25 May 2003
Satcoms
deltathree and SkyVision Join Forces
HNS Launches DirecWay Broadband Service
in Brazil
MCI to
Provide Satellite Services to NOAA
Satlynx to provide Infotechnique
with links between France, Madagascar and Mauritius
SkyFrames and Arizona High Speed
Access Link-Up to Create "WiFi Oasis"
Spacenet Announces New Contracts
Earth
Observation
DigitalGlobe Opens New Office in Washington DC
Integral
Systems Delivers NOAA Fairbanks Upgrade
Raytheon Wins US$ 500 Million NASA
Information Technology Contract
Navigation
Digital Technologies to Distribute iSECUREtrac's GPS
Offender Tracking Solution
Military
Space
Norsat Wins Major
Military Contract
Technology
EMS
Technologies Awarded STARS Antenna Contract
Launches
Launch Schedule
Business
ND SatCom Opens China Office
Sirius Raises US$ 175 Million as
Convertible Notes Offering Closes
WorldSpace Launches Government Sales Unit
Products and Services
Conexant Delivers High Performance Single-Chip System for
Low-Cost Set-Top Boxes
Mobile Satellite
Ventures Announces New Fax Messaging Service
Stratos to Launch Inmarsat Fleet 55
and 33 Services
People
ARCOMS Names Steven H Gardner as Chief Technology
Officer
David A King Named Marshall Space Flight Center Director
Lockheed Martin
Commercial Space Systems Announces New Leadership Team
Space Imaging Names Charles S
Stees as Chief Financial Officer
deltathree and SkyVision Join Forces
(21 May 2003) deltathree Inc, a provider of
SIP-based hosted communications solutions for service providers and consumers
world-wide, and SkyVision, one of the leading providers of Internet
connectivity via satellite, have agreed to form a world-wide marketing alliance
for a joint IP Telephony solution serving customers in Africa and Eastern
Europe.
As part of the newly formed world-wide marketing
alliance, deltathree will provide a full range of SIP-based (Session Initiated
Protocol) IP telephony services across SkyVision's global Internet backbone
including deltathree's PC-to-Phone, Broadband Phone and Phone-to-Phone
products. deltathree will also provide robust back office support services over
SkyVision's satellite and terrestrial network, enabling customers to make
affordable international voice calls to any location around the globe.
The collaboration between deltathree and SkyVision will leverage SkyVision's
extensive satellite expertise and thorough understanding of the local African
and Eastern European market customer needs, combined with deltathree's
expertise in VoIP and SIP technology. IP Telephony is one of the major
communications applications used across Africa and represents a key element in
"bridging the digital divide" between Africa and parts of the developed world.
SkyVision currently provides PTT's, ISP's, corporate customers and network
partners in Africa with Internet backbone connectivity via satellite and fiber.
With local SkyVision support and marketing in Africa and Eastern Europe, the
new partnership will deliver cost effective IP telephony services to a variety
of customers including: corporate entities, banks, educational institutions,
PTT's, ISP's and Cyber Cafes.
Founded in 1996, deltathree is a leading
provider of hosted, SIP-based VoIP products and services. deltathree provides
private-label products, including PC-to-Phone, Phone-to-Phone, and Broadband
Phone, as well as back-office services such as billing, operations management,
marketing support, and network management, to service providers world-wide.
deltathree's consumer division, iConnectHere, provides award-winning VoIP
products directly to consumers.
SkyVision is a global provider of
broadband connectivity solutions specialising in Internet services over
satellite. A leading provider of Internet service within its currently
established markets in Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Russia, Ukraine, the
Mediterranean Basin, East Asia and Africa. SkyVision operates European gateways
and platforms for turnkey services. SkyVision coverage extends to well over 100
countries with services ranging from 155 Mb asymmetric IP links for large
carriers to thin-route solutions for independent VoIP providers.
(source: deltathree)
HNS Launches DirecWay Broadband Service in Brazil
(22 May 2003) Hughes
Network Systems (HNS) has announced the launch of DirecWay broadband by
satellite services in Brazil and throughout South America. Through a newly
formed subsidiary, Hughes Telecom Americas, located in Sao Paulo, DirecWay
services will be marketed to small, medium and large enterprises. Hughes
Telecom Americas was created to provide telecommunications services in the
region immediately following the granting of a Multimedia Communications
Service license by ANATEL this past January.
