26 November 2000

Satcoms

Cyberstar Upgrades Re/Max Real Estate's 1,200 Site Network
Loral CyberStar has successfully completed its upgrade of the RE/MAX Satellite Network (RSN), which delivers key applications and services to RE/MAX real estate associates and brokers located in all 50 United States, Puerto Rico, and throughout Canada.

Needing more flexibility and a greater degree of customisation, RE/MAX replaced its previous network with CyberStar's Infomedia solution to distribute training, corporate communications, news, and special events from its Denver, Colorado, headquarters to 30,000 associates in 1,200 sites across North America.

RE/MAX uses CyberStar's MPEG digital video broadcast (DVB) Infomedia service to allow the RE/MAX Satellite Network (RSN) to run more than 100 hours of live, interactive and pre-recorded programming a month. With the added capabilities provided by CyberStar s conditional access services, RSN can now refine and customise its program content by broadcasting programming to specific sites based on local needs and state/province regulations. RSN's programming encompasses accredited course, sales techniques, technology training, management, and business skills.

Galaxy VII Lost
PanAmSat's Galaxy VII satellite has suffered a failure in its backup Spacecraft Control Processor (SCP) and has been declared a total loss.

Galaxy VII was launched in October 1992 and had recently been replaced at 91° W by the more powerful Galaxy XI which was launched at the end of December 1999. Galaxy VII had been relocated to 125° W where it was carrying occasional use services.

This failure is the latest in a series of SCP failures in Boeing 601 satellites. Each spacecraft has two SCPs which oversee the operation of the attitude control system and the pointing of the solar arrays. The SCPs in several Boeing 601 satellites have a fatal design flaw - tin whiskers grow in the vacuum of space on internal tin-plated relay latching switches which can cause an electrical short to the relay's case.

PanAmSat have also announced that PAS-4, which serves the Indian Ocean and surrounding regions lost its primary SCP in November 1998 and is currently running on the backup SCP. It is scheduled to be replaced by PAS-10 next spring.

PanAmSat expects to file an insurance claim for around US$ 140 million for the loss of Galaxy VII.

Loral Skynet Do Brasil Receives Authority To Provide Service On Brasil 1
Brazil s Agencia Nacional de Telecomunicacoes (ANATEL) has granted Loral Skynet do Brasil authority to immediately begin providing service on Brasil 1.

The Brasil 1 satellite provides service to the southeast and middle region of Brazil including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizante and Brasilia.

Brasil 1 was launched in 1985 and currently has 8 Ku-band transponders available for service from Loral s 63° W. The inclined orbit satellite will be used for a variety of full-time and part-time applications, including satellite news gathering, trunking, backhaul and backup for terrestrial fibre applications.

Military Space

Tracking Satellites and Space Junk
The Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC) has selected a powerful IBM SP supercomputer to identify objects in space, including old satellites, foreign spacecraft, and unidentified objects.

Installed at the MHPCC, the IBM SP assembles photos of objects tracked by Air Force telescopes, helping to ensure the USA's defence, as well as the safety of NASA space flights. The IBM SP supercomputer supports the US Air Force's Maui Space Surveillance System (MSSS). The MSSS locates, tracks, and images satellites using ground based telescopes. The images are then digitally enhanced by the IBM SP supercomputer. The IBM SP uses complex algorithms to improve images significantly in only three to five seconds. Objects photographed might include errant communications satellites and space junk, as well as spacecraft launched by nations other than the United States.

The new IBM supercomputer can process 480 billion calculations per second. One of the most powerful machines in the Department of Defense (DoD) Research and Development computing arsenal, it is 40 times faster than the IBM "Deep Blue" supercomputer that defeated chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997.

An earlier version of the IBM supercomputer at MHPCC played a key role in the space shuttle Discovery flight that carried John Glenn. NASA officials, concerned that the shuttle's tail might have been damaged during lift-off, needed to inspect the rear section of the Discovery before the ship was allowed to land. The IBM SP supercomputer was called into action, producing images of the spacecraft's tail assembly that showed it had only sustained minor damage.

Science

Russia Prioritises Unmanned Science Missions
The Russian Aerospace Agency has identified the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma project and the Integral satellite as its two main priorities for next years unmanned missions.

The instruments for the Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma deep space observatory project, costing some US$ 300 million, have been manufactured by companies in ten European countries and shipped to Russia. Russia, with its endemic cash shortage, has been unable to fund the building of the satellite to carry the instruments or the launch. Russia is now trying to beg money to complete the project from France, Germany and Austria.

