11 March 2007
Satcoms
Com Dev Awarded
Authorisation to Proceed on Commercial Contract
European Space Agency Awards Contract To Develop
BGAN Multicast RAN
Globecomm Systems
Awarded Spares Contract from a Global Multilateral Organisation
Globecomm Systems Receives Indefinite
Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract Award from US Government
Customer
IP-based Radio Contribution and
Distribution Network Implemented in Indonesia
L2 Consulting Services Receives STC for Iridium
Satellite Communication System on Boeing 757 Aircraft
NSS-10 and NSS-11 Join SES New Skies Fleet
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
Selects Spacenet's Services to Enable Mobile Telemedicine Program
Orocom Selects Hughes Satellite Solution to Deliver
Broadband Services across Pakistan and the Region
Saab Space to Supply Antennas for New Generation
Direct-to-Mobile Satellites
Telenor and
Inmarsat Focus on Vietnam for Mobile Satellite Services Push
Telenor Satellite Services Expands Use of Intelsat
Global Satellite Capacity
Broadcast
Gigasat Awarded Three Bahraini TV
Contracts
MLB, DirecTV Extend, Expand
Multi-Year Agreement
SES Astra Further
Increases Its Reach and Remains a Major Driving Force for
Digitalisation
ViewAfrica and ViewAsia
Networks Select Intelsat for Program Distribution
Earth Observation
NASA and USGS Produce Most Detailed
Satellite Views of Antarctica
USGS
Collaborates on Unique, Comprehensive View of
Antarctica
Navigation
GIOVE-A2 to Secure Galileo Programme
Raytheon to Pursue US Air Force Upgrade for the Next
Generation GPS Control Segment
Military Space
Harris Corporation Awarded Follow-on Production
Contract for Military Tactical Communications System
Harris Corporation Begins Delivery of Large Aperture
Multiband Deployable Antenna Satellite Communications
Terminals
Astrophysics
Gamma-Ray Burst Challenges
Theory
Astronomy
The Antenna Bride and Bridegroom - ALMA Achieves
Major Milestone With Antenna-Link Success
Stars
NASA Mission Finds Link Between Big and Small
Stellar Blasts
XMM-Newton Finds the Leader
of Magnificent Seven in a Spin
Galaxies
AEGIS Survey Reveals New Principle Governing Galaxy
Formation and Evolution
Full-Spectrum
Study of Small Patch of Sky Yields Portrait of Maturing Universe
Hubble
Pans Across Heavens to Harvest 50,000 Evolving Galaxies
The Giant that Turned Out to be a
Dwarf
Moon
SMART-1's Bridge to Future
Exploration of Moon
Earth
APL Microscopic Instrument Aboard Air Force Academy
Satellite
Asteroids
Solar Power at Play - Observing the Spin-Up of an
Asteroid
Manned
Space
How Long Does It Take to Rebuild Bone Lost During
Space Flight?
International Space Station
Status Report: SS07-12
NASA Completes Key
Review of Orion Spacecraft
Russian Space
Experiment BTN-Neitron Begins Operation Aboard International Space
Station
Statement Regarding the Status of
Lisa Nowak
Technology
AeroAstro-built STPSat-1 Satellite Successfully
Launched by the US Air Force
Ball
Aerospace's NextSat Launched for Orbital Express Mission
Boeing Orbital Express to Demonstrate New On-Orbit
Servicing Capability
Prototype Space Probe
Prepares to Explore Earth's Deepest Sinkhole
Launch Services
Another Ariane 5 Arrives at Europe's
Spaceport
Launch Services
STP-1
Atlas
V / STP-1 Launch Set for March 8
United
Launch Alliance Successfully Launches First USAF Atlas
V
Launch Services - INSAT 4B,
Skynet 5A
INSAT 4B is Installed On Its Ariane 5
Launcher
Ariane 5 Is Ready For Launch With
Its Skynet 5A And INSAT 4B Dual-Satellite Payload
Go-Ahead Is Given For This Weekend's Ariane 5
Mission, While Preparations Begin For Arianespace's Subsequent Heavy-Lift
Launch
Ariane 5 Rolls Out to Launch Pad
for Dual-Payload Mission
Launches
STP-1: Orbital Express (ASTRO, NextSat/CSC), CFEsat,
FalconSat 3, MEPSI-4A, MEPSI-4B, MIDStar 1, STPSat-1
Launch
Schedule
Business
Arris Will Not Extend or Increase Offer for Tandberg
Television
Spacehab Subsidiary Awarded US$
3 Million Contract
STM Expands Presence in
Russian Market
Products and
Services
Easier Pricing Introduced For BGAN
Communications
Harris Corporation Receives
Intelsat Approval for Its Multiband Deployable Antenna Terminals
Spirent
Communications Announces Combined GPS/Galileo Simulation System
u-blox to Showcase Ultra Fast Galileo-Ready A-GPS
Chip at CeBIT
Vectron International
Introduces Small, Surface Mount VCXO for High Reliability Space
Applications
Events
MSUA Brings Back MSUA-4 International Conference and
Exhibition
People
NASA Langley's Levine Named Mars Scout Program
Scientist
Orbcomm Announces Promotion of
Marc Eisenberg to Chief Operating Officer
Spacenet Names Alan Kittson To Lead Expanded
Government Services Efforts
Satcoms
Com Dev Awarded
Authorisation to Proceed on Commercial Contract
(7 March 2007) Com
Dev International Ltd. today announced that it has received an Authorisation to
Proceed (ATP) valued at US$ 1.5 million (approximately Cdn$ 1.8 million) to
commence work on a commercial satellite program.
