Microcom's Space Newsfeed - 11 November 2007

11 November 2007

Previous News

Satcoms
Hughes And Telma Madagascar Implement GSM And CDMA Backhaul Over Broadband Satellite
(7 November 2007) Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes), the world's leading provider of broadband satellite solutions and services, today announced the successful conclusion of extensive integration testing of the Hughes broadband satellite platforms in providing cellular backhaul links for Telma Madagascar.
Hughes Signs Contract To Provide Managed Network Services For UK Lottery Network
(6 November 2007) Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) today announced that UK lottery operator Camelot Group plc has awarded its wholly owned subsidiary, HNS Ltd., a multi-year contract to provide managed network services for over 27,000 lottery sites in the U.K., supporting the cutting-edge lottery terminals Camelot will deploy under its new license.
Networked Cinema Demonstration In Rome
(9 November 2007) Italy and Burkina Faso, West Africa, were joined together on one virtual stage in real-time, via satellite, at the Festa del Cinema held in Rome, Italy.
TerreStar Taps Accenture To Help Build North America's First Fully IP-Based 4G Mobile Wireless Network
(5 November 2007) TerreStar Networks Inc. (TerreStar) has chosen Accenture to help build North America's first all Internet Protocol-based (IP) fourth-generation (4G) wireless communications network, which will provide voice, data and streamed media to users at data rates higher than those of existing wireless communications networks.

Broadcast
RRsat Chosen By Baby First TV (BFTV) To Expand Distribution To Asia Via Telstar 10 Satellite
(8 November 2007) RRsat Global Communications Network Ltd., a rapidly growing provider of comprehensive content management and global distribution services to the television and radio broadcasting industries, announced today that Baby First TV Channel has chosen to expand its contract with RRsat.

Earth Observation
La Nina Persists
(8 November 2007) The tropical Pacific Ocean remains in the grips of a cool La Nina, as shown by new data of sea-level heights from mid-October of 2007, collected by the U.S-French Jason altimetric satellite.
NASA Technology Helps Predict And Prevent Future Pandemic Outbreaks
(6 November 2007) With the help of 14 satellites currently in orbit and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Applied Sciences Program, scientists have been able to observe the Earth's environment to help predict and prevent infectious disease outbreaks around the world.
New Remote-Sensing Instrument For Monitoring Climate
(6 November 2007) Scientists at The University of Arizona will build a prototype instrument to demonstrate their revolutionary idea for a satellite-borne remote sensing system.

Navigation
Modernised GPS Satellite Built By Lockheed Martin Declared Operational For Users World-wide
(5 November 2007) The modernised Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-M) satellite, launched from Cape Canaveral on Oct. 17, has been declared fully operational for military and civilian navigation users around the globe, following a successful on-orbit checkout by a combined U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin team.

Tracking
Blue Sky Network Adds Communication And Tracking To VIH Helicopter's Worldwide Operations
(6 November 2007) Blue Sky Network, the global logistics solution provider for two-way linking and managing transportation assets via satellite, today announced that VIH Helicopters Ltd. has chosen Blue Sky Network tracking equipment for its global fleet.
Fleet Management Solutions Launches GPS And Two-Way Satellite Asset Tracking Services Into 50th Country
(6 November 2007) Fleet Management Solutions, Inc. (FMS), announced that it has deployed systems into Australia, making that the 50th country where the company's GPS and all-satellite asset tracking services are in operation today.

Military Space
Boeing Demonstrates 'One-Button' Start-Up Of Satellite Ground Station
(6 November 2007) The Boeing Company and its TEAM TSAT partners have successfully demonstrated the "one-button" start-up feature of its U.S. ground station, an essential element of the companies' Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) offering.
DataPath Awarded US$ 2.9 Million to Enhance U.S. Marine Corps' Satellite Transportable Terminals
(5 November 2007) DataPath, Inc., a leading provider of satellite and wireless communications networks around the world, has been awarded US$ 2.9 million to upgrade and enhance the flexibility of DataPath Satellite Transportable Terminals (STTs) used in the U.S. Marine Corps' Support Wide Area Network (SWAN) programs.
DRS Technologies Receives First Task Order Valued At US$ 20 Million From The U.S. Navy As Part Of Current Contract To Provide A Communications Network For Troops Deployed Overseas
(7 November 2007) DRS Technologies, Inc. announced today that it received its first task order valued at US$ 20 million as part of a current Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) US$ 250 million contract, including options, the company received this past August from the U.S. Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR) Charleston in South Carolina.
MoU Signed For Australia-US Joint Military Communications Ground Station
(8 November 2007) The Australian Department of Defence and the US Navy have now signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which sets out the governing arrangements for a joint military communications ground station near Geraldton, Western Australia.
US Air Force Set To Launch 23rd And Final NGC-Built Defense Support Program Satellite On November 10
(8 November 2007) The 23rd and final Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite, built by Northrop Grumman Corporation for the U.S. Air Force, is scheduled for launch on Nov. 10 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Launch Complex 37.
XTAR Awarded A GSA Schedule Contract For Information Technology Services
(5 November 2007) XTAR, LLC, a joint venture between Loral Space & Communications and HISDESAT, today announced that it has received a contract from the U.S. General Services Administration, Federal Acquisition Service for Information Technology Equipment, Software, and Services (FSC Group 70).

