – 2022, including key growth stimulators. [Satellite Spotlight – 03/14/2013]

Reinventing Space – dramatically reducing space mission cost for traditional large spacecraft missions. [Space News – 03/14/2013]

ViviSat opens ATK Robotic Rendezvous and Proximity (RPO) testing facility to its clients for tours of the facility during Satellite 2013. [SatNews – 03/14/2013]

Prodea Systems, Inc. Residential Operating System, a comprehensive distributed cloud-based platform, has been integrated into satellite hybrid set-top boxes destined for My-HD subscribers across Middle East and North Africa. [equities.com – 03/14/2013]

Gilat to introduce new revenue-enhancing satellite broadband solutions at Satellite 2013. [4-traders – 03/14/2013]

Telenor Satellite Broadcasting signs agreement with Neterra, a new direct-to-home shared platform that offers pay-tv services in Bulgaria. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/14/2013]

Editors of Satellite Today and Via Satellite publish “2012 Satellite Industry Financial Breakdown.” summarizing satellite industry’s top companies’ financial performance in 2012 and forecasting expectations for 2013. [Satellite Today – 03/14/2013]

Foxcomm will mark 20 years of serving the Satcom industry at Satellite 2013. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/14/2013]

Glowlink introduces GS380, a breakthrough product dramatically improving performance and effectiveness of satellite interference geolocation systems. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/13/2013]

Harris CapRock expands collaboration with O3b to deliver advance communications solution for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd cruise ships Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas. [SatNews – 03/13/2013]

Thuraya, in partnership with Rory Peck Trust, sponsors freelance journalist with the IP+ satellite terminal. [Yahoo! Finance – 03/13/2013]

Newtec’s latest broadband equipment helps expand SES Ka-band Broadband Services offering. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/13/2013]

Service provider IsNet successfully deploys satellite-based backup network for a major Oil and Gas company in Turkey employing PolarSat system. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/13/2013]

The fifth WGS satellite for the Air Force, WGS-5, arrives at Shuttle Landing Facility in Florida, from where it will be transported to Cape Canaveral for launch. [Los Angeles Air Force Base News – 03/12/2013]

ITC Global agrees to acquire NewSat, expanding its position in worldwide energy markets. [Yahoo! Finance – 03/12/2013]

Eutelsat and OneAccess develop first performance-enhanced platform for businesses designed to deliver services on Eutelsat’s KA-SAT Hight Throughput Satellite in a secure VPN environment. [msn MONEY – 03/12/2013]

Talia and Newtec provide new satellite communications backbone infrastructure for AGSM.MOBI in Somalia. [Satellite Spotlight – 03/12/2013]

Sumitomo of Japan will use ORBCOMM’s global satellite communications network to track and monitor the location, status and performance of their equipment anywhere in the world. [Yahoo! Finance – 03/12/2013]

DigitalGlobe contracts MDA to build a satellite ground station which it will use ton enable access to imagery and data from the WorldView satellites for an unnamed international customer. [Satellite Today – 03/12/2013]

Active Russian satellite collides with what is thought to be remnants of a destroyed Chinese satellite. [Satellite Today – 03/11/2013]

Satellites built by Orbital Sciences Corporation exceed 1,000 years of cumulative in-orbit operational experience. [Stockhouse – 03/11/2013]

GE Aviation to provide inertial reference units for Boeing’s wideband phased array satellite communications systems for airborne mobile communications. [Satellite Spotlight – 03/11/2013]

C-band use again to take stage at World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07), with satellite operators challenging use of C-band by mobile operators. [International Telecommuinication Union – ITU News Magazine]

Satellite communications enable government agencies, emergency response, and military organizations to maintain continuity of operations during and after an event when network outages can be life threatening. [MILSAT Magazine – March 2013 edition}

NSR Energy Markets via Satellite report adds coverage into the mining and utilities verticals, in the midst of a bandwidth revolution that may affect satellite companies over the next decade. [NSR – March 2013]

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Satellite Interference Reduction Group announces approval of the DVB Carrier ID specification which will now be submitted to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute for formal standardization. [SatNews – 03/08/2013]

SES signs contract with BT to provide satellite communications services for the Galileo Data Dissemination Network (GDDN) to support the Galileo Operator Spaceopal. [equities.com – 03/08/2013]

TCS gets $16 million in incremental funding to provide Deployed Engineering Services to the U.S. Marine Corp for its Wireless Point to Point Link systems. [msn MONEY – 03/08/2013]

Glowlink to unveil a technology that can remove interferences from broadband communications signals, including those occurring in satellite communications, at Satellite 2013. [SatNews – 03/07/2013]

China’s fourth launch center, located on tropical island of Hainan, to be ready for space launches in two years. [Space Daily – 03/07/2013]

