3 November 2002
Satcoms
Cable & Wireless Selects STM VSAT System
EMS Technologies, Synergistic Systems
Partner to Offer Real-Time Fleet Management Solution to Transfreight
HNS and
eRestaurants Form Relationship to Serve Restaurant Sector
Orbital Wins Telkom Satellite
Contract
Quake
Global Awarded Modem Contract by MobileNet
Signal Mountain Networks Provides
DirecWay Solution to Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company
Verestar Receives
GSA Schedule Contract
ViaSat Integrates One Touch e-Learning System with LinkStar
VSATs
Earth
Observation
Orbimage Adds New Sub-Surface Temperature Information to Fishing
Service
Navigation
City of Tampa Fire Rescue Tracks Vehicle Fleet Using GPS
New
Satellite-Based Tracking Service to Revolutionise Global
Transportation
Military
Space
European
Nations Submit Joint NATO Milsatcom Solution
Science
Flyby of
Annefrank Asteroid Helps Stardust Prepare for Primary Mission
NASA Awards Contract for Second
Phase Kepler Mission Development
SHOT Seeks Additional Customers for Space Shuttle
Mission
Launch
Services
Aerojet
Successfully Test Fires World's Largest Monolithic Solid Rocket
Motor
Launches
Soyuz TMA-01 (ISS 5S)
Products and Services
CSI Wireless Introduces "Vector" Line of GPS Products
Eutelsat to Launch
Opensky in the UK
New KVH TracNet 2.0 Offers Lower-cost, Faster Mobile High-speed
Internet Access
P&T Luxembourg and Satlynx Sign Broadband Services
Agreement
Xata
Introduces Xatanet 2.0 Fleet Management Solution
People
Cobra Electronics Strengthens Leadership for GPS Launch
Condon Named Associate
Director for Astrobiology and Space Programs at NASA Ames
Spectrum Astro Appoints New CFO
and Director of Contracts
Cable & Wireless Selects STM VSAT System
(29 October 2002) STM
Wireless Inc (STM) has been selected by Cable & Wireless for the supply of
a new VSAT network valued at approximately US$ 400,000, to be deployed in
Panama.
Initially, the system will be used for solar
powered phone communications to about 40 rural communities and will use STM's
new Solante VSAT products.
The Solante line of VSATs offers full mesh
voice and data connectivity and is designed for very low power consumption,
making it ideal for remote communications. Additionally, the product includes
support for multiple phone lines and high-speed IP connectivity suitable for
use in corporate communications.
Since its introduction in January,
the Solante VSAT has been selected by several telephone companies as a cost
effective and flexible solution. The Solante VSAT uses the latest ITU-based
digital voice compression technologies, but as opposed to standard VOIP, the
Solante product offers guaranteed service quality, mesh connectivity, plus very
efficient use of satellite capacity.
EMS Technologies, Synergistic Systems Partner to Offer
Real-Time Fleet Management Solution to Transfreight
(29 October 2002) EMS Technologies Inc and
Synergistic Systems have announced the successful deployment of a satellite
communications system to more than 150 trucks in the Transfreight fleet. The
solution provides total control and support of supply chain management to
Transfreight, a service provider in the automotive industry.
The solution, created by Synergistic Systems, uses EMS
Technologies' PDT-100 packet data terminal as the communications link for its
fleet management solution. The solution offers a host of functionalities,
including but not limited to: two-way messaging, freight and point of pickup
verification, signature capture, alarms, asset tracking, fuel tax reporting,
vehicle performance, electronic DOT logs, and real-time consignee
notification.
Transfreight is a fully integrated Lean Logistics
Services Provider. The company provides superior supply chain management
services, including route management, materials handling, and the auditing and
implementation of lean principles. Transfreight began operations in 1988 as the
sole logistics partner for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc, with vehicle
assembly operations in Cambridge, Ontario. Today, Transfreight operations
include over 15 facilities, over 500 transportation units, and over 700
employees.
The Synergistic Systems solution allows Transfreight to
access real-time information via the EMS PDT-100, Symbol MG+ and Symbol 1700
Palm. Reliable real-time information gives the Transfreight fleet a powerful
tool to reduce the cost of its inbound logistics system, and offers higher
quality, control and visibility of its services.
HNS
and eRestaurants Form
Relationship to Serve Restaurant Sector
(29 October 2002) Hughes Network Systems
(HNS) Inc and eRestaurant Services, a provider of hosted browser-based software
for the restaurant industry, have announced a joint marketing and sales
agreement to provide integrated solutions for the restaurant sector.
Under the terms of the relationship, eRestaurants and HNS
will cross-sell each other's products and services to the restaurant market.
