6 August 2000

Satcoms

Broadband Network for Movie Makers
NeTunes Communications, a start-up backed by General Motors and Hughes Electronics, has started testing its "ShowRunner" broadband satellite network, which is designed to allow filmmakers, studio executives and other involved in television and film production to work together in real time from separate locations.

The secure, broadband, fully-meshed, private satellite network offers filmmakers a range of advanced communications services. This service is the first-ever to be commercially offered to any industry. Hughes, CAA, PanAmSat, DirecTV, IBM and Lucent team as partners to aid swift adoption by the industry.

A full test run is expected this autumn, with services to be provided on one or more films produced by 20th Century Fox Feature Film Group, and by other major studios. NeTune declined to name the film(s).

The network has been designed to deliver high-quality film dailies, graphics, CGI images, edited sequences, text data, voice telephony and video conferencing via satellite. Emphasis has been placed on ease of use by incorporating web-based applications requiring only a browser to share information.

ShowRunner uses advanced satellite and broadband wireless technologies at speeds up to 45 Mb/s to provide comprehensive communications and data sharing capabilities. The network, with it's proprietary technologies that significantly enhance communications processes within the entertainment industry, will support bandwidth-intensive applications, such as high quality digital film dailies and CGI visual effects shots, while seamlessly integrating lower bandwidth data, including storyboards, script breakdowns, shooting schedules, camera and production reports, call sheets, budgets and financial reports, via a simple Web browser-style interface. The ShowRunner system will also incorporate business-to-business e-procurement features, enabling producers to maintain connectivity with vendors and suppliers throughout the production process.

Exigent Awarded Spaceway Support Contract
Exigent International's subsidiary Software Technology Inc (STI), has won a new contract to provide specialised engineering services to Hughes Network Systems (HNS) for Spaceway in support of systems integration and test activities.

Spaceway is a global broadband satellite network that will provide affordable, high-bandwidth and high-speed communications for broadband and multimedia applications. The first system is scheduled to begin operation in North America early in 2003.

Software Technology Inc. possesses network, enterprise, command, and control software products, tools, and engineering expertise derived through its involvement with, and development of, many of the world's most complex satellite based network command and control systems. With its experience in requirement definition, systems and software engineering, integration and test activities for large and distributed systems, STI will provide HNS with specialised engineering services to support their needs for the Spaceway System.

Globalstar Launches Russian Service
Globalstar has introduced commercial service in Russia, providing services to virtually every corner of the country, where many communities have little or no access to basic telephone service.

GlobalTel, the exclusive provider of Globalstar service in Russia, is initially providing basic telephone services including voice mail and short messaging service (SMS) and will offer fax and data services in early 2001. Service is being provided by GlobalTel through its gateway in Moscow, and later this quarter, service to central and eastern Russia will be provided through gateways in Novosibirsk and Khabarovsk, respectively, providing Globalstar service to virtually all portions of the country, from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

GlobalTel, a partnership led by Rostelecom, will be marketing Globalstar products and services through GlobalTel's regional service providers and distribution network, as well as through GlobalTel's sales office in Moscow. Phone units are being sold at prices starting at US$ 999, and call rates within Russia range from US$ 1.19 to 1.99 per minute.

In addition to covering nearly all of Russia's vast land areas, Globalstar will provide service up to 200 miles off its coastlines, offering reliable communications services for commercial and private maritime vessels as they travel outside the coverage of traditional cellular and radio services.

Globecomm Earth Station Orders
Globecomm Systems Inc, a leading global provider of end-to-end, value-added, satellite-based communications services, satellite ground segment systems and networks, has announced five orders with a total value of US$ 10.9 million.

An undisclosed multilateral organisation has exercised its option to purchase an additional 48 transportable satellite earth terminals with an aggregate value of $4.4 million. The option is part of a contract previously announced in March 2000 and represents the customer's decision to exercise options following initial installations made over the past three months.

As was the case with the initial order, the terminals will be used as remote earth stations within a satellite network for operations in the Intelsat coverage area of the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean Regions. Installation is scheduled to be completed over the next six months.

