16 April 2006
Satcoms
C2SAT Inks Strategic
Deal in China
China Satcom Completes Deployment of 1,000 Gilat SkyEdge VSATs
France
Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications to become First Sales Associate for
Connexion by Boeing Maritime Service
GlobeCast Completes Build
Out of Orkin Satellite Training Network
Globecomm Awarded
Infrastructure Contract from a US Government Agency
Nagravision, PanAmSat and
SkyWay Connect Team Up to Demonstrate MPEG-4 IPTV Solutions for Cable
Operators
Telenor Satellite Services and Addvalue Technologies Sign
Satellite Airtime Agreement
Broadcast
DirecTV Expands
International Programming Platform to Include Korean-Language Package
National
Geographic HD Contracts with PanAmSat
SES Astra Signs Fifth
Transponder with UPC Direct
SES Astra Signs New Contract with French Canal+ for HD
Distribution
Earth Observation
NASA Joins Partners
For Ocean Surface Topography Mission
SeaSpace Receives
Meteorological Ground Station Order
Navigation
iSECUREtrac to
Provide First GPS Offender Monitoring Systems in Canada
Saab Ericsson Space
Group Becomes a Major Galileo Satellite Equipment Supplier
Military Space
First 'Satcom on the
Move' Robotic Vehicle Presented to German Armed Forces
L-3 to Support the US
Air Force Satellite Control Network
LM/NGC TSAT Team
Achieves High-Data-Rate Communications Processor Milestone
XTAR and Arrowhead
Global Solutions Sign Master Service Agreement
Science
Canadian-Built
Cameras Help NASA's Ultraviolet Satellite Return to Operations
Lobster
Telescope Has Eye For X-rays
Mars Orbiting Cameras Debut as NASA Craft Adjusts
Orbit
NASA Chooses New Spacecraft to Search for Water on Moon
NASA Mars
Rovers Head for New Sites After Studying Layers
NASA Picks Contractor to
Chill Space Telescope Instrument
Next Phase Reached in
Definition of Mars Sample Return Mission
QinetiQ Wins Asteroid
Deflection Study Contract
SURE Project Opens Access to ISS
Venus Express Enters
Orbit Around the Hothouse Planeta
Manned Space
Travelzoo Sends 10
Millionth Subscriber into Space
USA Develops Space Ops
Toolset of the Future
Technology
AeroAstro Selected
for DoD Space Test Program Standard Interface Vehicle Contract
Boeing
Orbital Express Program Passes Major Test Milestones
L-3 Communications Laser
Rangefinder Passes Critical Tests
Rocketdyne Completes
Assembly of First Common Extensible Cryogenic Engine Demonstrator
Successful
Optical Communication Experiment with OICETS Satellite
UQ Scramjet Gets US$
1.46 million Boost
XCOR Aerospace Develops New Composite Material
Launches
JCSAT-9
Cosmic
(Formosat 3A-F)
Launch Schedule
Business
Alcatel to Transfer
Satellite Activities to Thales
Andrew Acquires
Precision Antennas
Aon Explorer – Aon Space: The 2 New Faces of Aon
France’s Aerospace Activities
ESA Initiative to
Support SMEs in the Satcom Sector
JP Aerospace: US$ 100
Space Ad
Project to Strengthen Thales in Satellite and Security
Activities
Rockwell Collins Consolidates German Operations
Satmex Signs
Comprehensive Restructuring Agreement With Stakeholders
SES Astra Raises Satlynx
Shareholding to 100%
Trimble Acquires Quantm for Pre-Design Construction
Planning
Products and Services
Hughes' Inmarsat BGAN
Satellite Terminal Receives Type Approval
Hughes Unveils
Innovative High Availability Network Solution
ND SatCom Introduces
smartSNG
New Intelsat Broadcast Video Service Will Accelerate Deployment of
IPTV
NovAtel Ships First Production OEMV Receivers
Satlynx Introduces New
Service and Extends Reach into EMEA
Scopus' DVB-S2 Digital
Broadcast Platforms Commercially Available
Sirius Introduces Marine
Weather Data Service
Events
Satellites in
Broadcasting – A New Short Course
People
Boeing Announces New
Leaders in International Relations, Connexion by Boeing
Satcoms
C2SAT Inks Strategic Deal in
China
(4 April 2006) C2SAT
communications AB has announced the first order of the C2SAT 1.2 m Ku-band
stabilised VSAT antenna.
more . . . .