Each will contract and manage its own service, giving the restaurateur direct
access to expert knowledge in each of the technologies. The combined offering
features eRestaurants' Web-enabled decision support and food management
software and HNS' DirecWay Restaurant Solutions, a complete services program
that features high-speed satellite communication connectivity to restaurant
operations everywhere. This format gives the restaurateur the best of class in
always-on, broadband networking and in software tools to manage operations to
greater profitability.
eRestaurant Services, established in 1997, is a
leading provider of Java- based web applications designed for the restaurant
industry. eRestaurant Services allows customers to access solutions through its
subscription ASP, or license applications through a traditional software
license agreement. Solutions include: enterprise intranet, inventory and food
management, human resources, food ordering, and operations reporting for both
the restaurant back-office and headquarters environment. Customers range from
large international chains to franchise organisations, and independent
restaurateurs. Corporations use eRestaurant Services solutions to extend best
practices, improve operations and make their businesses more
profitable.
Orbital Wins Telkom Satellite Contract
(28 October 2002) Orbital Sciences
Corporation has signed a major new contract in its geosynchronous (GEO)
communications satellite manufacturing business.
Indonesia's state-owned telecommunications company, PT Telkomunikasi Indonesia
Tbk has signed a contract with Orbital to manufacture one GEO communications
satellite. The satellite, based on the company's STAR-2 platform, will carry 24
C band transponders and will be designed for a 15-year in-orbit life. The
contract calls for a satellite delivery schedule that supports a planned launch
in late 2004.
The order from Telkom builds on Orbital's growing list
of GEO communications satellites in orbit or in production. To date, Orbital
has manufactured and launched four GEO satellites and has six other GEO
spacecraft in various stages of design or production.
The new Telkom
satellite will be based on Orbital's STAR-2 platform, which provides up to 4.5
kW of payload power and can carry as many as 40 transponders for C, L, S, X, Ka
and Ku band applications. STAR-2 satellites range in launch mass from
approximately 1,500 to 2,300 kg. Orbital also offers a slightly smaller GEO
platform, the STAR-1, which provides up to 1.5 kW of payload power and weighs
approximately 1,000 to 1,500 kg at launch.
The new satellite for
Telkom will be launched into geosynchronous orbit at 118° E. The satellite
will enable Telkom to replace its existing Palapa-B4 satellite with an
expansion of its coverage area into Southern Asia and the Indian subcontinent
in addition to its current Indonesian capacity. The satellite will be used for
voice, video and data communications for the region.
Quake Global Awarded Modem Contract by MobileNet
(28 October 2002) Quake
Global Inc has been awarded a multi-year contract by MobileNet Inc to provide
satellite modems for integration into MobileNet's TrakPak 2000, a
state-of-the-art technology applied to asset monitoring. The Quake Q2000 modem
will allow the TrakPak 2000 to access critical information by providing a
communication link to the Orbcomm low earth orbit (LEO) satellite system.
MobileNet's TrakPak 2000 system has been designed for heavy
equipment, utility service vehicles, and railroad maintenance equipment. The
system can track operating characteristics including location, engine hours and
utilisation parameters for each piece of equipment. The utilisation data is
helpful in evaluating a machine's daily productivity, indicating its overall
efficiency. The system can also capture operating data in addition to location
including, but not limited to, engine run time, oil pressure, coolant
temperature, fuel level, productivity, hydraulic pressure and hydraulic
temperature.
The combination of the Quake Q2000 modem and the Orbcomm
satellite network allows MobileNet's customers to obtain information from
anywhere in the world via MobileNet's secure, password-protected Internet site.
TrakPak 2000 users can query information from the site using different options
to best evaluate their equipment. Equipment can be grouped by specifications
such as divisions, jobs, or geography.
Signal Mountain Networks Provides DirecWay Solution to Georgia
Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company
(30 October 2002) Hughes Network Systems Inc (HNS) and
Signal Mountain Networks Inc, an authorised value-added reseller for HNS, have
announced that Georgia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company (GFB) will deploy
HNS' DirecWay satellite solution.
DirecWay is the
leading broadband-by-satellite service for consumers, small businesses and
enterprises in the United States. With an array of associated applications and
capabilities, DirecWay will enable GFB to support applications including
proprietary insurance software, Internet and intranet access, software
application upgrades and remote help-desk support. The DirecWay service
offering for GFB utilises HNS' DW4020 satellite terminal, which will be
installed at GFB offices in the state of Georgia.
Georgia Farm Bureau
Mutual Insurance Company offers property and casualty insurance to rural and
urban members and is the largest domestic insurance company in Georgia with US$
650 million in assets and almost US$ 400 million in annual written premiums.
