7 May 2000

Satcoms

Astra Broadband Interactive Network Completes First Broadband Satellite Access Tests
Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) and EMS Technologies Inc have completed the world's first DVB-RCS closed loop broadband satellite access tests, representing the completion of another stage in the development the SES Astra Broadband Interactive System (BBI).

The BBI system, based on the new international open standard DVB-RCS ("Return Channel via Satellite"), will enable end-users to have two-way broadband data communications from their own premises via low-cost Ka band satellite terminals, at speeds of up to 35 times the current 56.6 kbit/s of terrestrial modems.

The deployment of BBI will also allow satellite return channel users to book, use and pay for only the bandwidth they need, to contribute data and IP-based multimedia content and services to a network hub. The data can then be delivered immediately to specified locations or, if required, stored and scheduled for later distribution. This flexible and economic approach to bandwidth management ensures that the maximum number of subscribers can be supported per satellite transponder.

EMS Technologies also finalised the schedule for supplying a complete DVB-RCS demonstration system to SES by the end of June 2000. This is a precursor to the delivery of a fully operational system by the end of 2000. EMS will supply the critical hub technologies as well as end-user terminals under the agreement with SES.

The ASTRA BBI system will provide the first fully-featured Ka band broadband solution via satellite, making efficient and economic high-speed, high quality two-way communications readily accessible for consumers, content and service providers, micro-channel operators and for corporate and business-to-business applications across Europe.

SES expects to be the first European satellite operator to commercially exploit the Ka-band frequency for interactive and multimedia services in Europe, via the ASTRA Broadband Interactive System (BBI). In 2000, SES will commence operations of a return channel system via satellite, which will serve the growing market in Western and Central Europe for 2-way asymmetric, high-speed broadband collection, and delivery of multimedia.

Digital Island Uses Cidera's Global Satellite Network for Footprint Content Delivery Service
Digital Island Inc , a leading Global e-Business Delivery Network, has announced an agreement with Cidera Inc , the Internet Broadcast Backbone, to expand its Footprint content delivery network with Cidera's satellite broadcast services - allowing companies to enrich their Internet commerce with streaming and interactive content.

In addition, Cidera appointed Digital Island a Preferred Service Provider. Cidera recommends Digital Island to its customers who are seeking a full complement of streaming media services, which Digital Island provides under the Footprint content delivery banner. Digital Island, meanwhile, will use Cidera's Streaming Media Service and Big File Mover to multicast simultaneous streams to select Footprint servers co-located at ISP partners worldwide. As a result, Digital Island can reduce transmission costs while continuing to ensure high-quality streaming content without many of the delays and interruptions typically encountered in standard Internet services.

Digital Island is a leading Global e-Business Delivery Network. The company's suite of application services for interactive e-Business allows customers and partners to readily integrate content delivery, hosting and intelligent networking to give the ultimate consumer a superior experience. Strategically located Data Centers in the United States, Europe and Asia are directly connected to leading access service providers in 25 countries. In addition, Digital Island operates a network of more than 1,200 content distributors across the Internet, which improves the performance and reduces the cost of hosting high-volume Web applications in target markets. This network is expected to grow to more than 6,000 content distributors in 350 locations worldwide by the year 2003.

Cidera's broadband content delivery services offer Digital Island's end users improved quality of viewing experience, with higher reliability, and with reduced packet loss and delays associated with Internet content delivery. Cidera's broadcast services also offer scalability that is feasible through satellite delivery to an unlimited number of POPs within Cidera's existing satellite footprint.

Cidera's broadcast of single copies of streaming content and large files to multiple locations simultaneously is designed to free up bandwidth within Digital Island's terrestrial network and make it possible for the company to achieve cost savings by reducing pipe usage.

Cidera, Inc., the Internet Broadcast Backbone, is an international leader in the satellite delivery of broadband content to the edge of the Internet. Cidera uses innovative high-speed satellite technology designed to transport high-bandwidth data faster, more reliably, and more efficiently to ISPs, DSL, and cable access providers. Cidera is expanding its international network infrastructure to improve the movement of Web site content, streaming audio and video, live webcasts, large databases, and Usenet News over the Internet. Cidera serves more than 265 Points Of Presence (POPs) in North America and Europe.