The new
company plans to market DirecWay broadband services to enterprises in a variety
of industries, including finance, retail, power, automotive,
Internet/Application Service Providers (ISP/ASP), as well as agribusiness,
mining, retail gas stations, schools, government agencies, kiosks and
convenience stores.
Hughes Telecom Americas is a Hughes Network
Systems subsidiary headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which provides DirecWay
broadband by satellite services throughout Brazil and South America. Its Sao
Paulo teleport uses optical fibre to connect to all the major South American
cities. Hughes Telecom Americas designs, develops, deploys and delivers a large
variety of corporate services via satellite.
(source: Hughes Network
Systems)
MCI to Provide Satellite Services to NOAA
(20 May 2003) The
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded MCI a
seven-year contract to provide high-speed satellite data communications
solutions to more than 90 meteorological locations world-wide. Part of the NOAA
World Area Forecast System, MCI's Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) service
enables NOAA to quickly and easily gather and distribute millions of bits of
vital weather-related information to government and private organisations
around the world - with maximum dependability and cost effectiveness.
The ubiquitous reach of MCI's satellite solution -- one of
the largest international earth station gateway networks of any US carrier -
makes it possible for NOAA to collect and disseminate information essential to
the nation's security, environment and quality of life, from almost anywhere in
the world. MCI satellite technology permits NOAA to deliver advanced, voice,
data and Internet solutions to areas where traditional access products are
unavailable or are prohibitively expensive.
Information collected by
NOAA, including weather forecasting, climate monitoring, fire detection, ozone
monitoring and surface temperature measurement, is used by government
organisations around the world to help save lives, safeguard the environment
and protect the economy. For example, information collected by NOAA allows
weather forecasters to provide better warnings of thunderstorms, winter storms,
flash floods, hurricanes, and other severe weather systems. This information is
particularly important for air, sea and land transportation management -
especially air traffic controllers around the world - as they make decisions
that affect the safety of millions of travellers each day.
As one of
the largest telecommunications providers to the federal government, MCI
provides world-wide services to more than 75 US government agencies.
(source: MCI)
Satlynx to provide Infotechnique with links between France,
Madagascar and Mauritius
(19 May 2003) Satlynx and Infotechnique, a subsidiary
of Getronics Group, have signed a contract to provide two-way satellite SCPC
connectivity (Single Channel Per Carrier) between France, Madagascar and
Mauritius.
The connectivity provided by Satlynx will
support the AMALFI Project (Alsace Moselle Application for a Computerised
Property Register). In the framework of this project, a solution based on
security, confidentiality and compliance with transaction deadlines was
required. Satlynx two-way broadband satellite services have been selected for
the performance of their customised SCPC solutions to match with all the
project’s requirements.
(source: Satlynx)
SkyFrames and Arizona High Speed Access Link-Up to Create "WiFi
Oasis"
(20 May
2003) SkyFrames Inc, a provider of low-cost, highly secure satellite broadband
Internet services, has completed installation of Satellite Broadband / WiFi
services in the rural community of Golden Valley, Arizona. SkyFrames and
Arizona High Speed Access, an ISP that provides broadband connectivity services
for rural locations in Arizona, are creating hot-spots in previously cold-spots
in rural America.
State Wireless of Ottumwa, Iowa, a
SkyFrames' VAR, provided the WiFi integration services for Arizona High Speed
Access. State Wireless installs SkyFrames' solutions and provides value added
services in support of WiFi, VoIP, and Web Conferencing.
The Golden
Valley Fire Department (GVFD) is one of the first subscribers on the Network.
GVFD is a member of the regional Hazardous Materials units and will utilise the
system to more effectively access HazMat information, retrieve and file State
reports. Prior to the installation of the SkyFrames Satellite in the region,
GVFD had dialup access only. Microsoft's' NetMeeting has been installed and
VoIP applications are being considered.
For the first time residents
and businesses surrounding Golden Valley will have access to T1 broadcast
speeds across SkyFrames products. There will be a combination of wireless
connectivity solutions that will include 802.11 and omni-directional radio
frequency antennas. Each subscriber affiliated with the Arizona High Speed
Access ISP will receive their own IP address and will be responsible for paying
monthly broadband subscription charges.
Arizona High Speed Access
plans to expand its business relationships with SkyFrames and State Wireless as
it ramps up service offerings throughout Arizona and the Southwest.