Stardust Hit by Massive Solar Flare
NASA's Stardust spacecraft has survived its encounter with a storm of high-energy particles from the Sun following a recent solar flare.

Stardust, NASA's sample and return mission to Comet P/Wild 2, was 210 million kilometres from Earth and travelling at 20,000 km/hr when it was hit by high energy particles resulting from the fourth largest solar flare recorded since 1976. The stream of high energy protons was 100,000 times more intense than usual.

The probe's two star cameras, which it uses to control its orientation, got a large dose of energy. Protons from the solar wind electrified pixels in the cameras, producing dots that the camera interpreted as stars. The 12 brightest images, the ones the spacecraft relied on to point its way, were electrified pixels, which showed up as false stars. Hundreds of these star-like images inundated the star camera's field of view, which meant it could not recognise its attitude in space.

The spacecraft went into standby mode, turning its solar panels toward the Sun and waiting for communication from Earth. While it was waiting, the spacecraft tried again to determine its attitude by using two different sets of cameras. It repeatedly turned up hundreds of bogus star-like images. It also switched between electronics systems on either side of the spacecraft. So Stardust began to slowly rotate in place, pointing its solar panels at the Sun.

The ground control team temporarily lost contact with Stardust and allowed the spacecraft to remain in safe mode for a few days until the proton stream had subsided.

Stardust has now been commanded back into its operational mode and a series of diagnostics have been performed to confirm that the spacecraft has not been damaged by radiation.

Manned Space

Mir Saga Continues
Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, has come out strongly in support of continuing operation of the Mir space station, following last week's decision by the Russian government to destroy the station in February next year.

Deputies at the Duma gave overwhelming support to Mir, voting in favour of a motion which strongly criticised the Russian governments decision to end operations of Mir and to bring the station back to Earth as a "poorly thought out and unjustified step."

The Duma has argued that US$ 60 million needed to maintain Mir in orbit is available in the federal budget and that spending it on Mir would keep some 100,000 engineers and scientists in jobs.

Launch Services

GSLV Costs Rise
The Indian cabinet has approved revised costs for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) project to INR14.06 billion (US$301 million.)

Two thirds of the adjustment reflects changes in foreign currency exchange rates which has increased the foreign exchange component in the project cost to INR7.56 billion from INR5.59 billion.

In 1995, the project cost was estimated to be INR11.05 billion.

The launch schedule fo the GSLV continues to slip with the first launch now expected to take place in April or May next year.

Launches

QuickBird 1

Launched: 20 November 2000
Site: Plesetsk Space Centre, Russia
Launcher: Kosmos SL8
International Number: 2000-074A
Name: QuickBird 1
Owner: EarthWatch Inc
Contractor: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp

QuickBird 1 was an imaging satellite capable of taking one-meter resolution panchromatic and four-meter resolution multispectral digital images of the Earth.

The launch failed to put the satellite in the correct orbit when, it is believed, the second stage of the launcher did not ignite or shut down prematurely. The low orbit achieved decayed rapidly and the satellite is thought to have now burnt up on re-entry.

Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, which carried out the launch, however, are claiming that the launch was carried out perfectly and that the fault lies with the satellite.

Quickbird 1 was the first of two Quickbird satellites. Quickbird 2 is scheduled for launch in 2001.

Quickbird 1 is Earthwatch's second satellite loss out of two launches. The company's first satellite EarlyBird, manufactured by Orbital Sciences, failed after four days in orbit. Plans for a second EarlyBird satellite were cancelled and Earthwatch decided to go for a more advanced satellite design from Ball Aerospace.

EO-1, SAC-C, Munin

Launched: 21 November 2000
Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Launcher: Delta II

Name: EO-1
Orbit: LEO, apogee: 705 km, perigee: 705 km, polar
International Number: 2000-075A
Owner: NASA

EO-1 (Earth Observing-1) is an advanced land-imaging mission that will demonstrate new instruments and spacecraft systems. It is the first mission of NASA's New Millennium Program (NMP) which is designed to identify, develop and flight validate key instrument and spacecraft technologies that can enable new or more cost-effective approaches to conducting science missions in the 21st century.

EO-1 will be put in the same orbit as Landsat 7, but will follow it by one minute, allowing it to image the same terrain under the same illumination conditions so that a comparison of the technologies used on the two satellites can be made.

The three primary instruments on EO-1 are the Advanced Land Imager, the Hyperion and the Linear Imaging Spectrometer Array (LEISA) Atmospheric Corrector (AC).