Digiturk Selects Convergys Billing and Customer Care
Convergys Corporation, provider of integrated billing and customer care services, has signed a multi-year contract with DigiTurk, the digital TV platform, DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite) service provider in Turkey.

With the addition of DigiTurk in Turkey, Convergys' WIZARD software application is now operational in twelve languages and installed in eighteen countries worldwide.

Under terms of the contract, Convergys licensed its WIZARD Billing and Subscriber Management System to DigiTurk to support the billing and customer care activities of its advanced satellite Pay TV operation in Turkey. DigiTurk has been on the air since early April 2000.

Convergys' WIZARD is a comprehensive billing and subscriber management system for multi-channel subscription television operators. The advanced functionality of Convergys solutions enables DBS, DTH, DTT, MMDS, cable, and cable-telephony providers to effectively manage high subscriber volumes and deploy an increasing variety of new services that support aggressive growth in the global marketplace. WIZARD is based on leading-edge technology that creates an open and scaleable system architecture. Convergys' WIZARD has been implemented in both UNIX client/server and open VMS platforms. It is based on a multi-tier design and incorporates graphical user interfaces (GUI) and Oracle relational database.

Satellite Multicasting Market Boom to Continue - Pioneer Consulting
The market for multicast-enabled satellite equipment will grow from close to US$ 500 million in 2000 to over US$ 7 billion in 2005, according to Pioneer Consulting's latest report, Satellite Mediacasting: A New Model for the Internet.

This new report outlines the opportunities in the satellite multicast market, with a particular emphasis on streaming and multimedia distribution via satellite. Due to the rising demand for satellite-based multicast and content distribution services, satellite equipment manufacturers and vendors have an opportunity to target an increasingly lucrative market. Satellite equipment for both intermediary (ISP) and end user (business, residential) segments will be in high demand for satellite-based IP content delivery solutions.

North America will represent the largest market for multicast-enabled satellite equipment. Europe, Asia and Latin America will also be sizeable addressable markets based on the extremely high cost of multicast solutions over fibre. Business users, in particular, will be a significant target market for satellite multicast solutions and equipment, given the role of businesses as both a content producer and receiver. Businesses therefore require a complete end-to-end multicast solution that allows for control over distribution to multiple sites. ISPs will also exhibit demand for multicast-enabled satellite equipment; this demand will be especially strong in developing regions where the Internet performs poorly. Lastly, residential demand for multicast-enabled equipment will pick up near the middle of the forecast period.

For further information call Pioneer Consulting at +1 617-441-3900.

Space Systems/Loral to Build Assuresat Satellites
AssureSat Inc has awarded a contract to Space Systems/Loral to build two high-powered, specially designed satellites. With these new geostationary satellites, AssureSat will launch the first in-orbit backup protection service for the world's geostationary fixed satellite service (FSS) communications satellite operators, beginning in 2002.

Under separate agreements, Loral Skynet, a fixed satellite services operator and also a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications, will become an AssureSat customer once service becomes available, giving Skynet the ability to provide a back-up option to its many valuable customers. In addition, Loral Skynet will provide telemetry, tracking, and control for the AssureSat fleet from its Hawley, Pennsylvania, facility.

The satellite manufacturing agreement and the two Loral Skynet agreements are contingent upon AssureSat s completion of necessary financing. AssureSat Inc was founded in 1998 to provide backup restoration services to the world's FSS geostationary satellite operators. Its shareholders include Securitas Capital, a global equity investment company funded by Swiss Reinsurance Company and Credit Suisse Group, and SpaceVest, LP, a venture capital fund which makes equity investments solely in the space industry.

Once in orbit, the AssureSat satellites will be able to provide backup protection to most geostationary satellite operators by moving quickly to appropriate orbital slots to take over the communications tasks of malfunctioning spacecraft or those whose launches have failed, thus insuring service for the operator s customers. The two new satellites are scheduled to be launched in 2002.