(source: SkyFrames)
Spacenet Announces New Contracts
(22 May 2003) Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd
subsidiary Spacenet Inc has announced four new VSAT contracts.
Spacenet has signed an agreement with RARE Hospitality
International Inc to deploy its Connexstar broadband service at 200 RARE
Hospitality restaurant locations. Deployment of Spacenet's Connexstar 500
service is expected to begin immediately at LongHorn Steakhouse and Bugaboo
Creek Steakhouse restaurants across the USA. Connexstar 500 provides turnkey
broadband IP connectivity and Internet access with excellent availability,
customer support and lifecycle economics. Connexstar service is designed to
enable RARE Hospitality International to efficiently support a broad range of
applications.
Spacenet has been chosen by leading restaurant
franchisees Valenti Management and Bartlett Management Services to provide a
broadband satellite network for 150 Wendy's and KFC restaurants in the Eastern
and Central US. Spacenet's VSAT network will be used to support the Valenti and
Bartlett critical back-office applications, store polling and credit
authorisation connectivity requirements. Valenti Management, led by seasoned
restaurateur Darrell J Valenti, is one of the largest Wendy's franchisees in
the nation and plans to become the largest within the next few years. The
company evaluated a variety of satellite-based and terrestrial connectivity
solutions before choosing Spacenet.
Spacenet has also been chosen to
provide a satellite-based broadband data network to a minimum of 300 Beall's
Outlet retail stores, with the potential to grow to 600 locations. Beall's,
which currently maintains a terrestrial Frame Relay network to interconnect its
stores, estimates that it will achieve substantial savings in monthly per-site
network service costs by switching to a Spacenet VSAT network. The five-year
agreement calls for Spacenet to deploy VSAT terminals at Beall's Outlet
locations across the Southeastern US. The network will provide support for
point of sale polling, credit authorisation and inventory/price management
applications. In addition, potential future network applications include
advanced services like data multicast, store security video and
videoconferencing.
Spacenet has signed a contract extension with Bob
Evans Farms Inc to continue provision of VSAT broadband service to Bob Evans'
stores until 2008. Spacenet's Connexstar Enterprise service, initially deployed
in August 2000 at 427 Bob Evans Farms locations, has since grown to encompass
518 locations. The Spacenet network supports a variety of critical applications
for Bob Evans Farms locations, including point-of-sale polling, credit card
authorisation and back office/groupware applications. Pending plans include
adding a variety of new applications, including web-based training and intranet
support.
In addition, Spacenet has completed deployment of Dollar
General's 6,000th store location. Dollar General expects to open approximately
650 new stores in the coming year, and plans to deploy Spacenet VSATs at each
new store as they are opened. Dollar General contracted with Spacenet in March
2001 to provide always-on broadband connectivity to support its POS and
back-office applications. At that time, Dollar General had approximately 4,900
stores and was just beginning the deployment of new POS systems and
applications. Since then, Dollar General has grown to more than 6,000 stores,
and has deployed a suite of new applications. The combination of the Spacenet
VSAT network and the new applications has enabled Dollar General to enjoy
important operating efficiencies, enhance the speed and accuracy of business
operations and launch the sale of new products in the store and services in the
stores, such as phone cards. In addition, Dollar General is actively
considering leveraging the Spacenet VSAT network to support other new
applications such as interactive online training and browser-based corporate
applications.
Connexstar provides commercial-grade, always-on
broadband connectivity to multi-site enterprises of any size, anywhere in the
continental United States. The service supports a wide range of business
applications, including high-speed credit authorisation, in-store licensed
music, distance learning, content multicasting and secure private networking
services all through a single, compact, remote access device incorporating
advanced networking and routing functionality.
(source: Gilat
Satellite Networks)
DigitalGlobe Opens New Office in Washington DC
(19 May 2003)
DigitalGlobe has opened an office in Washington DC to better serve the
company's US Government customers. The office will be led by Dawn Sienicki, who
has joined DigitalGlobe as director of Washington DC operations.
Dawn Sienicki is the former executive director of the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce's Space Enterprise Council and brings to DigitalGlobe a
more consistent voice in Congress and with the Executive Branch.
Serving as a DigitalGlobe liaison with Capitol Hill and the Executive Branch,
Sienicki will enable DigitalGlobe to more easily establish and cultivate
relationships with government agencies and customers, develop and manage
legislative and political strategies, track and shape policies affecting the
industry and DigitalGlobe, and bolster the company's participation in advisory
groups and industry organisations.