European Space Agency Awards Contract To Develop
BGAN Multicast RAN
(8 March 2007) The European Space Agency (ESA)
has awarded a contract to develop commercial IP multicast services over
satellite to a consortium led by Inmarsat Global Limited that includes inter
alia EMS Satcom, LogicaCMG, GateHouse A/S and Livewire Digital Ltd.
Globecomm Systems Awarded Spares Contract from a
Global Multilateral Organisation
(6 March 2007) Globecomm Systems
Inc., a global provider of end-to-end satellite-based communications solutions,
today announced that it has been awarded a spares contract valued at up to US$
4.5 million from a global multilateral organisation.
Globecomm Systems Receives Indefinite
Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract Award from US Government
Customer
(9 March 2007) Globecomm Systems Inc., a global provider of
end-to-end value-added satellite-based communications solutions, announced
today that the company has received an award under an Indefinite
Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle from a U.S. Government
customer valued at US$ 9.7 million.
IP-based Radio Contribution and Distribution Network
Implemented in Indonesia
(7 March 2007) ND SatCom, an SES Astra
company and a leading global supplier of satellite-based broadband VSAT,
broadcast, government and defence communication network solutions, implemented
with its partner Studio Hamburg Media Consult International (MCI) GmbH an
IP-based radio contribution and distribution network for Radio Republik
Indonesia (RRI).
L2 Consulting Services
Receives STC for Iridium Satellite Communication System on Boeing 757
Aircraft
(6 March 2007) L2 Consulting Services, Inc. (L2) announced
that the Federal Aviation Administration has granted the company with a
Supplemental Type Certificate (ST10610SC) for the installation of the
International Communication Group's (ICG) ICS-120 Iridium Communication
System.
NSS-10 and NSS-11 Join SES New Skies
Fleet
(5 March 2007) SES New Skies, an SES company, is pleased to
announce that the SES satellites AMC-12/Astra 4A and AAP-1 have been
transferred to SES New Skies which will now be responsible for all customer and
capacity management activities associated with these satellites.
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
Selects Spacenet's Services to Enable Mobile Telemedicine Program
(6
March 2007) Spacenet Inc. today announced that it was selected by Oklahoma
State University Center for Health Sciences Telemedicine Center to provide
satellite network services for its new mobile telemedicine clinic.
Orocom Selects Hughes Satellite Solution to Deliver
Broadband Services across Pakistan and the Region
(5 March 2007)
Hughes Network Systems, LLC, the world's leading provider of broadband
satellite networks and services, today announced that its broadband satellite
solution has been selected by Islamabad-based Orocom (Pvt) Limited, a
well-established technology solutions provider.
Saab Space to Supply Antennas for New Generation
Direct-to-Mobile Satellites
(9 March 2007) Saab Space in Gothenburg,
Sweden, has received an order for hundreds of antenna elements to Boeing Space
and Intelligence System's new, hi-profile Mobile Satellite Venture (MSV) system
satellites.
Telenor and Inmarsat Focus on
Vietnam for Mobile Satellite Services Push
(8 March 2007) Telenor
Satellite Services, a subsidiary of Telenor of Norway and leading provider of
global mobile satellite communications, Inmarsat, are in Hanoi to demonstrate
how businesses and government can harness the power of satellite
communications.
Telenor Satellite Services
Expands Use of Intelsat Global Satellite Capacity
(6 March 2007)
Intelsat today announced that Telenor Satellite Services expanded a multi-year
contract with Intelsat to include transmission services on three different
spacecraft in C- and Ku-band.