The company employs almost 700 insurance and claims representatives throughout
Georgia to serve their members' needs.
Verestar Receives GSA Schedule Contract
(29 October 2002) Verestar Inc has received a
contract award from the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply
Services (FSS), for a Group 70 Multiple Award Schedule.
Verestar's GSA Contract GS-35F-0036N simplifies Government agencies' ability to
purchase Verestar's end-to-end satellite communications solutions. The contract
allows for purchasing of equipment and managed network services including
antennas, terminals, space segment, teleport services, leased lines, network
monitoring and control, and professional integration and maintenance
services.
Verestar's network of teleports in the US and Europe and
fibre backbone features collocation and POPs at major intersections with
leading carriers and Government agencies, including the DISN. With just one
interconnection to Verestar's global network, customers have instant access to
the 175 antennas and over 70 transponders of space segment on almost every
major commercial satellite constellation. This extensive infrastructure allows
just one satellite hop to nearly any point on the globe.
On the GSA
schedule, Verestar offers a broad array of value added communications services
including integrated satellite terminals, both fixed and quick deployable;
satellite transponder space; and teleports so users do not have to manage their
own links. In addition, it includes terrestrial connectivity, both long-haul
and local loop, to reach a Government agency, network or meeting point.
Professional services are also available including program management,
engineering, integration, training, and maintenance.
Verestar's
Bandwidth-On-Demand (BOD) service for Government agencies, also available
through the GSA Schedule, enables a network of satellite locations to share a
common user group, reducing costs and eliminating two-hop delays that are
common with traditional dedicated satellite links.
ViaSat Integrates One Touch e-Learning System with LinkStar
VSATs
(1 November
2002) The Comsat Laboratories Division of ViaSat Inc has completed successful
compatibility testing of the OneTouch interactive distance learning system with
its LinkStar satellite communications networking system.
The tests were conducted at the ViaSat Network Operations Center (NOC) in
Norcross, Georgia. From the NOC, the OneTouch system set up and managed a
distance learning session at a VSAT located over 2000 km away. The advanced
distance learning features of the OneTouch 5 desktop client combined with the
bandwidth-on-demand capability of LinkStar satellite networking can carry
distance learning to virtually any location.
OneTouch delivers
e-Learning in the form of live, interactive training online, directly to
employees, wherever they work. The product seamlessly integrates real-time
streaming video, high-resolution graphics, full-duplex audio, two-way data
interaction, and application sharing.
ViaSat LinkStar is a hub-based
VSAT system that provides two-way, bandwidth-on-demand broadband with more
efficiency and higher data rates than competing VSAT systems. The forward
channel from the hub to remotes provides a total capacity of 60 Mb/s, and
return channels from user terminals to the hub can operate at speeds up to 1.15
Mb/s. LinkStar is an efficient broadband IP network for bandwidth-intensive
applications, such as digital media streaming, video, multicasting over IP, and
high speed file transfer.
Orbimage Adds New Sub-Surface Temperature Information to Fishing
Service
(28 October
2002) Orbital Imaging Corporation (Orbimage) announced the launch of a new
feature related to its SeaStar Fisheries Information Service. Sub-Surface
Temperature Information is now available to all subscribers of Orbimage's
SeaStar Service as an additional component to support the analysis of probable
fishing grounds. Orbimage's SeaStar Service is used to support fishing
operations for tuna and swordfish as well as other surface dwelling fish such
as mackerel, sardines, anchovy, and herring.
The new
Sub-Surface Temperature information feature is offered at two depths, 50 meters
and 150 meters, and is available world-wide. This new information will further
assist long liners and purse seiners to identify the best regions for locating
tuna and other species when used in conjunction with other surface information
already provided with Orbimage's SeaStar Service such as plankton
concentrations (derived from Orbimage's OrbView-2 "SeaWiFS" satellite), surface
currents, sea surface temperatures, sea surface height and weather information.
These information layers are sent as data files by email to each fishing vessel
where they are viewed and analysed in the form of maps using Orbimage's OrbMap
software.
Sub-Surface Temperature information is determined by
modelling the sub- surface thermal changes that would cause the
satellite-observed changes in Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Surface Height.
The predicted temperature distributions are calibrated with in-situ
observations and historical records, as well as iterative techniques that help
increase their accuracy.
City of Tampa Fire Rescue Tracks Vehicle Fleet Using GPS
(29 October 2002) Radio
Satellite Integrators Inc (RSI) has announced the completion and "live" status
of an Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and Mobile Data system for the City of
Tampa, Florida, Fire Rescue.
