17 March 2002
Satcoms
Alcatel Space Wins SES Americom Satellite Contract
Globalstar Phones
Certified by Russian Ministry of Civil Defence
HNS Europe Wins Contract for
Broadband Services to Dutch Schools
Hughes Network Systems Introduces
Applications Solutions for Food Services Sector
Quake Global Delivers
High-Performance Custom Modem to Volvo Trucks North America
Earth
Observation
NASA Picks Landsat
Data Proposals for Further Development
Navigation
Boeing Receives GPS IIF Modernisation
Approval
Military
Space
Boeing
Team Selected to Build Orbital Express
Science
Mars Odyssey Update - Radiation Environment Experiment
Now Working
Technology
NASA Selects Purdue Team To Develop Life-Supporting
Ecosystem
SNECMA
Tests Plasma Thruster
Launch
Services
Atlas V Rolls
Out for Launch Pad Dress Rehearsal
Business
Motient Continues Reorganisation
Quake Global Moves to New
Headquarters
Products and Services
Thales Introduces Magellan GPS Companion for the Palm m500
Series
Thales
Navigation Unveils Magellan SporTrak Pro GPS Receiver
Trimble Packs the Power of GPS in
an Ultra-Low Power Miniature Module
People
Charles W Davidson Retires From Loral Skynet
Norsat Appointments New Chief
Financial Officer
Sirius Strengthens Management Team
Wegener Announces Organisational
Change
Alcatel Space Wins SES Americom Satellite Contract
Alcatel
Space has signed a contract to build a new satellite for SES Americom. This
order is for the construction and delivery on the ground of a new satellite
named AMC-23. SES Americom has also cancelled orders for two transoceanic
spacecraft, as permitted by the terms and conditions of the contract.
The new Alcatel Space-built satellite is based on the 4000
Spacebus platform, one of the largest and most powerful commercial satellite
platforms available on the market today. The new satellite will enable SES
Americom to expand its global fleet, delivering TV and multimedia applications
within the Asia Pacific region and across the Pacific.
Weighing 4,850
kg and operating 60 C band transponders, the satellite will be built in
Alcatel's Cannes and Toulouse facilities.
Globalstar Phones Certified by Russian Ministry of Civil
Defence
Qualcomm's Globalstar GSP-1600 phone units have been
accepted for standard use by Russia's Ministry of Civil Defence, Extraordinary
Situations and Natural Disasters, known by its Russian initials "MChS".
Under the order issued by MChS last month, the Qualcomm
Globalstar GSP-1600 tri-mode phone has been approved for use by the Ministry's
military units and regional control centres as well as by other branches of the
Ministry involved in rescue work and emergency services.
Globalstar
phones are already being extensively used across Russia by government
organisations, oil exploration and pipeline companies, and maritime companies.
Globalstar's local service provider, GlobalTel, has also recently developed an
optional thermal jacket for its fixed phone units, allowing Globalstar phones
to be used under most of the harshest winter environments in the
country.
HNS Europe Wins Contract for Broadband Services to Dutch
Schools
Hughes Network Systems Europe (HNSE) has been awarded
a contract by nl.tree to provide DirecWay broadband Internet access to schools
throughout The Netherlands.
Using DirecWay from Hughes,
nl.tree will provide IP-based services to approximately 800 schools and other
educational institutes that are outside urban centres and can only be served
cost effectively by satellite. nl.tree will provide broadband access for
various IP-based applications, such as two-way Internet access, hosting and
email services. Installation is set to begin immediately and be completed
before June 2002.
nl.tree has overall responsibility for the services
to the schools and has contracted HNSE to manage all elements of the satellite
service, including installation and maintenance. Each school will be equipped
with a DirecWay terminal, enabling features suitable for the educational
market, such as the TurboPage pre-fetching/caching system, flexible IP
addressing capabilities, protocol filtering, and performance management.
nl.tree provides high value network, information and communication
services. As the builder of The Knowledge Net (Kennisnet), nl.tree connects all
schools in the primary, secondary, vocational and adult educational systems in
The Netherlands with each other and with the Internet over a broadband network.
nl.tree develops this project under contract by the Dutch Ministry of
Education, Culture and Science. nl.tree is a joint venture of the Dutch cable
companies.
Hughes Network Systems Introduces Applications Solutions for
Food Services Sector
Hughes Network Systems Inc (HNS) has announced today a
restaurant initiative for application service providers (ASPs) in the
food-service industry.
