12 October 2003
Satcoms
Alcatel Delivers Express AM22 Payload to NPO-PM
Chelton HGA-7000 Successfully
Integrated with Collins Satcoms
Connexion by Boeing
Teams with Rockwell Collins
Discoveries from Depths of Black Sea Transmitted with
Tandberg TV System
Gabon Telecom Selects HNS to Connect Gabon Railway System
MobiApps Supplies
Orbcomm Satellite Transceivers and Airtime
ViaSat Awarded Follow-On Production
Order and Network Services Contract
Earth
Observation
Boeing Awarded US$ 9.2 Million to Process Radar Data from Space
Shuttle Endeavour
IAGT Buys Integral Systems' Skylight Downlink
System
Military
Space
Raytheon to
Design Miniature, Anti-Jam GPS Navigator for USAF
Science
Raytheon Awarded a US$ 9 Million Contract For James Webb
Space Telescope Ground System
Technology
NASA
Selects Allied Team To Provide Hypersonic Vehicles
Launch
Services
NASA Awards
NENS Contract to Honeywell Technology Solutions
Launches
Launch Schedule
Business
Loral Rejects New EchoStar Offer to Purchase All Its
Assets
SES
Global Completes US$ 1 bn Private Placement
Products and Services
DVB Audio Satellite Receiver Supports RDS Data
Transport
EMS Technologies
Introduces HSD-X
France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications Launches VPN
Service
New
Inmarsat Antenna from EMS Technologies
Price Cuts For EMS Technologies'
HSD-128 High Speed Data Satcom System
Rockwell Collins
Introduces Global Broadband Connectivity for Business Aircraft
SKYLink by ARINC
Direct Enters Production
Telkom SA Launches Broadband Offering Based on Gilat VSAT
Platform
Tenzing
Launches Business Aviation Email Offerings
People
New VPs at Spaceconnection
SAIC Names Kenneth C Dahlberg as New CEO
Spectrum Astro Names Chris Clark New Director of NASA and
Civil Programs
Alcatel Delivers Express AM22 Payload to NPO-PM
(9 October 2003)
Alcatel Space has delivered the payload for the AM22 satellite to Russian
company NPO-PM, prime contractor for the Express AM satellites deployed by
national operator Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC).
The payload was produced at Alcatel Space’s Toulouse
plant and tested in its Cannes integration and test facility. It was then
shipped to Zheleznogorsk in Siberia, where it will be integrated in the
platform by NPO-PM specialists along with their counterparts from Alcatel
Space. It is fitted with 24 active Ku band transponders (and 8 onboard spares),
two fixed antennas and two mobile spotbeam antennas.
This is the first
time that Alcatel Space’s Cannes facility has performed environment tests
on a Russian satellite payload. The close-knit teamwork between Alcatel
Space’s Cannes and Toulouse staff will continue in Russia. Working under
the responsibility of NPO-PM, they will participate in the satellite
integration in Zheleznogorsk, then in launch operations in Baikonur and
in-orbit tests from Moscow.
This is the first payload from the Express
AM series to be delivered by Alcatel Space, and the sixth produced in
collaboration with NPO-PM, following Express A1, A2, A3, A1R and Sesat.
Production is now under way on AM11, AM2 and AM3, in a partnership that reaches
back nearly 10 years. NPOPM supplied Alcatel Space with the mounting plates for
the AM22 payload, making the collaboration a two-way street.
Russia’s Express satellites offer TV, telephone and data transmission
services. Their coverage zone includes Western Europe, Russia, the Middle East
and the Far East. Express AM22 is slated for launch in early 2004 on a Proton
rocket.
(source: Alcatel Space)
Chelton HGA-7000 Successfully Integrated with Collins Satcoms
(7 October 2003)
Chelton’s new HGA-7000 High-Gain Satcom antenna has been successfully
integrated with Rockwell Collins’ SAT-906 and SAT-6000 Aero-H/H+ Satcom
systems.
The testing occurred at Rockwell Collins'
facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and included Swift64 high-speed data
transmissions through the Collins HST-900 High-Speed Transceiver.
The
HGA-7000 will also be integrated with the new Collins SAT-6100, bringing a
level of capability in high-speed satellite communications unmatched for a unit
its size.
The Chelton HGA-7000 is the world’s smallest and
lightest fuselage-mount Aero-H/H+/HSD Satcom antenna. Its next generation
phased array design incorporates some very novel and patented techniques to
achieve highly optimised performance in a low-profile, compact package.