The end-to-end vehicle
tracking system allows dispatchers to see the exact location and status of
their fleet in real-time using computerised mapping software. The RSI system
enables Tampa Fire Rescue to respond to 60,000 emergencies with the utmost
efficiency for the 300,000 residents of the city.
Each vehicle is
equipped with RSI hardware that collects GPS location data and other status
information and wirelessly transmits it back to the base station at the
dispatch centre. The system communicates over existing City of Tampa radio
frequencies and towers, and is fully integrated to the City's Astra Computer
Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. Dispatchers at the base are able to take vehicle
assignment recommendations from the system based on real-time GPS location
data, minimising response times to an incident.
New
Satellite-Based
Tracking Service to Revolutionise Global Transportation
(28 October 2002)
SkyBitz has announced the launch of their Global Locating System (GLS) tracking
and monitoring service. SkyBitz designed GLS to overcome the shortcomings of
the Global Positioning System (GPS) when used in tracking and monitoring
applications. GLS brings dramatic improvements in cost, coverage, power
consumption and ease of installation when compared to tracking services based
on GPS.
This new technology is a satellite-based
tracking and communication service for North America that is (initially) being
applied to enable transportation companies to better manage their assets and
gain visibility into their operations. The technology, whose development was
originally funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), has
been thoroughly tested after six years of research and development. One major
point of differentiation of GLS is that the positioning calculations are
performed centrally rather than in a GPS chip in the mobile tracking equipment.
As a result, the cost and power consumption associated with the GPS receiver is
eliminated. Trucking companies are using GLS to pinpoint the location of
untethered trailers, to direct drivers to them efficiently, and to increase
response time to shippers.
European Nations Submit Joint NATO Milsatcom Solution
(28 October 2002) The
Ministries of Defence of France, Italy and the United Kingdom have jointly
submitted an initial proposal to meet the NATO SATCOM Post-2000 capability
requirement for SHF and UHF space segment. Alcatel Space, Alenia Spazio and
Paradigm Secure Communications, as the national military satellite
communication (Milsatcom) providers of these countries, have prepared major
inputs to their governments in the submission of this innovative proposal.
As the current NATO IV satellites approach the end of their
lives, having already exceeded expectations, NATO is now calling for a next
generation solution to fulfil its ever-increasing milsatcom requirements. To
ensure coherence with the changing NATO crisis management role and to provide a
fully deployable communications capability in support of such operations, the
SATCOM Post-2000 requirement will update both the space and ground segments to
form the future NATO system.
NATO’s current procurement process
entails the issue of separate Invitations for Bid (IFB) for the UHF, SHF and
EHF space segment requirements. Draft SHF and UHF IFBs were released to
participating nations for ‘bidders comment’ in January 2002, followed
by final IFBs in July of this year. The European governments’ (with
Alcatel Space, Alenia and Paradigm) IFB response has just been submitted. This
will now be followed by reviews and discussions with the NATO C3 Agency and
final bids are due in Spring 2003. In light of NATO requiring full on-orbit
capacity by end 2004, a decision is expected in Summer 2003.
The 3
Nations procurement agencies: DGA for France, Teledife for Italy, DPA for the
UK and industries have agreed to work together to offer NATO the optimum SHF
and UHF milsatcom solution. The three companies, Alcatel Space, Alenia Spazio
and Paradigm Secure Communications are key players in the European satellite
industry and have been working closely together for a number of months. The
project has further backing and support from each of these companies’
respective shareholders: Alcatel, BAE SYSTEMS, EADS and Finmeccania. The
essence of this European solution is provision of SHF and UHF capacity from the
present and future satellite systems of these nations.
Alcatel Space,
Alenia and Paradigm are already in the process of providing next generation
national milsatcom solutions, their offering is well placed to meet the NATO
timescales requirement.
Flyby of Annefrank Asteroid Helps Stardust Prepare for Primary
Mission
(2 November
2002) NASA's Stardust spacecraft successfully completed a close flyby of
asteroid Annefrank early on November 2 as an opportunity for a full dress
rehearsal of procedures the spacecraft will use during its January 2, 2004,
encounter with it primary science target, comet Wild 2.
Annefrank is about 4 km across. Stardust passed within about 3,300 km of the
asteroid. Radio signals confirming the basic health of the spacecraft after the
flyby were received about 30 minutes later via an antenna at the Canberra,
Australia, complex of NASA's Deep Space Network.
Stardust visually
tracked the asteroid for 30 minutes as it flew by at a relative speed of about
7 km/s, a major goal of this test opportunity. Although no dust was anticipated
near the asteroid, the spacecraft's dust instruments were in use as they will
be at Wild 2: the dust collector was open and the dust counter from the
University of Chicago and dust mass spectrometer from Germany were turned
on.