China Satcom Completes Deployment of
1,000 Gilat SkyEdge VSATs
(11
April 2006) China Satellite Communications Corp. (China Satcom), one of the six
basic telecommunications operators in China, has completed deployment of about
1,000 Gilat SkyEdge VSATs for rural telephony applications in Gansu Province
and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
more . . .
.
France Telecom Mobile Satellite
Communications to Become First Sales Associate for Connexion by Boeing Maritime
Service
(5 April 2006) France
Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications has been selected as the first sales
associate to offer the Connexion by Boeing maritime high-speed connectivity
service to the commercial shipping industry.
more . . .
.
GlobeCast Completes Build Out of
Orkin Satellite Training Network
(12 April 2006) GlobeCast, a leading global content management and
delivery company and subsidiary of France Telecom, has deployed an IP-based
satellite training network at Orkin employee instruction sites across the
United States.
more . . . .
Globecomm Awarded Infrastructure
Contract from a US Government Agency
(5 April 2006) Globecomm Systems Inc., a global provider of
end-to-end satellite-based communications solutions, has been awarded a
satellite infrastructure contract from a U.S. Government agency valued at
approximately US$ 1.1 million.
more . . .
.
Nagravision, PanAmSat and SkyWay
Connect Team Up to Demonstrate MPEG-4 IPTV Solutions for Cable Operators
(6 April 2006) Joining forces at
NCTA's National Show, the Kudelski Group's Nagravision, PanAmSat and SkyWay
Connect demonstrated a satellite-based secure MPEG-4 IPTV solution for cable
operators and emerging network distributors.
more . . .
.
Telenor Satellite Services and
Addvalue Technologies Sign Satellite Airtime Agreement
(5 April 2006) Telenor Satellite
Services, a subsidiary of Telenor of Norway, and Addvalue Technologies Ltd,
have signed a comprehensive BGAN satellite airtime agreement that will enable
the two companies to bundle Addvalue's SABRE 1 BGAN terminal with Telenor
airtime.
more . . . .
Broadcast
DirecTV Expands International
Programming Platform to Include Korean-Language Package
(11 April 2006) DirecTV is
continuing to grow its international programming platform, WorldDirect, with
the addition of three leading Korean-language networks - MBC, a leading 24-hour
Korean network; YTN, the highest-rated 24-hour comprehensive Korean news
channel; and Christian Television Systems (CTS), a Korean gospel broadcasting
channel.
more . . . .
National Geographic HD Contracts
with PanAmSat
(10 April 2006)
PanAmSat has announced that National Geographic HD has chosen to join
PanAmSat's high-definition (HD) neighbourhood.
more . . .
.
SES Astra Signs Fifth Transponder
with UPC Direct
(12 April 2006)
SES Astra, an SES Global company, has signed a further capacity agreement with
UPC Direct, the key Direct-to-Home bouquet provider for the Central and Eastern
European region.
more . . . .
SES Astra Signs New Contract with
French Canal+ for HD Distribution
(6 April 2006) SES Astra, an SES Global company (Euronext Paris
and Luxembourg stock exchange: SESG), has announced today a new contract with
French Pay-TV group Canal+. The agreement allows Canal+ to use a transponder on
the prime orbital position 19.2° East for the transmission of content in
High Definition (HD). Canal+ in HD has been launched on 30 March on Astra while
National Geographic HD will be launched in June 2006 on Canalsat.
more .
. . .
Earth Observation
NASA Joins Partners For Ocean
Surface Topography Mission
(11
April 2006) NASA has signed an agreement with other U.S. and international
agencies to launch the Ocean Surface Topography Mission in 2008.
more .
. . .
SeaSpace Receives Meteorological
Ground Station Order
(13 April
2006) Allied Defense Group subsidiary SeaSpace has been awarded a contract for
approximately US$ 550,000 for the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) branch
of Environment Canada.
more . . .
.