Name: SAC-C
Orbit: LEO, apogee: 702 km, perigee: 702 km, polar
International Number: 2000-075B
Owner: Argentina Commission of Space Activities (CONAE)
Contractor: Argentina Commission of Space Activities (CONAE)

SAC-C (Satellite de Applicaciones Cientificas-C) is a scientific satellite which will study the structure and dynamics of the Earth's atmosphere, ionosphere and geomagnetic field. It will also measure space radiation and its influence on advanced electronic components, as well as determine the migration route of the Franca whale. It is a joint Argentinean, US, Brazilian, Danish, French and Italian mission.

Name: Munin
Orbit: LEO, polar
International Number: 2000-075C
Owner: Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Contractor: Swedish Institute of Space Physics

Munin is a Swedish scientific nanosatellite which will study the aurora.

Anik F1

Launched: 21 November 2000
Site: CSG Kourou, French Guiana
Launcher: Ariane 44L
Orbit: GEO, 107.3° W
International Number: 2000-076A
Name: Anik F1
Owner: Telesat Canada
Contractor: Boeing Satellite Systems

Anik F1 is a commercial communications satellite. It carries 36 C and 48 Ku band transponders and will provide broadcast services to North America, and telecommunications, Internet services and broadcast services to South America.

Anik F1 is based on a Boeing 702 bus. It weighed 4710 kg at launch and 3015 kg in orbit.

Business

Intelsat Approves Privatisation Plans
The Intelsat Assembly of Parties, which represents all 144 member governments, has unanimously approved a plan to privatise Intelsat.

All transactions will be completed on 18 July 2001, allowing sufficient time to meet some members' legislative approval requirements. An initial public offering is expected within one year after privatisation.

The approved plan endorses Intelsat's owners' earlier recommendation to transfer substantially all assets, liabilities and operations to a private, Bermuda-based holding company, known as Intelsat Ltd., and its 100% owned subsidiaries. All current and planned C and Ku band satellites, as well as corresponding operating licenses, will be held by Delaware-based subsidiary and US licensee, Intelsat LLC. Orbital filings in the Ka, V and BSS frequency bands will be authorised for use by Intelsat Ltd. by the United Kingdom. The private company's main service subsidiary will be in Washington, DC, in the current Intelsat Headquarters building.

Intelsat Ltd will continue to honour a clear set of public service commitments on a commercial basis. These include the continued commercial provision of:

• global coverage and global connectivity;
• service to "lifeline" customers around the world according to specific Lifeline Connectivity Obligation Contracts; and
• non-discriminatory access to the Intelsat Ltd satellite fleet.

A small, separate and independent intergovernmental office will monitor the private company's implementation of these public service commitments.

Iridium Sale Confirmed
The sale of the operating assets of Iridium LLC and its subsidiaries, including its satellite constellation and a satellite and network operating centre, to Iridium Satellite LLC was approved by New York bankruptcy judge Cornelius Blackshear.

Iridium Satellite LLC's offer of US $25 million was the "highest and best bid" received for the assets. Iridium Satellite was the only bidder to submit a deposit, making it qualified to bid at a hearing last week.

Iridium Satellite's offer is split into US$ 6.5 million in cash and US$ 18.5 million in convertible debt.

Last week there was a little confusion after Iridium Satellite issued and then almost immediately withdraw a press statement confirming the sale. As was surmised at the time the content was substantially correct, the only problem was that the press release was issued before the paperwork had been signed.

Turkish Affiliate for Space Imaging
Space Imaging has announced today the signing of a contract with Turkey's Inta Space Systems Inc, a subsidiary of Cukurova Holdings, for the formation of a new commercial Regional Affiliate, Space Imaging Eurasia.

As a Regional Affiliate, Space Imaging Eurasia will have the ability to collect and sell Earth imagery from the Ikonos satellite and sell other Space Imaging Carterra products. Space Imaging Eurasia is based in Ankara, Turkey.

People

L-3 Communications Names Space and Navigation President
Paul Wengen has been named president of L-3 Communications' Space and Navigation division.

As previously announced, Mr. Wengen had been named acting president of the Space and Navigation division on October 18, 2000.

L-3 Space and Navigation, based in Teterboro, New Jersey, designs, develops, produces and integrates systems that guide, position, navigate and control satellites, launch vehicles and tactical artillery. Also included are products in support of critical classified programs to the U.S. government, as well as avionics plus attitude control products for NASA's Space Shuttle, Space Station and the Hubble Space Telescope programs. L-3 Space and Navigation is a division of L-3 Communications.

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