As executive director of the US
Chamber of Commerce's Space Enterprise Council, located in Washington, DC,
Sienicki was responsible for developing the Council's policy positions and
leading its advocacy efforts in areas such as remote sensing, space
transportation and export controls. Sienicki was also responsible for the
strategic planning, financial administration, fundraising, membership
development and public relations of the Council.
(source:
DigitalGlobe)
Integral
Systems Delivers NOAA
Fairbanks Upgrade
(22 May 2003) Integral Systems Inc has successfully
completed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES
Support At Fairbanks (GSAF) Project. This project enables the agency to control
a GOES satellite over the Western Pacific Ocean to support the Japanese
Meteorological Agency (JMA). Integral was responsible for upgrading NOAA's
Command and Data Acquisition Station in Fairbanks, Alaska. This included
installation of a 21-meter antenna and incorporation of a GOES ground control
system into NOAA's existing operational satellite network operated from
Suitland, Maryland.
The GOES-9 Satellite (an
environmental satellite that meets Japanese and US weather forecast and storm
monitoring requirements) is currently on station at 155° E to back up
Japan's Geostationary Meteorological Satellite-5 (GMS-5). GMS-5 was launched in
1995, and is past its useful life. Japan planned to replace the ailing
satellite in 1999, but experienced a launch failure. JMA expects to launch a
replacement satellite in early 2004. Thanks to an agreement between the
Department of Commerce and the JMA, GOES-9 will provide a back up capability in
time for Japan's 2003 typhoon season. The international agreement is an
important step in developing mutual backup meteorological arrangements between
the United States and Japan.
(source: Integral Systems)
Raytheon Wins US$ 500 Million NASA Information Technology
Contract
(19 May
2003) Raytheon Company has been selected to provide information technology (IT)
operations and maintenance to NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS). The
five-year contract is valued at up to US$ 500 million.
EOS gathers, archives, and processes environmental earth observation data and
then makes the data available to government and scientific communities. EOS
serves more than two million users annually through a network of eight
Distributed Active Archive Centers. Raytheon will maintain and operate hardware
and software elements of EOS at Raytheon's Landover, Maryland, facility and
on-site at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
(source: Raytheon
Company)
Digital Technologies to Distribute iSECUREtrac's GPS Offender Tracking
Solution
(20 May
2003) Digital Technologies 2000 has entered into an agreement with iSECUREtrac
Corp to distribute tracNET24 GPS tracking systems. Digital Technologies, based
in Pompano Beach, Florida provides electronic offender monitoring services
across the United States. The agreement with Digital Technologies calls for
iSECUREtrac to provide its tracNET24 GPS tracking and monitoring system for use
by Digital Technologies with their current and expanding customer base. Digital
Technologies has committed to purchase a minimum of 200 GPS tracking units over
the next 6 months.
Founded in 1999, Digital Technologies
2000 offers offender monitoring, products and services to the criminal justice
and corrections industry in the United States, Europe and Latin America.
iSECUREtrac Corp is an information services and technology company
providing advanced solutions for the mobile tracking of individuals.
iSECUREtrac's products are designed to improve security, enhance overall
management information, and provide faster analysis and response for targeted
government and commercial applications.
(source:
iSecuretrac)
Norsat Wins Major Military Contract
(21 May 2003) Norsat International Inc has
won a competitive bid to supply key components for use in military shipboard
satellite terminals.
The contract, worth in excess of
Cdn$ 1 million at the current US exchange rate, is with a military customer
that previously purchased 24 Norsat SecureLink satellite terminals (formerly
called picoTerminal). These terminals were successfully deployed in the field
during 2002. The name of the customer cannot be disclosed due to contractual
agreements.
Under the same contract, the client has the option to
purchase an additional Cdn$ 800,000 of the same components within the next 19
months.
(source: Norsat International)
EMS
Technologies Awarded
STARS Antenna Contract
(22 May 2003) EMS Technologies Inc has announced a US$
1.25 million contract with NASA Dryden Flight Research Center to deliver a
satcom antenna for Flight Demo 2 of NASA's Next Generation Launch Technology
(NGLT) Space-Based Telemetry and Range Safety (STARS) project. As part of the
NGLT, researchers are looking at technology that reduces the overall
operational costs of supporting launches into space.