Navigation
iSECUREtrac to Provide First GPS
Offender Monitoring Systems in Canada
(11 April 2006) iSECUREtrac Corp., an industry leader in offender
monitoring solutions utilising global positioning systems (GPS) and wireless
technologies, has signed a 3-year contract with Mammoth Communications to
provide Global Positioning Satellite Electronic Offender Monitoring Services to
Canada.
more . . . .
Saab Ericsson Space Group Becomes a
Major Galileo Satellite Equipment Supplier
(7 April 2006) Saab Ericsson Space in Gothenburg, Sweden, and
Austrian Aerospace in Vienna, Austria have been selected to develop and
manufacture a number of key onboard equipment for the first four satellites for
Europe's new satellite navigation system "Galileo".
more . . .
.
Military Space
First 'Satcom on the Move' Robotic
Vehicle Presented to German Armed Forces
(13 April 2006) ND SatCom, a leading global provider of
satellite-based communication network solutions for commercial and defence
applications, has together with its partner Base Ten finalised the world's
first unmanned 'Satcom on the Move' controlled robotic vehicle system,
RoboScout, to the German Armed Forces.
more . . .
.
L-3 to Support the US Air Force
Satellite Control Network
(13
April 2006) L-3 Communications’ Telemetry-West (L-3 Telemetry-West)
division has been selected to provide High Power Amplifiers (HPAs) to Honeywell
Technology Solutions Inc. (HTSI) in support of the U.S. Air Force Satellite
Control Network Contract (SCNC).
more . . .
.
LM/NGC TSAT Team Achieves
High-Data-Rate Communications Processor Milestone
(4 April 2006) A team led by Lockheed Martin and Northrop
Grumman Corporation became the first to successfully demonstrate the
interoperability of a new high-data-rate protected waveform in the initial test
of the Next Generation Processor/Router (NGPR), the brain of future Internet
protocol-based military satellite communications for the Transformational
Satellite Communications System (TSAT).
more . . .
.
XTAR and Arrowhead Global Solutions
Sign Master Service Agreement
(10 April 2006) XTAR, LLC and Arrowhead Global Solutions, Inc.
have signed a master service agreement (MSA) that will allow Arrowhead to
market and lease X-band capacity on XTAR's XTAR-EUR or XTAR-LANT satellites to
a wide range of U.S. and allied government agencies.
more . . .
.
Science
Canadian-Built Cameras Help NASA's
Ultraviolet Satellite Return to Operations
(4 April 2006) Launched in June 1999 and originally designed for a
three-year mission, NASA's Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer astronomy
satellite is back in full operation.
more . . .
.
Lobster Telescope Has Eye For
X-rays
(5 April 2006) UK
astronomers have been at the forefront of designing a revolutionary new X-ray
telescope that is based on the eyes of a lobster.
more . . .
.
Mars Orbiting Cameras Debut as NASA
Craft Adjusts Orbit
(13 April
2006) Researchers have released the first Mars images from two of the three
science cameras on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
more . . .
.
NASA Chooses New Spacecraft to
Search for Water on Moon
(10
April 2006) NASA will send a second spacecraft to the moon with the launch of
the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, scheduled for October 2008.
more .
. . .
NASA Mars Rovers Head for New Sites
After Studying Layers
(12 April
2006) NASA's Mars rover Spirit has reached a safe site for the Martian winter,
while its twin, Opportunity, is making fast progress toward a destination of
its own.
more . . . .
NASA Picks Contractor to Chill Space
Telescope Instrument
(12 April
2006) NASA has awarded a subcontract to Northrop Grumman Space Technology in
Redondo Beach, Calif., to develop an ultra-cold mechanical helium cryocooler
for the Mid-Infrared Instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope.
more .
. . .
Next Phase Reached in Definition of
Mars Sample Return Mission
7
April 2006) ESA has taken a further step in preparing for participation in Mars
Sample Return (MSR), the landmark mission to return samples from the Red
Planet, with the announcement of the next phase of industrial activity.
more . . . .
QinetiQ Wins Asteroid Deflection
Study Contract
(6 April 2006) A
QinetiQ-led consortium has won a Euro 450,000 contract to design a satellite
mission that could one day be used to deflect an asteroid threatening the
Earth.
more . . . .
SURE Project Opens Access to ISS
(5 April 2006) The European
Commission-funded SURE project is presenting extraordinary new research
opportunities in space, primarily for Eastern European countries, where a
strong community of researchers and industry has so far not had access to the
International Space Station.
more . . .