Harris is awarded contract to study and make recommendations to help modernize the U.S. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. [SatNews – 03/07/2013]

U.S. Air Force unit’s mission is to defend and protect operability of the Air Force’s communications satellites, combating intentional and accidently jamming. [U.S.A.F. – 03/07/2013]

New NSR report examines the launch services industry in midst of environment that has raised questions about launch services reliability. [SatNews – 03/07/2013]

Russian GLONASS orbital navigation group is again at full strength. [GPS Daily – 03/07/2013]

China targeting global coverage for its BeiDou navigation system by 2020. [GPS Daily – 03/07/2013]

ViaSat HTS ViaSat-1, the Ka-band satellite used for Exede Internet, earns Guinness World Records title as highest-capacity satellite in the world – 100 times typical Ku-band satellite and 10 times any Ka-band satellite. [SatNews – 03/07/2013]

U.S. House of Representatives approves legislation funding next generation of NOAA weather satellites. [SatNews – 03/07/2013]

MacDonald Dettwiler stock has room to rise as it taps U.S. government satellite market through its Space Systems/Loral acquisition. [Bloomberg Businessweek – 03/07/2013]

Spacenet’s new ECSConnectTM solution offers affordable emergency broadband communications and eliminates upfront capital expenditure. [Satellite Spotlight – 03/07/2013]

Inmarsat and Kymeta sign agreement to develop revolutionary satellite antenna to enable business jets of any size to access high-speed broadband connectivity globally. {Satellite Evolution Group – 03/07/2013]

Indian Space Research Organisation plans construction of high-resolution remote sensing Earth satellite, Cartosat-3, capable of 0.25 metre resolution. [Space News – 03/06/22013}

Inmarsat certifies Boeing to provide 3G, Voice over IP, streaming video, direct dialing, secure communications, and other capabilities through Inmarsat-4 L-band service. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/07/2013]

Thuraya signs Service Partner agreement with Pivotel Group Pty Limited of Australia, enabling licensed mobile carrier Pivotel to provide Thuraya’s products and services across Australia and Southern Asia. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/07/2013]

News Corporation announces that its News Limited subsidiary will divest its 44% stake in SKY Network Television Limited of New Zealand. [SatNews – 03/07/2013]

EM Solutions delivers two Australian-made Ka-Band ‘Satellite on the Move’ systems to partner Jepico Corporation in Japan. [WBMSAT Press Releases – 03/06/2013]

ITC Global signs a long term agreement to provide Kinross Gold Corporation with a comprehensive satellite communications network and bandwidth service for its mining sites in Russia. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/06/2013]

ViaSat demonstrates high-performance Ka-band satellite communication system providing sustained data rates of 4Mbps from helicopter to ground station and 8 Mbps from ground station to helicopter. [SatNews – 03/06/2013]

Eutelsat and Alterie Telecom complete renewal of three long-term satellite capacity contracts on EUTELSAT 5. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/06/2013]

Romantis releases new software for UHP VSAT platform. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/06/2013]

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited signs agreement with Glavkosmos/NPO Lavotchkin for the launch of the UK technology demonstration mission TechDemoSat-1 in Q3 of 2013. [Satellite Evolution Group – 03/05/2013]

SpaceX flight controllers succeed in recovery of Dragon, getting it to the International Space Station a day late. [R&D Magazine – 03/04/2013]

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SpaceX Dragon is on the way to the International Space Station again; the third launch within a year, carrying fresh fruit, clothing, computer parts and other gear, and seeds, mouse stem cells, and protein crystals for research. [R&D Magazine – 03/01/2013]

SpaceX Dragon suffers anomaly after reaching orbit; Twitter accounts inferred thruster problems prevented solar array deployment – company says arrays have now been deployed, and it is working on thruster problem. [Space Travel – 03/01/2013]

Globalstar announces successful fourth launch of six second-generation satellites. [Space Daily – 03/01/2013]

Intelsat expects to replace Intelsat 27 with insurance money and have some left over to pay down debt. [Space News – 03/01/2013]

Quantum Physics may be used for secure satellite links as teams around the world pursue the idea of a quantum satellite. [SatNews – 03/01/2013]

Iridium asks for investor patience, projecting 10% growth from 2013 through 2015. [Space News – 03/01/2013]

Glowlink to unveil break-through products and technology designed to prevent, detect, locate, and remove satellite interferences, at Satellite 2013. [SatNews – 03/01/2013]

China plans manned space craft launch that will dock with the country’s orbiting space laboratory. [Space Daily – 02/28/2013]

Eutelsat and Deutsche Telekom reach final settlement to dispute regarding duration of Eutelsat’s right to use German filing at 28.5° [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/28/2013]

Vietnam expects to launch its third satellite, VNREDSat-1A, during the second quarter of 2013. [SatNews – 02/28/2013]