The unique design of the spacecraft will allow them to operate on all three ITU region frequency plans, and the antennae will be steerable in flight to offer variable footprint coverage in both the C and Ku frequency bands.

The AssureSat satellites will each carry 36 C band transponders and 36 Ku band transponders. Total satellite power will be 10 kW at end of life. Loral has begun limited production , with full production to begin upon AssureSat s completion of the required additional financing.

The AssureSat spacecraft are based on SS/L's space-proven three-axis, body-stabilised 1300 bus. SS/L s satellites, which have amassed nearly 800 years of reliable on-orbit service, are designed to achieve long useful orbital life through use of bipropellant propulsion and momentum-bias systems for excellent stationkeeping and orbital stability. A system of solar arrays and batteries provides uninterrupted electrical power.

Navigation

ESA and EC Open Joint Office for Galileo Satnav Programme
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission (EC) have together opened the Galileo Programme Office to co-ordinate work on the satellite navigation, positioning and precision timing system, Galileo.

The Galileo Programme Office is located at 24-26 Rue De Mot, Brussels, Belgium and will co-ordinate studies under way and make preparations for decisions by the board directing the programme, provide technical support to the board and the industrial and scientific teams working on Galileo, and prepare the way for decisions on the transition to the implementation phase.

Less than a year ago, the EU and ESA decided to enter the race to develop the next-generation satellite-based navigation and precision timing system with a European-developed, state-of-the-art design that would set the industry standard for the 21st century. Galileo's new technology will revolutionise our transport systems, increasing safety and improving efficiency; this will make for better quality of life and less pollution in our cities. Galileo will also bring benefits in other aspects of everyday life, with precision farming raising yields, improved information for emergency services speeding up response times, and more reliable and accurate time signals underpinning our most vital computer and communications networks. It could also contribute largely to the improvement of maritime safety issues.

The definition phase of the Galileo programme is being run by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy and Transport, with the European Space Agency as an equal partner in the joint management board and playing a full role in technical development. Industry has been pushing ahead with the various studies required for this phase, and user groups have been defining their potential needs, which will eventually determine the system performance requirements. The Galileo Programme Office will now serve as the central source of expertise and permanent point of contact for co-ordination between the various players and parts of the programme.

Inauguration of the Galileo Programme Office is also the first step towards an ESA/EC institutional framework for Galileo.

GPS Unscrambled
On Monday President Clinton authorised the US military to stop intentionally scrambling GPS signals for non-military users, thereby increasing the accuracy of the system ten fold for civilians.

The decision is expected to give the GPS industry a big boost, on top of its already buoyant growth. Even without this bonus sales are expected to increase over the next three years from their current annual level of US$ 8 billion to US$ 16 billion.

The removal of scrambling will reduce the uncertainty of positioning using the GPS system from about 100 m to about 10 m for most users.

The US military will retain the ability to reintroduce scrambling at any time on a global or regional basis if required by US national security.

Military Space

Discoverer II Contracts go to TRW and Lockheed Martin
TRW and Lockheed Martin have each been awarded a Discoverer II Core Program Phase 1B contract option to continue the competitive concept definition phase of the Discoverer II space-based radar technology demonstration program.

Discoverer II is a joint United States Air Force, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and National Reconnaissance Office program. Discoverer II will provide tactical users with high-resolution all-weather, day/night tracking of ground-moving targets, imagery of fixed locations and highly accurate topographic maps of the Earth's surface. The Discoverer II demonstration program will develop, design, fabricate and launch two research and development satellites capable of detecting and tracking moving targets on the earth's surface, producing high-resolution imagery and collecting high-resolution, digital terrain mapping data.

The U.S. government plans to launch an operational system consisting of a constellation of as many as 24 low-Earth orbiting satellites in 2008. It will enable warfighters in the field to task the spacecraft sensor to look for specific targets. The resulting data will be sent back to the user in real-time, via a direct downlink from the spacecraft.

The five-month contract option was exercised by the Discoverer II Joint Program Office and has a value of approximately US$ 6 million. This contract follows an initial 12-month concept definition phase. Early next year a single contractor team will be selected to perform a demonstration phase consisting of building, launching and operating two satellites.