Images and information from the flyby period are being transmitted
from the spacecraft over the coming week. Stardust's scientists and engineers
are analysing the data to maximise the probability of success during the 2004
encounter with comet Wild 2.
Annefrank is believed to be typical of
asteroids found in the inner asteroid belt, just beyond the orbit of Mars.
Stardust's main camera captured images of the asteroid, but the asteroid's
relatively small size and the spacecraft's distance mean the images won't be
very detailed
Stardust, launched in February 1999, is designed to
capture particles from Wild 2 and return them to Earth for analysis. The
spacecraft already has collected grains of interstellar dust. It will bring
samples of comet dust back to Earth in 2006 to help answer fundamental
questions about the origins of the solar system.
NASA
Awards Contract for
Second Phase Kepler Mission Development
(28 October 2002) NASA has awarded a
contract, with a potential value of US$ 28.4 million, to Ball Aerospace and
Technology Corp for development of the optics and detectors for a high-tech
camera for the Kepler planet-finding spacecraft, scheduled for launch in
2007.
Eastman Kodak will provide the entire optical
subsystem for the spacecraft, a contract valued at US$ 4.5 million for a
two-year period. Kodak is providing a unique optical subsystem for Kepler.
Nothing similar has ever been flown in space. The two-piece system enables an
extremely wide field of view, allowing Kepler to continuously gaze at more than
100,000 stars at the same time.
Other major subcontractors are
Semiconductor Technology Associates and EV2 who are providing detectors for
Kepler.
The Kepler Mission differs from previous ways of looking for
planets, which have led to the discovery of about 100 giant Jupiter-sized
planets. Kepler will look for the "transit" signature that occurs each time a
planet crosses the line-of-sight between a planet's parent star, the one it
orbits, and the observer. During the orbital "transit," the planet blocks some
of the light from its parent star resulting in periodic dimming. This periodic
signature is used to detect the planet and to determine its size and orbit.
Kepler will be able to determine if any Earth-sized planets make a transit
across any of the stars.
SHOT Seeks Additional Customers for Space Shuttle Mission
(28 October 2002) The
only thing missing from the otherwise well-appointed laboratory "B" at SHOT is
a flashing "vacancy" sign reminiscent of what once must have been a welcome
sight at the shuttered 1930's-era motel across the street.
Inside the bright modern lab, engineers and scientists are
busy preparing biotechnology research equipment for a 2003 launch of space
shuttle Endeavour. Although SHOT already is working with several companies for
mission STS-115, the modular design of its hardware means that - at least for
now - there's still room at the inn.
Known as the Advanced Separations
processing facility (ADSEP) because it was primarily used to conduct cell
separations experiments on its first shuttle mission in 1996, it is owned by
SHOT and was designed and built by the company exclusively for conducting life
sciences research in space. The facility, into which up to three cassettes at a
time may be inserted, is the size of a single shuttle middeck locker
(approximately 18" x 11"x 21"). It can launch and land with up to three
cassettes inside. Additional cassettes can be transported to and from space in
a separate storage facility.
Each cassette is approximately the size
of a lunch box. There are seven different types of experiments that may be
conducted in ADSEP cassettes and SHOT is completing work on designs for others
under three separate NASA contracts.
ADSEP has been used on previous
missions to perform experiments in cell culture, drug microencapsulation,
biochemical purification and extraction, protein crystal growth, surface and
interfacial-phenomena and colloid dynamics.
Aerojet Successfully Test Fires World's Largest Monolithic Solid
Rocket Motor
(30
October 2002) Aerojet has successfully test fired a full-scale, 67-foot Atlas V
solid rocket motor for 92 seconds at thrust levels ranging from 285,000 to
390,000 lbf. The motor, strapped horizontally to a massive test stand, burned
nominally in this assessment of the performance, quality and processing of the
solid rocket motor assembly. Preliminary review of post-test data indicate the
motor performed nominally achieving all performance objectives that were
specified for the test.
The test marks the second of
three qualification motor firings and reflects a number of new design features
that will enhance the robustness of the motor for its application on Atlas V.
The third and final qualification motor firing is scheduled for early December
2002. Completion of the qualification phase is expected by early January 2003
and production of flight motors is underway to support a planned first flight
in 2003.
Soyuz TMA-01 (ISS 5S)
Launched: 30 October 2002
Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome,
Kazakhstan
Launcher: Soyuz U
Orbit: LEO
International Number:
2002-050A
Name: Soyuz TMA-01 (ISS 5S)
Owner: Russian Space Agency
This is a taxi mission to the International Space Station carrying a
European Space Agency astronaut and two Russian crew members. It docked with
the ISS on Friday, 1 November.