.
Venus Express Enters Orbit around
the Hothouse Planet
(11 April
2006) At the end of a 153-day and 400-million km cruise into the inner solar
system beginning with its launch on 9 November 2005, ESA's Venus Express space
probe fired its main engine at 09:17 CEST on the 11th April for a 50-minute
burn, which brought it into orbit around Venus.
more . . .
.
Manned Space
Travelzoo Sends 10 Millionth
Subscriber into Space
(10 April
2006) Travelzoo Inc., a global Internet media company, in celebration of
reaching the milestone of 10 million subscribers to its publications is sending
its 10 millionth subscriber into space.
more . . .
.
USA Develops Space Ops Toolset of
the Future
(4 April 2006)
United Space Alliance, NASA's prime shuttle contractor, is putting its
experience in space operations to work on designing software and integration
systems that will help to enable the transition from low earth orbit to the
Moon, Mars and beyond.
more . . .
.
Technology
AeroAstro Selected for DoD Space
Test Program Standard Interface Vehicle Contract
(5 April 2006) AeroAstro, Inc., a leading provider of small
satellites and related technology products, will design and build the
spacecraft bus and provide integration, launch and mission operations support
under a six-year contract with Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
more .
. . .
Boeing Orbital Express Program
Passes Major Test Milestones
(4
April 2006) The Boeing Orbital Express system, a Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency (DARPA) program aimed at demonstrating fully autonomous
on-orbit satellite servicing, last month completed two major test
milestones.
more . . . .
L-3 Communications Laser Rangefinder
Passes Critical Tests
(13 April
2006) L-3 Communications has announced that a laser rangefinder, designed and
developed by its Advanced Laser Systems Technology (ALST) subsidiary, has
passed a series of critical tests that are required prior to integrating the
rangefinder with the Orbital Express Satellite System.
more . . .
.
Rocketdyne Completes Assembly of
First Common Extensible Cryogenic Engine Demonstrator
(5 April 2006) Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, a United
Technologies Corp. company, has completed assembly of the first Common
Extensible Cryogenic Engine (CECE) demonstrator supporting NASA's Vision for
Space Exploration.
more . . . .
Successful Optical Communication
Experiment with OICETS Satellite
(7 April 2006) The National Institute of Information and
Communication Technology (NICT) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
(JAXA) carried out optical communication experiments between March 22 and 31,
2006 using laser beams between the Optical Inter-orbit Communications
Engineering Test Satellite "Kirari (OICETS)" orbiting at an altitude of about
600 km and the optical ground station of NICT in Koganei, Tokyo.
more .
. . .
UQ Scramjet Gets US$ 1.46 million
Boost
(7 April 2006) The
University of Queensland's scramjet program got a huge boost today with the
Queensland Government announcing that it was contributing US$ 1.46 million
towards its research.
more . . . .
XCOR Aerospace Develops New
Composite Material
(6 April
2006) XCOR Aerospace has announced the successful testing of its new
thermoplastic fluoropolymer composite material.
more . . .
.
Launches
JCSAT-9
more . . . .
Cosmic (Formosat 3A-F)
more . . .
.
Business
Alcatel to Transfer Satellite
Activities to Thales
(5 April
2006) The Board of Thales has approved the acquisition in principle of
Alcatel’s satellite subsidiaries, its railway signalling business and its
integration and services activities for mission-critical systems.
more .
. . .
Andrew Acquires Precision
Antennas
(13 April 2006) Andrew
Corporation, a global leader in communications systems and products, has
acquired Precision Antennas Ltd., a Stratford, England-based provider of
antennas for terrestrial and satellite communications systems.
more .
. . .
Aon Explorer – Aon Space: The 2
New Faces of Aon France’s Aerospace Activities
(10 April 2006) As part of the development of its
advisory activities, Aon France has decided to position Aon Explorer as a
specialised advisory practice and to integrate Aon Space Paris, the space risk
management and insurance brokerage activity into the Aon Space world-wide
practice group.
more . . . .
ESA Initiative to Support SMEs in
the Satcom Sector
(10 April
2006) In order to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) enter the Satcom
(satellite communications) sector, the European Space Agency's
Telecommunications Department launched a new round of the Start-Up Projects
Initiative on 10th April 2006.
more . . .