Spectrum Astro, the third bidder, was not awarded a phase 1B contract, but will be eligible to compete for phase two of the demonstration program. The RFP for the second phase will be released in October.

Science

SSTL Wins Momentum Wheel Contract for Rosetta Lander
SSTL has won a contract from DLR to manufacture and supply the attitude control momentum wheel for the Rosetta Lander mission to be launched in 2004.

The Rosetta spacecraft will rendezvous with comet 46 P/Wirtanen as it makes one of its periodic visits to the Sun. The spacecraft will map the comet's surface in fine detail and land a package of instruments (the Rosetta Lander) on the comet surface.

SSTL's wheel will have to survive a cruise time of 9 years through space and then be used for the last critical 20 hours during the final approach and landing on the comet.

The dry lubricated bearings used by SSTL are ideal for this type of mission due to their unlimited shelf life over a wide temperature range (-185 to +300 deg C) in a vacuum.

The wheel is similar in size to that onboard SSTL's UoSAT-12 minisatellite, launched in April 1999 and operational in low Earth orbit.

Manned Space

Brazil and Boeing Sign ISS Contract
The Boeing Company has signed a contract change with the National Institute of Space Research (INPE), the executing agency of the Brazilian Government for space-related activities. In the contract Boeing will provide preliminary design of the EXPRESS (EXpedite the Process of Experiments to Space Station) Pallet System, a key external payload experiment facility and logistics re-supply carrier, and ongoing engineering support for other Brazilian International Space Station (ISS) commitments.

>In earlier study contracts, Boeing provided recommendations to INPE for the organisational infrastructure of the Brazilian portion of ISS, identified ISS programs that would meet Brazil's science and technology objectives and defined specific ISS contributions for Brazil. Under the current contract Boeing will provide system design, engineering and integration support for development of the defined hardware elements.

The contract continues through October 2000, at which time an EXPRESS Pallet System Preliminary Design Review will be conducted. The firm-fixed price contract is valued at US$ 9.9 million. The work is being performed in Houston and Huntsville, Alabama.

In August 1997, INPE and Boeing signed a contract to conduct a detailed study related to the active participation of Brazilian industry in the design, construction and operation of key ISS elements.

In October 1997, an implementing arrangement was signed between the governments of Brazil and the United States whereby Brazil accepted the responsibility of producing key ISS components. The bilateral co-operative program covered detailed design, development and operation of key elements of ISS to NASA as part of NASA's contribution in exchange for rights to utilise the Station.

The first of these elements is the EXPRESS Pallet System, a critical external experiment payload facility and logistics re-supply carrier, scheduled to become part of ISS in late 2003. Future Brazilian elements may include a newly designed Unpressurized Logistics Carrier and the Technology Experiment Facility.

Technology

Orbital Completes New Satellite Factory
Located in Dulles, Virginia, about 50 km west of Washington, DC, Orbital's new 11,600 square metre state-of-the-art facility will house all of the company's satellite manufacturing, assembly and testing activities.

Orbital is the world's leading manufacturer of innovative small satellites that are used in a wide range of low-Earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary (GEO) communications, remote imaging and scientific missions. The company's customers include numerous US and international commercial enterprises and government agencies. Over the past 15 years, Orbital has designed, built, delivered and launched over 85 satellites, which have amassed over 300 years of in-orbit experience.

Orbital's new SMF will include a 3,700 square metre "high-bay" area that will house a full suite of environmental test equipment used to simulate the rigorous conditions of a satellite's launch sequence and its operation in space. The facility will also be home to two large "clean rooms," totalling over 2,300 square metres, in which satellites are kept during assembly, integration and check-out phases. A new satellite command and control ground station for Orbital's Orbimage affiliate's OrbView 3 and 4 high-resolution imaging satellites will also be incorporated into the complex later this year, which will include office space for engineers, technicians and administrative staff who will work in the building.

Spectrolab Supplies Solar Cells To Dornier
Spectrolab Inc will supply its state-of-the-art solar cells to Dornier Satellitensysteme GmbH (DSS) for qualification testing in DSS' space solar array systems, under a technical assistance agreement between the two companies.