Interface options allow integration across a wide range of aircraft types.
(source: Chelton)
Connexion by Boeing Teams with Rockwell Collins
(7 October 2003)
Connexion by Boeing and Rockwell Collins have announced a strategic agreement
that will provide new high-speed connectivity solutions for the corporate
aviation market.
While specific terms of the agreement
were not announced, Connexion by Boeing will provide the enabling technology
that provides two-way high-speed connectivity and manage the network and
satellite assets, while Rockwell Collins will provide and install the antenna,
manage the airborne system installation, vendor relations and customer-facing
activities including marketing and sales. Connexion by Boeing will manage sales
and marketing to government customers.
Potential platforms include
super mid-size and larger aircraft. The Connexion by Boeing service is already
in use in the United States on executive jet platforms the size of a Boeing 737
and larger.
Installation of the Collins eXchange systems are expected
to begin in mid-2004 for commencement of service in early 2005 with service
availability on a majority of the global routes flown by business operators.
The service will use the same satellite assets and network operations centre
used by the Connexion by Boeing service for the commercial airline market.
Corporate aviation operators and their passengers can use Collins eXchange
to access the Internet and firewall-protected corporate intranets, send
outgoing emails or open large attachments from incoming emails; get the news,
weather or destination information; or view direct broadcast television
programming. The service will also enhance air-to-ground communications for
flight crew personnel.
(source: Connexion by Boeing)
Discoveries from Depths of Black Sea Transmitted with Tandberg TV
System
(8 October
2003) As part of famed oceanographer Dr Robert Ballard's recent underwater
experiment in "telepresence," a series of Tandberg Television video compression
and processing products were sent to the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean
this summer to transmit broadcast quality images from the US Navy research
vessel Knorr back to students, scientists and the general public.
Ballard, who is famed for using underwater robot technology
to find the wreck of the Titanic, is employing remotely operated underwater
vehicles and the latest in video content acquisition and delivery technology to
find and transmit live footage from the Black Sea to remote points in the US
across satellite and Internet2. As part of the "Immersion Project", the "live,
wired expedition" was a production of the Mystic Aquarium & Institute for
Exploration and part of the Institute's public outreach and live exploration
technology centre. Dr Ballard is founder and President of the Institute for
Exploration. Through the Institute's "Immersion Project," live video from the
US Knorr was sent to visitors, students and children's groups visiting the
facility, and piped via Internet2 to camps and children's groups across the
United States.
Because the bottom two-thirds of the Black Sea lacks
oxygen, it is considered an area ripe for marine exploration. Once flora and
fauna settle down to the anoxic zone, there are no creatures to consume them,
meaning organic material like wood and flesh can endure for thousands of
years.
Electronic Data Systems and MCI IDB Systems Group, an EDS
sub-contractor, selected the Tandberg Television equipment based on a solid
working history with the company and the quality of its encoding products.
Ballard has worked with EDS, the world's largest independent information
technology services company, for the past 15 years to refine his vision of
telepresence.
Two SDI "show feeds" generated aboard the Knorr were
sent to two Tandberg Television E5710 video encoders, compressed using MPEG-2
technology, and multiplexed into a single stream for transmission using a
Tandberg Television MX5620 multiplexer. The output of the multiplexer was sent
to a Tandberg TT6120 MediaLink and output as IP traffic, which became a two-way
IP feed over satellite for transmission to the new Institute for Archaeological
Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island.
The equipment was
installed in racks within a mobile, shippable satellite encoding and uplink van
on the ship. The van was mounted on the deck of the ship and had a portable
satellite uplink platform mounted on its roof. The satellite signals were
received by an MCI earth station in Andover, Maine, and sent via a private DS3
link to EDS in Plano, Texas. There they were redirected over Southern Methodist
University's network to SMU's Internet2 POP and out to the remote campus of the
University of Rhode Island in Narragansett, where the school's Graduate School
of Oceanography is located. There the IP-encapsulated signals were converted
back into ASI streams through a TT6120 MediaLink and decompressed with two
Tandberg TT1260 receiver/decoders. Scientists at the school communicated via
H.323-based intercom back and forth to direct the expedition.
