Microcom's Space Newsfeed - 28 October 2007

28 October 2007

Previous News

Satcoms
Gilat's SkyEdge Satellite Network Selected For Russia's Largest Electric Utility Company
(22 October 2007) Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. today announced that it is deploying a SkyEdge broadband satellite communications network for Russia's largest electric utility company.
Hughes Selected By TerreStar To Develop And Supply Satellite Chipset Platform
(22 October 2007) Hughes Network Systems, LLC, the global leader in broadband satellite network solutions and services, today announced the signing of an agreement with TerreStar Networks Inc., an emerging mobile communications network and majority owned subsidiary of TerreStar Corporation (TSTR), under which Hughes will design, develop, and supply a satellite chipset platform based on UMTS standards to enable wireless mobile devices to communicate over the satellite portion of TerreStar's network.
Iridium Teams With Stratos And Chooses Tesacom To Expand Growth Of Satellite Services In South America
(26 October 2007) In its effort to continue its expansive growth in the South American market, Iridium Satellite announces a partnership with Tesacom , one of the key South American channel partners of Iridium service provider, Stratos Global Corporation.
National & Regional Support Increases World-wide To Preserve Satellite Services Delivered Using Essential 'Extended C-Band' Spectrum
(25 October 2007) A global consensus of national administrations and inter-governmental groups have signalled their support for preservation of 'C-band' spectrum for use in delivering mission-critical satellite services world-wide.
Russia's North-West Telecom Expands its Gilat Broadband Satellite Network
(24 October 2007) Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. today announced that North-West Telecom, one of Russia's largest telecommunications companies, is expanding its Gilat SkyEdge satellite network to bring telephony and broadband Internet services to a growing number of remote communities in North Western Russia.

Broadcast
Harmonic's On-Demand Solutions Selected For SES Americom's IP-Prime IPTV Distribution Platform
(23 October 2007) Harmonic Inc. today announced they are developing a video-on-demand (VOD) solution for SES Americom's IP-Prime IPTV service using Harmonic's StreamLiner 2000 video servers, CLEARcut storage encoding solution and Ingest Gateway workflow software.
More Rural Telcos Sign on to IP-Prime
(24 October 2007) Today, Bob Phillips, president and chief executive officer of the National Rural Telecommunications Co-operative (NRTC), announced that more rural telcos are adopting the innovative and cost-effective, end-to-end IPTV service, IP-Prime.
SES Astra Contracts Additional Capacity To Sogecable
(26 October 2007) SES Astra, an SES company, announced today that it has signed an agreement with the leading Spanish pay-TV operator Sogecable to use an additional transponder.
SES Astra Develops Orbital Hot Spot For Broadcasting
(23 October 2007) SES Astra, an SES company, announced today that it has moved its satellite Astra 1E from the orbital position 19.2° East to 23.5° East to replace the satellite Astra 1D which is approaching the end of its design life.

Earth Observation
ERS-2 Data Vital For Maritime Security
(23 October 2007) Data from ERS-2, ESA's veteran spacecraft, is experiencing an increasing demand as the 12-year-old mission's products and services are playing a vital role in the initial activities for Global Monitoring for Environment and Security, such as the MARitime Security Service project which addresses the European concern of illegal marine trafficking.
Pemex Signs New 5-Year Radarsat Environmental Monitoring Contract With MDA
(24 October 2007) MDA and the Marine North East Region (RMNE) of Pemex Exploration and Production (PEP) have signed a five year contract for the continued monitoring of natural oil seeps and oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico using RADARSAT data.
SGI Technology Powers Real-Time Data Processing Of Satellite Images For Astronautic Technology
(23 October 2007) To receive, process and distribute high-resolution imagery obtained by Malaysia's Earth observation satellite, Astronautic Technology Sdn Bhd (ATSB) selected a wide range of high-performance compute and storage technology from SGI.

Tracking
Blue Sky Network's Satellite-Based Flight Tracking Solution Powers Erickson Air-Crane's Worldwide Fleet
(22 October 2007) Blue Sky Network, the global logistics solution provider for two-way linking and managing transportation assets via satellite, today announced that Erickson Air-Crane is deploying Blue Sky Network's flight tracking and communications solutions on its world-wide fleet of 18 S-64 Aircrane helitankers.