European Commission proposes new programme to help EU Member States combine their space surveillance capacities and offer services to locate and monitor dangerous space debris, alerting satellite operators of collision risks. [European Commission Enterprise and Industry News – 02/28/2013]

Thales Alenia Space signs agreement with ISS- Reshetnev Company creating a joint venture initially focused on production of equipment meeting the most demanding international standards for use on Russian telecommunication satellites. [SatNews – 02/28/2013]

Outerlink announces launch of first satellite IP push-to-talk solution for helicopter communications via multi-tiered platform Communique HUB. [Yahoo News – 02/28/2013]

GVF conference at Satellite 2013 premised on fact that the seas are an essential resource for industry, commerce, and leisure, rendering our ability to communicate effectively whilst on the ocean of paramount importance. [SatNews – 02/28/2013]

Advantech Wireless receives orders worth more than $2million for its high power, high linearity GaN based SSPA line, covering both C-band and Ku-band. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/28/2013]

Clear Channel Satellite announces deployment of the XtremeSat Media satellite broadcast distribution platform for contemporary Christian music radio station KSBJ. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/28/2013]

Newtec is selected by California-based X2nSat to provide equipment for a new B2B broadband and SCADA service aiming to offer reliable and fast connectivity for enterprise and government markets. [Satellite Today – 02/27/2013]

TS2 expands Internet Access in Afghanistan utilizing Avanti’s HYLAS 2 Ka-band satellite. [Yahoo Finance – 02/27/2013]

Gilat Satcom announces new deal with pan-African Internet service provider and mobile WiMAX carrier to deliver broadband services throughout Mozambique. [Satellite Today – 02/26/2013]

Flightcell will present “the world’s smallest, lightest, and smartest satellite communication and tracking system, DZMx,” at the March 2013 HELI-EXPO. [rotor.com – 02/26/2013]

Maritime Broadband selects Revmar Dynamics as the full-service exclusive distributor of the company’s C-Bird VSAT in Greece and Cyprus. [Satellite Today – 02/26/2013]

Australian company EM Solutions launches North American and MENA presences marketing its broadband Ka-satcom RF equipment. [Press Release @ WBMSAT – 02/26/2013]

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launches the SARAL Indo-French satellite from its spaceport at Sriharikota. [Satellite Today – 02/25/2013]

Northrop Grumman Delivers first communications payload for U.S. Air Force’s Enhanced Polar System. [Satellite Spotlight – 02/25/2013]

NewSat announces it has secured all required funding for the Jabiru-1 satellite to be launched in 205. [Satellite Today – 02/25/2013]

U.S. Army upgrades terminal training suite for its advanced Secure Mobile Anti-Jam Reliable Tactical – Terminal (SMART-T). [AR News – 02/25/2013]

Gilat’s new SkyEdge 2-c Internet connectivity solution now includes Ka-band support. [Satellite Today – 02/25/2013]

MTN announces exclusive partnership with BATS to market Broadband Antenna Tracking and Stabilization system to the cruise, ferry and large yacht markets. [SAT PR – 02/25/2013]

New NSR report answers critical questions affecting the in-flight connectivity business. [NSR – April 2013 report]

“Limited Satellite Capacity in Asia-Pacific: Risk to our Warfighters” is the title of a free webinar scheduled for April 3rd, 2013, sponsored by Via Satellite and SES Government Solutions. [Satellite Today web site]

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Meteorite crash in Russia focuses news article on proposal by Deep Space Industries to establish several sentry lines encircling Earth with small spacecraft able to dart after intruders to get close-up photos and data. [SatNews – 02/15/2013]

Russia may suspend its lease of some facilities at the Baikonur space complex, allowing for joint operation of the space base by Russia and Kazakhstan. [R&D Magazine – 02/15/2013]

Gilat will provide satellite-base communications as the primary mode of connectivity for up to 30,000 ATM sites across India for Nelco and Bharti Airtel. [Satellite Spotlight – 02/15/2013]

NASA satellite image reveals evidence of the recent volcanic eruption on Indonesian island of Paluweh. [SatNews – 02/15/2013]

JPL research team finds way to control erosion of electric rocket engine walls by shaping engine’s magnetic field to shield the walls from ion bombardment. [Space Travel – 02/15/2013]

Society of Exploration Geophysicists article describes how two energy companies used satellite imagery to locate and attempt to unravel mystery surrounding British Royal Air Force fighter plane crash in Egyptian Desert in World War II. [SatNews – 02/15/2013]

NASA shows that Orion spacecraft can safely land even if one of its three parachutes fails to deploy. [Space Travel – 02/15/2013]

Possible changes incorporated in latest Chinese launch vehicle, Shenzhou 10, remain veiled. [Space Daily – 02/15/2013]