Combined with the initial order placed in March and more recent option exercises, brings the total value of orders generated through this contract to almost US$ 11.8 million.

Globecomm Systems has also been awarded four contracts with an aggregate value of approximately US$ 6.5 million, for satellite infrastructure projects and equipment upgrades in the United States, Canada and Hong Kong. All four projects are scheduled to be completed by the end of calendar 2000.

These contracts include the following:

United States:

• Globecomm Systems was awarded a contract by a major international telecommunications company for the integration and installation of two satellite Earth Stations (7.3 and 7.2 meters), complete with a shelter, with an option for a third 7.2m Earth Station. These Earth Stations will enable the customer to provide improved video uplinking and downlinking from Los Angeles into the Asia Pacific region. This project represents the second contract with this customer as Globecomm Systems built this customer's first US teleport back in 1998.
• Globecomm was awarded a contract change order by Sirius Satellite Radio to supply Repeater Equipment for the build out of the terrestrial network locations nationwide. This change represents the final configuration of Sirius' terrestrial Repeater Equipment, which will augment the satellite signal in dense urban areas. Sirius successfully launched Sirius-1, the first satellite in its three-satellite constellation in June 2000.

Canada:

• Globecomm Systems was awarded a contract by a satellite broadcast and communications company for two 4.6m Ku band satellite Earth Stations to be installed in Ontario, Canada.

Hong Kong:

• The Company was awarded a contract by a satellite broadcasting company for the installation of monitoring and control systems and an 11 m turnkey Earth Station in Kowloon, Hong Kong. This project will enable the customer to provide direct-to-home Pay-TV to its customers.

Intelsat LLC Receives Satellite Approvals
Intelsat has announced that the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved the Intelsat LLC
(the privatised Intelsat's licensed company) application to own and operate a C and Ku band global satellite system providing services to, from, and within the United States.

This application to the FCC was filed to permit Intelsat LLC to operate the global satellite system it will acquire from Intelsat, as a US licensee. The application sought US licenses for 17 in-orbit satellites, 10 replacement satellites and 13 orbital redeployments, resulting in a total of 22 orbital locations.

Lockheed Martin to Build Further New Skies Satellite
Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) has been awarded a contract to build a second geosynchronous satellite for New Skies Satellites NV.

The Ku/Ka band satellite, designated NSS-6, will provide fully interactive access to high-speed Internet and other multimedia communications. Additionally, it will provide direct-to-home broadcasting services as well as the full complement of traditional enterprise telecommunications services in a large coverage area stretching from the eastern Mediterranean and Southern Africa to Australia, Japan and Korea.

Scheduled for launch by the fourth quarter of 2002, NSS-6 (a A2100 based satellite) is configured to satisfy the changing demands of New Skies customers including Internet Service Providers (ISPs), broadcasters engaged in multicasting and direct-to-home services and private corporations. The special features of the satellite will enable New Skies' customers to operate fully interactive, high-speed networks of small terminals, capable of carrying Internet and other bandwidth intensive services throughout the coverage area of NSS-6. NSS-6 is also equipped with extra on-board redundancy for critical units, minimising risk of single point failure throughout the projected 14-year operational life of the satellite.

Unique features of the satellite include more than 60 high-power 36 MHz-equivalent Ku band transponders that can be re-assigned, in-orbit, to any of six broad beams covering India, China, the Middle
East (with South African spot coverage), Australia, Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia. Additionally, up to 15 highly linearised transponders can be assigned to each of the six beams to respond to changing market demand. Each Ku-band beam is formed by an independent high-gain antenna system, offering 51 to 53 dBW in key markets.

The NSS-6 satellite also has 12 super-high-gain Ka-band uplink spot beams, facilitating data rates of at least 1 Mb/s from antennas as small as 90 cm located at customer sites. These high-speed, high-performance Ka band uplinks are cross-strapped to the broad Ku band downlink beams, efficiently handling the asymmetric levels of traffic that characterise Internet networks. This design has the added advantage of maximising efficient use of spectrum and satellite capacity.