Astronomy
New Scientific Riches From Integral
(7 November 2007) Astronomers from around the world have been discussing the extraordinary scientific riches that have flowed from ESA's orbiting gamma-ray observatory, Integral. Here we present the gist of some of the astonishing ones.

Moon
Kaguya (Selene) World's First Image Taken Of The Moon By HDTV
(7 November 2007) The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) have successfully performed the world's first high-definition image taking by the lunar explorer "Kaguya" (Selene,) which was injected into a lunar orbit at an altitude of about 100 km on October 18, 2007, (Japan Standard Time.

Venus
Lifting The Venusian Veil, Two Years Since Launch
(9 November 2007) Venus Express, launched two years ago today, has been adding much to our knowledge of Earth's twin.

Earth
Construction Of Swarm Satellites To Begin
(8 November 2007) Understanding more about the Earth's magnetic field has just come one step closer now that the preliminary design and definition phase of ESA's Swarm mission is complete.

Comets
Rosetta Closes In On Earth - A Second Time
(8 November 2007) ESA's comet chaser, Rosetta, is on its way to its second close encounter with Earth on 13 November.

Extra-Solar Planets
Astronomers Discover Record 5th Planet Around Nearby Star 55 Cancri
(6 November 2007) A team of American astronomers announced today (Tuesday, Nov. 6) the discovery of a record-breaking fifth planet around the nearby star 55 Cancri, making it the only star aside from the sun known to have five planets.
Scientists Discover Record Fifth Planet Orbiting Nearby Star
(6 November 2007) Astronomers have announced the discovery of a fifth planet circling 55 Cancri, a star beyond our solar system.

Manned Space
ATK Selects Avionics Contractor For Ares I First Stage
(7 November 2007) Alliant Techsystems announced it has selected L-3 Communications, to provide key components of the avionics subsystem for the First Stage of NASA's next-generation human launch vehicle -- the Ares I.
Columbus Moves To Payload Canister
(5 November 2007) The European Columbus laboratory has taken an important step towards launch.
L-3 Selected To Develop Avionics For NASA's Ares I First Stage Booster
(8 November 2007) L-3 Communications announced today that its Cincinnati Electronics (L-3 CE) subsidiary has been selected by Alliant Techsystems to provide the avionics subsystem and components for NASA's Ares I launch vehicle.
United Space Alliance Successfully Tests Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Steering System
(2 November 2007) United Space Alliance (USA) successfully tested the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) steering system redundancy and load limits in conjunction with a live motor test firing at the Alliant Techsystems facility in Promontory, Utah, this week.

Manned Space - STS 120 Shuttle Discovery
STS-120 MCC Status Report #21
(2 November 2007) The space shuttle Discovery and International Space Station crews today will focus on reviewing spacewalk procedures and unberthing the shuttle's Orbiter Boom Sensor System for Saturday's spacewalk to repair a torn solar array.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #22
(2 November 2007) Space shuttle Discovery and International Space Station crewmembers today finished preparations for Saturday's spacewalk to repair a torn solar array. The mission's fourth spacewalk is set to begin about 5:30 a.m.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #23
(3 November 2007) Mission Specialists Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock today will work to repair a torn solar array on the farthest end of the International Space Station's port truss in the fourth spacewalk of the STS-120 mission.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #24
(3 November 2007) With a few pieces of aluminium and a little bit of wire, Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski today repaired a damaged solar array during a spacewalk that lasted 7 hours, 19 minutes.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #25
(4 November 2007) The astronauts on space shuttle Discovery got up this morning prepared to complete the final cargo transfers between the two vehicles and bid farewell to the Expedition 16 crew.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #26
(4 November 2007) Spacefarers aboard Discovery and the International Space Station congratulated one another on a successful docked mission, shared hugs and farewells and closed the hatches 210 miles above the Pacific Northwest at 2:03 p.m. CST.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #27
(5 November 2007) All systems are go for this morning's undocking of space shuttle Discovery from the International Space Station, completing 11 days of joint docked operations that saw the successful delivery of a new pressurised module and the repair of a damaged solar array wing.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #28
(5 November 2007) Space shuttle Discovery's crew left the International Space Station this morning after almost 11 days of joint operations with the Expedition 16 crew.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #29
(6 November 2007) Landing preparations are the order of the day for the seven astronauts on space shuttle Discovery, who are planning to conclude a two-week mission with a Wednesday landing at the Kennedy Space Center.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #30
(6 November 2007) The seven astronauts on board space shuttle Discovery completed final preparations today for their return home with landing planned for the first of two opportunities to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, at 12:02 p.m. Wednesday.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #31
(7 November 2007) The astronauts on space shuttle Discovery are only hours away from a landing in Florida that will conclude a successful 15-day mission that delivered a new module and repaired a damaged solar array on the International Space Station.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #32
(7 November 2007) After 6.25 million miles and 15 days, space shuttle Discovery landed safely in Florida completing its 34th mission and circling the Earth 238 times.
Discovery's Return Marks Completion Of Esperia Mission
(7 November 2007) Space Shuttle Discovery landed in Cape Canaveral, Florida this evening at 19:01 CET (18:01 UT), completing one of the most complex assembly missions to the International Space Station to date, bringing back seven crew members, including ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli.
Shuttle Discovery Crew Returns Home After Successful Mission
(7 November 2007) The space shuttle Discovery and its crew landed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on Wednesday at 1:01 p.m. EST after completing a 15-day journey of more than 6.2 million miles in space.