The first member to join HNS'
restaurant initiative is California-based eCentra, an ASP for the hospitality
industry. eCentra bundles its Viewpoint applications, including its
Point-of-Sale platform, browser-based back office solution and employee
training, with the DirecWay service and will provide the complete turnkey
solution to Ohio-based Damon's restaurants, which has 140 company-owned and
franchised locations in the United States.
Participants in the
restaurant initiative will receive marketing and sales support from HNS.
DirecWay services included in the program are two-way interactive broadband
such as Internet access, Private IP, interactive distance learning, Music and
Messaging, Multicast Streaming, Multicast Delivery and Caching. Traditional
interactive two-way client/server applications such as ERP, email, credit, and
polling are also supported.
Quake Global Delivers High-Performance Custom Modem to Volvo
Trucks North America
Quake Global Inc has developed, in part using
proprietary elements conceived by Volvo Trucks North America, a high
performance custom satellite modem designed specifically for Volvo Trucks North
America for use on heavy trucks.
The product was created
to provide global coverage and robust two-way communications using satellite
technology. Volvo hopes to eventually integrate this system into all new trucks
to enable efficient vehicle management and two-way messaging. Quake Global and
Volvo Trucks North America signed a six-year contract.
The custom
modem for Volvo incorporates J1708 CAN BUS technology, eliminating the need for
sensors throughout the truck to relay pertinent information. This data
collector allows information concerning miles driven, maintenance and operating
performance to be recorded and transmitted via satellite. Vehicle tracking and
locating information also compliments the two-way communications functionality.
The modem operates over the Orbcomm's two-way satellite communications network,
and therefore is not limited by cellular coverage boundaries.
NASA Picks Landsat Data Proposals for Further Development
NASA,
in partnership with the United States Geological Survey, has selected two
proposals for further development in response to a solicitation to provide the
US government with Landsat-type data.
The companies
selected for further proposal development are Resource 21, Englewood,
Colorado., and DigitalGlobe, Longmont, Colorado.
NASA is required by
public law to continue the gathering of these important scientific data. NASA
requires digital-image data products that provide seasonal coverage of the
global landmass to meet the government's needs.
During the first phase
of this full and open competition, proposers will have approximately nine
months to further develop their technical and business plans, as well as a
preliminary design of their system for providing future Landsat-quality data.
During this formulation phase, proposers will conduct activities such as trade
studies and analyses.
At the end of this formulation phase other
proposals that meet the formulation requirements and provide a business plan
and system-level preliminary design review acceptable to the government may
also be submitted to NASA for consideration. NASA will announce a second
solicitation for all qualified proposers late in the first phase.
NASA
is providing approximately US$ 5 million in funding to each of the two selected
proposers for this formulation phase. The agency expects to finalise the award
for the Landsat Data Continuity Mission in mid-2003, with data delivery to the
government in 2005.
Boeing Receives GPS IIF Modernisation Approval
Boeing
Space and Communications has received approval from the US Air Force to move
forward with space vehicle production for the Global Positioning Satellite
(GPS) IIF Modernization program.
GPS IIF is the next
step in enhancing system capabilities for all GPS users. The added capabilities
include a new signal for civilian users and critical, secure Operational
M-codes for the warfighter. The new civilian signal, in the protected
Aeronautical Radio Navigation System frequency band, provides redundant safety
of life services for civil aviation users and increased accuracy for a host of
other users worldwide.
In addition, GPS IIF is compatible with the US
Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) and will provide 20% more
on-orbit life than previous GPS spacecraft.
Designed for flexibility
and growth, the GPS IIF system architecture can affordably accommodate hardware
and software changes through incremental technology upgrades to improve
efficiency and introduce new military capabilities including anti-jam, greater
accuracy, better availability and higher integrity.
This incremental
upgrade approach to the GPS IIF program will, in turn, reduce the technical
risks inherent in developing GPS III, the next generation satellite system, as
well as answer the near term needs of the warfighter today.
The
Boeing-led Control Segment team that includes Lockheed Martin and Computer
Science Corp. will also play a key role in this procurement with the
modernisation of the entire GPS ground system architecture design to reduce
operator workload and operational costs.
Boeing Team Selected to Build Orbital Express
The
Boeing Co has been selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA) as the prime integrator to perform Phase II of the Orbital Express
Advanced Technology Demonstration.
Under the 42-month
US$ 113 million agreement with options, a Boeing Phantom Works team will
finalise the design, fabricate and demonstrate the various technologies
required for autonomous satellite servicing while on-orbit.