Crew:
Sergei Zaletin, Soyuz
Mission Commander
Yuri Lonchakov, Soyuz Flight Engineer
Frank De Winne,
ESA astronaut
The Soyuz TMA-1 spacecraft will remain docked to the
ISS for six months - acting as a rescue vehicle for the resident crew in case
of an onboard emergency.
The crew will returned to Earth on Sunday, 10
November, on board Soyuz TM-34 which has been docked to the ISS for the last
six months.
CSI Wireless Introduces "Vector" Line of GPS Products
(29 October 2002) CSI
Wireless Inc have announced the introduction of the new Vector line of GPS
heading sensors that enable users to maintain very accurate headings at
substantially less than the cost of traditional gyro compasses or of competing
GPS systems.
The Vector product line includes the Vector
ST for global marine use and the Vector Sensor for the world's rapidly emerging
"machine control" market - including agricultural and heavy construction
equipment - that depends on very accurate headings.
The Vector ST is a
rugged "smart antenna" system that combines two GPS receivers and two
multipath-resistant antennas into a single enclosure about a half-metre long.
Using a sophisticated moving base station Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) technique,
the Vector ST provides heading information to within half-degree (0.5) accuracy
- enough to replace traditional gyrocompasses for many applications at only a
fraction of the cost.
The Vector ST, besides providing accurate
headings with GPS signals, also delivers sub-metre DGPS positioning accuracy
when using decoded correction data. The Vector ST is capable of receiving
differentially corrected data from land-based Coast Guard beacon stations and
from Space Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) such as the US Wide Area
Augmentation System (WAAS), the European GPS Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS),
and Japan's MTSAT Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS).
The Vector
Sensor is similar to the Vector ST, but instead of combining the two GPS
receivers and two antennas into a single package, the Vector Sensor separates
them. The receivers are housed in one enclosure, and each of the antennas is
housed in a separate enclosure. This enables users to increase the distance
between the antennas, which increases heading accuracy.
With the
antennas two meters apart, compared to the half-metre antenna separation
available with the ST, the Vector Sensor computes heading information with
better than 0.15 degrees accuracy - matching or exceeding the accuracy of
competitors' products while being significantly more affordable.
The
ability to adjust the antennas' separation gives the Vector Sensor more
versatility and the potential for higher performance. It's designed for the
"machine control" market, including agriculture, heavy construction equipment,
mining equipment, cranes, and any other equipment and industries for which
accurate headings are essential.
Vector products are capable of
outputting five differentially corrected GPS positions per second, and 10
heading information corrections per second. Vectors products also have
integrated MEMS (micro electro mechanical systems) sensors to assist in the
rapid, robust acquisition of GPS satellite signals. And during periods of
differential signal outage, Vector products use CSI Wireless' COAST technology
that accurately predicts how errors change over time, and that results in
accurate positioning for up to 40 minutes or more.
Eutelsat to Launch Opensky in the UK
(31 October 2002) Internet Service Provider
Everywhere! Broadband is preparing to roll out Eutelsat's Opensky service
throughout the UK.
Everywhere! Broadband is the first
company in the UK to market and sell Eutelsat’s Opensky service to
consumers. It is working with a number of partners who will support the
delivery of the service to end users. The partners involved in the agreement
are MGt for subscriber management services, DTS (Digital Television Services)
for nation-wide installation services and Hauppauge for the supply of USB
DVB-IP set-top boxes.
The roll-out of Opensky in the UK follows
substantial demand for broadband from consumers and small businesses. Recent
figures from Oftel say that more than 44% of the UK population is unable to
access broadband through terrestrial means. However, with the forthcoming
availability of Opensky consumers throughout the UK will soon be able to access
an affordable satellite broadband service regardless of local
infrastructure.
Opensky is an open standard service platform for both
PC and Apple Macintosh users and offers access to a wide range of streamed
video and audio content, high-speed Internet and fast file delivery. Customers
will use dial-up access to receive broadband services via a satellite dish and
through their modem. The new service offers Internet speeds of up to 1 Mb/s -
exceeding the capabilities of ADSL and cable services. It also delivers a full
range of entertainment services including television channels, videos, music
and games.
Pricing for the Everywhere! Broadband Opensky service is
expected to start at £19.95 per month.
