Month's News : SatMagazine

November 2007 Satellite NewsVisit www.satnews.com for today's news

November 29, 2007
Silicon For Standalone Or Hosted GPS Apps
From U-Nav Microelectronics comes a new product line that includes a high-sensitive uN3010 Evaluation Kit (EVK) based on a full-function GPS receiver reference design that incorporates a 0.18-micron single chip, the uN3010, and Orion 2.2.4 GPS software. Full Story

Secret and Not-So-Secret AFCEA Courses At WEST 2008
From February 5th through February 7th and February 8th, at WEST 2008 in San Diego, California, AFCEA International is hosting the Military Satellite Communications in a Net-Centric Environment course. Full Story

GPS Patents Profoundly Perfect = New Products For Hemisphere
Hemisphere GPS is rightfully proud of two new patents recently awarded to the company for innovative technology. The Method and System for Synchronizing Multiple Tracking Devices for a Geo-Location System patent (U.S. Patent No. 7,292,186) enables more robust and cost effective heading by using a single processor to compute heading from multiple GPS receivers. Full Story

Radiation Hardened BAE Chip Better Than Many
BAE Systems has produced a radiation-hardened, single-chip SpaceWire interface that performs the functions of multiple chips at a fraction of the size. Full Story

NSSL Develops An Impressive Voice (This is corrected information from an earlier story...)
NSSL, the international satellite communications service provider, officially launched its toll-quality voice service for its BroadBand land and sea users. Full Story

SWE-DISHing Up Drive-Aways For Spanish Broadcasters
SWE-DISH Satellite Systems AB, a DataPath company, has received an order for as many as 20 SWE-DISH Drive-Away 150 systems for several Spanish broadcasters, primarily Television Espanola (TVE). Full Story

Moving On Up... At Iridium Satellite
There's a new Executive Vice President for Ground Operations and Product Development at Iridium Satellite. Full Story

A Vacuum Test At Northrop Grumman Does Not Mean Cleaning A Carpet
In May of this year, the first STSS (Space Tracking and Surveillance Systems) space vehicle completed thermal vacuum testing, Now, prime contractor Northrop Grumman Corporation [NYSE:NOC] has reported the second of two STSS demo satellites being built for the Missile Defense Agency has also successfully completed thermal testing. Full Story

digiGO!™—The World of Digital Content, Creation & Delivery
— DVB-H For Europe — MIG & Glue Mobile — Plum Media Network & NVERZION — Harris & Zandar - ZTE Corporation — Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
CVG Inc. & Florida Army National Guard... - Brazil & China - Eutelsat & Telediffusion d'Algerie... - World Teleport Association & Skyline Communications - Agilent Technologies Inc... Full Story

November 28, 2007
Cerona Reaches For Their Sky To Fulfill Contract
Cerona Networks Corporation is absolutely delighted that a billion-dollar leading defense company has selected Cerona's SkyDSR-DT as the service replacement of its Integrated Receiver Decoder expressly for the multicast of IP video, audio and data products to the warfighter. Full Story

A Whallop Of A Day For MicroSat
MicroSat Systems (MSI) recognized the Wallops Flight Facility for their support of the TacSat-2 satellite launch nearly a year ago on December 16, 2006. Full Story

TSAT Transmission Tests Totally Top-Notch
The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has successfully demonstrated the communications and transmission security architecture of its proposed Transformational Satellite Communications System< (TSAT). Full Story

Relief—Registration Audits Successful For Comtech EF Data
Comtech EF Data Corporation has achieved AS 9100 Revision B/ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System certification for the design, manufacture and servicing of satellite, RF, microwave and terrestrial data communications equipment. Full Story

Globecomm Broadcasts New Contract & Helps With California Fire Efforts
An announcement from Globecomm Systems [NASDAQ: GCOM] finds the company receiving a contract to provide a direct-to-home (DTNH) broadcast earth station for an existing customer. Full Story

What A Super Waiver For MVS
A requirement mandating ground-based spare satellites in case of satellite failure has been waived by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for Mobile Satellite Ventures< (MVS), due to the company's in-orbit backup capabilities. Full Story

digiGO!™—The World of Digital Content, Creation & Delivery
— Ford & Microsoft — France 24 & Genesis Networks — Niles Audio — Omnibus Systems — Pansonic — Viacom & MTV Networks — Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
Agilent Technologies Inc... - Arqiva Satellite Media Solutions - Harris Corporation... - Surrey Satellite Technology & OHB-System AG Full Story

November 27, 2007
FiOS Service Flies With Verizon
Back on October 23rd, Verizon introduced a new, symmetrical Verizon FiOS Internet service for consumers, featuring an upload and download speed of up to 20 Mbps. FiOS (Fiber Optic Service) is a Fiber To The Premises (FTTP) telecom service with Verizon being the first, major US carrier to offer broadband Internet access using this technology. Full Story

Super Sponsors For PTC’08 Conference
 The PTC ’08 Conference, which is being held from January 13th through the 16th at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa, Honolulu, Hawaii, has released their list of sponsoring companies. Full Story

One Of Three Glonass Sats Goes Golden
On October 26th, three Glonass satellites were launched from Kazakstan’s Baikonur space center aboard a Russian Proton rocket. Full Story

Hughes Cements Backup SatServices Into Place
Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is providing ESSROC, a leading North American cement producer, with HughesNet Access Continuity, a backup solution that ensures communications continuity. Full Story

Cornell’s CUSat Sees Telemetry-West InControl
Telemetry-West, a division of L-3 Communications, announced the firm has provided licenses of its InControl software application to Cornell University (Ithaca, New York) for the CUSat Nanosatellite program. The InControl software product is designed to support satellite test and on-orbit operations. Full Story

DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-1 Now Looking At Us
DigitalGlobe has announced WorldView-1 has completed its commissioning, meets all of its requirements, and is delivering imagery to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) as part of the NextView program. Full Operating Capability (FOC) with NGA began on November 17th. Full Story

Arqiva Rushes U.S. Content Into U.K. & Europe
Selected by IPTV to expand into the European market is Arqiva, who recently acquired two teleports and fiber networks in the U.S. offering direct access to Arqiva’s distribution capabilities within the United Kingdom and Europe. Full Story

Fractus’ Antenna Great In An Emergency
Fractus has developed a conformed, dual-mode ISM and GSM quad band antenna that can be shaped to the mechanics of a GPS emergency device, enabling a new generation of smaller emergency alert devices that work both in and outdoors, anywhere in the world. Full Story

Kawasaki Fairing Well
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced it has shipped a payload fairing for the H-IIA No.14 (H-IIA F14) launch vehicle to the Tanegashima Space Center. Full Story

DigiGO!™—The World of Digital Content, Creation & Delivery
— ARQIVA — TiVo & NBC UNIVERSAL — VERIZON — AKAMI — ELECTRONIC ARTS — WIND — Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
Faith Satellite Radio... - National Science Foundation and LIMA - Eutelsat & Canal - The Air Force Association... - IPSTAR Australia Full Story

November 26, 2007
Applause For C-Band Win By CASBAA
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) decision to preserve the C-band spectrum for satTV services in Asia is being greeted with enthusiasm by the Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA). Full Story

The Financial Wherewithal For… Thrane & Thrane
Thrane & Thrane A/S has released their interim report for the six months ended October 31, 2007, as approved by the company’s Board of Directors. The report shows a significant improvement of both revenue (30 percent) and operating profit, which more than doubled relative to the first six months of last year. Full Story

ISS Could Be In PlanetSpace’ COTS Future
PlanetSpace has submitted a response to NASA’s recent COTS (Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Phase 1 Demonstrations) RFP. The company will work closely with Lockheed martin Space Systems Company, ATK, and the Bank of Montreal (as their financial advisor) to complete their proposal for NASA. Full Story

Infrared Interferometer Triumph For Thales Alenia Space, CNES & Eumetsat
The French Space Agency (CNES) and Eumetsat organized the IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) conference, held in Anglet, France, from November 13th through November 16th. The main objective of the conference was to offer the results on the instrument performances in flight and to show initial results of assimilation of IASI in Atmospheric and Numerical Weather Prediction models. Full Story

A Reflection Of Accomplishment For SSTL
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) and the University of Surrey have succeeded, for the first time, in capturing a Galileo signal reflected off the ocean surface in orbit. This demonstrates the potential for determining the weather at sea with remote sensing satellites. The pioneering GPS Reflectometry Experiment was launched onboard SSTL's UK-DMC satellite in 2003 to demonstrate the use of GPS reflections to determine the roughness of the ocean, using a method called "bistatic radar" or "forward scatterometry". Full Story

Failure Analysis Technology Attracts NASA
As you may recall, from reading a recent article in SatMagazine authored by the CEO of Failure Analysis, Dr. Len Losik, telemetry prognostics lowers the cost to produce expensive satellites and launch vehicles. Such also shortens delivery schedules and increases vehicle reliability, halting launch failures and more. Full Story

Moving On Up… At The Satellite Industry Association
The Board of Directors of the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) has named Patricia Cooper to the position of President, effective immediately. Cooper’s appointment follows an extensive search to replace the former Executive Director, David Cavossa, who recently departed SIA for private industry. Full Story

TSF Responds To Bangladesh Disaster With Com Equipment
Bangladesh is facing the worst disaster to have struck the country in ten years. Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) already set up two Emergency Communication Centers in Barisal and Barguna, two focal points for humanitarian aid coordination in cyclone Sidr affected regions. Full Story

Raytheon Positioned Positively With USAF GPS Contract
Raytheon Company [NYSE:RTN] has been awarded a $160 million, 18-month competitive contract to develop a new system design for the nexgen Global Positioning System Control Segment. Full Story

DigiGO!™—The World of Digital Content, Creation & Delivery
— Linear Acoustic — Macrovision — MyStart U.com — On2 Technologies & Texas Instruments — Strategy & Technology Ltd. — BBC — Sipa — News Corp — XM Satellite Radio Holdings — Second Chance Tuesday London — Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
A HALT For CTA - Tybrin’s Techie Talents Treat For NASA - ProtoStar Sat C-band Booked By SingTel Full Story

November 25, 2007
DigiGO!™—The World of Digital Content, Creation & Delivery
ABI Research — EchoStar & Harris — IAC/InterActiveCorp. — LinkedIn & News Corp. — Panasonic — UDCast — Voyant Int'l & Wysiwyg — Yahoo! & SonyBMG — Panasonic & Sony Pro Cams — NewBlue Inc. — Digital Entertainment Releases for Monday — Full Story

Moving On Up… At UDcast
Joining one of the leading providers of IP over broadcast satellite is a new vice president of corporate and business development. Mr. David Richardson is joining UDcast with more than 20 years of broadcasting and media industry experience under his belt. Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
A Cool, Ammonia Cabling Spacewalk @ ISS - A Change In STS-126 Crew Assignments - INTERSPUTNIK Holds Meeting, Not Much Info Available - RigNet Gains Another Deloitte Goodie… - Telco Vs. Cable Report From Research & Markets - New Mobile Data Services Strategies Report From Portio - Rumors, Hearsay, Whispers, Shhhhhhh… - Northrop & Raytheon Garner USAF Contract Full Story

November 24, 2007
Alphasat Boost for Inmarsat, Courtesy of Astrium & Thales
Astrium and Thales Alenia Space will be jointly developing Alphabus. This follows the recent agreement between Inmarsat and ESA, which will provide a new European platform for nexgen high power comsats. Full Story