The unique
Orbital Express advanced technology demonstrator will have the capability to
autonomously service, repair and refuel satellites while on-orbit. The Boeing
team will build the Autonomous Space Transport Robotic Operations satellite
(ASTRO), and a surrogate serviceable satellite, NEXTSat, and conduct an
on-orbit demonstration of autonomous satellite servicing.
Launch is
slated for 2006, with routine, cost-effective, autonomous capability for
re-supply and reconfiguration of on-orbit spacecraft planned for the post-2010
timeframe.
DARPA foresees that an Orbital Express-derived satellites
servicing architecture will usher in a revolution in space operations, enabling
manoeuvrable and upgradeable satellites supporting critical national security
missions, as well as new and enhanced capabilities for civil and commercial
space activities.
In an additional development, NASA's Space Launch
Initiative (SLI) is partnering with DARPA in the Orbital Express demonstration
in order to reduce technical risks associated with developing autonomous
rendezvous capabilities. Leveraging work done through the Orbital Express
technology demonstration is one step toward enabling potential commercial
logistics missions to the International Space Station.
The Boeing
Orbital Express Team includes Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp, TRW Space
and Technology, McDonald Dettwiler Robotics, Charles Stark Draper Laboratory
Inc and Starsys Research Corp.
Mars Odyssey Update - Radiation Environment
Experiment Now Working
Flight controllers for NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft
have report the Martian radiation environment experiment has begun gathering
science data after troubleshooting efforts successfully re-established
communications with the instrument.
Engineers have been
working since late February, trying a variety of techniques to communicate with
the instrument, which stopped working in August. The results of their tests
indicate the problem may be related to a memory error in the onboard software
of the radiation instrument.
The team established initial
communication with the instrument late last week and has spent several days
evaluating its health. Controllers then returned the radiation monitor to its
science collection mode.
Odyssey's camera system and gamma ray
spectrometer suite are continuing to collect data and are working well. Current
targets for the camera include the candidate landing sites for the twin 2003
Mars exploration rovers. The neutron detectors in the gamma ray spectrometer
suite are refining the detail in maps of near-surface hydrogen and are tracking
changes in the surface as the Martian northern winter comes to an
end.
NASA Selects Purdue Team To Develop Life-Supporting
Ecosystem
NASA's Office of Biological and Physical Research has
selected Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, for a five-year grant
totaling US$ 10 million to lead a NASA Specialized Center of Research and
Training (NSCORT) for Advanced Life Support (ALS) that will develop
technologies to enable long-duration planetary missions and sustain human space
colonies.
This ALS NSCORT will consist of a consortium
of institutions that includes Purdue and Alabama A&M University in Normal,
Alabama, and Howard University in Washington. Scientists and engineers from all
three institutions will work together to conduct research on a number of
self-sustaining technologies required for long-duration space missions,
including solid-waste processing, water recovery and air revitalisation, and
food processing and food safety.
The team of investigators will work
to design a self-sustaining environment for future space colonies where the
inhabitants will live inside fully enclosed structures; grow their own food;
and constantly process, recycle and purify all wastes. Plants will provide a
source of food and oxygen, microbes will be used to break down wastes, and
other technologies will be needed to remove impurities from the air and
water.
The ALS NSCORT was established to advance fundamental knowledge
in life-support technologies with the ultimate application of enabling human
space flight and long-term planetary missions. This NSCORT is expected to
enhance NASA's base of scholarship, skills and performance in space biological
and biomedical sciences and related technological areas. The effort also will
expand the pool of research scientists and engineers trained to meet the
challenges ahead as NASA prepares for human space exploration missions.
NASA received four proposals from universities in response to the research
solicitation released in July 2001. Proposals were peer-reviewed by scientific
and technical experts from academia and government before a selection was made.
Evaluation of proposals also included review by NASA program scientists and
managers for programmatic relevance and cost.
SNECMA Tests Plasma Thruster
SNECMA has successfully
performed the first firing test of its new PPS(r)X000 plasma thruster following
a nominal ignition sequence. The PPS(r)X000 is Snecma Moteurs' latest
stationary plasma thruster, and the most powerful in the PPS family (6
kilowatts).
The plasma thruster was designed to provide
onboard propulsion for tomorrow's heavy communication satellites, and has been
developed in co-operation with SNECMA's Russian partner, EDB Fakel.
With a 40 gram-thrust, the PPS(r)X000 is the most powerful electric booster
developed to date in Europe. It is capable of handling orbital transfer and
control duties of geostationary satellites weighing up to 10,000 kg. Thrusters
such as the PPS(r)X000 expel their plasma jets at speed of up to 20
km/s.
