8 April 2007
Satcoms
Optus Invests In Third
D-Series Satellite for Australia
Tsunami
Hits the Solomon Islands: TSF Deploys From Its Asia-Pacific
Base
Broadcast
DISH Network Launches Regional Sports Networks in
High Definition
France 24 Launches in Arabic
Across Europe and Mediterranean Basin Through Eutelsat's Hot Bird
Neighbourhood
Mid-Atlantic Sports Network
Launches on DISH Network
Earth
Observation
NASA Finds Arctic Replenished Very Little Thick Sea
Ice In 2005
Snowmelt Monitored in Baltic
Sea Watershed Region in Near Real Time
Navigation
Lockheed Martin Team Completes GPS III System Design
Review On Schedule
Tracking
TransCore Achieves RFID and Satellite Communications
Technology Milestones
Military
Space
Harris Corporation Successfully Completes Advanced
EHF Navy Multiband Terminal Prototype Testing Ahead of Schedule
Lockheed Martin Team Completes Critical Design Review
Phase opf US Navy's Mobile User Objective System
Astrophysics
Examination of Radiation Left From
Birth of Universe Could Alter Theories
Astronomy
NASA Finds Evidence for New Molecular Structure in
Space
Reaching the Parts ..... with Herschel
and SPIRE
Stars
Massive Star Burps, Then Explodes
X-ray Satellites Catch Magnetar in Gigantic Stellar
'Hiccup'
Venus
Tracking Alien Turbulences with Venus
Express
Mars
MARSIS Radar Estimates Volume of Water in South Pole
of Mars
Asteroids
Hayabusa to Start Return Trip to Earth in Mid
April
Manned
Space
ATK Highlights Progress on Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle
Project on Track for Ground Tests and Development Flights
ESA Prepares For Human Mission to Mars
International Space Station Status Report:
SS07-16
NASA Image Fusion Will Help Doctors
Examine Astronauts' Hearts in Space
Technology
MicroSat Systems Awarded Rapid II
Contract
Launch
Services
Arianespace to Launch Australian Satellite Optus
D3
Arianespace to Launch Two Intelsat
Payloads
Intelsat's Galaxy 17 Starts
Pre-Launch Preparations at Spaceport
Progress on Sea Launch Investigation and
Recovery
In
Orbit
Globalstar Signs Contract With Alcatel Alenia Space
to Upgrade Satellite Operations and Control Center
Business
AsiaSat Announces New Major Shareholder GE
ATK to Acquire Swales Aerospace
Satlynx Becomes a General Electric
Company
Products and
Services
Broadband for Yachts Just Got Easier
CapRock Launches New Broadband VSAT Service for
Commercial Maritime Market
Laird
Technologies Introduces Orbcomm Phantom VG Antenna
SkyRAY Light Antenna Subsystem Unveiled at NAB
2007
People
Castor Broadcasting Appoints New Managing
Director
DirecTV Appoints Ellen Filipiak
Senior Vice President of Customer Service
NASA Nobel Prize Recipient To Lead Chief Scientist
Office
Spacehab Names Adams to Board of
Directors
Spacenet Appoints Douglas Braun
as VP of Product Management to Lead New Service Development Efforts
Townsend to Lead Ball Aerospace Exploration Systems
in Huntsville
Satcoms
Optus Invests In Third
D-Series Satellite for Australia
(3 April 2007) Optus announced
today it would further expand its satellite fleet providing services to
Australia and New Zealand by launching the third D-series satellite.
Tsunami Hits the Solomon Islands: TSF Deploys From
Its Asia-Pacific Base
(3 April 2007) A crew of specialists in
emergency telecommunications is taking off on Tuesday from
Télécoms Sans Frontières' Asia and Pacific base situated
on the campus of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) to strengthen the
co-ordination of relief teams supporting tsunami affected population in the
Solomon Islands.
Broadcast
DISH Network Launches Regional Sports Networks in
High Definition
(4 April 2007) EchoStar Communications Corporation
and its DISH Network satellite TV service announced today the launch of seven
Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) in high definition (HD) that will strengthen
DISH Network's position as the leader in HD programming. Now avid fans in these
seven markets will have access to their home team's games in vivid HD and
stunning surround sound.
France 24 Launches
in Arabic Across Europe and Mediterranean Basin Through Eutelsat's Hot Bird
Neighbourhood
(2 April 2007) The new Arabic version of France 24,
which launched today at 14.00 GMT, is available through the Hot Bird 8
broadcast satellite of Eutelsat Communciations.
Mid-Atlantic Sports Network Launches on DISH
Network
(6 April 2007) EchoStar Communications Corporation and its
DISH Network satellite TV service announced today the launch of the
Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), the television home of the Washington
Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles.
Earth Observation
NASA Finds Arctic Replenished Very
Little Thick Sea Ice In 2005
(3 April 2007) A new NASA study has
found that in 2005 the Arctic replaced very little of the thick sea ice it
normally loses and replenishes each year.
