Microcom's Space Newsfeed

23 March 2008

Previous News

Satcoms
Astrium Teaming With Khrunichev To Build Large Russian Communications Satellite
(17 March 2008) The Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) has selected a team of Khrunichev Space Center and Astrium to build the Express AM4 communications satellite.
iDirect Selected By Russian Network Operator HeliosNet To Expand Its Broadband Services
(18 March 2008) iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a company of VT Systems, Inc. (VT Systems) and a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology, today announced that Russian network operator Web Media Services, which operates under the name "HeliosNet," has implemented iDirect's satellite communications platform.
Iridium Satellite Selects Three Finalists To Design And Develop Iridium 'NEXT'
(19 March 2008) Iridium Satellite is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with three companies to enter into the concept development phase in its design and development procurement process for "NEXT," the company's next-generation satellite constellation.
NSSL Enhances Industry-Leading Airtime Management Portal
(20 March 2008) NSSL, the international satellite communications provider, has improved its industry leading Airtime Management Portal, which allows customers to access account information from any internet connection in the world.
Spacenet Extends Commercial Grade Broadband And Digital Phone Services To Alaska & Hawaii Via Satellite
(17 March 2008) Spacenet Inc., a leading provider of advanced satellite networking services, today announced the introduction of its commercial grade Connexstar broadband and digital voice services to Alaska and Hawaii. Spacenet's Connexstar service, which offers high-speed two-way satellite communications, has powered networks for enterprise and government clients across the continental US since 2001.
Zambia Flood Victims Re-Connected To Aid Relief And Reconstruction - ITU Deploys Satellite Communication Terminals
(17 March 2008) The International Telecommunication Union has deployed 25 satellite terminals to help restore vital communication links in the aftermath of severe floods that have inundated low-lying districts across Zambia.

Broadcast
DirecTV Launches Gospel Music Channel March 19
(17 March 2008) Gospel Music Channel (GMC), the nation's first and only 24/7 all-Gospel/Christian music television network, will be available to DirecTV customers nation-wide on channel 338 beginning Weds. March 19.
DISH Network Outlines Upcoming HD Launch Schedule
(18 March 2008) DISH Network Corporation, the nation's third-largest pay-TV provider, today confirmed that plans to enhance its HD programming line-up this spring remain on track, despite the launch anomaly experienced by the AMC-14 satellite on March 14.
SES Astra Satellite Leads European Digitalisation
(18 March 2008) SES Astra, an SES company, today announced that according to its most recent annual reach study 83 per cent of the satellite TV households in Europe and North Africa are digitalised.
Sun Direct TV Deploys Harmonic's Video Delivery Solutions For India's First MPEG-4 Satellite TV Service
(19 March 2008) Harmonic Inc. today announced that Sun Direct TV Private Limited has deployed Harmonic's market-leading digital video solutions for India's first MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) direct-to-home (DTH) broadcast service.
Worldspace Satellite Radio Receives Terrestrial Repeater Network Approval from Switzerland
(20 March 2008) Worldspace Satellite Radio, one of the world leaders in satellite-based digital radio services, today announced it has received approval from Switzerland's Office Fédéral de la Communication (OFCOM) to operate terrestrial repeaters that will work in conjunction with its existing satellite network to provide Swiss consumers with a subscription-based satellite radio service.

Earth Observation
Envisat Makes First Ever Observation Of Regionally Elevated CO2 From Manmade Emissions
(18 March 2008) Using data from the SCIAMACHY instrument aboard ESA's Envisat environmental satellite, scientists have for the first time detected regionally elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide - the most important greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming - originating from manmade emissions.

Military Space
New Missile Warning Satellite Built By Lockheed Martin Progressing In Critical Test Phase
(19 March 2008) Lockheed Martin announced today that the first Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous orbit (GEO-1) spacecraft is progressing through a series of key tests that will demonstrate the integrated satellite's readiness to enter the critical environmental test phase in preparation for launch in late 2009.
RT Logic Awarded Combat Survivor/Evader Locator (CSEL) Modulator/Receiver Processor (CMRP) By Boeing
(19 March 2008) RT Logic, a recognised leader in satellite data link processing, today announced a contract award by The Boeing Company's Command, Control and Communications (C3) Networks Division in support of the Combat Survivor/Evader Locator (CSEL) Modulator/Receiver Processor (CMRP) project.

Science
University Of Colorado To Use SiCortex Cluster For Space Studies
(18 March 2008) SiCortex, the emerging leader in compact, low power multicore Linux systems, announced today that the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado has purchased and installed a SiCortex SC648 half-teraflop system as an integral part of its research into solar influences, planetary physics, atmospheric science and space physics.

Astrophysics
NASA Satellite Detects Record Gamma Ray Burst Explosion Halfway Across Universe
(20 March 2008) A powerful stellar explosion detected March 19 by NASA's Swift satellite has shattered the record for the most distant object that could be seen with the naked eye.