Atlas V Rolls Out for Launch Pad Dress Rehearsal
Lockheed Martin's new Atlas V booster passed its first
major test on the launch pad this week on the way to the debut launch this
summer. Over a five-day period, the Atlas team rolled the rocket on its mobile
launch platform to the launch pad, loaded the super-cold propellants on board
and conducted a simulated launch countdown.
The Atlas V
is being developed in partnership with the US Air Force as part of the Evolved
Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Program.
The process of checking out
the vehicle as if for launch, including tanking and detanking propellants, is
called a "wet dress rehearsal," or WDR. WDR is the major pre-launch test that
proves all airborne and ground hardware and software are ready to perform.
During WDR the launch team simulates the countdown, which in the case of Atlas
V will improve upon the Atlas II and III procedures.
A total of three
WDRs will be performed before the first Atlas V launch. As a prelude to WDR #1,
the vehicle rolled to the pad for the first time on its mobile launch platform
(MLP) from the vertical integration facility (VIF) Wednesday, March 6. In that
first on-pad operation, the team checked numerous subsystems and the
kerosene-like fuel known as RP-1 was loaded on board the Atlas and then
unloaded before rollback to the VIF. The Atlas V made the 1,800-foot journey to
the pad in 30 minutes. In the first demonstration of the robust, all-weather
qualities of the launch vehicle, AV-001 stood outside for 31 hours straight. As
it stands exposed on the launch pad, Atlas V is able to withstand winds of 60+
mph.
WDR #1 was performed over a five-day period that began Monday,
March 11. Centaur upper stage cryogenic propellants - super-cold liquid oxygen
and hydrogen - were loaded and unloaded on Wednesday, March 13. Liquid oxygen
was loaded on board the Atlas on Thursday, March 14. The entire process
concluded on Friday, March 15, with rollback to the VIF. During the five days,
the rocket spent 90+ hours on the launch pad through a variety of Central
Florida weather conditions including wind, rain and lightning, further
demonstrating the robust design of the system. WDR was deliberately expanded
from normal operations to allow for extra development testing. Normal launch
day operations will take only 11 hours from the time the vehicle is moved from
the VIF to launch.
Motient Continues Reorganisation
The US Bankruptcy Court for
the Eastern District of Virginia has approved Motient's Disclosure Statement
describing its Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization. Motient Corporation, the
owner and operator of the nation's largest wireless data network, anticipates
that it will complete its pre-negotiated restructuring and exit Chapter 11 soon
after April 25, 2002, the scheduled date of the court confirmation hearing to
approve the Plan. Motient remains on its previously announced schedule to
complete its restructuring initiative during the Spring of 2002.
The restructuring Plan will complete the pre-negotiated
bondholder agreement to eliminate US$ 335 million in bondholder debt and an
associated US$ 40 million in annual interest payments. Under the terms of the
Plan, bondholders will convert Motient's senior notes to equity in the
company.
On or about March 7, 2002, all classes entitled to vote, were
sent ballots with Motient's Disclosure Statement which includes the Plan as an
exhibit. The deadline for voting on the Plan is April 16, 2002, and the
Confirmation Hearing is scheduled for April 25, 2002.
Quake Global Moves to New Headquarters
Quake
Global Inc relocated to a new headquarter location in San Diego on March 15.
The new address is 9765 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, Suite A, San Diego, CA 9212-1324
and the phone number will remain the same, +1 (858) 277-7290.
Founded in 1998, Quake designs, manufactures, and implements
advanced wireless methods of asset tracking and monitoring through satellite,
cellular and other developing technologies.
Thales Introduces Magellan GPS Companion for the Palm m500
Series
Thales Navigation is working with Palm Inc and Palmtop
Software to introduce the first GPS solution for Palm users that provides 12
hours of continuous use - five times the usage time of competitive products.
This represents the most efficient power management available in a handheld
add-on GPS solution. Additionally, the Magellan GPS Companion for the Palm m500
series is the only Palm GPS companion that provides accuracy to within 3 meters
in Europe through WAAS and EGNOS compatibility.
The new
offering not only gives Palm m500 handheld users a vehicle navigation solution,
but provides consumers a powerful personal GPS solution that keeps them going
in the city and off-road. It features TomTom CityMaps and TomTom RoutePlanner
from Palmtop Software, and Magellan NAV Companion software. In addition to
superior power management, the Magellan GPS Companion lets users calculate a
route in a Palm handheld and provides instructions and GPS guidance on a moving
map. This solution enables users to calculate a new route on the spot, without
a PC or Internet connection.