Phonecalls.com Launches Satellite Phone Service to China
Tianrong Internet Products and Services Inc (TIPS), has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Phonecalls.com Inc has commenced operation of its satellite telephone service to China.

The Company will use Voice over Internet Telephony (VoIP) to offer customers quality, international long distance service, at highly competitive rates.

Phonecalls.com's infrastructure includes a satellite system from InterPacket Networks Inc and gateways from Nuera Communications. With its existing equipment, Phonecalls.com has the capacity to provide 6 million minutes per month, to China.

Earth Observation

CHAMP Satellite Damaged During Launch
Controllers of the CHAMP earth sciences satellite believe it was hit in orbit by the nose cone of the Cosmos rocket that launched it.

Satellite controllers believe that the nose cone hit CHAMP as the nose cone separated during launch on July 15 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome. A series of in orbit systems checks have revealed that the satellite is behaving normally except for a few anomalies. Two of the satellite's six Earth/sun sensors have failed, it is thought, as a result of the collision with the nose cone.

Science

MUSES Launch Slips - New Target Selected
Launch delays have forced mission planners for Muses C to select a new target asteroid for the sample and return mission.
The launch date for Muses C has slipped to late 2002, a delay of about six months. The joint US-Japanese mission will now land on asteroid 1998 SF 36 only 3 months later than originally planned to September 2005, where it will collect rock samples for return to Earth and will also release a rover to explore the asteroid's surface.

NASA's Pluto Mission May Be Axed
After cost hikes in NASA science missions, sometimes as high as 40%, the administration is looking at cutting costs. One of the casualties may be the Pluto Kuiper Express (PKE) mission, scheduled for launch in 2004.

Rumours began circulating last week that NASA was considering cancelling the mission to Pluto, the only planet in the solar system not yet visited by a spacecraft. NASA has yet to confirm or deny the rumours but activists are already mobilising to try to save the mission. Within the planetary science community, a mission to the Pluto Charon system has strong support because the planet and its moon are so far from Earth the only feasible way to investigate them is by robotic spacecraft.

PKE is one of a group of three missions (PKE, Europa Orbiter and Solar Probe) of NASA's Outer Planets/Solar Probe project which share some technologies and subsystems, lowering the development cost for each spacecraft.

Europa Orbiter and PKE are very similar, with propulsion and scientific instruments the only major systems that are different between the two spacecraft. Originally JPL intended to construct the two spacecraft simultaneously, but then delayed work on PKE for a year while completing Europa Orbiter, which was scheduled for a 2003 launch.

Recently however, NASA has been been reported to be considering delaying Europa Orbiter by several years, and possibly moving PKE up to the Europa mission's 2003 launch window. PKE's current mission design includes a swingby of Jupiter, which would not be available in its current form after 2004.

Technology

NRO Funds Further Hybrid Motor Development
The US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has granted SpaceDev two separate, follow-on awards of over US$ 400,000 each for further hybrid rocket engine design and development. These awards directly follow SpaceDev's recently completed NRO contracts related to SpaceDev advanced hybrid rocket applications and its orbital transfer vehicle work. California's Western Commercial Space Center (WCSC) has awarded SpaceDev a US$ 200,000 grant to help build-out and equip its satellite and space vehicle manufacturing facilities.

Under NRO contracts and a recent US$ 105,000 award from the California Space & Technology Alliance (CSTA), SpaceDev will perform hybrid motor test firings and evaluation. Hybrid motors could be a critical technology for on-orbit manoeuvres and orbital transfers, and long-term on-orbit storage for SpaceDev and its government and commercial customers. SpaceDev will also develop specific mission and utility analyses to support NRO objectives.