Military Space
DataPath Awarded $3.2 Million To Upgrade U.S. Army And U.S. Navy Satellite Communications Hubs
(22 October 2007) DataPath, Inc., a leading provider of satellite and wireless communications networks around the world, has been awarded $3.2 million to upgrade DataPath Deployable Ku Band Earth Terminals in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility in Southwest Asia.
DataPath To Demonstrate MaxView Network Management Software with Swe-Dish Satcom System at MILCOM 2007
(25 October 2007) DataPath Inc., a leading provider of satellite and wireless communications networks around the world, will demonstrate at MILCOM 2007, from Oct. 29 -31 in Orlando, Fla., its MaxView network management software integrated with its Swe-Dish Fly-Away 150 satellite communications (SATCOM) terminal.

Astronomy
UW Telescope to Receive Needed Upgrades
(24 October 2007) The University of Wyoming's telescope is getting a makeover for its 30th birthday.

Galaxies
To Catch A Galactic Thief
(22 October 2007) On Earth, thieves steal everything from diamonds to art to bags full of money.

Black Holes
Missing Black Hole Report: Hundreds Found!
(25 October 2007) Astronomers have unmasked hundreds of black holes hiding deep inside dusty galaxies billions of light-years away.

Sun
Jumbo Balloon Lofts Solar Telescope To 120,000 Feet
(24 October 2007) In a landmark test flight, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and a team of research partners this month successfully launched a solar telescope to an altitude of 120,000 feet, borne by a balloon larger than a Boeing 747 jumbo jet.

Moon
Chang'e-1 - New Mission To Moon Lifts Off
(24 October 2007) A bold new mission to the Moon was launched today by the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA).

Mars
APL Mineral-Mapper Has Key Role In Selecting Next Mars Rover Landing Site
(19 October 2007) Scientists scouting potential landing sites for NASA's next Mars rover mission are using new data from a powerful mineral-mapping camera to narrow the site selection.

Jupiter
Jovian Magnetosphere Circulation Differs From Earth's
(24 October 2007) Space physicists have long assumed that the magnetosphere at Jupiter circulates that planet's magnetic field in the same way as Earth.

Comets
Ulysses Catches Record For Catching Comets By Their Tails
(10 October 2007) When it was launched 17 years ago, scientists and mission engineers for the Ulysses project knew they should expect, well, the unexpected.

Manned Space
Expedition 15 Returns Home
(21 October 2007) After bidding farewell to the Expedition 16 crew Saturday night, the Expedition 15 crew, Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin and Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov, boarded their Soyuz TMA-10 spacecraft for the return to Earth.
NASA Assigns Crew For Final Solar Array Delivery To Station
(19 October 2007) NASA has assigned the space shuttle crew for Discovery's STS-119 mission, targeted for launch in the fall of 2008.

Manned Space - STS-120
Boeing Supports Addition Of Newest Space Station Portal
(23 October 2007) The Boeing Company is playing a significant role in the current 14-day Space Shuttle Discovery mission, which will deliver the European Space Agency's Harmony module to the International Space Station.
NASA's Shuttle Discovery Begins Mission To The Space Station
(23 October 2007) The space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew lifted off Tuesday, Oct. 23, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 11:38 a.m. EDT to continue construction of the International Space Station.
ESA Astronaut Paolo Nespoli And Node 2 Module Head For ISS
(23 October 2007) Paolo Nespoli set off on his way to the International Space Station earlier this evening on board NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery.
Discovery Docks With Station Today
(25 October 2007) Space Shuttle Discovery is today scheduled to dock with the International Space Station at 14:35 CEST (12:35 UT).
STS-120 MCC Status Report #01
(23 October 2007) The Space Shuttle Discovery raced into space this morning with an on-time launch at 10:38 CDT. Onboard are seven crewmembers led by veteran astronaut Pam Melroy.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #02
(23 October 2007) The Space Shuttle Discovery is headed to the International Space Station, carrying the Harmony module, destined to become the first expansion of the orbiting complex's living and working space since 2001.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #03
(24 October 2007) The astronauts on board Space Shuttle Discovery have begun their first full day in space on a two-week mission to set the stage for delivery of new laboratory modules from two more of the International Space Station's partner agencies.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #04
(24 October 2007) The seven-member crew of STS-120 on board Space Shuttle Discovery is ready for tomorrow's rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station, planned for 7:33 a.m. CDT.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #05
(25 October 2007) A new crew member and a new module are only hours away from arriving at the International Space Station.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #06
(25 October 2007) Two female commanders made space history today as they greeted one another with smiles and hugs in the International Space Station's Destiny laboratory after a flawless rendezvous and docking.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #07
(26 October 2007) Delivery of Harmony highlights the day as the crews of Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station prepare for the first of a record five spacewalks planned for a single shuttle assembly mission.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #08
(26 October 2007) It proved to be a perfect day for a spacewalk.