Available Spring 2002, the Magellan GPS
Companion for the Palm m500 series and TomTom CityMaps and TomTom RoutePlanner
will give Palm handheld users the ability to travel with the confidence of
knowing where they are, exactly how to get where they're going, and a GPS
solution that will keep working when they need it.
The Magellan GPS
Companion provides a level of accuracy not available in other Palm GPS add-ons
in Europe. Through the use of Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) and European
Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS) satellite correction signals
the Magellan GPS Companion ensures the most accurate position fixes possible so
users know their location within 3 meters with a position update every
second.
Magellan's own NAV Companion software provides comprehensive
navigation information so Palm handheld users can turn their handheld into a
traditional GPS receiver for finding their way in off-road areas. Great for
customers who enjoy outdoor recreation activities, such as hiking, climbing,
off-road driving and biking,
Consumers use TomTom CityMaps and TomTom
RoutePlanner on their Palm handheld to create and receive route-planning
information. Maps are matched with satellite navigation information from the
Magellan GPS Companion receiver to show the user's position on a map and show
the real-time movement of the user. The Magellan GPS Companion with TomTom
CityMaps and TomTom RoutePlanner software delivers a text version of the
complete list of directions.
NAV Companion provides an analogue
speedometer, a digital compass, and waypoint and route management capabilities
so users can store location information and find their way to and from a
destination that doesn't appear on conventional maps.
The Magellan GPS
Companion features a lightweight, cordless, 12-parallel-channel GPS receiver
that attaches to the Palm Universal Connector at the base of the Palm m500
series handheld for fast position acquisition and satellite tracking, even in
urban canyons or under trees. The Magellan GPS Companion communicates with the
Palm handheld through the serial port, leaving the expansion card slot
available for map downloads. The Magellan GPS Companion uses two AAA batteries
and for added convenience during extended travel, an optional 12V power cable
features a built-in Palm charger.
Thales Navigation Unveils Magellan SporTrak Pro GPS Receiver
Thales
has announced the Magellan SporTrak Pro, a new premium handheld GPS solution
designed to meet consumer demand for advanced mapping and navigation in a
compact size.
The Magellan SporTrak Pro delivers
stylish, pocket-sized convenience without compromising superior performance and
robust functionality. In addition to its versatile mix of street maps and
marine information, the Magellan SporTrak Pro provides a built-in memory of 9
MB with expandability up to 23 MB so users can add even more maps and points of
interest for easy access while travelling. No other GPS product in this price
category offers this kind of expandability.
Additionally, SporTrak Pro
offers superior functionality including:
Waterproof and rugged with a
sporty, comfortable design, the 12-channel SporTrak includes built-in marine
navigation aids that identify buoys, marinas, lighthouses, wrecks and
obstructions for travelling offshore, fishing or boating. The user is not
limited to the built-in information, however. The SporTrak Pro's 23 MB of
memory capacity lets users download additional map detail, points of interest
or topographic data from the Magellan MapSend software family.
The
SporTrak Pro's nine navigation screens direct the user toward his destination
while displaying bearing, heading, distance, speed, remaining time to
destination, cross-track error and more. An advanced search function quickly
locates landmarks, cities and roads. Other features for mariners include
anchor, arrival and cross track alarms as well as a resettable trip odometer. A
sunrise and sunset calculator keep users on schedule, and the best hunting and
fishing time calculator helps users make the most of their outdoor
adventure.
The SporTrak Pro also lets users record up to 500 of their
favourite locations and 20 reversible routes with up to 30 legs, and it won't
lose the information even if the unit loses power. In addition, the waypoint
messaging feature allows users to create notes with each landmark they save
while a backtracking feature records the user's path to create easily
retraceable routes.
SporTrak Pro will ship with a PC cable, users
manual and quick start guide this spring.
Trimble Packs the Power of GPS in an Ultra-Low Power Miniature
Module
Trimble has introduced its new ultra-low power mini
Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver - the Lassen SQ module for mobile
devices. The Lassen SQ module enables system integrators to add GPS capability
to a mobile device with minimal impact on its size or battery life.
Many GPS receivers offered on the market today consume 500
mW or more of power. Trimble's Lassen SQ is a power saving module that even in
continuous operation requires only 100 mW. For example, two penlight batteries
can power the module for more than 40 hours of continuous operation. The Lassen
SQ's ultra-low power gives developers flexibility to achieve significant
reductions in power consumption when adding GPS capability.
