Posts Tagged ‘space news’

WBMSAT News Bits 07/17/2014

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014

Satellite companies on the Future Space 2014 event panel “Return of Wicked Cool Space Technology,” discussed advanced satellite manufacturing and launch systems.
[Via Satellite – 07/18/2014]

Futron announces the release of the 2014 Space Competitiveness Index.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 07/18/2014]

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), prime contractor for Orbcomm’s OG2 satellites, has established communication with the first six spacecraft launched July 14, 2014.
[Via Satellite 07/18/2014]

GPS3 satellite – Credit: Lockheed Martin artist’s concept – Space News

Senate spending bill directs U.S. Air Force to develop alternative GPS payload.
[Space News – 07/18/2014]

Short-term demand for 4K/Ultra-HD televisions hindered by lack of consumer awareness and sensitivity to the cost of the advanced sets.
[Satellite Markets & Research – 07/18/2014]

UAE reveals plans for unmanned mission to Mars by 2021.
[Reuters – 07/16/2014]

Two space satellites for India will be manufactured in Russia.
[ITAR TASS – 07/16/2014]

Liquid Telecom extends Eutelsat contract to 2019.
[Via Satellite – 07/18/2014]

Artist rendition of the SES 12. Photo: SES – Via Satellite

SES selects Airbus to build new hybrid high throughput communications satellite SES 12 to increase capacity available in the Asia Pacific region.
[Via Satellite – 07/17/2014]

DoD official says a replacement for the RD-180 Russian rocket used for satellite launches could take 8 years and cost $2 billion.
[Via Satellite – 07/17/2014]

Russia installs Glonass satellite station in Brazil.
[Via Satellite – 07/17/2014]

Airbus Defence and Space and Inmarsat expand Global Xpress partnership.
[Via Satelli9te – 07/17/2014]

Virgin Galactic sets sights on 2016 for LauncherOne.
[Via Satellite – 07/16/20147]

– SatNews file image

Dauria Aerospace tapped by India-based satcom provider Aniara to design and build two new generation, small, Ku-band geostationary satellites.
[SatNews – 07/16/2014]

Hughes Network Systems hiring more engineers to expand satellite services.
[Gazette.Net – 07/16/2014]

MCS TV and Newslux choose Eutelsat to drive TV channel expansion in Southeast Asia.
Market Watch – 07/16/2014]

middle east on line file photo

United Arab Emirates announces it will create a space agency with the aim of sending the first Arab unmanned probe to Mars by 2021.
[Middle East Online – 07/16/2014]

SpaceX has completed the long-awaited launch of Orbcomm’s first batch of second-generation satellites.
[Via Satellite – 07/15/2014]

Northrop Grumman breaks ground at site for its new government-focused satellite facility, the Maryland Space Assembly and Test building.
[Via Satellite – 07/15/2014]

Korean manufacturer KNS announces the launch of its C-Band 2.2m satellite antenna in two variations.
[The Digital Ship – 07/15/2014]

Milpeak announces the expansion of its satellite communication rental services to cover the needs of the mining and exploration industry.
[Digital Journal – 07/15/2014]

Arabsat signs lifetime use agreement with Asia Broadcast Satellite for a multi-Ku-band payload on ABS3A to be launched later this year or early next year.
[Via Satellite – 07/15/2014]

North American M2M satellite communications market projected to be worth $1.43 billion by 2019 in new report by MicroMarket Monitor.
[Digital Journal – 07/14/2014]

Loral is in the final chapter of its corporate life and is in the process of selling its last significant asset, Telesat.
[Seeking Alpha 07/14/2014]

Orbital Sciences launches Cygnus to ISS with 28 CubeSats for Planet Labs.
[Via Satellite – 07/14/2014]

A Falcon 9 rocket in a hangar. Photo: SpaceX – Space News

SpaceX confirms the Air Force has certified the Falcon 9 rocket as meeting the three-launch prerequisite for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program.
[Via Satellite – 07/14/2014]

