Headlines 4 May 2008

Satcoms
GigaSat And Vados Systems Joint Initiative On Global Deployable Communications.
(28 April 2008) GigaSat, best known for its flyaway terminal solutions engineered to withstand the harsh environments associated with Military operations and Vados Systems, a provider of deployable converged integrated communications solutions, announce the interoperability of GigaSat's FA-120 satcom terminal with Vados' range of rapidly deployable communications solutions.
Harris Corporation Antenna Reflector For Mobile Communications Satellite Deployed Successfully
(28 April 2008) An antenna reflector built by Harris Corporation for the geosynchronous ICO G1 global communications satellite was successfully deployed on orbit Saturday, April 26, and will play a key role in providing next-generation mobile communications services across North America.
Hughes Broadband Satellite Technology Helps Bridge The Digital Divide In Australia
(28 April 2008) Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in providing broadband satellite networks and solutions, today announced that Orion Satellite Systems of Australia has purchased and commissioned a state-of-the-art DVB-S2/IPoS with Adaptive Coding Modulation (ACM) satellite system from Hughes to provide broadband Internet access service to remote areas in Australia.
Malaysian Satellite Operator ScopeTel Standardises Services On iDirect Platform
(29 April 2008) iDirect, Inc (iDirect), a company of VT Systems Inc (VT Systems) and a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology, announced today a contract with ScopeTel Sdn. Bhd., a major provider of satellite-based telecommunication and networking solutions headquartered in Malaysia.
NSSL Innovation Maximises Maritime Satellite Broadband Connectivity
(1 May 2008) NSSL, the international satellite communications service provider, has developed an innovative new solution designed to maximise broadband connectivity at sea.
SES Astra Starts New Orbital Position At 31.5 Degrees East
(29 April 2008) SES Astra, an SES company, has announced today the start of a new orbital position at 31.5 degrees East.
Wegener Receives US$ 1.2 Million Order For Digital Signage Project
(28 April 2008) Wegener Corporation, a leading provider of equipment for television, audio and data distribution networks world-wide, today announced a $1.2 million order for a digital signage project for the financial services industry.
World's Largest Commercial Satellite Achieves Key Milestone
(28 April 2008) Space Systems/Loral and ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited today announced the successful deployment of the ICO G1 satellite's large antenna reflector on Saturday, April 26.

Broadcast
CanalDigitaal And TV Vlaanderen Launch HDTV Bouquet On Astra For Dutch And Belgian Markets
(30 April 2008) SES Astra, an SES company, today announced the launch of a new High Definition (HD) bouquet on Astra targeting the Dutch and Belgian markets.
HDTV Platform Hello HD Launches in Hungary From Eutelsat's EUROBIRD 9 Neighbourhood
(29 April 2008) Hello HD, Hungary's first High-Definition television platform is gearing up for launch on May 1 from the Eurobird 9 satellite operated by Eutelsat Communications.
Osmosys Software To Deliver High Definition Services For Hello HD
(28 April 2008) Osmosys S.A., a leader and innovator in the development of open standards Java based interactive TV solutions, today announced that together with Advanced Digital Broadcast (ADB), it is providing Hungarian satellite and cable operator Hello HD Platform with an end-to-end solution for the roll out of its new 'Hello HD' service - Hungary's first commercial high definition (HD) offering.
Star Choice Launches TLC HD And Encore Avenue HD
(25 April 2008) Star Choice, Canada's leading satellite television service provider, is adding to its High Definition (HD) channel line-up with the addition of Encore Avenue HD and TLC HD on April 24.

Earth Observation
Radarsat-2 Commissioned And Ready For Commercial Operation
(1 May 2008) MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd., a provider of essential information solutions, today announced that Radarsat-2 completed its commissioning on April 25, 2008 and fully transitioned into commercial operations to deliver advanced radar images of the Earth.

Military Space
Cubic Receives Contract From Boeing For 10 Gb/s Data Link
(30 April 2008) Cubic Defense Applications, the defence segment of Cubic Corporation (Amex: CUB), has received a three-year research and development contract from Boeing Phantom Works, Boeing's advanced research and technology organisation, to supply products and services for the development of a new 10 Gb/s data link capable of transferring very high bandwidth data from air and space sensors to ground stations.
Lockheed Martin Achieves Key Milestone On New Missile Warning Satellite
(30 April 2008) Lockheed Martin announced today that it has achieved a major integrated test milestone on the first Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous orbit (GEO-1) spacecraft that enables the start of environmental testing in preparation for launch in late 2009.
Raytheon Awarded US$ 86.7 Million To Upgrade Satellite Communication Terminals
(28 April 2008) Raytheon Company has won an US$ 86.7 million contract to produce and install upgrade kits for the Army's Secure Mobile Anti-jam Reliable Tactical Terminal, or SMART-T.