In
addition to power consumption, adding GPS capability to a mobile device also
meant sacrificing the device's size. Now, with the Lassen SQ module's
postage-stamp size (~26mm x 26mm) form factor, integrators can easily fit GPS
functionality into a variety of mobile products including cell phones, PDAs,
digital cameras, notebook and tablet computers, data recorders, in-car
navigation and vehicle tracking systems as well as portable instrumentation
devices.
The Lassen SQ is a high-performance GPS module. It
incorporates Trimble's FirstGPS technology along with a powerful microprocessor
in a miniature form factor for a complete position velocity and time (PVT)
solution. The highly integrated module is a miniature board containing a GPS
hardware core based on Trimble's Colossus RF ASIC and IO-S digital signal
processor (DSP) design and a 32-bit RISC CPU. The module offers onboard data
storage in flash memory for complete processing capability.
The Lassen
SQ module is compatible with active 3.3 VDC antennas; Trimble provides three
models depending on the application - an ultra-compact embedded antenna, a
compact unpackaged antenna or a compact packaged antenna with a magnetic mount
for moveable installation.
Development kits include: the Lassen SQ GPS
module mounted on an interface board in a durable metal enclosure, a magnetic
mount antenna, an AC/DC power adapter, a serial interface cable, a reference
manual, and GPS toolkit software for communication with the GPS module. The
Lassen SQ GPS module and developers kit is anticipated to be available in the
second quarter of 2002 through Trimble's worldwide sales
organisation.
Charles W Davidson Retires From Loral Skynet
Loral
Skynet has announced that Charles W Davidson, vice president of satellite and
teleport operations, will retire from the company on March 15.
Mr Davidson is a graduate of Union College, Schenectady, New
York and Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, New Jersey and holds degrees
in Electrical Engineering and Systems Science. He spent 34 years at AT&T in
a number of software development, product management, and satellite and
terrestrial engineering and operations positions. Mr. Davidson joined Skynet,
then a part of AT&T, in 1987, and remained with Skynet when Loral acquired
it in 1997.
Norsat Appointments New Chief Financial Officer
Norsat
International Inc has announced the appointment of Troy Bullock to the role of
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary.
Mr
Bullock joined Norsat in July 2000. In November of 2001, he was appointed Vice
President of Corporate Services with responsibility for the finance,
accounting, administration, and MIS departments. Prior to joining Norsat, Mr
Bullock was a Senior Manager with KPMG in the Information, Communications, and
Entertainment Practice. He graduated from Simon Fraser University with a
Bachelor of Business Administration, and is a registered Chartered
Accountant.
Walter Buller, the current Chief Financial Officer, has
tendered his resignation from the position of CFO and Corporate Secretary due
to health reasons. Mr Buller is currently on medical leave, but will be
continuing on in his role as Senior Vice President of the Open Networks
business unit.
Sirius Strengthens Management Team
Sirius Satellite Radio has
named Terry Smith as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Mr Smith, who
comes to Sirius after more than 20 years with the Sarnoff Corporation, reports
to Michael S Ledford, Senior Vice President, Engineering.
Mr Smith spent the past decade working as Sarnoff's
Director, DTV Professional Systems, where he oversaw the development of digital
television systems. During his 22 years at Sarnoff (formerly RCA Research
Labs), he led the technical teams responsible for the development and
implementation of satellite television for DirecTV, HDTV and the world's first
real-time MPEG2 Video Encoder, now widely used throughout broadcast and cable
television, as well as DVD players. Mr Smith also worked on the development of
a variety of Emmy-award winning digital video technologies.
Mr Smith,
who earned degrees at the University of Notre Dame and Drexel University, holds
or shares 16 US patents in the field of television and digital television. At
Sirius, he will be responsible for building up the receiver engineering team,
as the company continues to expand.
Wegener Announces Organisational Change
Wegener Corporation has
announced that Keith N Smith has resigned from his position as President of
Wegener Communications Inc (WCI) and from the board of directors of Wegener
Corporation. Robert A Placek, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wegener
Corporation and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of WCI, will
assume the duties of President of WCI. Mr Smith will be retained by WCI as a
consultant, and is expected to continue to provide services primarily in sales
and marketing.
Wegener Communications is an
international provider of digital solutions for IP data, video and audio
networks. Applications include IP data delivery, broadcast television, cable
television, radio networks, business television, distance education, business
music, satellite paging and financial information distribution.