This is the first European agreement for Spectrolab since it received US government approval recently to provide solar cells, panels, and arrays to major European spacecraft manufacturers. It enables the procurement of several hundred thousand multi-junction solar cells by DSS through 2002, as well as the formulation of related proprietary agreements with DSS that allow for direct insertion of the multi-junction solar cell into existing designs.

Once qualified, Spectrolab's multi-junction gallium-arsenide solar cells can improve DSS' solar array power performance by 40 percent as compared with earlier designs using silicon cells. This significant performance boost supports spacecraft designs requiring 20 kilowatts or more.

These multi-junction space solar cells have an average efficiency 24.5 %, and have been qualified by the major US satellite manufacturers. Spectrolab has delivered more than 35 kW of these high-efficiency devices to numerous flight programs for both commercial and US government applications. These next-generation cells reaching 27 % efficiencies have been delivered for three US flight programs. The first is scheduled to launch in late summer 2000.

For the European market, the availability of Spectrolab's flight-proven, multi-junction gallium arsenide solar cells is an enabling factor in the race toward higher revenue-generating spacecraft. The use of more efficient solar cells makes it possible to increase the power on existing satellite models and reduce time to market of today's satellite designs. The added efficiency also makes it possible to have either a lighter, smaller array of equivalent power or a more powerful array with no increase in size or weight. Improved efficiency means a reduction in launch and on-orbit operational costs.

Spectrolab is currently working under a jointly funded development contract with the US Air Force to deliver 35 % efficiency space solar cells by 2002.

Launch Vehicles

Saab Ericsson Space Wins Ariane 5 Computer Contract
Saab Ericsson Space, of Goteborg, Sweden, has been awarded an order for an additional forty Ariane 5 onboard computers.

The contract signed with Matra Marconi Space of Toulouse, covers development and manufacture work for twenty launchers and deliveries will be in progress until 2003.

The task of Saab Ericsson Space's onboard computers, there are two in the Ariane 5 version, is to monitor and guide the vehicle through the twenty minutes during launch until satellite separation. The computers are robustly constructed for highest stability with a built-in fault tolerance increasing the reliability in the event of disturbances.

Saab Ericsson Space has been the main supplier of Ariane's onboard computers since the start of the launcher programme in 1979. Until now 129 vehicles have been launched from Kourou in French Guiana, all of them carrying equipment from Saab Ericsson Space.

Saab Ericsson Space is an independent supplier of space equipment. The company develops and manufactures computers, antenna systems, microwave electronics and guidance and separation systems for launch vehicles, satellites and other spacecraft, and is the world leader in several of its product areas.

Launches

GOES-L

Launched: 3 May 2000
Site: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Launcher: Atlas IIA
Orbit: GEO, 104° W
International Number: 2000-022A
Name: GOES-L (will be renamed GOES 11 when it reaches geostationary orbit)
Owner: NOAA
Contractor: Space Systems/Loral

US meteorological satellite which will be used as an in orbit spare for GOES 8 (75° W) and GOES 10 (135° W). The GOES satellites are used for short term weather forecasting, particularly of hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, flash floods and other severe weather conditions.

Cosmos 2370

Launched: 3 May 2000
Site: Baikonur, Kazakhstan
Launcher: Soyuz-U
Orbit: LEO, apogee: 265 km, perigee: 172 km: inclination: 64.8°
International Number: 2000-023A
Name: Cosmos 2370

Cosmos 2370 is reported to be a Near Real Time imagery satellite.

Business

ATC Teleports to Acquire General Telecom
ATC Teleports Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Tower Corporation, has agreed to purchase General Telecom Inc for approximately US$ 30 million, subject to regulatory approvals. The acquisition of General Telecom will allow ATC Teleports to expand its voice communications services in the future.

The acquisition of General Telecom will provide ATC Teleports with independent partition voice switching capabilities and network management services at General Telecom's three major voice communications gateways in the United States: New York City, Miami and Los Angeles, as well as an operations centre at One World Trade Center. These gateways are key in supporting the switching requirements of the international long-distance community.