Broadcast
Gigasat Awarded Three Bahraini TV
Contracts
(8 March 2007) Gigasat, the provider of innovative world
class specialist satellite systems to the media and broadcast industries,
announced it has been awarded three tenders for the manufacture, supply and
integration of satellite and microwave systems by Radio & Television
Corporation in the Kingdom of Bahrain (BRTC).
MLB, DirecTV Extend, Expand Multi-Year
Agreement
(8 March 2007) Major League Baseball and DirecTV, the
nation's leading satellite provider, today announced a seven-year agreement
that continues carriage rights to the MLB Extra Innings subscription package of
out-of-market games and includes the launch of the MLB Channel as part of
DirecTV's basic package.
SES Astra Further
Increases Its Reach and Remains a Major Driving Force for
Digitalisation
(7 March 2007) SES Astra, an SES company, has further
increased its audience reach in Europe and remains a major driving force for
digitalisation.
ViewAfrica and ViewAsia
Networks Select Intelsat for Program Distribution
(5 March 2007)
Intelsat today announced that U.K.-based ViewAfrica and ViewAsia Networks have
launched two regional platforms on the Intelsat system, expanding their program
offering in Africa and Asia.
Earth
Observation
NASA and USGS Produce Most Detailed Satellite Views
of Antarctica
(7 March 2007) Researchers from NASA and the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS), Golden, Colo., have woven together more than a
thousand images from the Landsat 7 satellite to create the most detailed,
high-resolution map ever produced of Antarctica.
USGS Collaborates on Unique, Comprehensive View of
Antarctica
(7 March 2007) The U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) in
collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and
the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is developing a unique and versatile map of
Antarctica using satellite imagery.
Navigation
GIOVE-A2 to Secure Galileo
Programme
(5 March 2007) Today, ESA awarded a contract to Surrey
Satellite Technology Limited (UK) for initial activities leading to the
construction of a second spacecraft for the Galileo satellite navigation
system.
Raytheon to Pursue US Air Force
Upgrade for the Next Generation GPS Control Segment
(7 March 2007)
Raytheon Company will lead an industry team in pursuit of the next generation
Global Positioning System Control Segment (OCX), a program to provide command,
control, and mission support for current GPS Block II and III satellites as
well as support to existing and new interfaces.
Military Space
Harris Corporation Awarded Follow-on Production
Contract for Military Tactical Communications System
(5 March 2007)
Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology
company, has received a four-year, US$ 33.5 million follow-on contract from
ViaSat, Inc. for additional hardware for integration into the Multifunctional
Information Distribution System terminals that provide U.S. military forces
with secure, jam-resistant digital tactical communications.
Harris Corporation Begins Delivery of Large Aperture
Multiband Deployable Antenna Satellite Communications Terminals
(7
March 2007) Harris Corporation, an international communications and information
technology company, has delivered the first 12 of 39 Large Aperture Multiband
Deployable Antenna (LAMDA) terminals to be used by the U.S. Marine Corps and
U.S. Air Force for multiband, mobile satellite
communications.
Astrophysics
Gamma-Ray Burst Challenges Theory
(8
March 2007) In a series of landmark observations gathered over a period of four
months, NASA's Swift satellite has challenged some of astronomers' fundamental
ideas about gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), which are among the most extreme events in
our universe.
Astronomy
The Antenna Bride and Bridegroom - ALMA Achieves
Major Milestone With Antenna-Link Success
(7 March 2007) The Atacama
Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an international telescope
project, reached a major milestone on 2 March, when two 12-m ALMA prototype
antennas were first linked together as an integrated system to observe an
astronomical object.
Stars
NASA Mission Finds Link Between Big and Small
Stellar Blasts
(7 March 2007) Proof that certain double star systems
can erupt in full-blown explosions and then continue to flare up with smaller
bursts has been spotted by the ultraviolet eyes of NASA's Galaxy Evolution
Explorer.
XMM-Newton Finds the Leader of
Magnificent Seven in a Spin
(9 March 2007) A decade-long mystery has
been solved using data from ESA's X-ray observatory XMM-Newton. The brightest
member of the so-called 'magnificent seven' has been found to pulsate with a
period of seven seconds.
Galaxies
AEGIS Survey Reveals New Principle Governing Galaxy
Formation and Evolution
(8 March 2007) Faced with the bewildering
array of galaxies in the universe, from orderly spirals to chaotic mergers, it
is hard to imagine a unifying principle that describes them all with
mathematical precision.
Full-Spectrum Study
of Small Patch of Sky Yields Portrait of Maturing Universe
(7 March
2007) A massive project to generate an all-colour map of the galaxies in a
small area of sky, utilising four satellite telescopes and four ground-based
telescopes, is yielding new information about the universe's "pre-teen" years
and the early evolution of galaxies and galaxy clusters.