Raytheon prepares to deliver on the FAB-T contract shortly after winning the U.S. Air Force competition for the family of Beyond Line of Sight Terminals.
[Via Satellite – 07/14/2014]

EBU uses NovelSat’s modulators to broadcast three World Cup matches in Ultra-HD, including the final game between Germany and Argentina.
[Via Satellite – 07/14/2014]

Satcom Direct expands Savannah, GA, office to provide additional classrooms for training airline employees on aircraft cabin satellite communications.
[Via Satellite – 07/14/2014]

WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services


WBMSAT News Bits 07/11/2014

Friday, July 11th, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Deep Blue, a Technip vessel – Digital Ship

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services


WBMSAT News Bits 07/03/2014

Thursday, July 3rd, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OCO 2 launch. Photo: ULA – Via Satellite

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


WBMSAT News Bits 06/20/2014

Friday, June 20th, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gerald Herbert/AP File Photo – Nextgov

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Proton Rocket Launch – PHSY-ORG

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WBMSAT News Bits 06/15/2014

Monday, June 16th, 2014

 

Soyuz-2.1b modernized rocket – Space Daily

Soyuz rocket puts Russian GLONASS-M navigation satellite into orbit.
[GPS Daily – 06/16/2014]

Reportlinker.com announces new market research report analyzing worldwide markets for satellite transponders in number of 36 MHz Transponder Equivalents (TPE) by application area.
[MarketWatch – 06/15/2014]

Proposed AT&T and DirecTV merger heading to streamlined Senate hearings, with little observable opposition.
[eWeek – 06/14/2014]

ReportsnReports.com offers “In-depth Research and Development Forecast of Satellite Application Industry in China, 2014″ report in its store. [Satellite Spotlight – 06/13/2014]

Avanti raises $ 157.5 million in bond market, to be used to begin HYLAS 4 satellite project.
[Hispanic Business – 06/13/2014]

Spacecom is planning new satellites to reach 80 percent of the world by 2020.
[Via Satellite – 06/13/2014]

Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 capsule (interior shown above), Credit: Boeing artist’s concept – Space News

Two companies vying to build space taxis to fly NASA astronauts to the international space station plan to offer unmanned versions of their vehicles in competition for cargo resupply services.
[Space News – 06/13/2014]

Eutelsat taps Siemens to improve satellite monitoring in Latin America.
[RAPIDTV News – 06/13/2014]

Months before awarding sole source contract to United Launch Alliance, the USAF rejected an unsolicited offer from SpaceX to launch GPS 3 satellites for $80 million each.
[Space News – 06/13/2014]

Eutelsat to introduce its 4k Ultra HD TV channel in Asia on the Eutelsat 70B satellite, in partnership with ST Teleport, one of Asia’s leading full-service communications service providers.
[SatNews – 06/13/2014]

European Space Agency modifies frequencies used by some radar Earth observation satellites to reduce the interference from ground-based wireless communications systems often operating illegally.
[Space News – 06/13/2014]

Though DigitalGlobe wins approval to sell its highest-resolution imagery to all customers, regulators reserve the right to impose some restrictions on commercial sales of data from the company’s newest, most capable satellite to be launched in August.
[Space News – 06/13/2014]

More than 300 Chinese space enthusiasts have booked tickets costing nearly $100,000 for a five minute trip to outer space.
[Space Travel – 06/13/2014]

TelOne announces new broadband through satellite product in the United Kingdom.
[TMC News – 06/13/2014]

New report from Markets and Markets defines and segments the global Nano and Microsatellites market, which it projects to be worth $1.887 billion by 2019.
[Satellite Sppotlight – 06/12/2014]

SMi presents the 16th annual Global MilSatCom conference and exhibition – Europe’s leading Military Satellite Communications event.
[University Chronicle – 06/12/2014]

The UK officially joins the US, Canada and the Netherlands in using the Lockheed Martin-produced Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) protected communications satellite system.
[Airforce Technology – 06/12/2014]