Galileo Is A "Go"… Funding Found
From the EuroNews online information site comes the information that Galileo is a finally a confirmed GO… the European Union (EU) reached agreement on the funding for the Global Positioning System (GPS) that will become a rival to the U.S.-based system. Full Story

Super Data Delivery Continues From Northrop Grumman’s Hyperion
The first hyperspectral imager in space was built by Northrop Grumman Corporation [NYSE:NOC] in just over 12 months. The space vehicle is marking its seventh anniversary on-orbit. Full Story

Ground Network Unnecessary With New Japanese SatCom
According to the Japanese Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan is making plans to launch a satellite that would provide observation data without a “proper” communication network on the ground. Full Story

Belarus To Launch Second Satellite
The head of Belarusian company Geoinformational Systems has said Belarus' second satellite will be launched from Russia's Plesetsk space center in late 2009. Belarus launched its first satellite, Belka, in July 2006. Full Story

Expect Russian Manned Launches In 2018 From New Site
According to RIA Novosti (the Russian News & Information Agency), a new, yet-to-be-built space center located in the far eastern section of the country will be the site of a series of manned spacecraft launches, starting in 2018. Full Story

Angola Wants Their Own SatCom
Posted at the TeleGeography online site is a story reporting another comsat player is joining the worldwide throng… this time, it’s Angola. The country has ordered its own comsat with Russian firms building the satellite. Full Story

Another Player In the Moon Race
According to the South Korean government, the country will launch a lunar probe using an indigenous rocket in 2020. A development plan is being implemented in order for South Korea to become fully independent in building boosters and the unmanned probe itself. Full Story

November 20, 2007
EADS Astrium Signs On With ESA For Sentinel Duty
Astrium is to develop and build the latest imaging radar for an ESA satellite. The development and delivery contract signed last week in Friedrichshafen by Massimo Di Lazzaro, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Thales Alenia Space BU Observation Systems & Radar, and Uwe Minne, Director of Earth observation and Science at Astrium Germany. The European Space Agency (ESA) awarded the main contact for the Sentinel-1 satellite in February to Thales Alenia Space. Astrium is now to supply the C-band radar for the Sentinel-1 satellite. Full Story

Hawaiian Communication Expertise @ PTC ’08
From January 13th through the 16th, PTC ’08 is an event to note, especially as It occurs at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Space in Honolulu. The theme is Telecom With Vision. Full Story

AIA Develops Cost Estimating Fix
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) has reported that industry and government efforts to bridge huge differences in the estimated costs of military space programs resulted in the formation of a permanent council tasked with improving future efforts. Full Story

New SATCOM Paths For GSA From DataPath
DataPath, Inc. has added baseband solutions for its mobile satellite communications (SATCOM) networks to the General Services Administration (GSA) IT Schedule 70 contract (number GS-35F-0424T). Full Story

Moving On Up… At Integral Systems
There’s a newly created position at Integral Systems, that of Director of Corporate Security. Full Story

Moving On Up… At Juniper Networks…
Just appointed to the Board of Directors at Juniper Networks is Mary Cranston. She brings more than 30 years of management and corporate governance experience to the board. Full Story

Eutelsat Announces Their HOT BIRD TV Awards
Last Friday, November 16h, there was a gala evening in Venice. In attendance were the winners of this year’s HOT BIRD TV Awards. Now in their 10th year, these awards unite Eutelsat and Eurovisioni in rewarding programming excellence and innovation by thematic broadcasters. Full Story

Milstar Follow-On Now At Lockheed For Subsystem Work
The Space and Missile Systems Center's Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing has announced the core propulsion module of the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite was shipped from Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, and arrived safely at Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, California, on Wednesday, Nov. 14. Full Story

DigiGO™—The World of Digital Content, Creation & Delivery
Dalet Digital Media Systems & DataDirect Networks — Digidesign — Gefen — Noise Industries — Digital Bits — Full Story

SatNews Wishes All A Marvelous Thanksgiving Day...
Here in the U.S., we are preparing for our Thanksgiving Day holiday. This is a time for us to give thanks for our blessings and to renew our spirits with family, friends and associates. Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
EUMETSAT Extends Its Presence - The Ups & Downs Of EchoStar Stocks… - Multipurpose GPS From Magellan Is Also Waterproof! Full Story

November 19, 2007
Success For Sirius
The Sirius 4 satellite has successfully reached its final, geostationary orbit situated 22, 236 miles above Earth. This was accomplished last Saturday. Full Story

Digging Into The Comsat Details A NSR Specialty
Northern Sky Research has prepared another exceptional report. The newly published study is entitled “Global Assessment of Satellite Demand, 4th Edition”. Full Story

40th Anniversary Celebrated for Space Test Program
On November 8th, the Department of Defense Space Test Program celebrated its 40th anniversary at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Past and present personnel examined the program’s history, current missions and took a look toward the future of space research. Full Story

Chinese Life Expectancy To Double By 2020… Er, Satellites, That Is…
According to the Chinese vice minister in charge of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence, the life expectancy of Chinese homemade satellites will likely double by 2010, up from their current eight year life expectancy. Full Story

Sea Changes For Vizada Involve FleetBroadband
Now forming an integral part of Vizada’s broadband offering is Inmarsat's FleetBroadband service. Vizada is a global provider of mobile and fixed satellite communications solutions for merchant ships, oil & gas platforms, fishing boats and many more. Full Story

Navigating The Waterways With Trimble
Trimble [NASDAQ:TRMB] has received a contract from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to provide as many as 400 reference station receivers over the next three years for the USCG’s Maritime Differential GPS (DGPS) Service modernization program. Full Story