Hubble Pans Across Heavens to Harvest 50,000
Evolving Galaxies
(6 March 2007) Several hundred images taken with
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have been woven together into a rich tapestry of
at least 50,000 galaxies.
The Giant that
Turned Out to be a Dwarf
(7 March 2007) New data obtained on the
apparent celestial couple, NGC 5011 B and C, taken with the 3.6-m ESO
telescope, reveal that the two galaxies are not at the same distance, as was
believed for the past 23 years.
Moon
SMART-1's Bridge to Future Exploration of
Moon
(9 March 2007) ESA's SMART-1 moon mission has become a bridge
to the future of lunar science and exploration.
Earth
APL Microscopic Instrument Aboard Air Force Academy
Satellite
(9 March 2007) Researchers from the Johns Hopkins
University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), in Laurel, Md., in conjunction
with scientists from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the U.S. Air Force
Academy, have developed a tiny analyser to study depletions of plasma (known as
plasma bubbles) in the ionosphere, a phenomenon that can disrupt satellite
communications.
Asteroids
Solar Power at Play - Observing the Spin-Up of an
Asteroid
(7 March 2007) For the very first time, astronomers have
witnessed the speeding up of an asteroid's rotation, and have shown that it is
due to a theoretical effect predicted but never seen
before.
Manned
Space
How Long Does It Take to Rebuild Bone Lost During
Space Flight?
(3 March 2007) Are bigger bones stronger bones? Not
necessarily, according to a recent NASA study that seeks to ensure healthy
bones in astronauts.
International Space
Station Status Report: SS07-12
(9 March 2007) The Expedition 14 crew
members this week prepared for upcoming additions to the station and performed
experiments related to human adaptation to space.
NASA Completes Key Review of Orion
Spacecraft
(7 March 2007) NASA has established a requirements
baseline for the Orion crew exploration vehicle, bringing America's next human
spacecraft a step closer to construction.
Russian Space Experiment BTN-Neitron Begins Operation
Aboard International Space Station
(3 March 2007) On February 26th
scientific equipment BTN-M1 started to operate onboard the International Space
Station Russian Segment (ISS RS) as part of Russian space experiment
BTN-Neitron.
Statement Regarding the Status
of Lisa Nowak
(7 March 2007) U.S. Navy Capt. Lisa Nowak's detail as
a NASA astronaut has been terminated, effective March 8, by mutual agreement
between NASA and the U.S. Navy.
Technology
AeroAstro-built STPSat-1
Satellite Successfully Launched by the US Air Force
(9 March 2007)
The STPSat-1 satellite launched last night onboard an Atlas V launch vehicle at
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Ball
Aerospace's NextSat Launched for Orbital Express Mission
(8 March
2007) The first-of-its kind, autonomous servicing demonstration satellite
launched on Thursday, March 8, 2007, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V
rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Boeing Orbital Express to Demonstrate New On-Orbit
Servicing Capability
(9 March 2007) A Boeing-led industry team today
announced the successful launch of Orbital Express, a demonstration spacecraft
that is part of a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program
aimed at demonstrating fully autonomous on-orbit spacecraft servicing
capabilities.
Prototype Space Probe
Prepares to Explore Earth's Deepest Sinkhole
(8 March 2007)
Scientists return this week to the world's deepest known sinkhole, Cenote
Zacatón in Mexico, to resume tests of a NASA-funded robot called DEPTHX,
designed to survey and explore for life in one of Earth's most extreme regions
and potentially in outer space.
Launch Services
Another Ariane 5 Arrives at Europe's
Spaceport
(7 March 2007) Arianespace is keeping up its mission pace
for 2007 with the delivery of another heavy-lift Ariane 5, which arrived in
French Guiana yesterday aboard the MN Colibri transport
ship.
Launch Services
STP-1
Atlas V / STP-1 Launch Set for March 8
(5
March 2007) A cadre of satellites fastened securely atop a United Launch
Alliance Atlas V rocket is scheduled for launch Wednesday, March 8.
United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches First
USAF Atlas V
(8 March 2007) A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket
successfully launched six satellites at 10:10 p.m., EST, for the U.S. Air
Force, marking the first use of the Atlas for an Evolved Expendable Launch
Vehicle (EELV) program mission.
Launch Services - INSAT 4B, Skynet 5A
INSAT 4B is Installed On
Its Ariane 5 Launcher
(5 March 2007) Preparations for Arianespace's
upcoming heavy-lift Ariane 5 mission are moving into their final phase as its
dual-satellite payload is integrated on the launch vehicle at Europe's
Spaceport in French Guiana.