Astronomy
Austria Declares Intent To Join ESO
(24 April 2008) At a press conference today at the University of Vienna's Observatory, the Austrian Science Minister Johannes Hahn announced the decision by the Austrian Government to seek membership of ESO from 1 July this year.

Stars
McDonald Observatory Astronomers Discover New Type Of Pulsating White Dwarf Star
(1 May 2008) University of Texas at Austin astronomers Michael H. Montgomery and Kurtis A. Williams, along with graduate student Steven DeGennaro, have predicted and confirmed the existence of a new type of variable star with the help of the 2.1-meter Otto Struve Telescope at McDonald Observatory.
NASA Satellite Pins Down Timer In Stellar Ticking Time Bomb
(30 April 2008) Using observations from NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE), an international team of astronomers has discovered a timing mechanism that allows them to predict exactly when a superdense star will unleash incredibly powerful explosions.

Galaxies
Compact Galaxies In Early Universe Pack A Big Punch
(29 April 2008) Imagine receiving an announcement touting the birth of a baby 20 inches long and weighing 180 pounds.
Oldest Known Objects May Be Surprisingly Immature
(28 April 2008) Some of the oldest objects in the Universe may still have a long way to go, according to a new study using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Earth
Long-Lived NASA Polar Satellite, Built By Lockheed Martin, Ends Service After 12 Productive Years
(29 April 2008) After more than 12 years of collecting valuable data on how Earth's space environment is affected by continual bombardment from radiation and particles from the Sun, NASA has decommissioned its Polar spacecraft.

Mars
Andrews Space Wins NASA Exploration Contract
(30 April 2008) Andrews Space, Inc. (Andrews) announced today that it has signed a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to analyse design solutions related to NASA's Vision for Space Exploration.
Artificial Intelligence Boosts Science From Mars
(29 April 2008) Artificial intelligence (AI) being used at the European Space Operations Centre is giving a powerful boost to ESA's Mars Express as it searches for signs of past or present life on the Red Planet.
Life-Probing Instrument Preparing For Mission To Mars
(28 April 2008) Scripps researcher receives US$ 2 million in funding for Urey instrument's flight planning and design

Jupiter
Scientists Find Rings Of Jupiter Are Shaped In Shadow
(30 April 2008) Scientists from the University of Maryland and the Max-Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Germany appear to have solved a long-standing mystery about the cause of anomalies in Jupiter's gossamer rings.

Saturn
NASA Spacecraft Tracks Raging Saturn Storm
(29 April 2008) As a powerful electrical storm rages on Saturn with lightning bolts 10,000 times more powerful than those found on Earth, the Cassini spacecraft continues its five-month watch over the dramatic events.

Manned Space
ATK Conducts Successful Test Firing Of Space Shuttle Reusable Solid Rocket Motor
(1 May 2008) The Utah desert was filled with the sight and sound of power today as Alliant Techsystems conducted a successful test firing of NASA's space shuttle reusable solid rocket motor (RSRM) as part of continuous testing to improve performance and ensure safety of the space shuttle and to aid development of the first stage of Ares I.
NASA Awards External Tank Contract Modification
(30 April 2008) NASA has signed a US$ 39.5 million contract modification with Lockheed Martin Space Systems, New Orleans, to implement an external tank program employee retention plan.
NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery To Move To Launch Pad Saturday
(29 April 2008) Space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to roll out to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on Saturday, May 3, as preparations for the STS-124 mission move forward.
NASA Test Fires Space Shuttle Reusable Solid Rocket Motor
(1 May 2008) NASA's Space Shuttle Program on Thursday successfully conducted a test firing of a space shuttle reusable solid rocket motor in Utah.

Technology
Kopin Selected For Award Of NASA Solar Cell Development Contract
(1 May 2008) Kopin Corp., the world's leading provider of heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) wafers for cellular phones and wireless local area networks, today announced that it has been selected for the award of a US$ 600,000 solar cell development contract from NASA.