Technology
3D Vision Company TYZX Partners With NASA Ames To Help Rovers 'See'
(23 October 2007) TYZX, Inc., the 3D vision technology company, today announced that it is working with the National Aerospace and Science Administration (NASA) to enhance navigation and obstacle avoidance capabilities of mobile robotic test platforms with faster stereo vision processing targets.
Aerojet Demonstrates Combined Cycle Inlet To Enable Hypersonic Flight
(24 October 2007) Aerojet, a GenCorp company, has completed testing of its Advanced Combined Cycle Integrated Inlet (ACCII).
NASA Offers US$ 2 Million Lunar Lander Competition Prize
(24 October 2007) During the X PRIZE Cup Oct. 27-28, NASA's Centennial Challenges Program will offer prizes totaling US$ 2 million if competing teams successfully meet the requirements of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. The challenge will take place at Holloman Air Force Base, in Alamogordo, N.M.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Gets 'SpaceWired'
(25 October 2007) NASA's James Webb Space Telescope will use a new advanced technology network interface called "SpaceWire" that enables the components on the telescope to work more efficiently and more reliably with each other.
Three Contracts Awarded By The ESA For Advanced Optical Treatments
(22 October 2007) The Vacuum Technologies centre at Carsoli (near L'Aquila) represents for Galileo Avionica (a Finmeccanica Company) a site of excellence on the design, development and production of optical and functional coatings military, aerospace and civil applications Galileo Avionica plant carries out both: a Research and Development activity and a significant production specialised in optical coatings, becoming a reference for all Finmeccanica companies.

Launch Services
Arianespace Takes Delivery Of Its Fifth Ariane 5 In 2007
(23 October 2007) Preparations for Arianespace's next dual-satellite mission entered their final phase this week following the Ariane 5 ECA launcher's delivery to Arianespace at the Spaceport in French Guiana.
SGI InfiniteStorage Technology Drives All-Digital Performance Evaluation And Design Of Spacecraft And Missile Defense Systems At Vandenberg Air Force Base
(24 October 2007) To completely overhaul a film and video lab that had been working in much the same fashion for 50 years, the 30th Space Communications Squadron at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) has installed storage technology from SGI to create an all-digital production environment.
Successful Ariane 5 Upper Stage Engine Re-Ignition Experiment
(22 October 2007) A successful re-ignition of the Ariane 5 upper stage engine performed during the most recent mission has consolidated Ariane 5's readiness for the launch of the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle.

Launch Services - Globalstar
Starsem Orbits Four More Satellites To Augment The Globalstar Constellation
(21 October 2007) Arianespace's Starsem affiliate performed its 19th consecutive successful flight today, utilising a workhorse Soyuz launcher to orbit four more spacecraft for Globalstar's satellite constellation.
Starsem Successfully Launches Four Globalstar Satellites
(22 October 2007) Starsem successfully launched four Globalstar satellites for Globalstar, Inc., a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services to businesses, government, and individuals.

Launch Services - Sirius 4
ILS Proton Launch Scheduled In November For SES' Sirius 4 Satellite
(22 October 2007) International Launch Services (ILS) has scheduled its next Proton Breeze M commercial mission for November 18 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, with the launch of the Sirius 4 satellite for SES Sirius of Sweden.
SES' Sirius 4 Satellite Delivered To Launch Site
(22 October 2007) SES announces that the Sirius 4 satellite of SES Sirius has been delivered to the Baikonour Cosmodrome for a Proton launch in November 2007.

Launches
Globalstar (4 satellites)
Oko N88
ISS 10A Shuttle Discovery (STS-120)
Chang'e-1
Uragan/Glonass (M9/M10/M11)
Launch Schedule

Reports
In-Flight Broadband Is Breaking The Satcom Antenna Market Into Two Pieces, According To Freesky Research
(23 October 2007) The satellite industry is eagerly anticipating the rapid growth of aviation broadband services.