Beam Communications enters into agreement with Beijing Marine Communications and Navigation Company for $1 million worth of Beam Inmarsat satellite terminals. [SatNews – 02/15/2013]

As the Sequestration concept gains momentum as a U.S. government satellite acquisition approach, the GAO urges action on the weather satellite gap, adding it to the so-called high-risk list. [Federal Times – 02/14/2013]

France selects Astrium to build the country’s first digital, military ultra-fast broadband satellite network. [UPI – 02/14/2013]

Astrium will contribute to development and demonstration of service to measure citywide emissions of greenhouse gases in Paris. [Satellite Today – 02/14/2013]

Spanish researchers claim to have developed new system capable of increasing conventional GPS devices’ accuracy by as much as 90%. [Satellite Today – 02/14/2013]

Fujitsu Frontech North America will showcase at Video Service Forum’s Los Angeles conference a new firmware release for its video encoders/decoders that dramatically improves end-to-end latency while delivering exceptional video quality at reduced bit rates. [SatNews – 02/14/2013]

COM DEV equipment is utilized aboard NASA’s recently launched TDRS-K satellite. [Broadcaster Magazine – 02/14/2013]

Hughes will demonstrate high-speed wireless 4G/LTE capabilities over satellite at California’s Naval Postgraduate School’s Joint Interagency Field Exploration event. [Satellite Today – 02/14/2013]

Spacenet gets 5-year base contract from one of world’s leading delivery services companies to upgrade and provide network connectivity to more than 5,700 locations. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/14/2013]

PolarSat gets multi-phase order from GECI for equipment supply and technical services for a VSATPuls3 satellite communications network to upgrade air traffic control communications network within Mozambique. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/14/2013]

MTN expands its MTN Worldwide TV service to include three new live channels, as well as programming in French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/14/2013]

Hughes M2M satellite terminal integrates 9502 modem with compact antenna to create single-piece, integrated, rugged terminal to withstand the most extreme weather conditions, providing IP connectivity over BGAN network. [SatNews – 02/14/2013]

South Korea moves to accelerate development of longer-range ballistic missiles in response to third nuclear test by North Korea. [Space Daily – 02/13/2013]

Boeing signs contract with U.S. Air Force worth more than $50 million for completion and deployment of the 12 GPS satellites it is building for the government. [Satellite Today – 02/13/2013]

ITT Excelis sensor to be used on U.S. Air Force weather satellites under new contract will provide the Air Force and war fighter with better weather information, especially regarding clouds. [SatNews – 02/13/2013]

Norsat introduces GLOBETrekker 2.0 upgraded fly-away satellite terminal. [Stockhouse – 02/13/2013]

Polish satellite TV operators Cyfra+ plan to introduce new satellite platform to include Internet service and compete with Cyfrowy Polsat, which offers LTE Internet service at 150 Mbps. [Satellite Today – 02/13/2013]

Study using data from NASA satellites finds that parts of Middle East region lost 117 million acre feet of freshwater reserves over past 7 years. [SatNews – 02/13/2013]

Near-Earth asteroid not expected to pose any threat to orbiting satellites. [Satellite Today – 02/13/2013]

Hughes to demonstrate how “store of the future” will be driven by its high-powered networks and managed services solutions at EuroCIS 2013. [Yahoo Finance – 02/13/2013]

Deep Space Industries to use cubesats to investigate nature of near-Earth asteroids with goal of eventually mining the asteroids to create propellant to extend the working life of communications satellites among other applications. [SatNews – 02/13/2013]

Landsat satellite successfully launched from Vandenberg AFB. [Satellite Today – 02/12/2013]

NASA demonstrates robotic fluid transfer in space during Robotic Refueling Mission aboard the International Space Station. [SatNews – 02/12/2013]

The 1800th flight of a Soyuz launch vehicle successfully placed Progress cargo spacecraft on target orbit for another mission to the International Space Station. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/12/2013]

Comtech Xicom gets $.4 million order for traveling wave tube amplifiers from U.S. government agency for military communications. [Satellite Spotlight – 02/12/2013]

SES and Viking Satcom partner for development and deployment of commercial satellite antenna systems to enable expansion of SES’s center arc cable neighborhood. [Satellite Today – 02/12/2013]

Newtec signs Basic Ordering Agreement with the NATO Communications and Information Agency. [Satellite Spotlight – 02/12/2013]

MDA signs contract with OGSystems to develop prototype surveillance solutions for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that will utilize a quickly deployable mobile satellite terminal to receive and process imagery from multiple commercial satellites. [Satellite Today – 02/12/2013]

Kratos gets multi-million SES contract for interference monitoring and geolocation system enhancements. [Equities.com – 02/11/2013]

Harris CapRock and AIS Engineering team to provide end-to-end satellite, teleport and terrestrial services to U.S. intelligence customer. [Orlando Business Journal – 02/12/2013]