Snowmelt Monitored in Baltic Sea Watershed Region in
Near Real Time
(5 April 2007) As spring melt of winter snow is
underway in the Baltic Sea watershed region, satellites are monitoring and
mapping the snow melting process to help local authorities manage water
supplies and predict and prepare for floods. Remote sensing is the only
technique capable of providing a comprehensive view over such a large
area.
Navigation
Lockheed Martin Team Completes GPS
III System Design Review On Schedule
(5 April 2007) Lockheed Martin
announced today that it has successfully completed on-schedule a system design
review of the U.S. Air Force's next generation Global Positioning System Space
Segment program, known as GPS Block III.
Tracking
TransCore Achieves RFID and Satellite Communications
Technology Milestones
(30 March 2007) TransCore announces radio
frequency identification (RFID) and satellite communication distribution
milestones, exceeding 150,000 satellite communications transceivers world-wide
and surpassing 25 million RFID tags and 45,000 RFID readers
world-wide.
Military
Space
Harris Corporation Successfully Completes Advanced
EHF Navy Multiband Terminal Prototype Testing Ahead of Schedule
(5
April 2007) Harris Corporation, an international communications and information
technology company, has completed the formal testing of its Advanced Extremely
High Frequency (AEHF) Navy Multiband Terminal prototype system two weeks ahead
of schedule.
Lockheed Martin Team Completes
Critical Design Review Phase opf US Navy's Mobile User Objective
System
(4 April 2007) Lockheed Martin announced today that it has
successfully completed on-schedule the critical design review phase of the U.S.
Navy's Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) and has made significant progress on
the production readiness phase for the next generation narrowband tactical
satellite communications system.
Astrophysics
Examination of Radiation Left From Birth of Universe
Could Alter Theories
(2 April 2007) Using relic radiation from the
birth of the universe, astrophysicists at the University of Illinois have
proposed a new way of measuring the fine-structure constant in the past, and
comparing it with today.
Astronomy
NASA Finds Evidence for New Molecular Structure in
Space
(6 April 2007) NASA scientists have discovered evidence that a
mysterious red glow, seen throughout the Milky Way and other galaxies but never
on Earth, radiates from extremely fine dust clusters that cause the glow by
combining molecular forces that oppose each other.
Reaching the Parts ..... with Herschel and
SPIRE
(2 April 2007) A UK-led instrument which will study a
previously unexplored part of the Universe leaves the UK this week to be
installed on the European Space Agency's Herschel spacecraft in
Germany.
Stars
Massive Star Burps, Then
Explodes
(4 April 2007) Tens of millions of years ago, in a galaxy
far, far away, a massive star suffered a nasty double whammy.
X-ray Satellites Catch Magnetar in Gigantic Stellar
'Hiccup'
(4 April 2007) Astronomers using data from several X-ray
satellites have caught a magnetar - the remnant of a massive star with an
incredibly strong magnetic field - in a sort of giant cosmic
blench.
Venus
Tracking Alien
Turbulences with Venus Express
(3 April 2007) New images and data
from ESA's mission to Venus provide new insights into the turbulent and noxious
atmosphere of Earth's sister planet.
Mars
MARSIS Radar Estimates Volume of Water in South Pole
of Mars
(2 April 2007) By studying the South Polar region of Mars,
the MARSIS (Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding) radar
of the Mars Express space probe has enabled the structure of the layered
deposits of this region to be elucidated.
Asteroids
Hayabusa to Start Return Trip to Earth in Mid
April
(4 April 2007) The asteroid explorer "Hayabusa" which landed
on the asteroid "Itokawa" last November, delivered its probe container for
acquired samples to the re-entry capsule, stored it in the capsule, then
tightly shut the lid (with latches and seals.)
Manned Space
ATK Highlights Progress on Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle
Project on Track for Ground Tests and Development Flights
(2 April
2007) Alliant Techsystems has made significant progress in developing hardware
and materials in support of NASA's new Ares I crew launch vehicle.
ESA Prepares For Human Mission to Mars
(2
April 2007) Starting in spring next year, a crew of six will be sent on a 500
day simulated mission to Mars. In reality the crew will remain in a special
isolation facility in Russia. To investigate the psychological and medical
aspects of a long-duration mission, such as to Mars, ESA is looking for
experiment proposals for research to be carried out during their stay.
International Space Station Status Report:
SS07-16
(6 April 2007) The Expedition 14 crew of the International
Space Station was busy this week performing fitness evaluations, working on
scientific experiments and preparing for the arrival of the Expedition 15
crew.
NASA Image Fusion Will Help Doctors
Examine Astronauts' Hearts in Space
(3 April 2007) Practising
medicine on trips to the moon will be harder than on Earth, because spaceships
will be far away, and few doctors will be aboard.
Technology
MicroSat Systems Awarded Rapid II
Contract
(2 April 2007) MicroSat Systems, an innovative company with
a string of recent successes, has been awarded a Rapid II contract from NASA's
Rapid Space Development Office, allowing it entry into a catalogue of approved
vendors for fast procurement of spacecraft systems and
services.
