17 August 2003
Satcoms
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Selects MSV's Services for New Command-Post
Vehicles
RTM Restaurant Group Selects Spacenet Broadband Satellite
Network
Earth
Observation
Space Imaging to Conduct Wildland Fire Risk
Navigation
NovAtel to Develop GPS Differential System to Validate Speed
Records
Launch
Services
Another Sea Launch for XM Satellite Radio
SpaceX Successfully Fires Falcon
Rocket Upper Stage Engine
Launches
Kosmos 2399
SciSat-1
Launch Schedule
People
NASA Names New Assistant Administrator For External
Relations
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Selects MSV's Services for New Command-Post
Vehicles
(11 August
2003) The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, one of
only two U.S. fire-rescue organisations that support the government's
international emergency disaster relief efforts, has selected Mobile Satellite
Ventures' voice and radio-dispatch services as a component of its new command
vehicle design.
A pioneering satellite phone user and
veteran Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) customer, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue will
equip their new state-of-the-art tactical command vehicles with MSV voice, data
and radio dispatch capabilities.
Operating on a push-to-talk
principle, MSV's two-way, wireless Dispatch Radio Service covers North and
Central America, the Caribbean, parts of South America, and up to 250 miles
offshore. MSV operates the largest North America network for radio dispatch
services supporting up to 15 talk groups from any one terminal. The MSV network
includes two geo-stationary satellites and ground stations in Reston,
Virginia., and in Ottawa.
The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue USAR team
includes rescue specialists, structural engineers, K-9 unit handlers, hazardous
material experts, medical personnel, and logistics staff, who are deployed to
earthquakes, hurricanes, plane crashes and other disasters across the United
States and internationally each year.
(source: Mobile Satellite
Ventures)
RTM
Restaurant Group
Selects Spacenet Broadband Satellite Network
(12 August 2003) Spacenet Inc has been selected by RTM
Restaurant Group Inc to provide a broadband VSAT network to their Arby’s
restaurants and other quick service restaurant locations.
The five-year commitment calls for Spacenet’s
Connexstar Enterprise service to be deployed at 825 restaurant locations for a
range of applications including credit authorisation, point-of-sale and store
polling as well as intranet-based back office applications. Connexstar
Enterprise provides network design and configuration parameters customised to
meet larger clients’ specific needs, while retaining the convenient
deployment and economic benefits of Connexstar’s standardised network
service packages.
(source: Gilat Satellite Networks)
Space
Imaging to Conduct
Wildland Fire Risk
(14 August 2003) Space Imaging's Wildland Fire Risk
Assessment System (WFRAS) approach has been selected by the Southern Group of
State Foresters (SGSF) to support ongoing fire management planning and wildland
fire risk analysis in each community, county, congressional district and fire
response zone of the organisation’s 13 states. The member states are
Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. The
organisation also includes the US Forest Service's Region 8 Office in Atlanta.
The Texas Forest Service is administering the project on behalf of SGSF.
Space Imaging's WFRAS is a proven wildland fire risk
assessment methodology that employs both GIS and remote sensing technologies.
It is a well-defined and repeatable process for describing fuels and analysing
wildland fire risk to suit any scale of operation, including wildland and
wildland urban interface areas. The wildland fuels are mapped using 30-meter
resolution Landsat imagery as a baseline. Optionally, high-resolution
multi-spectral imagery from Space Imaging's Ikonos satellite may be used for
mapping fuels for specific areas of interest. To develop the methodology, Space
Imaging worked with leading fire subject matter experts to incorporate the best
wildland fire science available for fire protection planning. The Wildland Fire
Risk Assessment Model contains calculations to derive indices of Wildland Fire
Susceptibility, Fire Effects, Fire Response Accessibility and Wildland Fire
Risk. This award follows successful completion of the statewide Florida fire
risk assessment project by Space Imaging.
The contract period is
initially for 12 months to conduct the baseline analysis, beginning in July
2003. Once the Southern Group of State Foresters Southern Wildfire Risk
Assessment project is completed, each state will be better equipped to
communicate wildland fire risks to the public. Additional years are planned to
ensure proper technology transfer occurs with State representatives.