Technology
NGC Awarded Patent For Innovative Payload Positioning System That Dramatically Increases Future Space Telescope Performance And Efficiency
(6 November 2007) The U.S. Patent Office recently awarded a patent to five Northrop Grumman Corporation engineers for a unique payload positioning boom that increases the ability of space telescopes to observe more of the sky while creating a variety of design, fuel and service efficiencies.
YES2 Team Claims A Space Tether World Record
(8 November 2007) On 25 September, students around the world watched with bated breath as their creation, the second Young Engineers Satellite (YES2) experiment, reached its dramatic conclusion.

Launch Services
E'Prime Aerospace Corporation Receives Launch Site Policy Review Approval
(7 November 2007) E'Prime Aerospace Corporation, today announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA/AST) has completed the interagency portion of the policy review for E'Prime's launch site license application A-07-EPA-121.
ESA To Provide Essential Launch Control Services To EUMETSAT
(6 November 2007) ESA and EUMETSAT, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, agreed today that ESA will provide essential launch control services for the last two Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites, MSG-3 and MSG-4.
SpaceDev Completes First Milestone Under NASA Space Act Agreement For Development Of Commercial Access To Space
(6 November 2007) SpaceDev, Inc. recently completed its first milestone under the Space Act Agreement that it signed with NASA in June 2007.
The Fifth Ariane 5 Mission Of 2007 Is Cleared For Lift-off
(7 November 2007) Arianespace's upcoming dual-payload Ariane 5 mission has been given the green light for lift-off on Friday, November 9, following today's launch readiness review at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

Launch Services - Rascom
Rascom 1 Is Delivered For The Year's Sixth Ariane 5 Mission
(5 November 2007) The first pan-African telecommunications satellite has arrived at Europe's Spaceport in preparation for its orbiting on Arianespace's sixth Ariane 5 mission of 2007.
Thales Alenia Space Announces The Transfer Of The Pan African Satellite Rascom-QAF1 To Its Launch Site In French Guiana
(5 November 2007) Thales Alenia Space today announced that it has transferred the Rascom-QAF1 communications satellite to the launch site in Kourou, French Guiana.

In Orbit
NASA Unveils New High Volume Antenna Network
(8 November 2007) Engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. showcased the new operational 18 metre near Earth Ka band Antenna Network, the first in NASA history, during a ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 8 at White Sands Complex, N.M.

Launches
Launch Schedule

Business
NSSL Expands Into Middle East With New Office In Dubai
(7 November 2007) NSSL, the international satellite communications service provider, is opening a new office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Products and Services
Avionica's satLINK Iridium Communications Module First To Be Qualified By SITA
(6 November 2007) Avionica is pleased to announce that satLINK, the Iridium satellite-based data communications module, has successfully passed SITA's VAQ process in several tested configurations and has been qualified for operation on the SITA ACARS network.
Satamatics Launches New Version Of Ocean Alert Tracking System For Maritime Applications
(6 November 2007) Satamatics, the global provider of satellite telematics, asset tracking and monitoring services, has announced the launch of the Ocean Alert MKIII, satellite tracking unit for maritime applications.

Events
In Preparation For Data From SMOS
(9 November 2007) Around 90 scientists from all over the world recently met at ESA's facilities in Frascati, Italy to discuss the preparations being made to receive data from ESA's water mission SMOS.

People
Boeing Names Darryl Davis To Lead Advanced Systems For Integrated Defense Systems
(7 November 2007) The Boeing Company has named Darryl Davis to the position of president, Advanced Systems, for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS).
NGC Names John Landon Vice President Of Missiles, Technology And Space Programs
(7 November 2007) Northrop Grumman Corporation has named John R. Landon vice president of missiles, technology and space programs.