Astrium Services signs multi-year renewal agreement for C-band capacity to serve maritime customers in the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. [Satellite Spotlight – 02/11/2013]

Hosted U.S.A.F. infrared surveillance payload on commercial satellite will be discussed with industry. [Military Aerospace – 02/10/2013]

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Arianespace successfully orbits Amazonas-3 and Azerspace/Africasat-1a satellites. [Space Travel – 02/08/2013]

Video released showing entire process of South Korean rocket successfully entering orbit and releasing satellite. [Mail Online – 02/08/2013]

Gilat enters into joint venture with regional African Internet Service Provider Microlink to enhance affordable high-speed fiber and satellite connectivity services throughout Zambia. [Satellite Today – 02/07/2013]

Arabsat acquires majority stake in Hellas-Sat in Euro 208 million deal with Hellenic Telecommunication Organization. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/807/2013]

XTAR to expand international reach into Africa and Asia. [Satellite Today – 02/07/2013]

Astrium Services signs multi-year renewal agreement with Intelsat for C-band capacity to be used in the Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/07/2013]

NASA and ATK complete second in series of development tests for NASA’s Space Launch System booster program at Utah test facility. [Space Travel – 02/07/2013]

The Satellite Design Lab at the University of Texas wins first place in the national University Nanosatellite Program competition. [Satellite Today – 02/07/2013]

Joint UK mission between University of Surrey’s Surrey Space Centre and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited ready to send world’s first smartphone satellite into orbit. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/07/2013]

China begins project to modernize its agricultural system utilizing satellite technology. [Satellite Today – 02/07/2013]

Arianespace and its Russian Starsem affiliate successfully launch six new satellites for Globastar from Baikonur. [Satellite Today – 02/06/2013]

SES’ German HD+ platform exceeds one million paying households. [SatNews – 02/06/2013]

Liberty Global becomes one of world’s largest broadband communications companies, and moves to a new home in the United Kingdom, following its acquisition of Virgin Media. [Satellite Today – 02/06/2013]

NSR reports the latest market shift for Satellite Broadband is toward Russia. [SatNews – 02/06/2013]

TSF team sets up humanitarian calling operations and Internet via satellite for local populations in Timbuktu. [SatNews – 02/06/2013]

GVF certified satellite products to be highlighted at CabSat. [Satellite Evolution Group – 02/06/2013]

Clyde Space announces that first satellite designed and built in Scotland will be launched aboard a Russian rocket from Baikonur next June. [Satellite Today – 02/06/2013]

Boeing files lawsuit for more than $355 million against former Sea Launch partners. [Satellite Today – 02/06/2013]

NASA’s first of three next-generation Tracking and Data Relay Satellites, TDRS-K, is launched from Cape Canaveral. [Satellite Spotlight – 02/05/2013]

President Ahmadinejad wants to be first Iranian astronaut. [Reuters – 02/05/2013]

Gilat is selected by ALEF Soluciones Integrales of Mexico to deploy over 7,000 SkyEdge VSATs in support of the Mexican government’s new “SCT 10K” service. [Globe Newswire – 02/05/20

China is expected to be the global investment leader for the energy and utility sectors as well as emerging verticals and mining in the SCADA/M2M market. [NSR – 02/05/2013]

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Millions of trucks on the road — and thousands are long-haul truckers. When they pull over to sleep, they run their engines all night. Burning a gallon of diesel per hour adds up, good buddy.

Why are rocket scientists like me thinking about idling rigs at truck stops? I read about IdleAir adding free satellite TV to their service in Fleet Owner. Hmm. They provide TSE (truck stop electrification) services. So what is that?

When a trucker parks overnight, they will need a power source to keep their air conditioning, heat, refrigerator, television, radio etc. going. If truck stop electrification is not available, idling is the only means to provide this source of power, assuming the truck is not equipped with an auxiliary power unit. Truck stop electrification allows a trucker to “plug-in” to power their on and off-board electrical needs. There are two types of truck stop electrification, single-system and dual-system. Single-system provides power to on-board devices and requires a hose that connects to the truck. Dual-system can power off-board devices and requires the truck to have an adapter to plug into a 120 volt outlet.

The pricing is about half of what diesel costs and keeping emissions from dissipating in our breathing air is a plus.

Hey, this is good stuff. The U.S. DoE agrees. There’s competition, too, from CabAire and Shorepower.

I would think these types of businesses are in a good position to provide electric-car charging stations.