This transaction increases ATC Teleports' ability to meet the growing requirement for voice services, especially Voice over IP. It will also make it easier to work with the IXCs, ILECs, CLECs and Internet Service Providers (ISPs), offering a broader complement of solutions for customers seeking switched interconnect options between satellite and terrestrial networks. General Telecom will have access to additional routing options for its customers, for both domestic and international voice, data and IP traffic.

ATC Teleports is a leading provider of domestic and international satellite and IP network services. Giving effect to pending transactions, the company will own and operate more than 160 antennas accessing most major satellite systems from US teleport locations in, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas, Washington State and Washington, DC. ATC Teleports supplies terrestrial connections to major points of presence (POPs), co-location facilities and switching centers. ATC already has an existing 24x7 Technical Operations Center (TOC) located at 60 Hudson Street in New York, as well as at all its other major facilities. The teleports offer comprehensive networked solutions, including complete engineering, management and technical assistance for full-time and occasional-use video, Internet, data, voice and maritime applications.

Clarent to Buy ACT Networks
Clarent Corporation, a worldwide leader in providing carrier-grade, phone-to-phone Internet Protocol (IP) telephony solutions, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire ACT Networks Inc. ACT Networks is a leading provider of multi-service access and voice/data integration products (including VSATs) that enable the convergence of voice, video and data onto one managed network.

Under the terms of the agreement, each outstanding share of ACT Networks will be exchanged for 0.2546 of a share of Clarent Common Stock. The exchange ratio will be subject to a `collar' providing a maximum and minimum value of Clarent Common Stock to be exchanged for each share of ACT Networks at Closing of US$ 18.00 and US$ 14.00,
respectively. Based on Clarent's closing price on Monday, May 1st, 2000 the company will issue approximately US$ 189 million of stock for the outstanding shares of ACT in addition to assuming ACT Networks' outstanding stock options.

The acquisition has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2000. This transaction is subject to various closing conditions, including approval by ACT Networks' stockholders and termination of the necessary waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

Clarent is acquiring ACT to expand its product portfolio to include a comprehensive suite of data networking service access equipment, to increase product options available to its service provider customer base, to enhance its development capabilities, and to blend Clarent's current predominantly direct sales model with ACT's channel driven distribution strategy. ACT Networks is expected to become a wholly-owned subsidiary and will continue to be headquartered in Calabasas, CA. Andre de Fusco, 42, President and CEO of ACT Networks, will join Clarent's management team as President of the ACT Networks Division.

Gilat Redeems Notes
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd has announced that the company will exercise its right to redeem its 6 1/2 % Convertible Subordinated Notes Due 2004 (the "Notes") on June 5, 2000. The Notes will be redeemed in full at 102 % of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest of US$ 0.722222 per US$ 1,000 principal amount of the Note. The total redemption price per US$ 1,000 Note will be US$ 1,020.722222. Interest due June 1, 2000 will be paid in
the usual manner.

The holders have the right to convert their Notes in the principal amount of 1,000 or multiples thereof, into fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Shares at the conversion price of US$ 42.00. No adjustment in respect of interest or dividends will be made upon any conversion; provided that if a conversion is requested between the record date and interest payment date, the Note must be accompanied by an amount equal to the interest otherwise payable on such payment date. No fractional shares will be issued, but payment in cash will be made in lieu of fractional Shares.

The Fantastic Corporation Postpones Planned Follow On Offering
The Fantastic Corporation has decided to postpone the proposed follow-on offering scheduled for the second quarter this year. Since the Company has sufficient funds for working capital it has no need to proceed with the offering under the current market conditions.

The Fantastic Corporation is the leading provider of software solutions for data broadcasting. This is an emerging communications technology which combines point-to-multipoint digital broadcasting with point-to-point Internet connectivity, in order to deliver rich interactive media content to PCs, digital set-top boxes or handheld devices (including 3G mobile phones) over any broadband IP network.