Ariane 5 Is
Ready For Launch With Its Skynet 5A And INSAT 4B Dual-Satellite
Payload
(6 March 2007) Arianespace has completed integration of its
dual satellite payload for the upcoming Ariane 5 heavy-lift mission, clearing
the way for the launch vehicle's roll-out later this week at Europe's Spaceport
in French Guiana.
Go-Ahead Is Given For
This Weekend's Ariane 5 Mission, While Preparations Begin For Arianespace's
Subsequent Heavy-Lift Launch
(8 March 2007) Mission activity at
Europe's Spaceport is in full swing as preparations advance for Arianespace's
two upcoming Ariane 5 missions, which will place a total of four commercial
payloads into orbit.
Ariane 5 Rolls Out to
Launch Pad for Dual-Payload Mission
(9 March 2007) The Ariane 5 for
Arianespace's first heavy-lift mission of 2007 is now on the launch pad at
Europe's Spaceport, clearing the way for tomorrow evening's lift-off with a
dual-satellite payload that will serve India and the United
Kingdom.
Launches
STP-1: Orbital Express (ASTRO, NextSat/CSC), CFEsat,
FalconSat 3, MEPSI-4A, MEPSI-4B, MIDStar 1, STPSat-1
Launch
Schedule
Business
Arris Will Not Extend or Increase Offer for Tandberg
Television
(8 March 2007) Arris Group, Inc. today announced that it
will not extend or increase its offer for the shares of Tandberg
Television.
Spacehab Subsidiary Awarded US$
3 Million Contract
(7 March 2007) Spacehab, Incorporated, a leading
provider of commercial space services, announced today that its Astrotech Space
Operations subsidiary has been awarded a one-year contract extension for
payload processing services by United Launch Alliance (ULA).
STM Expands Presence in Russian Market
(7
March 2007) STM Group, Inc. announced today the opening of its Russian
Federation branch office in Moscow.
Products and Services
Easier Pricing Introduced For
BGAN Communications
(8 March 2007) International satellite
communications provider NSSL today announced the launch of PrePaid Broadband
Global Area Network (BGAN).
Harris
Corporation Receives Intelsat Approval for Its Multiband Deployable Antenna
Terminals
(7 March 2007) Harris Corporation, an international
communications and information technology company, has received Type Approval
for its Large Aperture Multiband Deployable Antenna (LAMDA) terminals from
Intelsat, the world's largest provider of fixed satellite services.
Spirent Communications Announces Combined GPS/Galileo
Simulation System
(5 March 2007) Spirent Communications, the market
leader in satellite navigation test equipment, announces the availability of
its GSS7900 GPS/Galileo Simulation System.
u-blox to Showcase Ultra Fast Galileo-Ready A-GPS
Chip at CeBIT
(5 March 2007) u-blox AG, the leading Swiss provider
of GPS receiver technology, will showcase u-blox 5, a Galileo-ready A-GPS chip
featuring an acquisition performance of less than one second, at the 2007 CeBIT
trade show in Hanover, Germany.
Vectron
International Introduces Small, Surface Mount VCXO for High Reliability Space
Applications
(6 March 2007) Vectron International, a leader in the
design, manufacture and marketing of Frequency Control, Sensor, and Hybrid
Product solutions, today announced its new highly-reliable, surface mount 5116
Voltage Controlled Crystal Oscillator (VCXO) for mission-critical space
applications.
Events
MSUA Brings Back MSUA-4 International Conference and
Exhibition
(7 March 2007) The Mobile Satellite Users Association
(MSUA) announced today that it is sponsoring the successful Mobile Satellite
Users Association International Conference and Exhibition, following a five
year hiatus.
People
NASA Langley's Levine Named Mars Scout Program
Scientist
(6 March 2007) A Mars exploration program based on a
series of rapid-response, low-cost science-driven missions has a new program
scientist.
Orbcomm Announces Promotion of
Marc Eisenberg to Chief Operating Officer
(5 March 2007) Orbcomm,
announced today that its board of directors has appointed Marc J Eisenberg to
the position of chief operating officer, effective February 27, 2007.
Spacenet Names Alan Kittson To Lead Expanded
Government Services Efforts
(8 March 2007) Spacenet Inc. today
announced that Alan Kittson has joined the company as its Vice President of
Government Services Sales. Kittson will oversee the strategic direction and
sales efforts of Spacenet's expanded government services unit, providing
satellite network solutions for federal, state and local government markets in
the United States.