Launch Services
Military And Civilian Telecom Satellites Are Readied For Arianespace's Third Ariane 5 Mission In 2008
(25 April 2008) The two payloads for Ariane 5's third mission of 2008 are undergoing pre-flight checkout at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana as Arianespace maintains the accelerated launch rate for its heavy-lift workhorse vehicle this year.
NASA To Launch GRAIL Satellite On United Launch Alliance Delta II In 2011
(1 May 2008) NASA has designated the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission to fly aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II Heavy rocket.
Ocean Survey Spacecraft Arrives At Launch Site
(30 April 2008) A NASA and French Space Agency (CNES) spacecraft designed to continue a long-term survey of Earth's oceans has arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., for final launch preparations.
Thales Alenia Space Delivers Jason-2 Satellite To Its Californian Launch Base
(30 April 2008) The Jason-2 satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space, left its integration centre in Cannes for its launch site.

Launch Services - Amos 3
AMOS-3 Communications Satellite Successfully Launched
(28 April 2008) Spacecom, the operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, today announced that its newest satellite, AMOS-3, has been successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome launch site in Kazakhstan.
Successful Launch For Amos-3 Israeli Telecommunication Satellite With A Payload Provided By Thales Alenia Space
(28 April 2008) The Amos-3 telecommunication satellite, equipped with a Thales Alenia Space payload, was successfully launched today by a Zenith-3SLB rocket from the Baïkonur cosmodrome.

Launch Services - CartoSat 2A, AAUsat 2, CanX-2, CanX-6 (NTS), Compass 1, CUTE-1.7+APD II, Delfi-C3, IMS-1, RUBIN-8, SEEDS 2
India's PSLV Successfully Launches Ten Satellites
(28 April 2008) In its thirteenth flight conducted from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, today (April 28, 2008), ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C9, successfully launched the 690 kg Indian remote sensing satellite Cartosat-2A, the 83 kg Indian Mini Satellite (IMS-1) and eight nanosatellites for international customers into a 637 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).
Com Dev Launches Advanced Space-Based AIS Validation Nanosatellite
(28 April 2008) Com Dev International Ltd., a leading manufacturer of space hardware subsystems, today announced that a nanosatellite carrying an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver built by Com Dev has successfully been deployed by the Antrix PSLV-C9 launch conducted from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India on April 28, 2008.
CARTOSAT-2A And IMS-1 Cameras Switched On
(1 May 2008) The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C9) launched India's Remote Sensing satellites CARTOSAT-2A and Indian Mini Satellite-1 (IMS-1) along with eight nanosatellites successfully on April 28, 2008 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.

Launch Services - Giove B
Arianespace's Starsem Affiliate Successfully Launches GIOVE-B For The European Galileo Navigation System
(27 April 2008) The 21st commercial flight performed by Arianespace's Starsem affiliate orbited the GIOVE-B payload today, reconfirming its Soyuz launcher's capability to deploy a constellation of satellites for the newest space-based navigation network - Europe's Galileo system.
ESA's Most Advanced Navigation Satellite Launched Tonight
(27 April 2008) A further step towards the deployment of Europe's Galileo global navigation satellite system was taken tonight, with the successful launch of ESA's second Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element (GIOVE-B) satellite, carrying the most accurate atomic clock ever flown into space.
GIOVE-B Spacecraft In Good Health
(29 April 2008) After its successful launch by a Soyuz Rocket from Baiknour on 27 April and accurate insertion into its target orbit by the Fregat autonomous upper stage, GIOVE-B is now completing its Launch and Early Operations Phase (LEOP), which will shortly give way to the platform commissioning phase.

Launches
Tianlian 1
Giove-B
CartoSat 2A, AAUsat 2, CanX-2, CanX-6 (NTS), Compass 1, CUTE-1.7+APD II, Delfi-C3, IMS-1, RUBIN-8, SEEDS 2
Amos-3
Launch Schedule

Business
RRsat Completes Acquisition Of Hawley Teleport In Pennsylvania
(2 May 2008) RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd., a rapidly growing provider of comprehensive content management and global distribution services to the television and radio broadcasting industries, announced today that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of the Hawley Teleport located in Pike County, Pennsylvania, for approximately US$ 4.25 million, of which US$ 4 millions in cash and US$ 250 thousands in services.