They love this on the west coast…

Intelsat 27 plunges into Pacific as Zenit-3SL Sea Launch rocket fails 50 seconds after launch, possibly veering off course due to heavy waves. [Space Travel – 02/01/2013]

DigitalGlobe enters GeoEye into United Arab Emirates competition by proposing to sell the nearly completed GeoEye-2 satellite to the UAE. [Space News – 02/01/2013]

Space programs face cuts in 2014-2020 European Union budget. [Space News – 02/01/2013]

NASA successfully launches a Terrier-Improved Orion suborbital rocket from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. [Space Travel – 02/01/2013]

Iran’s claims to have launched a Pioneer Explorer Satellite with a monkey aboard, and to have safely recovered the monkey, called into question as photos appear to show two different monkeys. [Space News – 02/01/2013]

Inmarsat, with partners AnsuR Technologies and SingTel, showcase portfolio of voice and data solutions at Asia Pacific  Aid and International Development Forum in Thailand. [SatNews – 02/01/2013]

Yahsat partners with turIT Uganda to begin operating its Yahclick satellite broadband service in Uganda. [Satellite Today – 01/31/2013]

Eutelsat announces it will deliver the fastest satellite-based consumer broadband speeds in the United Kingdom with a new range of Tooway packages with unlimited data download usage day and night, at competitive prices. [Satellite Today – 01/31/2013]

PolarSat receives multiple orders from General Administration of Civil Aviation of China for equipment supply and technical services for additional VSATPlus II satellite communications equipment. [SatNews – 01/31/2013]

NASA program will use spare parts from a retired wind-measurement satellite to build a new hosted observatory that will be launched to the International Space Station in 2014. [Space News – 01/30/2013]

South Korea successfully launches its first satellite, an Earth observation satellite launched aboard the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1). [Satellite Today – 01/30/2013]

Globalstar confirms February 5 launch for its fourth launch of six second generation satellites. [Satellite Evolution Group – 01/30/2013]

European Space Agency selects Astrium to develop the Ariane 5 ME and Ariane 6 launchers. [Satellite Today – 01/30/2013]

Inmarsat introduces Remote Terminal Manager, which provides management and control over unmanned M2M terminals in the field. [Satellite Today – 01/30/2013]

New NASA TDRS-K satellite is first of three to launch between now and 2014 to upgrade the TDRS satellite network for tracking spacecraft and satellites orbiting Earth. [Space.com – 01/29/2013]

Boeing completes software qualification and systems integration tests on U.S. Air Force Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminal (FAB-T) program which will provide protected wideband satellite communications for command and control of U.S. nuclear forces. [Satellite Spotlight – 01/29/2013]

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to launch Israel’s Amos 6 communications satellite in 205. [Spaceflight Now – 01/29/2013]

Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems Interoperability Working Group meets in France, welcoming for the first time Russian and Indian representatives. [Satellite Today – 01/29/2013]

Global military satellite market is dominated by Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin. [Companies and Markets – 01/29/2013]

Hughes satellite broadband internet and voice supports Habitat for Humanity in Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts. [msn MONEY – 01/29/2013]

Swedish based satellite broadband supplier Ancylus enters strategic partnership with Net1 to offer Scandinavian and Nordic maritime market a cost effective Hybrid broadband solution. [WBMSAT – 01/29/2013]

Skywave’s IsatData Pro satellite network and ILS Technology’s deviceWISE M2M platform are teamed to enable Oil & Gas, Utilities, and Industrial Automation industries to implement SCADA applications in less time at lower cost. [Satellite Spotlight – 01/29/2013]

Gilat announces its subsidiary Wavestream has exclusive contract to provide Ka-band tranceivers to Honeywell to provide in-flight connectivity to Inmarsat Global Xpress network. [MarketWatch – 01/29/2013]

Singapore’s MediaCorp selects Pay-OTT platform provider Tvinci to power its new cross device service, Toggle, available as a subscription or pay per view service offering both linear and video on-demand. [Satellite Today – 01/29/2013]

NATO’s protected satellite communications capability to be upgraded by Thales to enhance performance and reduce operational costs. [UPI – 01/28/2013]

Effects of Worst Satellite Breakups in History Still Felt Today. [Space.com – 01/28/2013]

ViaSat signs contracts that increase Ku-band satellite capacity of Global Mobility Satellite Network by more than 60 percent. [4-traders – 01/28/2013]

Hughes is contracted by government of Punjab to provide India’s largest ever satellite-based education network, for over 2900 schools. [msn MONEY – 01/28/2013]

Japan plans to offer 4K satellite video broadcasts starting in July 2014; also, NHK expects to bring 8K on line by 2016 (8K is understood to be at the limit of what the human eye can process). [Satellite Today – 01/28/2013]

Belarusbank to service Chinese loan for Belarusian satellite communication project. [Belarusian Telegraph Agency – 01/28/2013]

Rusat, a Russian satellite service provider for enterprise, ISPs, and government agencies, launches new satellite broadband service using Newtec’s latest VSAT hub and end-user terminal technology. [Satellite Today – 01/28/2013]