(source: Space Imaging)
NovAtel to Develop GPS Differential System to Validate Speed
Records
(12 August
2003) NovAtel Inc has been selected by The Institute of Navigation (ION) and
the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) to develop a GPS differential system
for use by the NAA in establishing straight course speed records for aircraft
in flight. The system is expected to be complete by May 2004.
One of the primary functions of the NAA is to encourage,
co-ordinate, document and promote competition and record-making aviation and
space events in accordance with the rules prescribed by the Federation
Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), of which NAA is the official US
representative. The FAI Sporting Code requires a 0.25% overall system accuracy
in the measurement of record speed over a three-kilometre course. As speeds
increase and the time to traverse the three-kilometre course decreases, it
becomes impossible to assure the required 0.25% system accuracy using
hand-timing techniques. Overall, as aircraft performance improves, the
measurement of these types of records becomes equipment and manpower intensive.
A GPS system could significantly reduce the equipment costs and manpower
currently required for these records.
The ION is a non-profit
professional society dedicated to the advancement of the art and science of
navigation. It serves a diverse community including those interested in air,
space, marine and land navigation and position determination. The Satellite
Division of the ION, which is supporting this effort, encourages the
development, operation and use of navigation and position determination systems
incorporating satellite-based elements.
The Chairman of the NAA
Contest and Records (C&R) Board, Stan Nelson, added, "The technology that
the NAA C&R Board has been using for flight test speed measurements over
the past several decades has not kept pace with advancements in aeronautic
designs and materials. We are moving away from the use of high speed
photographic and optical timing systems with millisecond timing at best, to the
use of space-based satellite systems and carrier phase processing, like the
system NovAtel is developing, which should provide microsecond course time
measurement precision."
The NAA is the national aero club of the
United States. Its primary mission is the advancement of the art, sport and
science of aviation and space flight by fostering opportunities to participate
fully in aviation activities and by promoting public understanding of the
importance of aviation and space flight in the United States.
(source:
NovAtel)
Another
Sea Launch for XM
Satellite Radio
(11
August 2003) Boeing Launch Services Inc (BLS) has announced a contract with XM
Satellite Radio for the launch of the XM-4 satellite on a Sea Launch rocket in
2006.
The new contract is a direct arrangement between
XM Satellite Radio and Sea Launch Company LLC. Sea Launch successfully placed
the first two XM satellites, "Rock" and "Roll" in orbit in 2001. The company
also was selected for the launch of the XM-3 satellite in 2004 as part of a
delivery-in-orbit contract with Boeing Satellite Systems, the manufacturer of
all four satellites.
The new contract, signed on August 5, directs the
Sea Launch team to deliver the powerful Boeing 702 spacecraft to geosynchronous
transfer orbit for a final orbital position at 115° W in support of XM's
on-going service requirements. The XM-3 spacecraft will be positioned at
85° W.
Designed for a 15-year lifespan, the Boeing 702 model
spacecraft will each generate 18 kW of total power at the start of life in
orbit. Alcatel Space, of Toulouse, France, is providing the high-power, S band,
Digital Audio Service (DARS) payloads for all of the XM spacecraft.
(source: Sea Launch)
SpaceX Successfully Fires Falcon Rocket Upper Stage Engine
(11 August 2003) Space
Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) has announced the successful test
firing of the Falcon rocket's upper stage engine, called Kestrel. The liquid
oxygen and rocket grade kerosene powered engine, which has a vacuum thrust of
7500 lbs, achieved reliable ignition and stable combustion.
In the early weeks of testing, the engine achieved an
efficiency of 94.8%, which is higher than many production rocket engines. As a
basis for comparison, the Saturn V F-1 engine achieved 93.5%. An ultimate
efficiency of approximately 96% and vacuum specific impulse of 325s are
expected.
The Kestrel engine is capable of multiple restarts in vacuum
for precise placement of one or more spacecraft, and is designed both for high
fuel efficiency and light weight. When combined with the advanced
aluminium-lithium tank structure, the result is among the industry's best
performance for a pressure fed rocket stage while maintaining substantially
lower costs.