Astronomy
NASA's Webb Telescope Sunshield Preliminary Design Review Complete
(20 March 2008) The tennis court-sized sunshield built by Northrop Grumman for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has completed its preliminary design review at the company's Space Technology facility.
Northrop Grumman-Designed Sunshield Completes Preliminary Design Review
(20 March 2008) The tennis court-sized sunshield built by Northrop Grumman for NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has completed its preliminary design review at the company's Redondo Beach facility.

Supernova
Action Replay Of Powerful Stellar Explosion
(20 March 2008) Astronomers have made the best ever determination of the power of a supernova explosion that was visible from Earth long ago.

Moon
NASA Awards Contracts For Design Study Of Lunar Landing Craft
(17 March 2008) NASA's Constellation Program has selected five space-related companies to receive contract awards for a 210-day study to independently evaluate NASA's in-house design concept for a lunar lander that will deliver four astronauts to the surface of the moon by 2020.

Mercury
Mercury's Shifting, Rolling Past - Simulation Reveals Possible Cause Of Mercury's Distinctive Features
(18 March 2008) Patterns of scalloped-edged cliffs or lobate scarps on Mercury's surface are thrust faults that are consistent with the planet shrinking and cooling with time.

Earth
University Of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign Researchers Confirm Discovery Of Earth's Inner, Innermost Core
(18 March 2008) Geologists at the University of Illinois have confirmed the discovery of Earth's inner, innermost core, and have created a three-dimensional model that describes the seismic anisotropy and texturing of iron crystals within the inner core.

Mars
NASA Mission Finds New Clues To Guide The Search For Life On Mars
(20 March 2008) NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter has found evidence of salt deposits.

Jupiter
Novel Spots Found On Jupiter
(18 March 2008) Scientists have observed unexpected luminous spots on Jupiter caused by its moon Io.

Saturn
Cassini Spacecraft Finds Ocean May Exist Beneath Titan's Crust
(20 March 2008) NASA's Cassini spacecraft has discovered evidence that points to the existence of an underground ocean of water and ammonia on Saturn's moon Titan.

Extra-Solar Planets
Astronomers Detect First Organic Molecule On An Exoplanet
(19 March 2008) A team of astronomers led by Mark Swain of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., has made the first detection ever of an organic molecule in the atmosphere of a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting another star.
Hubble Finds First Organic Molecule On Extrasolar Planet
(19 March 2008) The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has made the first detection ever of an organic molecule in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting another star.
Water Vapour Detected In Protoplanetary Disks
(18 March 2008) Water is an essential ingredient for forming planets, yet has remained hidden from scientists searching for it in protoplanetary systems, the spinning disks of particles surrounding newly formed stars where planets are born.

Manned Space
Flagsuit LLC Delivers First Commercial Space Suit Gloves
(17 March 2008) Flagsuit LLC, a new startup founded by NASA Astronaut Glove Challenge winner Peter Homer, shipped their first commercially produced space suit gloves to Los Angeles-based Orbital Outfitters last month under a joint development agreement.
SpaceDev Awarded International Space Station Contract
(20 March 2008) SpaceDev, Inc. has been awarded a contract from IHI-Aerospace (Japan) to manufacture multiple flight ship-sets of precision space mechanisms for the H2 Transfer Vehicle (HTV).

Manned Space - STS 123
STS-123 MCC Status Report #11
(16 March 2008) Astronauts Rick Linnehan and Mike Foreman spent more than seven hours outside the International Space Station today attaching the two arms of the Canadian Space Agency's Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator, or Dextre.
STS-123 MCC Status Report #12
(16 March 2008) Now almost halfway through their 16-day mission, and with two spacewalks under their belts, space shuttle Endeavour's crew members will focus on getting the cargo they brought to the station up and running.
STS-123 MCC Status Report #13
(17 March 2008) A new robot came alive and moved its arms outside the International Space Station overnight.
STS-123 MCC Status Report #14
(17 March 2008) The International Space Station's newest robot is just one spacewalk away from being fully assembled.
STS-123 MCC Status Report #15
(18 March 2008) Astronauts Rick Linnehan and Bob Behnken completed a 6 hour 53 minute spacewalk today, finishing the assembly and installation of the International Space Station's newest robot, Dextre.
STS-123 MCC Status Report #16
(18 March 2008) With the addition of a now-fully-assembled new robot to the International Space Station, the station and space shuttle Endeavour crews have a busy day of robotics work ahead of them.
STS-123 MCC Status Report #17
(18 March 2008) The crews of Endeavour and the International Space Station today moved Dextre, the station's new robotic attachment, to its home on top of the station's U.S. Destiny Laboratory and worked to move the Spacelab pallet back into Endeavour's cargo bay.
STS-123 MCC Status Report #18
(19 March 2008) The crews on board space shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station are getting a break from the action today before preparing for a spacewalk which will demonstrate a technique for repairing shuttle heat shield tiles.
STS-123 MCC Status Report #19
(19 March 2008) The crews of space shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station spent the afternoon speaking with audiences around the world and preparing for tomorrow's spacewalk to evaluate a shuttle heat shield tile repair technique.
STS-123 MCC Status Report #20
(20 March 2008) The fourth spacewalk of the mission, to test a technique for repairing space shuttle thermal tiles, is only a few hours away for the astronauts on space shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station.
STS-123 MCC Status Report #21
(21 March 2008) Astronauts Bob Behnken and Mike Foreman completed the fourth spacewalk of Endeavour's STS-123 mission early today.
STS-123 MCC Status Report #22
(21 March 2008) The crew will take another look at space shuttle Endeavour's heat shield today using the Orbiter Boom Sensor System, which will be stowed on the exterior of the International Space Station during tomorrow's fifth and final planned spacewalk of the mission.
STS-123 MCC Status Report #23
(21 March 2008) Endeavour's crew completed additional inspections of the space shuttle's heat shield using the Orbital Boom Sensor System (OBSS) today.

