Microcom's Space Newsfeed - 4 November 2007

4 November 2007

Previous News

Satcoms
Datagroup Signs Expansion Contract With Hughes For AIReach Broadband PMP System In Ukraine
(30 October 2007) Hughes Network Systems, LLC, the world's leading provider of broadband satellite solutions and a major supplier of broadband wireless systems, today announced that it has signed a follow-on contract with Datagroup, a leading telecommunications service provider in Ukraine, to implement its AIReach AB9400 point-to-multipoint broadband wireless system across the country.
Hughes Supplies Czech Telecommunications Company, GiTy, With Broadband Satellite System
(29 October 2007) Hughes Network Systems, LLC, the global leader in broadband satellite solutions and services, today announced that its European operating company, HNS Europe, is supplying leading Czech telecommunications provider GiTy with its latest generation HN broadband satellite system, comprising a Network Operations Center (NOC) and over 500 HN7000S broadband satellite terminals.
Mobile Satellite Ventures' Satellite Communications Network To Support Gulf States Region Mutual Aid Talkgroups
(1 November 2007) Mobile Satellite Ventures' (MSV) announced today that it will operate two Gulf States Mutual Aid Radio Talkgroups (GSMART) on MSV's satellite communications network that will be managed by the Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP).
STM Receives Order From Major Contractors For Large DVB-RCS Deployment In West Europe
(27 October 2007) STM Norway, a part of the STM group of companies, announced today that it has been awarded contracts by Selex Communications and Thales Alenia Aerospace for a network consisting of a dual beam DVB-RCS Hub, along with over 4,000 terminals.

Broadcast
AsiaSat Announces New AsiaSat 3S Technology Platform
(31 October 2007) Asia's leading satellite operator, Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) announced today a full transponder C-band MCPC (Multiple Channels per Carrier) technology platform to provide video, audio, data and IP based broadcast services on AsiaSat 3S at AsiaSat's Tai Po Earth Station in Hong Kong.
Czech Music Channel Ócko Broadcasts On Astra 23.5° East
(31 October 2007) SES Astra, an SES company, announced today that it has signed a contract with the Czech music channel Ócko based in Prague to be broadcast from Astra's orbital position 23.5° East.
LUXE.TV HD And SD On AsiaSat 2
(30 October 2007) Asia's leading satellite operator, Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) and LUXE.TV today announce the signing of a contract to distribute both the High Definition (HD) and Standard Definition (SD) versions of LUXE.TV to Asian cable and satellite networks, terrestrial stations and pay TV platforms through AsiaSat 2's powerful pan Asian C-band digital platform operated by Satlink Communications in Israel.
New Asian DTH Satellite Operator To Lease Capacity On Its First Satellite To Cyprus Based Satellite Service Provider
(2 November 2007) ProtoStar Ltd., a Bermuda corporation, and PlanetSky Ltd. of Limassol, Cyprus announced a strategically important anchor customer lease agreement today for PlanetSky to secure C band capacity on ProtoStar's first satellite to be launched in May 2008.
RRSat Chosen By Baby First TV (BFTV) To Expand Distribution To Asia Via Telstar 10 Satellite
(29 October 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.
Tandberg Television Equips NBC Universal For Launch Of New High Definition Channels
(29 October 2007) Tandberg Television, part of the Ericsson Group, today announced that Tandberg Television provided a combination of compression products and managed services to NBC Universal for the launch of its new high definition (HD) channels, including Bravo HD, USA HD, Sci-Fi HD and CNBC HD, which premiered October 3rd.