Google is in talks with Virgin Galactic about a deal that will hand it crucial access to satellite-launch technology and an equity stake in its space tourism venture.
[Space News – 06/12/2014]

Eutelsat’s KA-SAT during electromagnetic testing. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defence & Space. – SatNews

Eutelsat’s KA-SAT satellite has been selected by Wireless Innovation as part of an emergency mobile communications solution to help protect EDF Energy’s critical infrastructure in the UK.
[SatNews – 06/12/2014]

Eutelsat completes carrier ID implementation for its American coverage satellites in advance of the World Cup.
[The Wall Street Journal – 06/12/2014]

Intelsat and Speedcast join forces to bring market leading broadband and mobility solutions to the Maritime, Oil & Gas and Enterprise sectors.
[University Chronicle – 06/12/2014]

Gilat’s low-profile maritime terminals deployed on naval vessels of an unnamed Asian country.
[Yahoo Finance – 06/12/2014]

McMurdo Group integrates Iridium GO! into its fleet management software.
[Digital Ship – 06/12/2014]

NASA first demonstrated laser communications in space in October 2013. (Artist’s illustration} – Defense Systems

DISA mulls laser system for satellite communications.
[Defense Systems – 06/11/2014]

Google buying satellite maker Skybox for $500 million to improve quality and immediacy of satellite imagery used in its digital maps.
[Top Tech News – 06/11/2014]

The U.S. military’s Africa Command supervises project to improve communications for allies in North Africa and Sahel; awards $8.2 million contract to SES Government Solutions for transponders to support satellite communications from Africom.
[World Tribune – 06/11/2014]

Inmarsat names Satcom Direct Communications a “value added reseller” for Global Xpress.
[ExecutiveGov – 06/11/2014]

Intelsat aims for close cooperation with Azerbaijan`s “Azercosmos” OJSC satellite operator, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Communications and High Technologies reported.
[TMC News – 06/11/2014]

ViaSat focuses on creating a more economically favorable M2M system designed to provide higher speeds, greater security, and faster response to small fixed and mobile terminals.
[Market Watch – 06/11/20104]

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. receives $5.3 million order for Ka-band satellite power amplifiers from an existing customer, to be used in the HTS market.
[Satellite Spotlight – 06/11/2014]

New NovelSat solution for DSNG allows units to deploy multiple cameras through a single satellite modem without requiring additional bandwidth for each camera.
[Via Satellite – 06/11/2014]

WORK Microwave DVB-S2 equipment now features Carrier ID technology.
[Broadcast Newsroom – 06/11/2014]

MultiChoice to expand its leading Direct-to-Home services in sub-Sharan Africa via new Intelsat satellite, Intelsat 36.
[The Wall Street Journal – 06/11/2014]

Globecomm gets orders for WGS certified tri-band satellite terminals.
[BusinessWire – 06/11/2014]

Morelos 3. Photo: Boeing – Via Satellite

Boeing completes second Mexsat 702HP satellite.
[Via Satellite – 06/10/2014]

The High Throughput Satellite Roundtable, which is being organized for the second consecutive year, will feature dynamic new program content developed jointly by GVF and EMP.
[SatNews – 06/10/2014]

Will Google be the new Big “G” in the satellite industry? NSR professes cautious optimism in its analysis of Google’s plans to enter the satellite business.
[SatNews – 06/09/2014]

Financial district in Shanghai – PHYS.ORG

A Chinese military unit has run a hacking campaign that includes sending bogus email in a bid to intercept Western satellite communications and aerospace secrets, a US security firm said.
[PHYS.ORG – 06/10/2014]

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. gets $4.2 million order for DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier satellite modems on behalf of the U.S. Army.
[Yahoo Finance – 06/09/2014]


WBMSAT News Bits 06/06/2014

Saturday, June 7th, 2014

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

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

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

Source: Eutelsat – Spacenews Graphic

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Integrasys image – SatNews

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

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

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

[WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services


WBMSAT New Bits 05/30/2014

Monday, June 2nd, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



[WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services


WBMSAT New Bits 05/23/2014

Friday, May 23rd, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AFP Getty Images – Daily Mail