Japan successfully launches two intelligence satellites, amid concerns over North Korean plans for additional long-range rocket tests and nuclear tests. [Satellite Today – 01/27/2013]

Satellites reveal North Korean nuclear test preparations. [Nextgov – 01/25/2013]

NSR free webinar March 13 to discuss government and military satcom demand. [NSR – March 13 Webinar]

NSR report, Energy Markets Via Satellite, 3rd Edition, coming in March. [NSR – Energy Markets Report]

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Eutelsat to field test experimental anti-jamming capability on one of its upcoming satellites to be stationed over the Middle East.
[Space News – 01/25/2013]

Fit-check completed for Azerspace and Africasat-1a aboard Ariane 5 for February 7 launch.
[Space Travel – 01/25/2013]

Could Israel and Ukraine join the European Space Agency?
[Space News – 01/25/2013]

China introduces special funding for satellite industrialization program.
[Satellite Spotlight – 01/25/2013]

Iran’s Space Agency officials announce they are manufacturing hi-tech spacesuits.
[Space Travel – 01/25/2013]

European Space Agency activates the Search-and-Rescue payload aboard one of the Galileo positioning, navigation and timing satellites.
[Space News – 01/25/2013]

British Science Minister announces some $95 million in new investments in space technology.
[Space News – 01/25/2013]

General Dynamics upgrading their Manpack radios with kits to add MUOS communication capability.
[SatNews – 01/25/2013]

Inmarsat selects Metaswitch for advanced VoIP products for its Global Xpress Communication Service.
[TMCnet – 01/25/2013]

Translation errors delay ESA’s formal approval of ExoMars pact with Russia.
[Space News – 01/24/2013]

Russia warns Kazakhstan it might withdraw from joint projects if Astana insists on restricting satellite launches from Russia’s rented Baikonur cosmodrome.
[Space Daily – 01/24/2013]

Raytheon bids for U.S. Air Force contract to build a new nuclear command and control communications system using both Extremely High Frequency and Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite waveforms.
[UPI – 01/24/2013]

German space chief feels NASA has made “fundamental change in its thinking” and will allow Europe to build all future propulsion modules for NASA’s Orion crew-transport vehicle.
[Space News – 01/24/2013]

Arabsat concludes first hosted payload deal in the Middle East.
[Satellite Today – 01/24/2013]

Atlas V rocket defect delays launch of NASA’s next Tracking and Data Relay satellite.
[Satellite Today – 01/24/2013]

Glitch in upper stage Rockot vehicle causes further delay in ESA’s Swarm mission.
[Space News – 01/24/2013]

Newtec is selected by Gazprom Space Systems to provide equipment for a new FST platform to be run via the Yamal-402 satellite.
[Satellite Evolution – 01/24/2013]

Eutelsat will offer in-flight connectivity services through KA-SAT.
[Satellite Today – 01/24/2013]

KVH makes satellite TV more affordable for boat owners, dropping price of its 12.5 inch TracVision M1 marine satellite TV antenna by 20 percent.
[SatNews – 01/24/2013]

Norsat launches new Machine-To-Machine satellite product line.
[Satellite Evolution Group – 01/24/2013]

Spain-based Global IP signs multi-year agreements with Intelsat allowing it to provide broadband service to maritime customers in Indian Ocean region.
[Satellite Evolution – 01/24/2013]

Georgian mobile and telecommunication company MagtiCom signs agreement with SES for fourth transponder at ASTRA 31.5 East for Georgia’s first domestic DTH platform. [Satellite Evolution – 01/24/2013]

Resurrecting dead satellites – Pentagon research aims at recovering valuable parts from de-commissioned satellites.
[R&D Magazine – 01/23/2013]

Sea Launch prepares for January 30 launch of Intelsat 27.
[Satellite Evolution – 01/23/2013]

Gilat Peru wins $9.6 million contract to provide satellite connectivity for 320 remote locations and a disaster recovery site for Banco de la Nacion.
[msnbc – 01/23/2013]

GeoEye fails to capture satellite image of Presidential Inauguration in two attempts.
[Satellite Today – 01/23/2013]

Azerbaijan expects to launch its first telecommunications satellite in early February. [UPI – 01/22/2013]

U.S. Export Import Bank guarantees $87.1 million loan to finance Hispasat satellite.
[Satellite Today – 010/22/2013]

UltraHD – a niche opportunity for satellite carriers, according to NSR report.
[NSR – 01/22/2013]

Belgium Satellite Services signs long-term contract with Eutelsat for C-band capacity on Eutelsat 10A.
[Satellite Spotlight – 01/22/2013]

Explorersweb takes a look at satellite phones during its Expedition Tech Week. [Explorersweb – 01/22/2013]

New Trimble service uses satellite broadcast capabilities to deliver high accuracy correction service (better than 20 inch or better than 6 inch) to farmers.
[Yahoo Finance – 01/21/2013]