MSV Commends U.S. Delegation For WRC Work
Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) issued the following statement commending the work of the United States delegation to the recently concluded 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) held in Geneva, Switzerland... Full Story

Moving On Up… At RigNet…
width="200" height="70" border="0" alt="RigNet Logo" /> RigNet, Inc. has named P. Eliassen as vice president and general manager of the Company’s Europe Africa region; John Moffatt as vice president and general manager of the Company’s Middle East region; and Hector Maytorena as vice president of global sales and marketing. Full Story

Stratos Solutions For Waterborne Folk
Stratos Global Corp. [TSX: SGB] announced the commercial availability of their new maritime broadband satellite communications solution based on Inmarsat's FleetBroadband service. FleetBroadband from Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance and cost efficiency. Full Story

Failure Is Not An Option Is More Than A Motto For Failure Analysis
Lt. General Hamel, Commander, Space & Missile Systems, Space Command, has requested Boeing and Aerospace Corporation to investigate Failure Analysis’ telemetry prognostic technology used for predicting failures in satellites, launch vehicles and missiles which could lower the cost to produce expensive satellites and launch vehicles, shorten delivery schedules and increase reliability, stop launch failures, and yield uninterruptible on orbit payload services Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
EchoStar To Become Part Of AT&T’s Portfolio? - WEP No More, With Help From Xirrus - Temporary Transponder Fix For ProtoStar Via Antrix - Bringing Melody To Millions Via Arabsat Badr-4 Full Story

November 18, 2007
Indian Focus On Cryogenic Engine Succeeds
In an article bylined by BR Srikanth of the Hindustan Times, seems as though the Indians have now joined a rather exclusive league of U.S., Russian and European scientists in that the country now possesses the capability to design and build cryogenic engines. These engines are critical for boosting comsats and manned missions into space. Full Story

Moving On Up… At Canadian Satellite Radio
John Bitove is Canadian Satellite Radio’s (CSR) controlling shareholder (CSR is also known as XM Canada). He also is in charge of the Priszm KFC fast-food restaurant trust (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silvers franchises throughout Canada). Full Story

Iridium Gains Exclusivity To Previously Shared Spectrum
Iridium Satellite LLC announces its support of a recent decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to give Iridium exclusive access to 2.625 MHz of previously shared spectrum for global mobile satellite services (MSS). In addition, the FCC granted Iridium 0.95 MHz of shared spectrum. Full Story

Miteq Freqs Out
Miteq has introduced their 9800 Series to their Frequency Converters product line, designed for advanced satellite communications systems. Full Story

At The REDI Are Network Innovations and SES AMERICOM
Network Innovations and SES AMERICOM have completed the certification process of Network Innovations’ VR5 Auto-Pointing VSAT system for mobile deployments of SES AMERICOM’s REDiSat service, which offers temporary, mobile emergency high-speed communications. Full Story

Advanced EHF Payload Engineering Model Test Is Successful
The MILSATCOM Systems Wing, Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base has revealed that on October 29th. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Sunnyvale, California and Northrop Grumman Space Technology in Redondo Beach, California successfully completed the first system-level intersegment test of an Advanced EHF Payload Engineering Model. Full Story

In Its Prime For AT&T Is SES AMERICOM’s IP-PRIME
SES AMERICOM, an SES company [Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Exchange:SESG], and AT&T Inc. [NYSE:T] have reached an agreement to supply AT&T U-verseSM TV with international programming via SES AMERICOM’s IP-PRIME platform. Full Story

SIRIUSly, These Awards Are Great!
SIRIUS Satellite Radio [NASDAQ:SIRI] has revealed three of the company’s products, Backseat TV(TM) audio/video tuner, Stiletto 2 portable satellite radio, and Sportster 5 dock & play radio, have been recognized for advancements in consumer technology design and engineering by the Consumer Electronics Association. Full Story

Fast & Top Twenty Teleport Honoree—Again!
The World Teleport Association (WTA) has named TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (TCS) [NASDAQGM:TSYS] to its prestigious “Fast Twenty” and “Independent Top Twenty” rankings for the second consecutive year. WTA’s annual rankings provide the only independently compiled rankings of teleport operating companies. Full Story

WEST 2008 Industry Event Upcoming
From February 5th through the 7th at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California, learn the answer to “U.S. at a Crossroads: Where—and How—After Iraq?”, the theme for the WEST 2008 event. Full Story

digiGO™—The World Of Digital Content, Creation & Delivery
Acceller & Digital Landing — Artisan — dnp denmark — Highwinds Network Group — Harmonic — Motorola — Omneon — SES AMERICOM & AT&T — SIRIUS Satellite Radio — Sundance Digital — Volantis Systems — XM — Popular Science Awards — Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
Destinator Delivers Destinator 7 - Garmin Goes No Further With Tele Atlas - Motorola Becomes More Social - Orthorectification Part of PCI Geometrics Vocabulary - Rosetta Racks In Earth @ Night - Telenor Reduces DiGi Stake - TomTom To Assist Congestion In The Netherlands - A Popular Science Selection… Full Story

November 16, 2007
C-band Frequency Spectrum Safeguarded… A Huge Sat Industry Win!
We’ve been discussing the C-band spectrum use issue for months and months… every one has weighed in on one side, or the other. After four weeks of negotiations, we are delighted to report the satellite industry has been enormously successful with their “no change” campaign, ensuring uninterrupted, interference-free use of C-band for the future. Full Story

November 15, 2007
Plenty of Gas For GaAs Growth, Reports Strategy Analytics
“GaAs will remain the mainstream solution for cellular handsets, which will be reflected in the continued demand for epitaxial substrates,” predicts Stephen Entwistle, VP Strategic Technologies. And the latest Strategy Analytics study forecasts demand for HBT and pHEMT (pseudomorphic High-Electron Mobility Transistor) devices as continuing steady growth for semi-insulating GaAs epitaxial substrates. Full Story