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

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

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

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

[WBMSAT satellite communications consulting services


WBMSAT News Bits 05/16/2014

Friday, May 16th, 2014

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dubai sunset – ThreatPost file photo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ARKA file photo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Satellite Today file photo

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

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

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

Abducted school girls – Leadership file photo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SMU Research file photo – PHYS ORG

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


WBMSAT News Bits 05/02/2014

Saturday, May 3rd, 2014

U.S. sanctions against Russia sowing confusion, caution among space firms. [Space News – 05/02/2014]

Aging Palapa C2 in inclined orbit – Credit: Boeing artist’s concept – Space News

Indonesia’s Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) has sets collision course with Indonesia’s Indosat satellite operator by ordering a satellite to be placed into the same orbital slot as a satellite ordered by Indosat a year ago. [Space News – 05/02/2014]

French space agency CNES signs formal work-share agreement with NASA on the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) altimetry satellite to be launched in 2020. [Space News – 05/02/2014]

Xplornet Communications Inc. has contracted with ViaSat Inc. for all of the residential capacity covering Canada on the ViaSat-2 satellite. [SatNews – 05/02/2014]

Echostar 23 – Credit: SSL artist’s concept – Space News

MDA says 90 percent of bids for commercial telecommunications satellites that its SSL subsidiary is chasing are unaffected by the patent-infringement litigation between SSL and ViaSat. [Space News – 05/02/2014]

Avanti signs a multi-million dollar contract extension with Avonline broadband to target European consumers with new satellite broadband. [IFA Magazine – 05/02/2014]

Ultra Electronics AEP enables Thuraya to offer extremely secure communications over robust satellite network. [CIOL – 05/02/2014]

MEASAT’s new MEASAT-3b satellite to be launched from French Guiana on May 28. [BERNAMA – 05/02/2014]

U.S. Federal court bans United Launch Alliance from purchasing RD-180 engines from Russia’s NPO Energomash, following filing by SpaceX calling it an “unlawful contract” to send money to sanctioned Russian Deputy Prime Minister. [Via Satellite – 05/01/2014]

A successful Sea Launch launch – SatNews file photo.

Sea Launch announces its prime contractor will restart testing in preparation of rollout of EUTELSAT 3B satellite, now scheduled to launch May 26. [SatNews – 05/01/2014]

A proposed microsatellite mission would demonstrate technology for satellite-based quantum key distribution. [SPIE – 05/01/2014]

Arianespace on track to perform 12 missions during 2014, setting a new operational record surpassing the 10 flights in 2010. [SatNews – 05/01/2014]

AT&T has approached DirecTV about a takeover. [The Wall Street Journal – 05/01/2014]]

Telesat cut Q1 losses, growing revenue 10.6%, but it wasn’t enough to give the satellite communications company a profitable first quarter. [Ottawa Business Journal – 05/01/2014]

Thaicom 6 launch – Credit: SpaceX photo – Space News

Orbital Sciences will build, and SpaceX will launch, Thaicom 8. [Space News – 04/30/2014]

British government to adopt industry recommendations to reduce amount of insurance satellite companies must purchase before government guarantees on third-party liability take effect. [Space News – 04/30/2014]

TelOne, the Zimbabwean national telco, has announced a satellite broadband contract with Avanti Communications. [MIL-TECH – 05/01/2014]

Lockheed Martin testing facility enables more radio terminals to be qualified for use with MUOS communications satellites. [Satellite Spotlight. – 05/01/2014]

New Delorme inReach combines GPS navigation and emergency communications. [gizmag – 05/01/2014]

ViaSat 1 Broadband Satellite – Photo: Space Systems Loral – Via Satellite

Both ViaSat and Space Systems Loral (SSL) take further legal action following recent decision by U.S. Court for Southern District of California to award ViaSat $283M in damages against SSL. [Via Satellite – 04/30/2014]