By merging the inherent bandwidth and speed benefits of broadcasting technologies with the interactivity of the Internet, broadcast data provides superior content distribution and interaction in an increasingly IP-centric world. Fantastic's end to end software supports the rapid growth of the "data broadcast" industry.

Fantastic's customers are typically in two categories. The first includes network operators, satellite companies and any other company providing broadband data transmission services. The second category is content providers, such as media or entertainment companies, or any organisation wishing to transmit large volumes of digital data to target receiver groups quickly and efficiently.

ViaSat Completes Acquisition of Scientific Atlanta's Networking Business
ViaSat Inc has completed the acquisition of the Satellite Networking Business of Scientific-Atlanta Inc for a purchase price of approximately US$ 64.4 million in cash.

ViaSat will combine the acquired businesses with ViaSat's StarWire broadband on-demand satellite networks to form the ViaSat Satellite Networks division.

The acquisition includes personnel, technology, products, and distribution capabilities that extend ViaSat's product lines into broadband satellite network gateways, data transaction networks, telephony, mobile asset tracking, automated meter reading, remote monitoring, space imaging and antenna manufacturing.

Products and Services

OlympuSAT Launches Independent Digital Program Service Platform
OlympuSAT Inc has launched the first of several independent program service bundles for digital transmission and distribution to cable operators and direct broadcast satellite providers in the United States.

OlympuSAT I features an array of diverse niche networks including GoodLife TV Network, which targets Boomers with broad-based entertainment and information programming; FamilyNet, dedicated to quality family and values-based programming; C3D Television, the world's first 3D television network; The B-Movie Channel, featuring classic and cult B-Movies; Canal Sur, the Latin American news service; Independent Music Network Television, the first venue for independent musicians to showcase their work on national television; and MBC Network, whose mission is to reconnect the African-American family through cable television.

OlympuSAT was created to serve as a bridge between cable operators and independent television programmers. The OlympuSAT platform bundles and digitally transmits "suites" of growing, independent programming services, offering them efficient and cost-effective distribution. OlympuSAT also provides these growing services with supplemental marketing and affiliate relations support.

For operators, the OlympuSAT platforms offer economies of scale by providing one source for reception and delivery of multiple network feeds from one transponder. The OlympuSAT package also allows cable operators to pull down a mix of niche networks that will appeal to diverse audiences.

OlympuSAT has selected Loral Skynet's Telstar 7 for distribution of its independent programming platforms. Additional strategic relationships are being formed for innovative ancillary services for current and future programming partners.

People

NASA Establishes Health and Safety Office
NASA has created a new office to increase the Agency's emphasis on health and safety on the ground and in space.

Dr. Arnauld Nicogossian will lead the effort as Chief Health and Medical Officer, reporting directly to the NASA Administrator. Dr. Nicogossian will be responsible for developing the Agency's infrastructure in areas such as best medical practices, professional development and training, and improvement.

Dr. Nicogossian will establish the NASA Health Council to address the Agency's needs and investments in health, including strengthening external interfaces with other health agencies. Similar infrastructure will be established as appropriate at NASA field centres.

Dr. Nicogossian will continue to serve in the capacity of Associate Administrator for Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications pending the selection of his replacement. NASA will begin an immediate search to fill the position.

New NASA Chief of Staff
Edward J. Heffernan has been named Chief of Staff at NASA Headquarters.

As Chief of Staff, Heffernan will continue in his role as head of the Agency's legislative affairs and will also co-ordinate all staff activities in the immediate office of the Administrator.

Signal Technology Names New COO and President
Signal Technology Corporation, a leading provider of electronics products for the defence, space and commercial wireless communications markets, has named Dr. James V. DiLorenzo as Chief Operating Officer and President of the company.

DiLorenzo, 58, joined Signal as the company's president in 1999 and has been leading the company's Signal Wireless Group. In his expanded role as chief operating officer, DiLorenzo will continue to lead the Signal Wireless Group while assuming additional strategic responsibilities.

Signal also announced that John Cotumaccio has been named the company's Senior Vice President of Operations. He will continue to serve as President of Signal's Keltec Operation in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Joseph Mersereau has also been named President of the company's California Operation.

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