Opensky Via Eutelsat is
the high-speed Internet access service developed by Eutelsat for the general
public. Opensky Via Eutelsat allows Internet users with a modem-based
connection to surf the Internet and download content at very high speed. It
gives access to a multimedia distribution portal where more than ten types of
thematic content are available, including Music, Cinema, Sports, Games, News,
Fashion, Art & Culture and Education. Once the Opensky client software has
been installed on the subscriber’s PC, access to the programme guide and
reception of the content streamed and for downloading are possible with no need
for a live Internet connection.
Opensky is broadcast via the W3 at
7° E. It can be accessed by all countries in Europe, the Middle East and
North Africa. The return channel uses Eutelsat’s platform at Rambouillet,
which is directly connected to the Internet backbone and offers a complete,
very-high-speed link via W3.
New
KVH TracNet 2.0 Offers
Lower-cost, Faster Mobile High-speed Internet Access
(31 October 2002) KVH Industries has
introduced its new, faster TracNet 2.0 Mobile High-speed Internet System.
TracNet 2.0 offers an expanded array of features that make it the most
versatile mobile broadband Internet system available to mariners throughout
North America.
Among these enhancements are standard
coverage that now includes Alaskan and Caribbean waters, KVH's integrated
Velocity Acceleration software that significantly boosts transmission speeds,
and the ability to maintain a two-way Internet connection even when the
TracVision antenna is being used for satellite TV reception. In addition, KVH
is reducing TracNet mobile airtime rates by 40%, making the service even more
affordable.
The TracNet 2.0 system uses a powerful server/router,
mobile return paths, the mobile DirecPC Internet service, and a KVH TracVision
satellite TV antenna to provide two-way, high-speed access to the Internet even
when underway. Broadband downloads are received by the TracVision antenna and
are available within the mobile DirecPC coverage area, which encompasses the
continental US, Canada, and as far as 100 miles off the coast.
TracNet
2.0's standard coverage area, which includes Caribbean waters and Alaska,
provides two-way access at speeds reaching 56 kb/s when using KVH's integrated
Velocity Acceleration software. In addition, the standard service can be used
even when the TracVision antenna is receiving satellite TV signals, allowing
passengers and crew to enjoy their favourite television programming as well as
full-featured Internet connections. The powerful server-based TracNet 2.0
offers unmatched versatility that includes 802.11b (Wi-Fi) wireless and
Ethernet network connections, permitting as many as 5 computers to surf the web
simultaneously.
P&T Luxembourg and Satlynx Sign Broadband Services
Agreement
(30
October 2002) P&T Luxembourg has signed an agreement with Satlynx for the
provision of two-way broadband services via satellite throughout Luxembourg and
adjacent territories. This new service gives P&T the ability to offer
always-on broadband Internet access via satellite dedicated to consumers and
business customers, for whom satellite transmission is the most effective
broadband solution.
In the first stage, P&T
Luxembourg intends to provide broadband connectivity service primarily to
consumers in Luxembourg. However, P&T Luxembourg will also be able to
provide service to SOHO (Small Office and Home Office), SME (Small and Medium
Enterprise) customers and public entities in the entire Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg and in adjacent territory.
The contract with Satlynx
enables P&T to provide interactive broadband satellite technology as a
ubiquitous geographic broadband service. Individuals located in rural locations
and companies working in geographically dispersed environments are increasingly
relying on satellite communications services for broadband connectivity.
P&T Luxembourg expects the two-way broadband Internet Service to begin
in the first quarter of 2003. Details regarding the commercial rollout are
expected by year-end.
Xata Introduces Xatanet 2.0 Fleet Management Solution
(29 October 2002) Xata
Corporation has announced the upcoming release of Xatanet version 2.0. The
Xatanet 2.0 release includes numerous product additions and software
enhancements to further streamline fleet operations while promoting a more
informed and intelligent enterprise.
Xatanet, an
innovative fleet management solution that includes Web-based applications, GPS,
two-way satellite communications, onboard computers and driver displays,
empowers fleet operations with the tools necessary to reduce cost, increase
productivity and improve customer service.
Xatanet is known for its
ability to flex according to the needs of its customers. Promoting an a la
carte pricing model, customers have the ability to purchase only what they need
today and expand in the future. The 2.0 release adds to this ability with new
advanced applications that focus on driver activities and communications. This
Xatanet Driver suite of applications provides a valuable addition to Xatanet's
Vehicle Basic package, which targets vehicle performance, automated fuel tax,
asset tracking, diagnostics warnings and other fleet operational information.
Included in the Driver package are: DOT driver logs, driver feedback, driver
messaging and trip and driver management.