IGNIS project spearheaded by HISPASAT concludes with demonstration combining satellite communications with range of services and technologies at scene of a forest fire. [SatNews – 04/30/2014]

SSL delivers satellite to Kourou launch complex for Optus of Australia. [Broadcaster – 04/30/2014]

GlobaFone brings leading satellite communications solutions to the Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference. [4-traders – 04/30/2014]

EUTELSAT signs distribution agreement with Wireless Innovation to enable it to use KA-SAT to provide critical communication services and connectivity for temporary and mobile offices. [SatNews – 04/30/2014]

The global military satellite market is expected to experience a growth of 3.74% during 2014-2024 in a report published by Strategic Defence Intelligence. [Yahoo Finance – 04/29/2014]

Inmarsat lost altitude amid market fears the satellite communications group’s $1.6bn (£950m) high-speed broadband programme would be hit by Western sanctions on Moscow. [Telegraph – 04/29/2014]

MDA wins strategic contact to provide communications satellite hosted X-band payload on Turksat 6A. [Yahoo Finance – 04/29/2014]

ATK merges Aerospace and Defense Group with Orbital Sciences. [Via Satellite – 04/29/2014]

United Launch Alliance (ULA) responds to SpaceX suit against the U.S. Air Force’s block buy of 36 cores from ULA for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Program. [Via Satellite – 04/29/2014]

Planet2 Weather App in cockpit – Credit: Atmosphere – PHYS-ORG

Pilots using Planet2 satellite service can now receive inflight updates on weather hazards and warn other aircraft of storms they see ahead. [PHYS-ORG – 04/29/2014]

Ultra Electronics and Thuraya to provide end-to-end communications for government customers. [Via Satellite – 04/29/2014]

Age of satellites dedicated to broadcast is giving way to new technologies for handling massive data streams. [NY Times – 04/29/2014]

Telemar SpA appointed as Value Added Reseller for Inmarsat Global Xpress for the Global Government. [twst – 04/29/2014]

Carrier rocket Proton-M delivered Kazakh KazSat -3 and Russian Luch – 5B satellites to intermediate orbit, Russian Space Agency’s representative told RIA Novosti. [TMCnet – 04/28/2014]

SpaceX files suit against Air Force block buy of 36 cores from United Launch Alliance for Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Program. [Via Satellite – 04/28/2014]

AT&T will use its considerable resources to challenge Gogo in the inflight connectivity market. [cnbc – 04/28/2014]

AT&T and Honeywell to redefine the air travel experience with world-class, high-speed wireless Internet, developed so it can integrate with Honeywell’s GX and L-Band satellite systems. [Aviation Today – 04/28/2014]

SSL selected to provide a satellite to PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BRI), the oldest and most profitable bank in Indonesia. [msn Money – 04/28/2014]

Iridium completes extensive upgrade of ground station infrastructure worldwide for enhanced reliability and performance. [Financial Content – 04/28/2014]

Iridium submits application to IMO for new GMDSS maritime offering. [Via Satellite – 04/28/2014]

The FAA Alaska Flight Services has announced that the DeLorme inReach satellite communicator has been approved for the Enhanced Special Reporting Service (eSRS) program. [AERO News Network – 04/28/2014]

Astrobus satellite platform – Photo: Airbus Defence and Space – Via Satellite

Airbus selected to build Peru’s first Earth Observation Satellite system. [Via Satellite – 04/28/2014]

International telecom and media company Millicom began its first Direct-to-Home (DTH) TV service in Bolivia. [Via Satellite – 04/28/2014]

ViaSat awarded $283M in damages in suite against Space Systems/Loral (SSL). [Via Satellite – 04/25/2014]

Aerojet’s CAD Rendering of its MPS 120 CubeSat propulsion system. Photo: Aerojet – Via Satellite

Cubesat propulsion systems to be 3-D printed by Aerojet Rocketdyne. [Via Satellite – 04/25/2014]

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