Iridium Into Increased Revenues, Subscribers
They’ve wrapped up their best quarter in the history of the company—Iridium Satellite LLC has announced the firm has approximately 225,000 subscribers worldwide as of the end of the third quarter. That’s a 33 percent increase over the third quarter 2006 total of 169,000. Full Story

ILS Has Proton M Ready To Place SIRIUS Seriously Into Orbit
On November 18th at approximately 04:39, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhastan, Launch Pad 39, the SIRIUS 4 satellite will be en route to its destination via a Proton M/Breeze M rocket and through the auspices of International Launch Services, McLean, Virginia. Full Story

To The Sea In Ships With New Stratos GSM Services
Stratos Global Corp. [TSX: SGB] has introduced GSM Oceanwide, a dedicated, global GSM service for crewmembers and officers of merchant ships. GSM Oceanwide is the first service, using Inmarsat satellites, to enable seafarers to use their existing mobile phones onboard merchant ships in deep ocean waters, just as they would use them in port or on land. Full Story

An Absolutely FAB Demo For Boeing
The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has successfully demonstrated secure interoperable communications between two Family of Advanced Beyond line-of-sight Terminals (FAB-T) software-defined radios. This validates a capability that eventually will link ground, air and space platforms. Full Story

AAE Adds Another Award For New Com Work
A new $24 million contract has been received by AAE Systems, Inc., to provide a turnkey communications system in the Middle East. AAE Systems is a satellite equipment manufacturer and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) systems solutions provider. Full Story

Astrium Applauds Another Ariane 5 Accomplishment
November 14th, a Wednesday evening, in Korou, French Guiana—Arianespace successfully boosted two sats into geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The Astrium built Skynet 5B is a military satcom for the British Ministry of Defence (MoD). The Star One C1 comsat is for commercial operation by Brazilian operator Star One and was built by Thales Alenia Space. Full Story

More From Miteq
Miteq has, once again, been extremely busy producing new products. First up is the MITEQ Uplink Power Control Unit product line addition of the UPC-L version. Full Story

digiGO™—The World Of Digital Content & Delivery
Dielectric — EchoStar Communications & Harris — GlobeCast — MEASAT & NDS Group — SE2 Labs — Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
Argument Over Tele Atlas Continues, But Suitors Settle Other Diffs - GPS’ing Made Fun With GSMO - Nokia Offers A New Smarty Unit - Moving On Up… At GlobeCast… - MEASAT’s DTH Now Guarded Full Story

November 14, 2007
To The Moon, For India & Russia
A cooperation agreement for joint lunar research and exploration has been signed between the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Russia’s Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos). Mr. G Madhavan Nair, the Chairman of the ISRO, and Mr. A. Perminov, the Director of Roskosmos, signed the agreement on November 12th in Moscow. Full Story

GPS Market To Experience 5-Fold Increase, According To IMS Research
IMS Research is reporting a 5-fold increase in the GPS Consumer Market, thanks to laptop computers and digital cameras. In their “The Worldwide Market for GPS/GNSS-enabled Portable Devices—2007 Edition”, GPS is going to be integrated into a number of portable devices, with an overall market increase of 5-fold by 2011. Full Story

Aussies & Yanks Are WGS Buds
Australia and the United States have signed an agreement which will find the two nations cooperating on the wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system. This will expand this constellation to six satellites. Full Story

Yes-o On Nanos For USAF Via Orbital’s Technologies
Orbital Sciences Corporation [NYSE: ORB] has been selected by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., for a $29.5 million contract to support the execution of the Autonomous Nanosatellite Guardian for Evaluating Local Space satellite program (ANGELS). Full Story

Hispasat Offers Thales Something Worth Repeating
Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with Hispasat, a Spanish telecommunication satellite service provider, to design, manufacture, integrate and test an Interactive Multimedia Communication AMERHIS-2 Repeater to be embarked onboard the Amazonas-2 communication satellite. This is the second Thales Alenia Space multimedia repeater embarked onboard a Hispasat satellite. Full Story

Gilat Going Good
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. [NASDAQ:GILT] has reported their results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2007. Revenues for the third quarter of 2007 were $71.5 million, up from $63.8 million in the same period of 2006. Net income for the third quarter of 2007 was $5.9 million or $0.14 per diluted share, compared to a net income of $2.7 million or $0.11 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2006. Full Story

Star One Launched To The Stars… Well, To 65° W… Via Ariane 5
An Ariane 5 ECA from Kourou, French Guiana, successfully launched the Star One C1 communications satellite, built by Prime Contractor Thales Alenia Space. Star One, the largest satellite solution company in Latin America, is owned by Embratel (80 percent) and GE International Holdings (20 percent). Full Story

Conferences, Expositions, Tradeshows, Seminars and Workshops
2008 Wireless & Mobile Expo and Conference — Broadband World Forum Asia Full Story

digiGO! The World Of Digital Content & Broadcast Delivery
NVERZION & Open Source Storage — VDS — Westinghouse Digital Electronics — UDcast & Harris Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
Smoky Suit Stops Spacewalks - Pakistan Prohibits SatCom Devices Full Story

November 13, 2007
GeoEye’s Attention Leads To Gorilla Preservation Grant
More than 1,000 square kilometers of hi-res, IKONOS satellite imagery has been donated by GeoEye, Inc. [NASDAQ:GEOY] and the company’s Foundation to international conservation groups working on gorilla preservation projects. Full Story

Trauma Support Calls For MSV’s Involvement
Mobile Satellite Ventures LP (MSV) has publicized the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council for Trauma (STRAC) is expanding their deployment of MSV satellite-based communications services to facilitate the organization's emergency response capability across its 26,000 square-mile, 22-county area of operations. Full Story