Products and Services
EchoStar Announces Push/Pull Video On Demand Service Incorporated Into IPTV Transport Platform
(25 October 2007) EchoStar FSS Corporation (EFSSC), a subsidiary of EchoStar Communications Corporation, today announced that it is offering a "push and pull" video on demand (VOD) service as part of its IPTV platform, ViP-TV.
EchoStar Unveils ViP-TV, One Of The Most Comprehensive IPTV Transport Platforms On The Market
(23 October 2007) EchoStar Communications Corporation and its subsidiary, EchoStar FSS Corporation (EFSSC), today announced the launch of ViP-TV service, through which EFFSC has the ability to transport over 300 channels of secure broadcast quality popular television programming via satellite to Telco, private and rural cable operators, municipalities and master planned community video providers that have obtained rights for distribution of programming over their wire-line networks.
Fujitsu Demonstrates MPEG-4 AVC HD Encoder For Satellite News Gathering At SMPTE Technology Conference
(23 October 2007) Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc., today announced it will exhibit and present at the upcoming SMPTE Technology Conference & Expo, Oct. 24-27 in Brooklyn, NY.
KVH TracPhones To Bring Global Internet Service To Mariners Via Inmarsat FleetBroadband
(25 October 2007) The safe operation of a vessel, up-to-date navigational data, crew morale, the requirements of business in the 21st century - they all demand powerful, real-time communications wherever mariners cruise.
New FleetBroadband By Vizada Enhances Maritime Communications
(24 October 2007) Vizada today announced that it has been appointed the official distribution partner for Inmarsat's FleetBroadband service, the first maritime communications service to provide cost-effective, simultaneous voice and high-speed data communications through a compact antenna.
New SwiftBroadband By Vizada Launched Today
(24 October 2007) Vizada, the largest provider of Inmarsat aeronautical services and the fastest growing provider of Swift services in the industry, today announced that SwiftBroadband by Vizada is now commercially available.
Numerex Announces OrbitOne Next-Generation Satellite Tracking And Asset Monitoring Solution
(23 October 2007) Numerex, a leading single-source provider of solutions and networks for Machine-to- Machine (M2M) applications, today announced the commercial release of the OrbitOne SX1 solution, a breakthrough in satellite-based asset monitoring and tracking technology.
Raymarine Introduces Latest Satellite Television Antenna System
(25 October 2007) Raymarine, a world leader in marine electronics, today introduced the 37STV, the newest member of its family of satellite television antenna systems.
SES Americom Enables Broadband Internet And Telephony Service For Ships At Sea
(24 October 2007) SES Americom, an SES company, today launched its Maritime Mobile Broadband (MMB) service, the next generation of broadband data and voice solutions for the maritime market.
Stratos Introduces Aeronautical Broadband Communications Solution Supported By Inmarsat's SwiftBroadband Mobile Satellite Service
(22 October 2007) Stratos Global Corp., the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today introduced its new aeronautical broadband satellite communications solution based on Inmarsat's SwiftBroadband service.
Verizon Business First Telecommunication Provider To Make Portable Satellite Service Easily Available To Wide Range Of Enterprise Customers
(23 October 2007) The sky is now the limit for global businesses and organisations that require broadband connections in remote locations.

Events
A Roadmap For Calibration And Validation
(22 October 2007) The volume of data acquired by more than 50 Earth Observation satellites is increasing at an exponential rate and is providing unprecedented synoptic views of our planet.
Less Arctic Ice Means Higher Risks, Experts Warn
(26 October 2007) The International Ice Charting Working Group predicts more marine transportation in the Arctic as sea ice continues to diminish and warns of "significant hazards to navigation," according to a statement released yesterday.
Space Sensors Shed New Light On Air Quality
(22 October 2007) Air pollution is becoming one of the biggest dangers for the future of the planet, causing premature deaths of humans and damaging flora and fauna.

People
Dr Mary Cleave Appointed To Board Of Directors Of Sigma Space
(22 October 2007) Sigma Space Corp. announced the appointment of Dr. Mary Cleave to its Board of Directors, effective October 1st, 2007.
Jack L. Kerrebrock Joins Aurora Flight Sciences
(22 October 2007) Aurora Flight Sciences announced today that Jack L. Kerrebrock, Professor Emeritus of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has joined the company as its Principal Engineer for Propulsion.