Mystic
Aquarium & Institute for Exploration and the University of Rhode Island's
Institute for Archaeological Oceanography are co-investigators in the summer's
Expedition2003. Sponsors for the mission include the National Geographic
Society, the Office of Naval Research, Leon Levy Foundation, and the National
Science Foundation. Collaborating scientists joined the mission from the
University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, MIT, and Florida State University.
(source: Tandberg TV)
Gabon Telecom Selects HNS to Connect Gabon Railway System
(8 October 2003) Hughes
Network Systems Inc (HNS) has signed a contract to provide a satellite
telephony network for Gabon Telecom to connect all the railway stations in
Gabon (Transgabonais Network), including the central train station in
Libreville.
Gabon Telecom selected HNS to supply and
install a complete satellite solution, replacing an existing terrestrial
wireless network that was unable to reliably connect and service the entire
rail system. HNS is providing Gabon Telecom with a TES system including a hub
earth station, as well as C-band remote terminals. The new satellite network
will provide railway workers with increased security and monitoring
capabilities, as well as improved emergency calling abilities.
Installation of the railway project is underway and will be completed in
October 2003.
(source: Hughes Network Systems)
MobiApps Supplies Orbcomm Satellite Transceivers and Airtime
(7 October 2003)
MobiApps, a leading provider of hybrid terrestrial and satellite transceivers
and chipsets for industrial communications, has signed an International
Value-Added Reseller (IVAR) Agreement and a Manufacturing Agreement with
Orbcomm LLC.
MobiApps will market and resell airtime on
the Orbcomm system and manufacture satellite communicators for use in the
Orbcomm low-orbit satellite network. MobiApps' transceivers will provide data
transmitting capabilities to industrial clients, enabling them to monitor,
track and manage their fixed and mobile assets world-wide.
MobiApps'
next-generation products include the m100 OEM Subscriber Communicator and the
m1375 RF Module. The m100 is an industry first "three chip" compact solution,
integrating the Analog Devices Blackfin DSP family with MobiApps' m1375 RF
Module and a GPS RF down converter. The m100 provides a low-cost, high
performance solution for cost-effective world-wide industrial communications.
The m1375 RF Module is designed to be integrated with existing and future
third-party satellite communicators. The core technology within both products
is MobiApps' proprietary m1375 custom-mixed signal RF ASIC, providing
cost-effective deployment of satellite modems. By gaining access to valuable
position and performance information about their assets, MobiApps' customers
can expect to significantly improve asset utilisation, lower logistics and
equipment maintenance costs, reduce theft and increase revenue.
(source: MobiApps)
ViaSat Awarded Follow-On Production Order and Network Services
Contract
(7 October
2003) ViaSat Inc has received a follow-on delivery order from ARINC for
additional production quantities of the SKYLink Airborne Integrated Satellite
Communication Terminal. In addition the two companies signed a 3-year contract
for ViaSat to provide network operations services to ARINC. The total value of
the contracts is approximately US$ 8.5 million.
Recent
flight tests have demonstrated that SKYLink can reliably deliver in-flight,
two-way, broadband data to aircraft at rates from 256 kb/s to 3.5 Mb/s,
providing performance similar to high-speed Internet connections and corporate
networks found in modern offices. The technology also increases the
possibilities for multimedia and other bandwidth hungry applications for
business jet travellers.
(source: ViaSat)
Boeing
Awarded US$ 9.2 Million
to Process Radar Data from Space Shuttle Endeavour
(8 October 2003) Boeing has received US$ 9.2
million in follow-on orders from the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA)
to produce a digital topographic model of the Earth from radar data collected
by the space shuttle Endeavour.
This award to Boeing
under NIMA's Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) program brings the total
contract award to over US$ 19 million. Boeing is one of two prime contractors
involved in the SRTM program, and is responsible for the overall project
management of its team and development of the interactive editing system
interface and editing software that is being used to produce the data at
Boeing.
To date, the team has produced over 3,000 cells of radar data
over portions of four continents with each cell being one degree of latitude by
one degree of longitude in size. Boeing's SoftPlotter, a software program that
processes terrain data derived from aerial and satellite imagery, is the
production foundation for the software developed and in use by the Boeing
team.
The SRTM mission flew on NASA's space shuttle Endeavour in
February 2000. The data collected are the most detailed and accurate height
measurements ever gathered for this large an area. The goal of the SRTM
production system is to produce digital topographic data for 80% of the Earth's
land surface. Automation of most tasks has reduced editing time and minimised
production costs, as compared to previous systems for producing similar
data.