Technology Transfer
Spacehab Debuts New Spacetech Product At Aviation Industry Expo
(17 March 2008) Spacehab, Incorporated, a provider of commercial space services, today announced the successful completion of development and testing activities for its new AirWard Container Systems.

Launch Services
Aerojet Celebrates 50 Years Of Satellite Launches
(19 March 2008) Aerojet, a GenCorp company, announced today that March 17th marked a significant day in Aerojet's history.
New Purdue Facility Aims To Improve NASA Moon Rocket Engine
(18 March 2008) Purdue University engineers are conducting experiments using a new hydrogen facility to help NASA create designs to improve the cooling efficiency and performance of the J-2X rocket engine, critical for future missions to Mars and the moon.
The Starsem Affiliate Of Arianespace Readies Its Launch Of Europe's Second Navigation Satellite
(21 March 2008) Preparations for Starsem's upcoming mission are in full swing at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, with the European-built GIOVE-B navigation satellite payload now undergoing checkout, and the Soyuz launch vehicle advancing through the integration process.

Launch Services - ATV 1 Jules Verne
Jules Verne Reaches 'Parking' Orbit
(19 March 2008) Jules Verne ATV has today reached a parking position 2000 km ahead of the International Space Station.
Shooting A Par-3 Hole In Space: Three Steps To ATV Docking
(20 March 2008) Jules Verne ATV is lining up for Europe's first-ever automated docking in space.

Launch Services - AMC-14
SES Americom Confirms AMC-14 Satellite Launch Anomaly
(17 March 2008) SES Americom, an SES company, today confirmed that its AMC-14 satellite failed to reach its intended orbit following its launch on board a Russian Proton Breeze-M launch vehicle on March 15.

Launch Services - DirecTV 11
Sea Launch Successfully Delivers DirecTV 11 To Orbit
(19 March 2008) Sea Launch Company today successfully delivered the DirecTV 11 broadcast satellite to orbit from its ocean-based platform on the Equator, marking its 4th successful launch of a DirecTV satellite.
Boeing DirecTV 11 Satellite Receives 1st Signal Following Successful Launch
(20 March 2008) The Boeing Company has received the first on-orbit signals from its DirecTV 11 satellite, indicating that the satellite is healthy and operating normally.
DirecTV Satellite Launch Sets The Stage For Delivery Of Up To 150 National HD Channels
(20 March 2008) A powerful, new DirecTV satellite, launched successfully today from the Pacific Ocean-based Sea Launch platform, will further boost DirecTV's HD capacity, enabling the industry's HD leader to deliver up to 150 national HD channels when the satellite goes into service this fall.

Launch Services - GPS
ATK Propulsion, Composite And Space Technologies Support Successful Launch Of GPS Satellite
(17 March 2008) Alliant Techsystems supported today's successful launch of the United Launch Alliance's Delta II rocket carrying the U.S. Air Force's sixth modernised Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-M) navigation satellite built by Lockheed Martin.
ITT Navigation Payload Enhances Latest Generation Of GPS Satellites
(17 March 2008) ITT Corporation announced today its contribution to the latest U.S. Air Force Global Positioning Satellite to join the constellation.

Launches
DirecTV 11
Launch Schedule

Business
Space Adventures Announces The Acquisition Of Zero Gravity Corporation
(19 March 2008) Space Adventures, Ltd., the world's leading space experiences company, announced that as of January 1, 2008, the company completed an acquisition of the Florida and Las Vegas based Zero Gravity Corporation (ZERO-G) by increasing its equity stake to 100% ownership.

Products and Services
Tandberg Television's New Professional Receivers Smooth The Digital Transition And Improve Programming Distribution Efficiency
(18 March 2008) Tandberg Television, part of the Ericsson Group, is launching a new professional integrated receiver decoder (IRD) range which will be on display in its booth #SU4210 at the NAB Show (Las Vegas, April 14-17, 2008).

People
Swe-Dish Names James Gerow President Of U.S. Operations
(18 March 2008) Swe-Dish Satellite Systems AB, a DataPath company specialising in compact, quick-to-air and easy-to-use mobile satellite communications equipment, has named James Gerow as president of Swe-Dish Satellite Systems Inc., the company's business unit that focuses on the U.S. market.