SpaceDev is developing a commercial product line of small and cost-effective space vehicles with broad range capabilities the Manoeuvring And Transfer Vehicles (MATVs). This relatively inexpensive product line uses hybrid motors, and currently consists of three MATV designs from 25 kg to 100 kg in size. For each size, there are three degrees of intelligence from the low-end "dumb" micro-kick motor, to the high-end intelligent version which includes SpaceDev's highly capable single board SpaceComputer product, SpaceDev's MST-21 S-band variable power transceiver product, and such features as three axis stabilisation.

After acquiring the intellectual and data rights to American Rocket Company (AMROC) hybrid rocket motor technology in 1998, SpaceDev initiated conceptual and preliminary designs of an inexpensive space vehicle product capable of boosting small and secondary payloads into longer-life orbits. With internal funds and support from the NRO, SpaceDev has expanded the original thinking to include such concepts as manoeuvring on-orbit to support satellite inspection, rendezvous, docking, repair, satellite moving, de-orbiting, and refuelling missions.

Current MATV versions fit the Shuttle and most commercial launch vehicles designed to carry small secondary spacecraft to earth orbit and beyond. Currently, the smallest SpaceDev MATV weighs 25 kg and the largest, 100 kg. SpaceDev plans include larger manned and unmanned hybrid engines and orbital manoeuvring vehicles for commercial customers and government missions.

SpaceDev's hybrid motor uses an inert solid fuel and an oxidiser which is gaseous, non-toxic and self-pressurising at room temperature. The motor design includes only one moving part, a valve, and has long-term storability on the ground and on-orbit. SpaceDev's hybrid motor technology is restartable and relatively clean burning because its fuel and oxidiser are primarily hydrocarbons, nitrogen, and oxygen.

Launch Services

Integral Systems to Control NSS-7
Integral Systems Inc has been awarded a new contract from New Skies Satellites to provide the satellite control system for its NSS-7 satellite.

This is the latest in a series of contracts with New Skies to provide satellite control systems for its fleet of geostationary communications satellites.

Integral Systems was previously contracted to deliver control systems for three of New Skies' in-orbit geostationary communications satellites that provide global coverage with C band and Ku band transponders. This contract will add a Lockheed Martin A2100AX to New Skies' current fleet of satellites. The contract includes the baseband and computer equipment for an additional TT&C (Telemetry, Tracking and Control) site, the fourth site in New Skies' TT&C ground network.

New Skies' primary and backup control centres use Integral Systems' EPOCH 2000 software products for satellite and ground equipment command and control. EPOCH 2000-based systems have been installed at the other three New Skies' TT&C sites, providing a third level of redundancy for New Skies' satellite operations. The EPOCH 2000 software provides real-time spacecraft and ground system command and control, orbital analysis, and manoeuvre planning, as well as offline trending functions.

Japanese Shuttle HOPE on Hold
Japan has stopped development work on its unmanned space shuttle project until a decision on how the shuttle is to be launched has been reached.

The Science and Technology Agency had hoped to launch the craft in 2004, some four years behind schedule but disagreements about the launch have caused a temporary impasse. An advisory panel has proposed that a reusable jet plane be used to carry the shuttle off the ground instead of launching by rocket. The original plan, was for the 20-tonne Hope-X shuttle to be launched by a Japanese-developed H-2 rocket.

Hope-X is designed to conduct scientific experiments and ferry payloads up to 3 tonnes to orbit. It is broadly is modelled on the US space shuttle and has cost Japan US$ 238 million in development costs so far.

Launch Processing Contract for Astrotech
Astrotech Space Operations, a wholly owned subsidiary of Spacehab Inc has received a contract award from NASA to support the processing of two earth observation satellites for launch on a Delta expendable launch vehicle (ELV).

The US$ 479,600 contract, awarded by NASA's Kennedy Space Center, covers launch-site payload processing services for NASA's Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) and Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas-C (SAC-C) earth-observation satellites. These spacecraft are scheduled for launch together on a Delta 7320 "Med-Lite" ELV from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB) in November.