Healthy Fixed Sat Market, According To Euroconsult
Euroconsult, a firm involved in international research and specialized analysis within the satellite and digital broadcasting sectors, has reported growth in the fixed satellite market continues at a healthy pace, driven largely by digital entertainment and, more specifically, emerging digital markets. Full Story

AAE Is Wired To Help In The Middle East
AAE Systems, Inc. (AAE) is a satellite equipment manufacturer and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) system solutions provider and they have now been contracted to provide a turnkey communications system in the Middle East. Full Story

Eutelsat Completes Their Nigerian Connection
The conclusion of a five-year contract between Eutelsat Communications [Euronext Paris:ETL] and Entertainment Highway Ltd. (EHL) has resulted in one high-power Ku-band transponder connected to a high-power spotbeam that Eutelsat has focused over Nigeria via their W4 satellite. Full Story

Orbital Is Definitely On Route
Orbital Sciences Corporation [NYSE: ORB] and their Transportation Management Systems (TMS) division have been awarded a $15 million contract with the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) of Rochester, New York. The company will develop an integrated public transit fleet management system for more than 300 vehicles. Full Story

digiGO™ — The World Of Digital Broadcasting and Content Delivery
Echolab Corporation — Eutelsat Communications — IMS Research — International Datacasting Corporation — New Tek — On2Technologies — — Pinnacle Systems — Utah Scientific — SPOTS (Konami, Starz Media, Microsoft, NACE) Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
Juniper Networks & Denso Corporation - Los Angeles Air Force Base - Juniper Networks - International Datacasting Corporation - XipLink & ARINC - Juniper Networks #2 - XM Satellite Radio & SIRIUS Satellite Radio Full Story

November 12, 2007
CPI Amplifies Their Success With General Dynamics
Communications & Power Industries, Inc. (CPI) has received an initial award for satellite communications (satcom) amplifiers to support the General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies specialized satcom earth terminals. This will be for Increment One of the U.S. Army's Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) program (see Editor’s Note below for more info on this program). Full Story

“Surprise” Chinese Sat Launch
The Chinese’ Xinhua news service is reporting the launch of a new, remote sensing satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center which is located in northern China in the Shanxi Province. In a Rui C. Barbosa bylined article at the NASA website, the launch occurred yesterday (Monday, 22:48 UTC Sunday night) in the early morning hours. Full Story

Hughes NOCs on Bentley Walker’s Teleport
Hughes Network Systems, LLC’s subsidiary HNS, Ltd., has sold to Bentley Walker an additional HX System Network Operations Centre (NOC). The HX platform employs a highly efficient implementation of the DVB-S2 industry standard, including Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM). Full Story

Final DSP Sat Also Packing Nuke Detection Equipment
In close cooperation with the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) deployed two payloads of nuclear detonation detection equipment aboard an Air Force satellite. The payloads were separated from the second stage booster at 3:22 a.m. EST yesterday morning. Full Story

ViaSat Gets SatCom Order For JIPM
ViaSat Inc. [NASDAQ:VSAT] has received an order from Globecomm Systems Inc (GSI) for an open standard satellite communication network called the Joint Internet Protocol Modem (JIPM). The new networking modem is designed to integrate key technologies, including advanced commercial satellite networking and information assurance, into an integrated IP network for joint, interoperable communications. Full Story

Globecomm Gets Lead SatCom Order For JIPM
Globecomm Systems Inc. [NASDAQ:GCOM] has received a contract from the U.S. Army's Communications—Electronic Life Cycle Management Command, under the Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS) Project Manager Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems' (PM DCATS) World Wide Satellite Systems (WWSS) Program, to provide the Joint IP Modem (JIPM). Full Story

COM DEV & Gatehouse Into Improved AIS
COM DEV International Ltd. [TSX:CDV] and GateHouse A/S of Aalborg, Denmark, have signed a strategic alliance agreement to combine their respective skills and to enable COM DEV's space-based Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) data to be collected, stored, managed and displayed. This will provide a global turnkey AIS solution for a range of user groups. Full Story

Integral’s Subs’ Bundles Selected For Mission Control
Integral Systems Europe (ISE) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Integral Systems, Inc. [NASDAQ:ISYS] and they have received a contract to provide a fully integrated Carrier Signal Monitoring (CSM) and transponder planning system for RascomStar-QAF (AKA Mission Control) and their Rascom-QAF 1 satellite. Full Story

Gilat Gains a New Edge… SkyEdge, That Is…
Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. [NASDAQ:GILT] has announced their SkyEdge II. This is an advanced VSAT platform with higher efficiencies and full adaptivity for both the inbound and outbound channels. Full Story

MSV’s SMART, Brings CritComm Aid To Emergency Situations
Mobile Satellite Ventures’ (MSV) announced today that more than 230 federal, state, and local government sites representing more than 24 new offices and regional locations have signed up for Satellite Mutual Aid Radio Talkgroups (SMART) since the inception of the program in August of 2007. SMART groups, functioning throughout North America, operate on the MSV satellite communications network. Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
RIgNet Is Rather Prestigious - IBM Truly Flop’ing Along - Thuraya-3 Satellite Launch Update - Situational Awareness In Space To Be Highlighted - The Magic Of Merlin Comes Thru For SpaceX - Galileo Agreement Remains Fettered Full Story

November 11, 2007
Final DSP For USAF Via Delta IV ELV—SUCCESS!
The Air Force successfully launched the final Defense Support Program satellite 23 into space atop a giant Delta IV Heavy Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) from Pad 37B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base at 8:50 p.m. EDT last evening. This launch marked the first use of the Delta IV HLV for an operational mission on a day honoring our nation’s veterans. Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
Newtec Grabs The Frost & Sullivan Goodies - Navteq Recently Acquired, Now They Acquire… - XM SatRadio Out Of FTC Investigatory Crosshairs Full Story