EMS
Space and Technology/Atlanta will modify one of its advanced phased array
antenna designs to allow operation with NASA's Tracking and Data Relay
Satellites (TDRS). NASA plans to test the antenna on an F-15B Research Testbed
aircraft in mid 2004. The antenna, when installed, will enable NASA to maintain
a telemetry link to vehicles from GEO satellites instead of ground
stations.
The EMS antenna is a derivative of a flush-mounted, phased
array that EMS developed for the RQ-3A "Darkstar" unmanned aerial vehicle, or
UAV. The design has been updated for use with the TDRS satellite, and provides
high power handling capacity to ensure that a high-data-rate link can be
supported.
(source: EMS Technologies)
ND
SatCom Opens China
Office
(21 May
2003) ND SatCom AG of Germany, a leading global supplier of satellite based
broadband VSAT, broadcast and military communication network solutions, has
announced the opening of its Beijing, China office. ND SatCom decided to
increase its presence in China due to the area's potential and growing
satellite communications needs.
Mr Roland Schua, Chief
Representative China will head the new ND SatCom office that includes highly
experienced local sales and engineering support. ND SatComs' presence in Asia
has grown from its beginning in 1997 with an office in Singapore to a current
network of four sales and service offices in Singapore, New Delhi, Jakarta and
Beijing.
Contact details for the Beijing office are:
ND
SatCom AG Beijing Rep. Office
Suite 516, Landmark Tower 2
8 Dongsanhuan
Bei Lu
Beijing 100004
China
Phone: +86 10 659079 77
Fax: +86 10
659079 79
(ND Satcom)
Sirius Raises US$ 175 Million as Convertible Notes Offering
Closes
(23 May
2003) Sirius has closed its offering of 31/2% Convertible Notes due 2008.
The net proceeds of approximately US$ 168,875,000, before
expenses, are expected to eliminate the company's funding gap, estimated to be
approximately US$ 100 million, and fund Sirius to cash-flow breakeven, which is
expected in 2005 with approximately two million subscribers. The company fully
expects to reach 100,000 subscribers this quarter and more than 300,000 by
year-end. Sirius intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes for
general corporate purposes.
As previously disclosed, the notes are
convertible into Sirius' common stock at the option of the holder at a
conversion rate of 724.6377 shares per US$ 1,000 principal amount, or US$ 1.38
per share. The notes may not be redeemed at the option of Sirius prior to
maturity.
(source: Sirius)
WorldSpace Launches Government Sales Unit
(21 May 2003) WorldSpace Corporation has
established a Government Sales Unit dedicated to meeting the growing satellite
demands of the government market. WorldSpace's Government Sales Unit enables
government agencies around the world to extend clear communications into
markets with limited telecommunications infrastructure and provides WorldSpace
with an additional revenue channel for its subscription-based services.
With a multiple satellite system serving Africa, the Middle
East, Asia and parts of Europe, WorldSpace is uniquely positioned to leverage
its satellite assets and wide reaching spectrum licenses to serve government
agencies needing communications coverage in those areas of the world. Through
its subscription-based business model, WorldSpace's Government Sales Unit will
focus on delivering solutions based on the specific communication requirements
and procedures of federal agencies and contractors. The company plans to
announce its first contract with the US government in the coming months.
(source: WorldSpace)
Conexant Delivers High Performance Single-Chip System for Low-Cost
Set-Top Boxes
(19
May 2003) Conexant Systems Inc has introduced a new single-chip, system
solution for low-cost, interactive satellite set-top box (STB)
applications.
The CX24152/5 includes all of the major
subsystems required to implement the core system receiver and decoder
components of an interactive direct broadcast satellite STB. The new
semiconductor solution delivers the high level of integration and low-cost
system bill-of-materials required by digital multi-channel television
operators, enabling manufacturers to deliver cost-effective digital STBs that
support a wide range of interactive consumer video services.
Based on
the ARM920 RISC processor, Conexant's new single-chip solution has been
integrated into a fully engineered interactive television STB development
platform that includes third-party interactive middleware and real-time
operating systems to provide complete STB functionality. The hardware platform
comes equipped with fully integrated OpenTV, Alticast, Nucleus+, pSOS and
VxWorks runtime libraries and driver software components.