Launch
Services
Arianespace to Launch Australian Satellite Optus
D3
(4 April 2007) Australian telecom operator Optus has chosen
Arianespace to orbit its D3 satellite.
Arianespace to Launch Two Intelsat
Payloads
(2 April 2007) Arianespace announced today that it will
launch the Horizons-2 spacecraft for Horizons Satellite LLC (a joint venture
between Intelsat and JSAT), and Intelsat-11 for Intelsat.
Intelsat's Galaxy 17 Starts Pre-Launch Preparations
at Spaceport
(3 April 2007) The second passenger for Arianespace's
next heavy-lift mission is now undergoing its checkout at the Spaceport as
activity continues for the early May launch of Ariane 5.
Progress on Sea Launch Investigation and
Recovery
(3 April 2007) Sea Launch reports significant progress in
the investigation into the cause of the unsuccessful launch on January 30 and
repairs to the Odyssey Launch Platform.
In Orbit
Globalstar Signs Contract With Alcatel Alenia Space
to Upgrade Satellite Operations and Control Center
(3 April 2007)
Globalstar, Inc., a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data
services to businesses, governments, and individuals, announced today that it
has signed a Euro 9 million (approximately US$ 12 million) agreement with
Alcatel Alenia Space to upgrade the Globalstar satellite operations and control
centre located in Milpitas, CA and its backup satellite ground control facility
located in El Dorado Hills, CA.
Business
AsiaSat Announces New Major Shareholder
GE
(2 April 2007) Asia Satellite Telecommunications Holdings Limited
is pleased to announce that General Electric Company (GE) has become a major
shareholder in AsiaSat holding approximately 34.1% of the issued share capital
of the company subsequent to the completion of the Exchange Transaction and
transfer of shares between GE and SES on 29 March 2007.
ATK to Acquire Swales Aerospace
(3 April
2007) Alliant Techsystems announced today that it intends to acquire Swales
Aerospace, a premier provider of satellite components and subsystems, small
spacecraft and engineering services for NASA, Department of Defense and
commercial satellite customers.
Satlynx
Becomes a General Electric Company
(4 April 2007) Following the
recent closing of a transaction between GE (a diversified technology, media and
financial services company) and SES (the world's pre-eminent satellite group),
Satlynx is now a subsidiary of GE.
Products and Services
Broadband for Yachts Just Got
Easier
(5 April 2007) NSSL, an international satellite
communications provider, is enhancing a popular service for yachts that enables
high speed internet access from some of the busiest maritime areas.
CapRock Launches New Broadband VSAT Service for
Commercial Maritime Market
(4 April 2007) CapRock today announced
the launch of SeaAccess Communications, its new broadband maritime service
providing always-on corporate networking and crew morale solutions to ships at
sea.
Laird Technologies Introduces Orbcomm
Phantom VG Antenna
(4 April 2007) Laird Technologies, the world's
leading designer and manufacturer of antenna solutions, electromagnetic
interference (EMI) shielding products, telematics, thermal management
solutions, wireless systems and signal integrity products, today introduces its
Orbcomm Phantom VG antenna, a low profile, mechanically rugged, wideband VHS +
GPS "bar style" antenna offering field diversity technology to improve RF
performance.
SkyRAY Light Antenna Subsystem
Unveiled at NAB 2007
(4 April 2007) ND SatCom, an SES Astra company
and a leading global supplier of satellite-based broadband VSAT, broadcast,
government and defence communication network solutions, announced today the
introduction of a newly developed mobile VSAT antenna: SkyRAY Light. The
antenna subsystem will be presented to the public at NAB 2007 in Las Vegas from
April 16-19.
People
Castor Broadcasting Appoints New Managing
Director
(5 April 2007) Since early 2007 Edwin Cras (46) has been
the new Managing Director of Castor Broadcasting and Castor Networks.
DirecTV Appoints Ellen Filipiak Senior Vice President
of Customer Service
(2 April 2007) DirecTV, Inc., the nation's
leading satellite television service provider, announced today that Ellen
Filipiak, a 25-year veteran in the cable and telecommunications industry, has
been named senior vice president, Customer Service.
NASA Nobel Prize Recipient To Lead Chief Scientist
Office
(2 April 2007) NASA's new Science Mission Directorate
Associate Administrator Alan Stern has appointed NASA scientist and 2006 Nobel
Prize recipient John Mather to lead the Office of the Chief Scientist at
Headquarters in Washington.
Spacehab Names
Adams to Board of Directors
(5 April 2007) Spacehab, Incorporated, a
leading provider of commercial space services, today announced the appointment
of Mark Adams to the Company's Board of Directors.
Spacenet Appoints Douglas Braun as VP of Product
Management to Lead New Service Development Efforts
(2 April 2007)
Spacenet Inc. today announced that Douglas Braun has joined the company as its
new Vice President of Product Management.
Townsend to Lead Ball Aerospace Exploration Systems
in Huntsville
(5 April 2007) Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
announced the appointment of Bill Townsend as vice president for Exploration
Systems.