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is developing a
family of launch vehicles intended to reduce the cost and increase the
reliability of access to space by a factor of ten. Falcon, the initial launch
vehicle from SpaceX, is developed from the ground up, including both engines,
all structure, avionics and launch pad operations. It is capable of over 1400
lbs to orbit in the standard and over 4500 lbs to orbit in the heavy
configuration. The privately-developed Falcon is approximately 80% reusable,
which will make it the only semi-reusable launch vehicle in the world apart
from the Space Shuttle, which is 90% reusable.
(source: Space
Exploration Technologies)
Kosmos
2399
Launched: August
2003
Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launcher: Soyuz
Orbit:
LEO, apogee: 299.8 km, perigee: 158.9 km: inclination: 64.95°
International Number: 2003-035A
Name: Kosmos 2399
Owner: Russian
Ministry of Defence
Kosmos 2399 is a Russian military imaging
satellite.
SciSat-1
Launched: 13 August
2003
Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Launcher: Pegasus
XL
Orbit: LEO, apogee: 642 km, perigee: 628 km: inclination: 73.9°
International Number: 2003-036A
Name: SciSat 1
Owner: Canadian Space
Agency
SciSat 1 is a Canadian scientific satellite which was developed
under a co-operative programme with NASA. Itwill study the chemistry of the
upper troposphere and stratosphere. The satellite had a mass of 150 kg at
launch and has an operational life of two years.
The scientific goal
of the SCISAT-1/ACE (Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment) mission is to measure
and understand the chemical processes that control the distribution of ozone in
the Earth's atmosphere, particularly at high latitudes. The data, recorded as
SCISAT-1 orbits the Earth, will provide Canadian and international scientists
with improved measurements relating to global ozone processes and help policy
makers assess existing environmental policy and develop protective measures for
improving the health of our atmosphere and prevent further ozone depletion.
The ozone research to be undertaken by the SCISAT-1 mission will be headed
by Professor Peter Bernath of the University of Waterloo, who leads a
scientific team of researchers from around the world. The Fourier Transform
Spectrometer (ACE-FTS), built by ABB Bomem of Québec City is the primary
instrument selected for the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) mission
onboard SCISAT-1. A second instrument, built by EMS Technologies of Ottawa,
Measurements of Aerosol Extinction in the Stratosphere and Troposphere
Retrieved by Occultation (MAESTRO), will also fly on the SCISAT-1 satellite. Dr
Tom McElroy of Environment Canada is the principal investigator for MAESTRO,
with support received from Professor James Drummond of the University of
Toronto.
NASA
Names New Assistant
Administrator For External Relations
(11 August 2003) NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe
has announced the appointment of Michael O'Brien as the Assistant Administrator
for External Relations, effective immediately. O'Brien replaces John Schumacher
who became the NASA Chief of Staff in July.
As Assistant
Administrator for External Relations, O'Brien will be responsible for NASA's
interaction with Executive Branch offices and agencies; international relations
for each NASA Enterprise; administration of export control and international
technology transfer programs; the NASA History Office; NASA advisory councils
and commissions.
O'Brien has served as Deputy Assistant Administrator
for External Relations (Space Flight) since 1994. He was responsible for the
international aspects of NASA's human space flight activities. He led the team
that negotiated the agreements for the International Space Station with the
space agencies of Europe, Japan, Canada, and Russia. O'Brien also was
responsible for agreements related to Space Shuttle flights for international
astronauts and NASA relations with other space agencies, such as those of
Brazil and Israel.
O'Brien graduated with high distinction from the
University of Virginia. He holds a Master of Science in Physics from Cornell
University and a Master of Science in Aeronautical Systems from the University
of West Florida. As an Olmsted Scholar, he performed research in International
Relations and Strategic Studies at the Graduate Institute of International
Relations in Geneva, Switzerland. O'Brien is also a graduate of the French
Ecole Militaire in Paris, France.
(source: NASA)