Astrotech will process these payloads at its Vandenberg AFB facility, a full-service site equipped to support spacecraft processing for Atlas, Delta, Pegasus, and Taurus launches. Astrotech's payload processing services include support for spacecraft final mechanical assembly, electrical checkout, liquid propellant loading, solid rocket motor/ordinance installation, payload fairing encapsulation, transport to the launch pad, and remote payload command and control through countdown.

The EO-1/SAC-C mission is the second of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) program payloads to be processed at Astrotech's Vandenberg AFB facility. Astrotech provided payload processing services for NASA's first EOS mission, designated Terra (formerly EOS-AM-1), launched in December 1999. The total value of Astrotech's contract with NASA for support to the Terra mission was more than US$ 2 million.

The EO-1 spacecraft is an element of NASA's New Millennium Program, designed to conduct space-flight validation of breakthrough technologies for space and Earth science missions. SAC-C is a co-operative NASA-Argentine project.

N Korea Offers Launches for Missiles Deal
The North Korean government has offered to cancel its intercontinental ballistic missile program if other countries will supply, free of charge, facilities and launchers for two or three satellites per year.

The offer was made to Russian President Vladimir Putin and later reconfirmed.

North Korea's missile tests have been a major concern for Japan, which is in the flight path of the boosters used in the tests. The threat poses by a North Korean ballistic missile is also one of the main drivers behind the controversial, and expensive, limited national missile defence system currently being considered by the US - US intelligence agencies are reported to believe that North Korea will have developed the capability to hit USA by 2005. The removal of a Korean missile threat could well have a significant impact on defence policy in both North America and the Asia Pacific region.

Business

Iridium Reprieved - For A Few Days
Iridium has won a reprieve to August 9 so that it can investigate a potential rescue from investors associated with Castle Harlan, the investment bank that recently withdrew its US$ 50 million offer for the company.

Motorola has agreed to keep the constellation of LEO phone satellites operational until August 9 to see whether the negotiations with investors will lead to a bail out of Iridium. If the talks do not produce a viable rescue plan Motorola will have court backing to begin deorbiting the satellites.

Lockheed Comsat Merger Goes Ahead
Lockheed Martin Corporation and Comsat Corporation have completed their merger following final approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The transaction was accomplished via a one-for-one tax-free exchange of Lockheed Martin common stock for Comsat common stock for the remaining 51% of Comsat stock Lockheed Martin did not own. The value of the exchange of common stock is approximately US$ 790 million.

Comsat will become an integral element of Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation comprising Lockheed Martin's telecommunications services business. The resultant new business, with projected revenues approaching US$ 1 billion, plans to offer services in the US as Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications (LMGT), while offshore Comsat International operations will retain their current designations.

The new enterprise is organised along the following business lines:

Network Services - delivering tailored, integrated solutions built on a foundation of quality, customer service, technology and network security. Network Services currently conducts business in 11 countries for over 1400 customers connecting more than 9000 international sites in the retail, banking, manufacturing, technology and other industries. It offers a full suite of end-to-end services for businesses, carriers and Internet service providers via the GlobalWay regional network in Latin America, with a direct connection to the US Internet backbone, and expanded applications, including the newly announced Securedge network security solutions portfolio.

Satellite Services - providing satellite capacity, network management and systems engineering services that extend voice, high-speed data and multimedia networks virtually anywhere worldwide. Telecommunications, broadcast and digital networking services between the US and other countries are provided via the global, 19-satellite Intelsat system. Satellite Services also includes Comsat Mobile Communications, which services for mobile users at sea, in the air, and at remote land locations via the nine-satellite Inmarsat system and a worldwide network of earth stations. Personal satellite communications, offering voice, fax and data capabilities also are offered. Teleport services are provided on the east and west coasts of the United States. Strategic ventures, including Lockheed Martin Intersputnik, and minority ownership in New Skies, ACeS, Astrolink and Americom Asia-Pacific.

Systems & Technology - offering network design, wireless communications and network security, along with technical consulting services to provide customised, value-added solutions to enterprise customers. The line of business combines Lockheed Martin's network systems development capability with Comsat Laboratories, a pre-eminent developer of advanced communications technologies.