.
JP Aerospace: US$ 100 Space Ad
(4 April 2006) Marketing is about
to be taken to new heights - all the way to the edge of space.
more .
. . .
Project to Strengthen Thales in
Satellite and Security Activities
(5 April 2006) Thales' Board of directors convened on 4th April
and evaluated the different items set out in the agenda.
more . . .
.
Rockwell Collins Consolidates German
Operations
(3 April 2006)
Rockwell Collins, Inc., a global leader in aviation electronics and
communications, has successfully consolidated its Rockwell Collins Deutschland
operations, located in Heusenstamm, Germany, with Teldix, a Rockwell Collins
company, located in Heidelberg.
more . . .
.
Satmex Signs Comprehensive
Restructuring Agreement With Stakeholders
(13 April 2006) Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (Satmex),
Mexico's leading satellite service provider, has entered into a comprehensive
agreement to restructure its existing indebtedness and re-align its capital
structure.
more . . . .
SES Astra Raises Satlynx
Shareholding to 100%
(11 April
2006) SES Astra, an SES Global company, has acquired all minority shareholdings
in Satlynx, bringing its total shareholding from 77% to 100%.
more .
. . .
Trimble Acquires Quantm for
Pre-Design Construction Planning
(6 April 2006) Trimble has acquired privately-held Quantm
International, Inc. and its subsidiary Quantm Ltd. of Australia in an all-cash
transaction.
more . . . .
Products and Services
Hughes' Inmarsat BGAN Satellite
Terminal Receives Type Approval
(10 April 2006) Hughes Network Systems, LLC, the global leader in
broadband satellite network solutions and services, has announced that the
Hughes 9201 has received type approval by Inmarsat to operate over their
Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN).
more . . .
.
Hughes Unveils Innovative High
Availability Network Solution
(10 April 2006) Hughes Network Systems, LLC, the global leader in
broadband satellite network solutions and services, has announced its HughesNet
High Availability Networks, the first new offering under the company's recently
announced HughesNet Managed Network Services.
more . . .
.
ND SatCom Introduces smartSNG
(12 April 2006) ND SatCom, a
leading global supplier of satellite-based broadband VSAT, broadcast and
defence communication network solutions, will introduce its new broadcast
workflow automation system smartSNG at the NAB trade show in Las Vegas, NV.
more . . . .
New Intelsat Broadcast Video Service
Will Accelerate Deployment of IPTV
(12 April 2006) Intelsat has introduced Ampiage, a new
satellite-based, open-architecture, content delivery and management service
ideally suited for North American multiple system operators (MSOs) seeking to
cost-effectively upgrade to MPEG-4 and telecommunications operators (telcos)
looking to enter the IPTV market.
more . . .
.
NovAtel Ships First Production OEMV
Receivers
(5 April 2006)
NovAtel Inc., a precise positioning technology company, has begun shipping the
first production runs of OEMV receivers - its next generation Global
Positioning System (GPS) product.
more . . .
.
Satlynx Introduces New Service and
Extends Reach into EMEA
(6
April 2006) Satlynx S.A, a provider of managed satellite communications
services, has announced the extension of its geographical coverage within
Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
more . . .
.
Scopus' DVB-S2 Digital Broadcast
Platforms Commercially Available
(11 April 2006) Scopus Video Networks, a provider of digital video
networking products, has announced the commercial availability of its complete
DVB-S2 solution for the contribution and distribution of digital video
broadcast content.
more . . . .
Sirius Introduces Marine Weather
Data Service
(5 April 2006)
Sirius Satellite Radio has announced the availability of a marine weather data
service featuring on-demand access to detailed weather information for the
boating community.
more . . . .
Events
Satellites in Broadcasting – A
New Short Course
(11 April
2006) Ravensbourne College is extending its portfolio of short courses for
professional broadcasters with a new two-day course aimed at broadcast
engineers at all levels who have not previously worked with satellites.
more . . . .
People
Boeing Announces New Leaders in
International Relations, Connexion by Boeing
(12 April 2006) Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney
has announced that Connexion by Boeing President Laurette T. Koellner, 51, will
become president, Boeing International Relations, replacing Thomas R.
Pickering, 74, who is retiring.
more . . .
.