The Xatanet 2.0 release also
includes numerous enhancements to the core applications and server environment
to support variable organisational structures and empower users with useful and
intelligent data in new and personalised ways, including: interactive mapping
with breadcrumb capabilities, dynamic email messaging, site tools with
integrated mapping, dynamic enterprise support, new advanced Web interface with
simplified navigation, wireless vehicle set-up and application downloads, daily
mileage exports and user-personalised portal capabilities.
Through the
Xatanet portal, fleet managers and executives will now have the ability to
personalise their fleet applications to their individual preference by choosing
specific content - alerts, reports, charts, messages and more - to appear on
their own home page.
Xatanet version 2.0 is currently in testing
phases and has already received considerable interest from private fleet
customers. Thirteen companies have signed on to perform pilot tests and plans
are to go live in January 2003.
Cobra Electronics Strengthens Leadership for GPS Launch
(29 October 2002) Cobra
Electronics has promoted Tony Kainuma to product manager, location and
detection products. In his new role, Kainuma will be responsible for the
product management of Cobra's upcoming Global Positioning Systems (GPS) product
line, and one of its leading product categories-radar detectors.
When he started with Cobra in 1999, Kainuma was based in the
Hong Kong office and was the product manager of radar detectors, PMR (European
product line of two-way radios) and Cobra's exclusive Safety Alert technology
system. He also dealt with purchasing, engineering and manufacturing issues.
Since 2000 Kainuma has worked from the company's headquarters in Chicago and in
2002, under his direction, Cobra introduced an award-winning line of radar
detectors. This product line has been instrumental in the continuing growth of
Cobra radar detectors, which are the market's leading sellers by a wide
margin.
Before he joined Cobra Electronics, Kainuma worked in the
consumer electronics industry for 11 years, overseeing export sales and project
co-ordination with vendors. He earned a bachelor of arts from Notre Dame De
Namur University in Belmont, California.
Condon Named Associate Director for Astrobiology and Space
Programs at NASA Ames
(29 October 2002) NASA Ames Research Center has
appointed Estelle Condon as associate director for astrobiology and space
programs. Condon has served as acting director of the Astrobiology and Space
Research Directorate since March 2002.
She began her
NASA Ames career in 1980 as a research scientist in the Space Science Division,
where she worked on a variety of stratospheric and tropospheric airborne
experiments. She was the first woman to fly an experiment on a NASA platform
aircraft. In 1986, she became deputy project manager for the Stratospheric
Tropospheric Exchange Project, which studied the tropical tropopause from
Darwin, Australia. In 1987, Condon became project manager for the Airborne
Antarctic Ozone Experiment, the first airborne experiment to study the
chemistry and dynamics of the Antarctic ozone hole. This experiment determined
unequivocally that human-made chemicals were involved in the destruction of
ozone over the Antarctic and provided the scientific basis for the amendments
to the Montreal Protocol, which banned the manufacture of chlorofluorocarbons.
In 1989, Condon became deputy chief of the Earth Science Division and in 1994,
she assumed the duties of chief of the division.
Spectrum Astro Appoints New CFO and Director of Contracts
(29 October 2002)
Spectrum Astro Inc has announced the appointment of two key executives. Daren
Iverson has been promoted to Vice President, Contracts and Finance and Chief
Financial Officer (CFO) and Shari Weisbach has been promoted to Director of
Contracts.
The appointments, made by W David Thompson,
President and Chief Executive Officer, and approved by Spectrum Astro's Board
of Directors are effective immediately.
Mr Iverson joined the company
in 1996 and most recently served as Director of Contracts. His new duties
include the oversight and management of Spectrum's financial and contractual
affairs involving approval of customer contracts and procurements, cost
analysis, corporate/program finance and accounting operations.
During
his business career at Spectrum Astro, Mr Iverson supervised all company
customer contracts including contractual, schedule and financial
responsibilities for each contract and was involved in the day-to-day company
financial operations. As the initial business manager for the Space Based
Infrared System Low (SBIRS Low) contract, he was closely involved in the
bidding, start-up, staffing, and management of the program's prime and
subcontract activities. In addition, he has overseen all recent bids,
proposals, pricing exercises, contract management, cost/schedule reporting, and
research and development planning at Spectrum Astro. He holds a Bachelors
Degree in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Ms Weisbach joined Spectrum Astro in January 2001 as the Business Manager for
the SBIRS Low program. In her new position, she will be responsible for all
customer contracts including program finance and scheduling activities and will
be involved in the day-to-day financial operations.
Previously Ms
Weisbach worked at McDonnell Douglas Helicopter (now Boeing) from 1985 through
2000 as a Facilities Project Engineer, Financial Analyst, and Finance Manager.
She holds a Bachelors Degree in Design from the University of Colorado and a
Masters in Business Administration from Arizona State University.