(source: Boeing)
IAGT Buys Integral Systems' Skylight Downlink System
(8 October 2003) The
Institute for the Application of Geospatial Technology (IAGT) at Cayuga
Community College in Auburn, New York has installed a complete Skylight Direct
Broadcast Ground Terminal for receiving and processing satellite Earth science
data. The system was purchased through a partnership of Integral Systems with
Global Science and Technology Inc. It is already receiving, processing, and
storing data from the MODIS imaging instrument aboard NASA's Terra and Aqua
satellites, the two flagships of NASA's Earth Observing System.
IAGT has a wide-ranging mission to develop educational,
scientific, and economic applications of geospatial technologies, particularly
in the north-eastern US. Situated in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New
York, the institute has already implemented programs to bring geospatial
technology to the classroom; to disseminate satellite and other data through
web-based tools; and to use satellite data to track forest fires. Access to
MODIS data affords many more such opportunities, even augmenting aircraft-based
soil and vegetation analyses that bear on the Finger Lakes grape harvest, a
major economic contributor in this winemaking region.
Skylight
incorporates the most recently released NASA science algorithms for a variety
of science data products, including fire detection maps, volcano eruption
alerts, atmospheric profiles, and other data products. IAGT's highly automated
system was installed in a day even as the remnants of Hurricane Isabel passed
through the area, and within a day afterwards was downlinking MODIS and
distributing it over the Institute's LAN. The system was delivered less than a
month after the order was placed.
(source: Integral
Systems)
Raytheon to Design Miniature, Anti-Jam GPS Navigator for USAF
(7 October 2003) The
Raytheon Company was recently selected by the US Air Force Research Laboratory
(AFRL) to develop a miniaturised Global Positioning System (GPS) navigator with
an adaptive anti-jam (A/J) capability for the Miniature Navigator Demonstration
(MIND) program.
Under the US$ 6.9 million program
research and development contract, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems will
design and demonstrate a smaller, lighter, and more cost effective weapon
navigator system that is capable of operating in a dynamic, high-speed flight
environment against various GPS jammer threats.
It will combine an
integrated 24-channel GPS receiver, a state-of-the-art inertial measurement
unit, adaptive processing algorithms, and A/J front end hardware that will be
compatible with the future GPS M-code satellite signals.
(source:
Raytheon Company)
Raytheon
Awarded a US$ 9 Million
Contract For James Webb Space Telescope Ground System
(8 October 2003) The Raytheon Company has
been awarded a contract for developmental work on the James Webb Space
Telescope (JWST) program by prime contractor Northrop Grumman Space Technology
(NGST). The value to Raytheon is approximately US$ 9.3 million over the life of
the program.
The JWST, a next-generation successor to
the Hubble Space Telescope, is scheduled for launch in 2011. According to NASA,
it will take about three months for the spacecraft to reach its destination, an
orbit 1.5 million km from earth, called the second Lagrange Point or L2, where
the spacecraft is balanced between the gravity of the Sun and the Earth. The
telescope is named after James E Webb, NASA's second administrator.
Raytheon will deploy and maintain Eclipse software and hardware as part of
NGST's Common Command Telemetry System (CCTS) for the observatory and
instrument development, integration, and test. Eclipse provides functionality
for real-time command and telemetry processing, on-board processor management,
scripting tools, data archiving and retrieval, and plotting/trending for the
CCTS. Work will be performed at Raytheon's Aurora, Colorado, business
campus.
(source: Raytheon)
NASA
Selects Allied Team To
Provide Hypersonic Vehicles
(8 October 2003) NASA has selected Allied Aerospace
Industries to provide three flight-ready experimental demonstrator vehicles
that will fly approximately 5,000 miles per hour or seven times the speed of
sound. The multi-year project, called X-43C, will expand the hypersonic flight
envelope for air-breathing engines.
The
cost-plus-fixed-fee completion type contract carries performance incentives and
is valued at nearly US$ 150 million over 66 months. The base activity covers
all work through completion of the Preliminary Design Review, and the optional
effort covers the final design, hardware fabrication and all associated support
activities.
The X-43C is the next logical step, following the Hyper-X
(X-43A), vehicle that aims at demonstrating short duration scramjet powered
flight at Mach 7 and Mach 10. The X-43C will demonstrate free flight of a
scramjet-powered vehicle with acceleration capability from Mach 5 to Mach 7, as
well as operation of a hydrocarbon fuel-cooled scramjet.