Earth Observation
NASA Data May Help Improve Estimates Of A Hurricane's Punch
(1 November 2007) As Tropical Storm Noel churns off Florida's East Coast, NASA and university scientists have announced they have developed a promising new technique for estimating the intensity of tropical cyclones from space.
National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Command, Control And Communications Segment Completes Transition to Operations
(31 October 2007) Raytheon Company, Northrop Grumman Corp. and the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Integrated Program Office (IPO) successfully completed the transition of the NPOESS command, control and communications segment (C3S) to the operations and support team.
Radarsat-2: Safeguarding Canada's Sovereignty In The Arctic
(26 October 2007) The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), today visited the Canadian Space Agency David Florida Laboratory, in Ottawa, to view the next generation commercial satellite, RADARSAT-2, which is scheduled to be launched on December 8, 2007 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

Military Space
Iridium Reports Exceptional Growth Of Mobile Satellite Services In Military Sector
(1 November 2007) Iridium Satellite is pleased to announce that its military sector business continues to show outstanding growth with cumulative Department of Defense (DoD) subscribers reaching 31,000. Military traffic through Iridium's satellite network is up more than nine percent (an increase of almost ten percent over last year).
Lockheed Martin Completes Major Test Of First Advanced Military Communications Satellite
(30 October 2007) Lockheed Martin has completed a major test of the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite, demonstrating its readiness to enter the critical environmental test phase in preparation for launch in late 2008.
MTC Wins Potential US$ 4.5 Million Contract For Military Satellite Communications Work
(31 October 2007) MTC Technologies, Inc., an industry-recognised provider of aircraft modernisation and sustainment, professional services, C4ISR, and logistics solutions to the Department of Defense (DoD) and national security agencies, announced today that MTC's Professional Services Group won a basic plus nine-year, time and materials contract, potentially worth US$ 4.5 million to the Company.
Raytheon Teams With Industry Best To Pursue Army Satellite Communications Program
(29 October 2007) Raytheon Company will team with the industry's best communication solutions providers in pursuing the Army's next generation of satellite communications, the High Capacity Communications Capability, or HC3.
US Marine Corps' SWAN Program To Deploy Suitcase SATCOM And Baseband Solution From DataPath
(29 October 2007) DataPath, Inc., a leading provider of satellite and wireless communications networks around the world, has been selected by the U.S. Marine Corps to provide an ultra-portable satellite communications (SATCOM) solution for the Support Wide Area Network (SWAN) program, enabling the Marines to extend the network and improve warfighter mobility while they establish and maintain broadband communications on the battlefield.

Astrophysics
Space Mission XEUS Probes Origins Of The Universe
(2 November 2007) A University of Leicester astrophysicist is playing a pivotal role in a mission that seeks to study the origins of the universe.

Black Holes
Massive Black Hole Smashes Record
(30 October 2007) Using two NASA satellites, astronomers have discovered the heftiest known black hole to orbit a star.

Supernova
White Dwarf "Sibling Rivalry" Explodes Into Supernova
(2 November 2007) Astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) have found that a supernova discovered last year was caused by two colliding white dwarf stars.

Moon
NASA Announces New Centre Assignments For Moon Exploration
(30 October 2007) NASA announced Tuesday which agency centres will take responsibility for specific work to enable astronauts to explore the moon. The new assignments cover elements of the lunar lander and lunar surface operations. The agency also announced work assignments for Ares V, a heavy-lift rocket for lunar missions.
NASA To Establish Nationwide Lunar Science Institute
(30 October 2007) NASA has announced its intent to establish a new lunar science institute. This effort, with dispersed teams across the nation, will help lead the agency's research activities for future lunar science missions related to NASA's exploration goals.

Mars
Mars Express Probes Red Planet's Unusual Deposits
(1 November 2007) The radar system on the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter has uncovered new details about some of the most mysterious deposits on Mars: the Medusae Fossae Formation.

Manned Space
ATK Conducts Test Firing Of The Space Shuttle's Reusable Solid Rocket Motor
(1 November 2007) In its continued effort to ensure safety of the Space Shuttle, and to prepare for the development of Ares I, Alliant Techsystems successfully conducted a test firing today of NASA's four segment Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (RSRM).
Successful Rocket Motor Test Helps NASA's Shuttle And ARES I
(1 November 2007) NASA's Space Shuttle Program successfully fired a four-segment reusable solid rocket motor Thursday, Nov. 1, at a Utah test facility.