November 10, 2007
Latest GPS IIR-M Sat Goes “Gold” For Lockheed Martin
The modernized Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-M) satellite, launched from Cape Canaveral on October 17th, has been declared fully operational for military and civilian navigation users around the globe. This announcement last week follows a successful on-orbit checkout by a combined U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team. Full Story

Globalstar’s FCC Petition Possibly… Positive!
Globalstar, Inc. [NASDAQ:GSAT] has learned the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM or Notice) in regards to Globalstar's petition for increased authority to offer Ancillary Terrestrial Component services (ATC) in the U.S. in conjunction with its mobile satellite services. Full Story

Sustained Growth For RTLS Verticals
“While Wi-Fi RTLS (Real-Time Location Systems) vendors expand their markets horizontally, many will rely on healthy vertical markets for sustained growth,” according to ABI Research vice president and research director, Stan Schatt. Full Story

Rosetta To Receive A Mighty, Mighty Push
The Earth’s gravity is going to be used to give Rosetta an exact boost in order for the comet chasing satellite to reach its ultimate destination. The European Space Agency’s (ESA) space vehicle will approach its close encounter with Earth, for the second time, on November 13th. Full Story

Ares 1 Avionic Goodies Coming From L-3
L-3 Communications [NYSE:LLL] subsidiary Cincinnati Electronics (L-3 CE) has been selected by Alliant Techsystems [NYSE: ATK] to provide the avionics subsystem and components for NASA's Ares I launch vehicle. This approximately $65 million program effort will run through June 2014. ATK is serving as the prime contractor for the first stage of the Ares 1 crew launch vehicle. Full Story

Alphasat Now In Inmarsat’s Lap
Inmarsat now has an agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) to become the commercial operator of a new satellite called Alphasat. The satellite is part of an ESA initiative to develop a new spacecraft platform capable of carrying a large communications payload. Full Story

November 9, 2007
Globecomm Earnings Waaaay Up
Globecomm Systems Inc. [NASDAQ: GCOM] has announced their financial results for the fiscal 2008 first quarter, ended September 30, 2007. Highlights of the Company's results reveal GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.16 in the fiscal 2008 first quarter, as compared to GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.06 in the same period last year. Full Story

Moving On Up… At Omnilink
Somehow, offenders must be tracked… that’s where Omnilink comes into play, for such products are this firm’s specialty product line. Their legal offender monitoring products are experiencing extremely fast growth in the judicial field. Full Story

ICO Global Gains SatSlot @ Canaveral
ICO Global Communications (Holdings) Limited [NASDAQ: ICOG] is delighted with Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services (LMCLS). In consultation with the United Launch Alliance (ULA), LMCLS has established a slot of March 1, 2008 through March 31, 2008 for the launch of their G1 satellite at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Full Story

SPOTlight Beams Onto Space Enterprise Awardees
Last Thursday evening at the 2007 SpotBeam Awards in Los Angeles, some 300-space enterprise leaders toasted the recipients of this year’s awards. Full Story

Light Shines On New Pharos Portable GPS Units
As the market for portable navigation units continues its explosive growth, Pharos Science & Applications, Inc. has debuted two new models in its Drive GPS line. The Pharos Drive GPS 250 is a new portable navigation device with a large 4.3-inch touch screen display and easy to use software. Full Story

November 8, 2007
We Have No Clue Where We’re Going… NavDevices Study By ABI
“Consumer Navigation Devices and Systems” is the title of a new study from ABI Research. This report examines the major navigation features, trends, drivers and barriers. Also included in the study is a detailed SWOT (Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats) analysis for each form factor. Full Story

C-COM Antennas At Work During Mexican Flooding
C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. [TSXV: CMI], in cooperation with its Mexican reseller Jaba Networks, has deployed a number of its iNetVu Mobile satellite antennas to assist medical authorities with the flood emergency in Mexico. Full Story

Northrop Grumman’s Final Sat For DSP Set For Launch
The final Northrop Grumman Corporation [NYSE:NOC] built satellite in support of the Defense Support Program for the U.S. Air Force will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Saturday, November 10th, from Launch Complex 37. Full Story

MoU By Australian DoD For MUOS Signed, Sealed & Delivered (SSD)
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by the Australian Department of Defence and the U.S. Navy, which covers the arrangements for a joint military communications, ground station near Geraldton, Western Australia. This new ground station will support the U.S. Navy’s Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). Full Story

“Go” Given For Fifth Ariane Mission
The green light has been given to Arianespace for the dual payload Ariane 5 mission. Liftoff should occur today, Friday, November 9th, as the launch readiness review at the Spaceport in French Guiana was completed yesterday. Full Story

Northrop Grumman Cements Presence In India
India-based executives Commodore Gyanendra Sharma, managing director India, and Joe Parsley, vice-president India and South Asia, met senior customers and industry partners at a reception held today in New Delhi to mark the company's expanding presence in India and the opening of its office there. Full Story

An Impressive Demo — Oerlikon Space Laser Communication First
When large quantities of data need to be transmitted rapidly back and forth between satellites, a team from Oerlikon Space had demo’d the feasibility of a laser link with an effective distance of 1.5 million kilometers—for the first time, ever. Links such as this will be able to transmit data across huge distances through the universe, and this data transmission will be done more rapidly and efficiently than is possible using conventional radio links in use today. Full Story

digiGO! The World of Digital Content & Broadcast Delivery
Espial Group — Sencore — Southern Africa Direct — Vignette & weComm — X2O Media — FISCALLY SPEAKING ( The DIRECTV Group, News Corporation, Time Warner Inc.) Full Story