NASA's
Langley Research Center (LaRC) is leading a combined US Air Force/industry team
in the design and development of the X-43C demonstrator vehicle and its
propulsion system. The engine, which will be provided by the Air Force, will be
a dual-mode scramjet capable of running as a ramjet or scramjet.
Allied Aerospace, Flight Systems Division, will team with Pratt and Whitney,
Boeing Phantom Works and RJK Technologies.
Future air-breathing space
access vehicles offer advantages over conventional rocket-powered vehicles that
must carry all of the oxidiser needed to burn their fuel. Air-breathing
engine-powered vehicles obtain oxygen from the atmosphere in flight. By
minimising the need to carry oxidiser, smaller and more efficient vehicles can
be designed for space access missions.
For the three demonstration
flights, a Pegasus-derived rocket booster will be air-launched by a carrier
aircraft to boost the X-43C demonstrator vehicles to Mach 5 at approximately
80,000 feet. The X-43C will separate from the booster and continue to
accelerate to Mach 7 under its own power and autonomous control.
Flights will originate from DFRC. Flight paths of the vehicles will be over
water within the Pacific Test Range.
(source: NASA)
NASA
Awards NENS Contract to
Honeywell Technology Solutions
(9 October 2003) NASA has awarded the Near Earth
Networks Services (NENS) contract announced to Honeywell Technology Solutions
Inc (HTSI), of Columbia, Maryland.
The total estimated
maximum value of the two-component contract is approximately US$ 785.2 million.
The NENS Core component is worth approximately US$ 185.2 million, and its
Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) component is not to exceed US$
600 million.
HTSI will provide support to NASA's Space and Ground
Networks managed by the Mission Services Program at the Goddard Space Flight
Center (GSFC). Under the cost-plus-award-fee/IDIQ contract, HTSI will provide
technical and management services in support of tracking and data-acquisition
operations at GSFC, Wallops Flight Facility, White Sands Complex, Merritt
Island Launch Annex, Poker Flat and Guam.
Major elements include
administration of an integrated contract team for Space and Ground Networks
operations and maintenance; hardware and software development; and systems
engineering. The Space and Ground Networks provide virtually all communications
for NASA's earth orbiting spacecraft, including the International Space
Station, the Space Shuttle, the Hubble Space Telescope and the Earth Observing
System satellites.
The NENS contract, with a period of performance of
five years, is the second of five work packages contained in the Space Mission
Communications and Data Services (SMCDS) solicitation.
Among the eight
major subcontractor members of the HTSI team are General Dynamics Networks
Systems Inc and SGT Inc.
(source: NASA)
Loral
Rejects New EchoStar
Offer to Purchase All Its Assets
(8 October 2003) Loral Space and Communication has
announced that its board of directors has reviewed a letter from EchoStar
Communications Corporation in which it indicated an interest in purchasing all
of Loral's assets for US$ 1.85 billion. EchoStar's proposal, which the board
rejected, was subject to numerous conditions.
On July
15, 2003, Loral reached an agreement to sell Intelsat its six North American
satellites (including Telstar 4) for approximately US$ 1.1 billion. Consistent
with the bidding procedures approved by the Bankruptcy Court, Loral will
evaluate any and all bids that it may receive for its North American satellites
on or before October 15, 2003, including one from EchoStar if it submits a bid
for those assets.
(source: Loral Space and Communications)
SES
Global Completes US$ 1
bn Private Placement
(6 October 2003) SES Global SA has closed a private
placement of over US$ 1 bn with a group of 29 US and international
investors.
The transaction comprises three tranches for
a total amount of US$ 1 bn with an additional £ 28m sterling tranche and
features final maturities of 10 and 12 years. SES Global's advisors to the
transaction were Barclays Capital Inc and HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.
The funds raised will be used to retire a substantial part of the syndicated
bank loan contracted in the US$ at the time of SES Global's GE Americom
acquisition.
(source: SES Global)
DVB
Audio Satellite
Receiver Supports RDS Data Transport
(6 October 2003) PROFline has announced its TSR
receiver, a DVB audio satellite receiver for radio distribution networks.