Manned Space - STS 120 Shuttle Discovery
STS-120 MCC Status Report #09
(27 October 2007) Today is the grand opening of the International Space Station's newest module, a connecting node that will host new laboratory complexes from around the world.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #10
(27 October 2007) Astronauts at the International Space Station now have a little more room to float around in - 2,666 cubic feet more, to be exact.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #11
(28 October 2007) The second of a record five spacewalks on one space shuttle visit to the International Space Station begins this morning, and it will end with a major station element en route to a new location.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #12
(28 October 2007) Astronauts Scott Parazynski and Dan Tani successfully completed all major tasks during STS-120's second spacewalk, the 17th this year and the 94th dedicated to the International Space Station's assembly and maintenance.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #13
(29 October 2007) With two successful spacewalks completed in three days, the crews on Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station have some time to relax today while also completing a big handoff and getting prepared for another EVA on Tuesday.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #14
(29 October 2007) As crewmembers aboard the International Space Station and space shuttle Discovery prepared for the third spacewalk, they learned that the shuttle will spend an extra day in space, with landing now scheduled for just after 4 a.m. Nov. 7.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #15
(30 October 2007) Astronauts Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock today install the International Space Station's P6 truss in its final location.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #16
(30 October 2007) The crew of space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station executed a flawless spacewalk today, but ran into some unexpected issues afterward.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #17
(31 October 2007) Crewmembers on space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station will spend today preparing for a spacewalk designed to learn more about the joint that rotates the starboard side solar arrays.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #18
(31 October 2007) Space shuttle Discovery astronauts will have an extra day to prepare for their mission's fourth spacewalk, as the International Space Station Program has changed its priority from inspection of a rotary joint to repair of a solar array.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #19
(1 November 2007) Space Shuttle Discovery's astronauts today will assemble and configure tools to repair a torn solar array blanket on the International Space Station's port truss during the mission's fourth spacewalk, now scheduled for Saturday.
STS-120 MCC Status Report #20
(1 November 2007) The space shuttle Discovery and International Space Station crews spent the day putting together tools and making preparations for Saturday's spacewalk to repair a torn solar array.

Technology
NASA Selects Four Ames Projects To Advance Key Technologies
(2 November 2007) Four projects that will advance key technologies to meet critical needs for NASA's mission will be led by Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Norsat Announces Issuance Of European Patent
(30 October 2007) Norsat International Inc. ("Norsat"), a leading provider of intelligent satellite solutions, today announced it has received notice that the European Patent Office intends to grant the company a patent for its frequency selective surface waveguide filter.
SpaceDev To Develop New Thermal Radiator Technology For Air Force
(1 November 2007) SpaceDev announced today that it has been awarded a US$ 100,000 firm fixed price contract for the development of a new radiator technology for satellite thermal control.
World's Most Complex Silicon Phased Array Chip Developed At UC San Diego
(30 October 2007) UC San Diego electrical engineers have developed the world's most complex "phased array" - or radio frequency integrated circuit.

Launch Services
A Heavyweight Payload Is Readied For Arianespace's Fifth Ariane 5 Mission Of 2007
(30 October 2007) Final payload integration activity is in full swing for Arianespace's upcoming Ariane 5 ECA mission, as its two satellites are readied for their November 9 lift-off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.
Sea Launch Prepares For Its 25th Mission -- Launch Of Thuraya-3
(1 November 2007) The Odyssey Launch Platform and the Sea Launch Commander have departed Sea Launch Home Port, for the launch of the Thuraya-3 satellite.
SpaceX Breaks Ground At Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 40
(2 November 2007) Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) held official ground breaking ceremonies today at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, opening a new era in commercial space operations.
The Sixth Ariane 5 Launcher For 2007 Takes Shape At The Spaceport
(30 October 2007) Arianespace is keeping up its mission pace as the sixth Ariane 5 of 2007 begins assembly at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

Launch Services - SAR Lupe 3
Successful Launch Of The Third German SAR-Lupe Observation Satellite, Equipped With Thales Alenia Space's SAR Sensor Electronics Units
(1 November 2007) Thales Alenia Space applauds the successful launch of the third SAR-Lupe satellite that will provide high-resolution images to the German Ministry of Defence.