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Cape Canaveral launch manifest for 2013 includes 16 launches, 4 more than 2012, but availability of booster rockets may slow the planned launch rate.
[Space News – 01/11/2013]

Arianespace targets total of 12 missions with Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega in 2013.
[Space Travel – 01/11/2013]

Landsat Data Continuity Mission is scheduled for February 11th launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base.
[SatNews – 01/11/2013]

AXE looking for men and women from 60 countries to sign up for 22 seats aboard the suborbital spacecraft Lynx  under its new Apollo campaign, created by AXE with one of first men to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin.
[Space Travel – 01/11/2013]

TCS gets another $3.4 million in incremental funding from U.S. Army for SNAP deployable satellite systems equipment and support.
[msn Money – 01/11/2013]

Com Dev says it will refuse to build the central electronics system it has been designing for Canada’s Radarsat Constellation Mission once the program transitions to a fixed price contract, citing high technical risk.
[Space News – 01/11/2013]

KVH launches new Unrestricted Rate Plans featuring Business Class Service for its mini-VSAT Broadband network.
[Space Daily – 01/11/2013]

Hong Kong telecom and services distributor Neo Telemedia acquires HCH Investments for $273 million in effort to enter satellite telecommunication operator business.
[Satellite Today – 01/10/2013]

Ball Aerospace completes successful critical design review for Joint Polar Satellite System spacecraft.
[Satellite Evolution – 01/10/2013]

MDA gets $706 million contract from Canadian Space Agency to build, launch, and provide initial operations for the Canadian government’s Radarsat Constellation Mission.
[Satellite Today – 01/10/2013]

Israel’s Aerospace to use ATK’s PUMA solar array on AMOS-6.
[SatNews – 01/10/2013]

GeoEye announces first sale of stereo imagery from high resolution GeoEye-1 satellite to Government of India to support development of India’s freight-railway corridor.
[Satellite Evolution – 01/10/2013]

Lockheed Martin Solar Ultraviolet Imager for GOES-R series meets requirements of Pre-Environmental Review.
[Satellite Evolution – 01/10/2013]

Hughes gets New England Telehealth Consortium contract to provide high-speed satellite services for mobile telehealth clinics throughout rural Northern New England. [Satellite Evolution – 01/10/2013]

GeoEye receives antitrust clearance from U.S. Department of Justice for pending combination with DigitalGlobe.
[Satellite Evolution – 01/10/02013]

Toyota to equip its entire vehicle line-up with SirusXM radio equipment starting in 2013.
[SatNews – 01/09/2013]

Dish outbids Sprint in attempt to acquire Clearwire.
[Android Police – 01/08/2013]

SES mourns loss of satellite executive Rob Bednarek.
[Fort Mill Times – 01/08/2013]

Orbcomm gets additional $45 million loan to help secure investment in OG2 satellite constellation.
[Satellite Today – 01/10/2013]

Lockheed Martin completes and delivers software waveform to enable military satellite communications terminal providers to deploy equipment taking full advantage of enhanced MUOS capabilities.
[Satellite Spotlight – 01/08/2013]

ViaSat ships 500th ultra-small airborne satellite terminal.
[TMCnet – 01/08/2013]

iDirect is recipient of 2012 INTERNET TELEPHONY Product of the Year award for its cost effective Evolution X1 satellite remote DVB-S2/ACM TDMA narrow-band product for SCADA/M2M applications.
[SatNews – 01/08/2013]

SkyBitz inclusion of cellular 3G in its portfolio of SCADA/M2M solutions may signal cellular threat to satellite SCADA/M2M.
[NSR – 01/08/2013]

Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructs communications ministry to provide efficient and well-organised functioning of communications companies.
[Satellite Spotlight – 01/08/2013]

Space Systems/Loral determines that inability to vent air led to honeycomb central solar panel failures during the Telstar-14, Telstar 14R, and Intelsat-19 launches. [SatNews – 01/07/2013]

ATK to conduct study of network-centric small satellites under U.S. Air Force contract.
[Satellite Today – 01/07/2013]

Despite today’s almost exclusive focus on big-pipe broadband VSAT services for high value segments, recent Hughes India contract to connect 27,000 ATMs in a narrow-band network is like hearing a great, forgotten classic on the radio.
[NSR – 01/07/2013]

MTN signs contracts with Windstar Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises and The World to provide array of VSAT services.
[Satellite Today – 01/07/2013]

Marlink completes series of new FSAT installations aboard De Poli Tankers BV vessels.
[SatNews – 01/07/2013]

NSR’s Broadband Satellite Markets report, 11th edition, assesses installed base of sites or subscribers in seven different regional markets, investigates market growth trends, forecasts service and equipment revenue, and predicts satellite capacity requirements.
[NSR – December 2012]

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