The receiver's wide symbol rate range from 256 kb/s to 30
Mb/s allows both single carrier per channel (SCPC) and multi carrier per
channel (MCPC) operation. Supporting MPEG Layer 2 and layer 3, analogue/digital
(AES/EBU) audio output, X.21 and ASI output, the TRS is suitable for both DVB
and DAB Networks.
The PROFline TRS supports RDS data transport which
can be integrated in both SCPC as well as in DVB multiplexer environment.
The TRS is available now.
(source: PROFline)
EMS
Technologies Introduces
HSD-X
(7 October
2003) EMS Technologies Inc has introduced the High-Speed Data Channel Extension
for use with EMS’s HSD-128.
HSD-X operates in
conjunction with an HSD-128 transceiver to provide additional channels of
Inmarsat Swift64 and Mini-M AMBE voice services. One or two HSD-X modules can
be added to the base HSD-128 system, each providing an additional 64 kb/s
voice/data channel.
The HSD-128 and HSD-X use industry-standard
networking protocols and interfaces, and are easily integrated into the
aircraft local area network (LAN), providing a fast, global, voice and data
link.
With the bi-directional data throughput capability of up to four
64 kb/s channels, capabilities such as sending and receiving e-mail, surfing
the Internet, video conferencing, and accessing private networks on board
commercial, private and military aircraft are now a reality. Using external
connections, all four channels can be combined into a single 256 kb/s
throughput. EMS Technologies’ High-Speed Data Channel Extension is the
first high-speed data solution with up to four Swift64 channels.
The
HSD-128 and HSD-X are compatible with all ARINC 741 Aero-H/H+ Satcom antennas
and are ideally matched with the EMS Technologies AMT-50 antenna.
(source: EMS Technologies)
France
Telecom Mobile
Satellite Communications Launches VPN Service
(8 October 2003) France Telecom Mobile
Satellite Communications is enhancing its range of value-added services with a
satellite-based VPN connection solution. Staff seconded to areas without
traditional telephone infrastructure can connect securely to their corporate
and multinational VPNs, irrespective of the VPN architecture. This service
completes the France Telecom Group’s high-speed satellite offer and in
particular Equant’s GPRS/VPN solution.
It enables
users to transmit data at high speeds (up to 144 kb/s on a shared channel) from
their Regional BGAN mobile satellite terminals, as well as access everyday work
applications securely.
To supply this new solution, France Telecom
Mobile Satellite Communications upgraded the technical architecture at its
station in Aussaguel, near Toulouse, adding an authentication server which
identifies the user and enables them to access the value-added services they
need:
This new service can cater for highly
specific requirements. In the banking sector, for example, agencies or branches
based overseas in isolated areas that are poorly covered by land-based networks
may not have adequate Internet access. However, a number of key transactional
applications (such as authenticating credit cards or securing fund transfers)
justify the use of a VPN connection to head office. France Telecom Mobile
Satellite Communications enables the user to do just this with the aid of the
Regional BGAN terminal and its VPN service.
(source: France Telecom
Mobile Satellite Communications)
New
Inmarsat Antenna from
EMS Technologies
(8
October 2003) EMS Technologies has announced a new fuselage mount antenna as
part of its product family of Inmarsat and Direct Broadcast Receive
antennas.
The AMT-3800 is an Inmarsat Aero-H/H+ high
gain antenna designed for mounting on the fuselage of all sizes of corporate
aircraft. Specifically targeted for use on smaller mid-sized corporate aircraft
and helicopters, the antenna is 1.8” tall x 12” wide x 36” long.
The AMT-3800 antenna gain is 12.5 dbic minimum over the entire Inmarsat
coverage area. The system is scheduled to be available by December 2004.
EMS will start taking orders for the AMT-3800 in Q1 2004 for delivery
before the end of the year.
(source: EMS Technologies)
Price
Cuts For EMS
Technologies' HSD-128 High Speed Data Satcom System
(8 October 2003) EMS Technologies has
announced a reduction of the HSD-128 High Speed Data Satcom system
manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of US$ 182,750 to a new MSRP
of US$ 135,000 for any systems sold into Business Aviation.
The ongoing success of the HSD-128 cost-improvement program
has led EMS to offer an MSRP reduction of US$ 47,750 for its popular HSD-128
High Speed Data Satcom terminal to operators in Business Aviation. This pricing
is effective now through the end of 2003. HSD systems are available directly
from EMS or from any authorised EMS distributors or installing dealers.
Interested parties should contact EMS directly for additional details.