In Orbit
ESA Transmits First-Ever Telecommands To Chinese Satellite
(1 November 2007) For the first time, ESA tracking stations have transmitted telecommands to a Chinese satellite.

Launches
SAR Lupe 3
Launch Schedule

Books
New Book 'Life In The Universe' Receives International Critical Acclaim
(29 October 2007) Astrobiology, the study of life and its existence in the universe, is now one of the hottest areas of scientific research, fusing together biology, chemistry, astrophysics, and geology.

Reports
Mobile Satellite Spectrum Valuations Will Not Match Terrestrial Benchmarks, New Report Claims
(30 October 2007) A new report from Telecom, Media and Finance Associates, Inc. (TMF Associates), "ATC, Satellite Radio and Other Hybrid MSS Networks: Business Cases and Spectrum Valuations" concludes that the value of MSS spectrum is likely to be considerably lower than benchmarks established in the FCC's AWS and upcoming 700MHz auctions.

Business
Aurora Acquires Payload Systems
(29 October 2007) Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation announced today that it has acquired Payload Systems, Inc. of Cambridge, MA effective October 26, 2007.
BCE Completes Telesat Sale
(31 October 2007) BCE Inc. today completed the previously announced sale of its satellite services subsidiary Telesat Canada to a new acquisition company formed by Canada's Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) and Loral Space and Communications Inc.
Eagle Broadband Announces Sale Of Its SatMAX Business
(29 October 2007) Eagle Broadband, Inc., a leading national provider of IP products and services, announced today that the company completed the sale of its SatMAX satellite telephony repeater business pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement entered into with Security Financing Services, Inc. ("SCYF").
Loral And PSP Investments Complete Cdn$ 3.25 Billion Acquisition Of Telesat Canada
(31 October 2007) Loral Space & Communications Inc. today announced that the Cdn$ 3.25 billion acquisition of Telesat Canada by Loral and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), including the transfer of Loral's fixed satellite services business Loral Skynet, has been completed.

Products and Services
Horizon Semiconductors Rolls Out Single Chip Native 1080/60p High Definition Dual Channel Decoder SoCs For Next-Generation Cable, Satellite & IPTV Set-Top Boxes
(29 October 2007) Horizon Semiconductors, a leading provider of highly integrated silicon solutions that enable secure video and audio compression & transmission for the consumer electronics and home entertainment markets, announced the immediate availability of industry's first single chip multi-standard native 1080/60p high definition decoders for triple-play/quad-play Cable, Satellite and IPTV Set-Top Box, Digital Video Recorders and Home Media Centers.
New Waveguide Filter Offers Extremely Low Loss
(29 October 2007) The A1 Microwave PB1370WB is a C-band satcoms Receive filter typically used in shipborne satcom terminals where there is an interference threat from on-board radars.

Events
International Space Exploration Conf. 2007: Europe Defines The Future of Space Exploration
(31 October 2007) The International Space Exploration Conference 2007 (ISEC 2007) taking place in Berlin (D) from 8 to 9 November will welcome 500 high-level representatives of stakeholder groups from political institutions, the scientific community, industry and applied research organisations, public organisations and the general public.

People
Arrowhead Global Solutions, Inc., Names Bob Cope Director Of Recruiting To Meet Demands Of Expanding Company
(31 October 2007) Arrowhead Global Solutions, Inc., a premier provider of integrated communication solutions and a wholly owned subsidiary of CapRock Communications, has named Bob Cope director of recruiting.