This
platform represents a major advance in capability, allowing feature-rich
middleware platforms such as Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) to be adopted by
broadcasters at a low cost. Additional cost savings are achieved through re-use
of core driver libraries, and a mature and robust STB hardware abstraction
layer (HAL) that is suitable for multiple products and broadcast networks.
The CX24152/5 incorporates an innovative set of security technologies that
greatly enhances the ability of broadcasters to protect their service against
piracy. Using an advanced on-chip one-time-programmable (OTP) memory
technology, Conexant offers broadcasters the ability to personalise individual
STBs via the system integrated circuit with unique serial numbers and
encryption features.
This allows the broadcaster to secure
transactions between the STB smart card and the broadcaster service decoder
system. The CX24152/5 also includes embedded cryptographic technology to allow
secure authentication of the STB system software that is loaded into the flash
memory.
The single-chip CX24152/5 integrates an MPEG-2 audio/video
decoder, an ARM920 32-bit RISC processor, a two-dimensional graphics
accelerator, TV encoder, QPSK demodulator, channel 3/4 radio frequency
modulator, a video/graphics display compositing controller and a set of
peripheral input/output ports for STB front and back panel connectors. This
high level of integration allows a complete satellite STB hardware system
design to be realised with the addition of only memory ICs, a CX24109 silicon
tuner and a CX20493 SmartDAA modem line side IC.
The CX24152/5 is
packaged in a compact 27mm ball grid array (BGA) and is priced at US$ 18 in
high volume quantities. The devices are sampling now, with volume production
scheduled for the third quarter of 2003.
(source: Conexant
Systems)
Mobile Satellite Ventures Announces New Fax Messaging Service
(22 May 2003) Mobile
Satellite Ventures (MSV) has announced the general availability of Wi-Sys
Communications' SpaceFAX store-and-forward fax messaging system for MSV's US
dealer network. SpaceFAX enables mobile satellite users to send and receive
faxes in areas not covered by conventional wireless or land-based
communications networks.
SpaceFAX will operate with any
standard Group-3 fax machine and is ideal for professionals in the marine, oil
and gas, mining, forestry, and other industries requiring remote,
satellite-based data communications.
(source: Mobile Satellite
Ventures)
Stratos to Launch Inmarsat Fleet 55 and 33 Services
(19 May 2003) Stratos
has announced that it intends to offer Fleet 55 and 33 voice and data services
world-wide in June, 2003.
The Fleet Family is comprised
of Fleet 77, launched in 2002, and two new marine offerings - Fleet 55 and 33.
The Fleet 77, 55 and 33 systems are all based on the same platform, yet differ
in their antenna sizes and technical capabilities. Fleet 55 will bring with it
the traditional Fleet services of 64k ISDN and packet data, while Fleet 33 will
include a 9.6k data service. The Fleet family is a group of new high bandwidth
IP-enabled global satellite systems, designed to take maritime communications
into the 21st century. The Fleet product range is the next generation of
maritime satcoms, having evolved from the highly successful Inmarsat A, B, and
M systems, but using much more lightweight stabilised antennas.
Stratos has also been selected as a sponsor Land Earth Station Operator (LESO)
in Inmarsat's maritime evaluation program for Fleet F33. This involves Stratos
working as an airtime and technical supplier for the evaluation and testing at
sea of the NERA Fleet F33 terminal.
(source: Stratos Global
Corporation)
ARCOMS Names Steven H Gardner as Chief Technology Officer
(21 May 2003) Advanced
Remote Communication Solutions Inc (ARCOMS), a global provider of remote
communication solutions, has named Steven H Gardner as chief technical
officer.
Gardner co-founded Istari Design, a start-up
company providing advanced communications systems which was acquired by
Conexant Systems in 1999, where Gardner most recently served as director of
engineering.
Gardner brings extensive expertise in state-of-the-art
digital communication systems for both wireless and wired applications,
including management and technical leadership of system design and solutions
development. Holder of over a dozen patents (both solely and with associates),
Gardner has been a mainstay of the San Diego engineering community, with
previous positions at Qualcomm Inc, PCSI, and Linkabit Corp.
(source:
ARCOMS)
David A
King Named Marshall
Space Flight Center Director
(23 May 2003) NASA has named David A King as the new
centre director for the Marshall Space Flight Center. King is currently
Marshall's deputy director and will succeed Arthur G Stephenson when Stephenson
steps down June 15.