(source: EMS Technologies)
Rockwell
Collins Introduces
Global Broadband Connectivity for Business Aircraft
(7 October 2003) Rockwell Collins has
introduced Collins eXchange, a global broadband connectivity solution for
business aircraft. The leading-edge capability is made possible through a
strategic agreement with Connexion by Boeing, a business unit of the Boeing
Company, and provides business aircraft passengers with a single source for
two-way cable-quality connectivity world-wide. The entire Bombardier Global
family - Global Express, Global 5000 and the newly launched Global Express XRS
- will be the launch aircraft, and certification is expected in early 2005.
Collins eXchange combines the advanced antenna technology
and signal processing capabilities of Rockwell Collins' Tailwind(R) 500
multiregion direct broadcast satellite (DBS) TV system with the broadband
services of Connexion by Boeing to enable real-time, nearly global two-way
Ku-band data coverage.
Collins eXchange will integrate with the
Collins Airshow 21 cabin electronics system for the Global family. Aircraft
operators and passengers can use Collins eXchange to access the Internet, and
fire-wall protected corporate intranets; send outgoing e-mail or open large
attachments from incoming e-mail; get the news, weather or destination
information; or view direct broadcast satellite television programming. The
service will enhance air-to-ground communications for flight crew
personnel.
(source: Rockwell Collins)
SKYLink by ARINC Direct Enters Production
(6 October 2003)
SKYLink by ARINC Direct is in production following successful flight trials and
final conformance testing.
ARINC developed the SKYLink
system with investment and technology support from its team member SES
Americom, a leading provider of global satellite communications. The SKYLink
system is based on unique Ku band satellite communications technology developed
by ViaSat Inc who provides the aircraft transceiver and antenna as well as the
ground earth station equipment. The first two production SKYLink units will be
delivered to Gulfstream Aerospace in mid-October.
ARINC expects to
complete its first customer installations later this month, and will launch
full SKYLink service coverage of the continental United States at that time.
The next regions to receive SKYLink service will be the North Atlantic flight
tracks, Europe, and the Middle East. The SKYLink system will provide users with
fast connections to the Internet, virtual private networks, and corporate
Intranets. The SKYLink off-aircraft data rate is 128 kb/s, and the data rate to
the aircraft is up to 3.5 Mb/s. This performance is even more remarkable
considering the entire SKYLink system weighs just 35 pounds, including the
12-inch mechanically steered dish antenna.
SKYLink Broadband Service
and SKYLink hardware will be offered by manufacturers as a factory option on
new aircraft. In addition, ARINC Direct will work with aircraft owners,
manufacturers and completion centres to retrofit SKYLink on in-service
aircraft.
Unlike slower satellite services, SKYLink uses Ku band
satellite technology to achieve true broadband speeds. The system provides data
to the aircraft up to five times faster than a land-based digital subscriber
line. Once SKYLink service is installed on an aircraft it can be distributed to
one or many onboard users via the aircraft's wired or wireless LAN. SKYLink
changes today's corporate jet into a convenient, productive office in the sky,
by providing a seamless, high-speed extension of company networks.
(source: ARINC)
Telkom SA Launches Broadband Offering Based on Gilat VSAT
Platform
(9 October
2003) Telkom SA Ltd has launched a satellite-based broadband VSAT service using
Gilat's Skystar 360E VSAT platform. This offering launched as Spacestream
Express will offer always available Internet connectivity and data connectivity
for enterprise customers anywhere in South Africa at data rates ranging from 64
kb/s download and 16 kb/s upload to the top end of 512 kb/s download and 128
kb/s upload.
The agreement between the two companies was
concluded last year. The service will be based on a Gilat VSAT network
consisting of a Skystar 360E satellite hub station and thousands of VSAT
terminals. This agreement spans a five-year period, with an incremental
deployment of VSAT terminals growing to one of the largest networks in the
world.
Telkom SA has also decided to offer a DialAw@y IP rural
telephony satellite communications network solution with an additional hub
marketed as SpaceStream Office, Telkom intends to provide "always-on" Internet
access together with one to four telephone lines at each rural site serviced by
a DialAw@y IP VSAT unit.
(source: Gilat Satellite Networks)
Tenzing Launches Business Aviation Email Offerings
(6 October 2003)
Tenzing has announced that it will be offering an email system tailored to
business-jet passengers. Tenzing's business aviation product is based on its
system for commercial airlines, which is currently on six airlines and hundreds
of aircraft around the globe.