Products and Services
Kemet Launches Space Grade Series Of Capacitors
(2 May 2008) Kemet Corporation announced today that, as part of its continuing commitment to the defence and aerospace markets, the Company is introducing a new Space Grade Series of capacitors designed for use by military/aerospace customers in high-reliability space applications.

Headlines 27 April 2008

Satcoms
AOS To Offer Vizada Products And Services On GSA Schedule
Gilat Chosen To Provide A 1,500-Site SkyEdge II Broadband Satellite Network For Colombia's Axesat
NASA Ames Partners With m2mi For Small Satellite Development
SES Astra Signs Agreement For The Distribution Of Astra2Connect In Belgium And The Netherlands
Talia Launches Satellite Internet Network On NSS-703
World's Fastest Satellite Internet Connection To 45 cm User Terminal Using "KIZUNA" (WINDS)

Broadcast
DISH Network Corporation And Alcatel-Lucent To Perform Joint DVB-SH Test In The U.S.
DISH Network Expands Local High Definition Markets
DISH Network Expands National HD Line-Up
Moldova's First DTH Operator Broadcasts From 1 Degree West
Space Systems/Loral Selected To Provide Satellite To DISH Network Corporation

Earth Observation
General Dynamics Selected By NASA To Build The Spacecraft For The Landsat Data Continuity Mission
NASA Selects Contractor For Landsat Data Continuity Mission Spacecraft
Successful Co-Operation Extends Dragon Programme

Navigation
Green Light For Establishment Of European Satellite Navigation System Galileo

Tracking
SARS Corp. To Launch Extended Reporting For Its SARS Tracpoint Satellite Vehicle Tracking Solution

Military Space
Boeing And Ball Aerospace Achieve New Milestone For SBSS Program
Boeing Completes Hardware Installation For SBSS Satellite Operations Center
Globecomm Systems Announces Exercise Of US$ 5.5 Million Contract Option By The U.S. Army For The Continued Production Of The Joint IP Modem
ITT Selects DataPath's MaxView Network Management System For U.S. Army Ka-STARS Program
Lockheed Martin Submits Proposals To Advance Defense Department's Operationally Responsive Space Efforts


Astrophysics
Michigan Telescopes Help Give Astronomers Insights Into Blazars

Astronomy
Herschel Spacecraft Assembly Complete
QinetiQ North America Wins US$ 190 Million NASA Environmental Test And Integration Support Services II (ETIS)

Black Holes
Radio Telescope Reveals Secrets Of Massive Black Hole

Mars
Glaciers Reveal Martian Climate Has Been Recently Active
Mars Exploration Rover Status Report

Manned Space
Expedition 16 Soyuz Lands Safely In Kazakhstan
Jules Verne Boosts ISS Orbit

Technology
First-Class Protein Crystals Thanks To Weightlessness On Earth

Launch Services
Khrunichev, ILS Announce Quality Initiative
NASA Awards Launch Services Contract To SpaceX
NASA To Conduct Space Shuttle Reusable Solid Rocket Motor Test In Utah May 1
Prisma Satellites To Be Launched In June 2009

Launch Services - Amos 3
Spacecom Communications Satellite AMOS-3 Ready For Lift-Off From Baikonur Launch Site

Launch Services - GIOVE-B
GIOVE-B To Be Launched On April 27

Launch Services - Star One C2, Vinasat-1
Ariane 5 Is On The Launch Pad For Its April 18 Lift-off
Final Countdown Underway For Arianespace's Second Ariane 5 Mission Of 2008
Ariane 5 Orbits Star One C2 And Vinasat-1 On Its 24th Consecutive Successful Launch
Ariane 5's Dual-Payload Success: A Photo Report
Lockheed Martin-Built Vinasat-1 Satellite Launched Successfully For Vietnam Posts And Telecommunications Group

In Orbit
ESA And Spain's INTA Update ESTRACK Station Agreement
Integral Awarded Contract To Provide ProtoStar-II Ground Segment

Launches
Star One C-2, Vinasat 1
Launch Schedule

Business
TerreStar Announces Cost Reduction Measures - Maintains Business Strategy

Products and Services
RT Logic's T400TSS Waveform Signal Generator Available

Events
Kiev Hosts XXXVI Session Of The Board And 7th Meeting Of The Operations Committee Of Intersputnik

People
Integral Systems Hires Richard Wathen As Vice President Of Mergers & Acquisitions
Peter Coffman Joins KVH To Lead Commercial Marine Sales Effort
TerreStar Announces Leadership Changes

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