King, whose NASA career began in
1983, has held the number two position at Marshall since November 2002. In that
capacity, he assisted the centre director in managing a broad range of
propulsion, space science and materials research and development work
contributing to the nation's space program.
Prior to serving as deputy
director at Marshall, King was director of Shuttle processing at NASA's Kennedy
Space Center, where he managed and co-ordinated all Space Shuttle processing
and launch operations, overseeing the work of approximately 5,400 civil service
and contractor employees.
He co-ordinated all pre-launch preparations,
as well as Shuttle landing operations. As the senior member of the Shuttle
launch team during the 3-day countdown process, King ultimately made the final
determination to launch.
King began his NASA career in 1983 as a main
propulsion system engineer. He later served as flow director for the Space
Shuttle Discovery and then as the acting deputy director of the Installation
Operations Directorate. He was appointed deputy director of Shuttle Processing
in 1996, launch director in 1997, and director of Shuttle Processing in
1999.
(source: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems Announces New Leadership
Team
(22 May 2003)
Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS) has announced the following
organisational changes and related promotions, effective immediately:
Rick Masoni, currently the executive vice president of LMCSS
will also service as vice president, business development, succeeding Chuck
Stees, who has been named chief financial officer for Denver-based Space
Imaging Corp, a Lockheed Martin joint venture.
Masoni joined Lockheed
Martin in early 2002. He previously served as executive vice president and vice
president of engineering. In his new role, he will be responsible for managing
the company's business development team and its major functions, including
strategic planning, capture strategy and identification of new technology
requirements.
Masoni has over three decades of experience in satellite
communications, spanning a broad range of disciplines, including business
development, sales and marketing, program management, competitive strategy,
operational effectiveness, technology and product development. He previously
held senior management positions with Space Systems/Loral and Hughes Space
& Communications (now Boeing Space Systems).
Also announced were
changes to the company's internal structure designed to further improve its
competitive position in the marketplace. Specifically, LMCSS' government and
commercial programs units have been combined into a unified organisation headed
by Mark A Pasquale, vice president, formerly director of commercial programs.
Additionally, the engineering and operations have been combined into one
organisation under Charles G Krisch, vice president of engineering &
operations.
Pasquale has nearly 20 years of spacecraft experience at
Lockheed Martin, the last six in program management for Commercial Space
Systems. Beginning his career on Lockheed Martin's MILSTAR program, Pasquale
has served in a series of increasingly responsible positions in spacecraft
integration and program management.
During his 23 years with LMCSS,
Krisch has gained extensive cross- functional management experience including
engineering, manufacturing, product assurance, operations and program
management. He began his career in 1979 at the Valley Forge Space Systems
Division, progressing through a series of engineering and leadership
assignments with increased responsibility.
(source: Lockheed Martin
Commercial Space Systems)
Space
Imaging Names Charles S
Stees as Chief Financial Officer
(21 May 2003) Space Imaging has appointed Charles
(Chuck) S Stees to the position of chief financial officer. In addition, Space
Imaging has named Mark E Brender as vice president of Corporate Communications.
Both appointments are effective immediately.
Stees will
be primarily responsible for the overall management and direction of Space
Imaging's long-term financial plan including the economic analysis of business
operations and the evaluation of the financial impact on related initiatives
being considered by the company. Stees has over 30 years of extensive
commercial space experience in all facets of finance, business development and
strategic management.
Before joining Space Imaging, Stees worked for
Lockheed Martin Corporation, where he held various executive management
positions. Most recently he was the vice president Marketing, Sales and
Strategic Planning for Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems. Prior to that
he was vice president of Finance and Business Operations. Stees holds a master
of Business Administration from the University of Maine.
Brender has
been promoted to vice president of Corporate Communications. In his new role,
Brender is responsible for Space Imaging's corporate communications programs
including media relations, public relations, internal communications, and
public affairs issues. Brender, based in Space Imaging's Reston, Virginia.
office, joined Space Imaging in 1998 and most recently was the executive
director of Government Affairs and Corporate Communications. Prior to that,
Brender worked for ABC News for 16 years as the national security assignment
editor and Pentagon producer. While at ABC, he also created and chaired the
Radio and Television News Directors Association (RTNDA) remote sensing task
force. Brender holds a master of Public Relations from the Kogard School of
Business at The American University, Washington DC and an undergraduate degree
from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
(source: Space
Imaging)