Inflight email is enabled
by the addition of a laptop-sized onboard server installed with Tenzing
software and then connected to existing aircraft communications systems.
Tenzing's email system has been tested on all the major aircraft
communication systems currently used in the business-aviation market.
Passengers use their existing email addresses, including corporate email, in a
secure environment. Limited production of Tenzing's system is available in 2003
for business-aviation customers who want an immediate email solution.
(source: Tenzing Communications)
New
VPs at
Spaceconnection
(8
October 2003) Satellite service provider Spaceconnection has announced the
promotions of Jonathan Crawford to Vice President, Broadcast Sales and
Satellite Services and Cate Shaffer-Shelby to Vice President, Marketing and
Program Media Services.
Mr Crawford's responsibilities
will include the company's operations and broadcast sales pertaining to
analogue and digital satellite services. In his expanded role, Mr Crawford will
oversee all satellite-related sales and transmission aspects in arranging
domestic and international services, fixed and transportable uplinks and
production facilities, as well as syndication services.
Ms
Shaffer-Shelby will be in charge of marketing, advertising, public relations
and full time satellite sales for video, cable, datacasting, multicasting and
mediacasting services. In addition, Ms Shaffer-Shelby will oversee program
services and event planning while continuing to manage the company's
information technology.
Previously announced, Michelle Patraw was
named Vice President, General Manager of The SpaceCenter Communications, in
charge of the company's Satellite News Gathering (SNG) division. The
SpaceCenter, a division of Spaceconnection, offers 5-minute booking windows for
satellite segment and has partnered with The Access Center, LLC to provide
quick, efficient cross polls and PanAmSat for SBS 6 satellite time.
The Spaceconnection Inc is a privately held, professional communications
company that specialises in providing programming-related satellite
transmission services throughout the United States and world-wide. The company
arranges C band and Ku band satellite transmissions, utilising analogue and
digitally compressed technology, for domestic and international
distribution.
(source: Spaceconnection)
SAIC Names Kenneth C Dahlberg as New CEO
(7 October 2003)
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) has announced that
Kenneth C Dahlberg has been named chief executive officer (CEO) effective
November 3, 2003. He will replace Dr J Robert Beyster, SAIC's founder, CEO and
chairman of the board. Dr Beyster's current term on the Board expires in July
2004, and he will remain chairman until a new chairman is selected by the
Board.
As the new CEO, Dahlberg will be based in San
Diego.
Prior to joining SAIC, Dahlberg served as executive vice
president of General Dynamics' Information Systems and Technology group since
2001.
Prior to joining General Dynamics, Dahlberg served as executive
vice president for business development at Raytheon and president of Raytheon
International Inc, a subsidiary. Dahlberg was responsible for international and
domestic business development and government relations. Prior to that, he was
president and chief operating officer of Raytheon Systems Company, where he had
operations oversight for all of Raytheon's defense business units.
Dahlberg served as a corporate vice president of Hughes Electronics Corp and as
a senior vice president of Hughes Aircraft Company prior to the 1997 merger of
Raytheon and Hughes Aircraft Company. Dahlberg joined Hughes in 1967 and held
various engineering, program-management and leadership positions.
Dahlberg received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Drexel
University in 1967 and a master's degree in electrical engineering from the
University of Southern California in 1969. Dahlberg also attended the
University of California, Los Angeles, business school for advanced education
for executives.
(source: SAIC)
Spectrum
Astro Names Chris Clark
New Director of NASA and Civil Programs
(10 October 2003) Spectrum Astro today
announced the appointment of Chris Clark as Director of NASA and Civil
Programs. In this position, Mr Clark is responsible for the execution of
programs that include GLAST, Swift, RHESSI, C/NOFS, and Coriolis as well as the
development of future programs within this business area.
Mr Clark has been with Spectrum Astro since 1993 holding
numerous engineering and management positions for programs including MightySat
II, Space Based Infrared System Low, and the NPOESS Preparatory Project. Most
recently Mr Clark led the GLAST Program Team, which is charged with developing
Spectrum Astro's largest and longest life space vehicle to date.
Before joining Spectrum Astro, Mr Clark worked at Martin Marietta Astronautics
in Denver, Colorado and TRW Space and Technology Group in Redondo Beach,
California.
(source: Spectrum Astro)