Additionally, LMGT Products will focus on increasing market potential for select technologies, including the Linkway family of broadband satellite networking products, and unlocking their value through strategic partners and licensing.

LMGT becomes the US owner, and the largest shareholder, in both the Intelsat and Inmarsat systems. Inmarsat fully privatised on April 15, 1999, and Intelsat has targeted privatisation for 2001. LMGT also is the largest owner in New Skies Satellites, NV, the global, six-satellite system spun-off from Intelsat into a private commercial company in 1998.

No Insurance for Echostar
EchoStar Communications Corp reported on Tuesday, in its 10Q filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, that four of its satellites are flying without insurance policies.

Insurance policies on EchoStar I, II and III expired on July 25. Furthermore, Echostar has been unable to get insurance for three new satellites it plans to launch over the next few years.

EchoStar's insurance woes began when it filed a claim for US$ 219.3 million (covering the total value of the rocket and launch) in September 1998 following the failure of a solar array on Echostar IV. EchoStar's insurer's offered US $88 million., which EchoStar has not accepted and as a result this satellite is also currently uninsured.

EchoStar has now filed an antitrust suit in the US District Court in Denver, claiming 13 insurers around the world have conspired to leave the company without insurance unless it accepts the US$ 88 million settlement for Echostar IV.

Products and Services

Astrium and Thomson-CSF Team for Airline Multimedia Services
Following in the footsteps of Boeing, Astrium and Thomson-CSF have announced their intention to create a partnership to offer to plane manufacturers as well as to airline companies a complete range of communication services.

The partnership will target three main areas:

• The provision of a multimedia range of services such as video and laptop connections, emails, games, the Internet to airline passengers.
• Services to aircrew: weather forecast, crews planning, email.
• Services to airline companies, facilitating database management for plane maintenance.

The full service range would be progressively offered as of 2001, through the utilisation of existing satellite capacity on the Eutelsat and Inmarsat satellite systems.

People

Bruce Elbert Joins eSAT Inc
eSAT Inc, a broadband Internet service provider (ISP) with wireless and satellite data delivery capability, has appointed Bruce Elbert to Executive Vice President and President of Asian Operations.

In this position, Elbert will be responsible for the overall management of eSAT's Asian operations, including strategic development, project management, corporate financing, mergers and acquisitions, and identifying corporate joint-venture opportunities. He will also be a member of eSAT's executive management team and will play an important role in developing broadband business and joint ventures around the world.

Globalstar USA Appoints Dennis McSweeney as VP and General Manager
Globalstar USA, the exclusive provider of Globalstar's satellite-based mobile communications in the US, has appointed Dennis McSweeney to Vice President and General Manager.

McSweeney will direct all of Globalstar USA's day-to-day business activities, as well as oversee Globalstar Canada and Globalstar de Mexico, service providers for Canada and Mexico, respectively.

iBeam Names Geoffrey Ribar as CFO
iBeam Broadcasting Corp has reported that Geoffrey Ribar, formerly Chief Financial Officer at Packard Bell NEC, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of the company effective August 3, 2000.

His appointment enables Chris Dier, who had been Chief Financial Officer since the company's founding and through its successful initial public offering in May 2000, to pursue personal interests, including teaching, and spend time with his family. Mr. Dier will remain with the company to aid in the transition through the end of August.

The Fantastic Corporation Appoints New CFO
The Fantastic Corporation has appointed Andreas Emmenegger as new Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Emmenegger will take over as CFO in November. Based at the company headquarters in Zug, Switzerland, as a part the Executive Management Group, Mr. Emmenegger will report directly to the CEO, Reto Braun.

ViaCast Networks Appoints Senior Vice President Sales
ViaCast Networks, a leader in end-to-end satellite broadband IP solutions, has announced that William T. Carlin has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Sales.

In his new position at ViaCast, Carlin will be responsible for ViaCast's worldwide sales efforts reporting directly to Mitch Robinson, President, CEO and Chairman.

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