November 7, 2007
Transforming Space Brings Lt. Governor To Podium For Keynote Address
California’s Lieutenant Governor, John Garamendi, will address the attendees of the Transforming Space 2007 Conference on November 8 in Los Angeles. As Chairman of California’s Commission for Economic Development (CED), Garamendi will highlight the need for California to invest in developing the workforce of the future. Full Story

X-band, Ku-band, Flexibility With Norsat’s Military Terminal Debut
Norsat International Inc. [TSX: NII and OTC BB: NSATF] unveiled their GLOBETrekker X-Band at the 9th annual Global MilSatCom Conference, Europe’s largest independent military satellite communications conference. The Norsat GLOBETrekker X-Band terminal is available as a highly integrated system. Full Story

Moving On Up… At Boeing... And Truly Moving!
The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has named Darryl Davis to the position of president, Advanced Systems, for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). Full Story

SkyPort & Cisco To The Rescue
SkyPort Global Communications has signed a contract with Cisco Systems Inc. to provide satellite connectivity for Cisco’s Emergency Response Networks (ERN) service. Cisco’s ERN service provides emergency voice, video, and Internet connectivity for first responders during disasters where terrestrial communication is unavailable or disrupted. Full Story

DoD Offers Pertinent Users Workshop
Only one week away is the third annual DoD Commercial SATCOM Users Workshop, which will be held at the Renaissance Washington DC Hotel, from November 13th through 15th. Full Story

Moving On Up… At Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has named John R. Landon vice president of missiles, technology and space programs. In this position, Landon reports to Larry Lanzillotta, vice president of customer relations within the company's government relations organization Full Story

digiGO™ — The World Of Digital Content & Broadcast Delivery
da Vinci Systems — Microwave Radio Communications — OmniBus Systems — Utah Scientific Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
- NemeriX Is Also Spot On… Or Rather, In… - The GPS Appliance War Heats Up For Tele Atlas - European BSPs Bumped Up By The Millions, Says Strategy Analytics - QinetiQ’s TopSat Offers Images For Relief Full Story

November 6, 2007
GlobeCast Top O’ The Teleport Indies, Says WTA
The World Teleport Association (WTA) has named GlobeCast the top Independent Teleport Operator for broadcast services (number two of all operators) for the third consecutive year. The WTA has also included GlobeCast on its 2007 Top Twenty list of Global Teleport operators, placing the company just behind satellite fleet operators at number 6. Full Story

Andrew Corporation Moving Out Sat Biz
Andrew Corporation has reached agreement for the sale of their Satellite Communications business to Resilience Capital Partners, a Cleveland, Ohio-based private equity firm. Under the agreement, Andrew will receive up to $39 million in total potential cash consideration as well as an ownership stake in the new satellite communications company Resilience will establish with the acquired Andrew assets. Full Story

RigNet Gets A Handle On Offshore Health
RigNet, Inc. now has a partnership with NuPhysicia LLC. The companies are launching RigNet Medical, a service developed to enhance the overall health of those whose work takes them offshore or to remote locations. This distance-medicine service gives the oil and gas industry the opportunity to better control health-care costs, reduce unnecessary transits off the jobsite, expand uptime, reduce medical-care risk, and enhance offshore medical services. Full Story

NSR Study Details ComSat Demand By Governments & Military
A thorough report has been released by Northern Sky Research (NSR) entitled Government and Military Demand on Commercial Satellites, 4th Edition. This study determines the net effects on demand should a pullout from Iraq and Afghanistan occur with that of new programs and initiatives outside the Pentagon and outside U.S. borders. Full Story

Boeing One Buttons TSAT
The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and its TEAM TSAT partners have successfully demonstrated the "one-button" start-up feature of its U.S. ground station. The ground station is an essential element of the companies' Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) offering. Full Story

EUMETSAT & ESA & Dual Meteosats Now All On The Same Dance Card
The Director-General of EUMETSAT, Dr. Lars Prahm, and the Director of Operations and Infrastructure of the European Space Agency (ESA), Gaele Winters, have signed the contract for the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) service for the last two Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites. Full Story

Satamatics Is Quite Alert On The High Seas
Satamatics has launched their Ocean Alert MKIII satellite tracking unit for maritime applications. The new model is based on the proven technology of the SAT-201, replacing the SAT-101 unit, which formed the basis of the previous Ocean Alert product. Full Story

Arianespace’s Aggressive Launch Finalé For 2007
The first pan-African telecommunications satellite Rascom 1 landed at Cayenne's Rochambeau International Airport aboard an Antonov An-125 cargo jetliner and has arrived at Europe's Spaceport in preparation for Arianespace's sixth Ariane 5 mission of 2007. Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
Papers Requested For ICSSC 2008 - Moving On Up… At ABI Research - SkyBitz Truckin’ On With MHF - Baby Steps On Telstar 10 Full Story

November 5, 2007
802.11 Wi-Fi Array From Xirrus Open To Public Scrutiny
Xirrus, Inc. has announced there is now public access to the test plans and results of its 802.11n beta program scheduled to launch this quarter. The program, announced last week at Interop New York, focuses on comprehensive testing of Xirrus’ 802.11n Wi-Fi Array. The 802.11n Wi-Fi Array beta program will be executed by a number of existing Xirrus customers. Full Story

XTAR X-ing The GSA
XTAR, LLC is a joint venture between Loral Space & Communications [NASDAQ: LORL] and HISDESAT. The company has announced the reception of a contract from the U.S. General Services Administration, Federal Acquisition Service for Information Technology Equipment, Software, and Services (FSC Group 70). Full Story

Harris Hayday, Financially Speaking
Harris Corporation [NYSE: HRS] reported their revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2008 increased 30 percent to $1.2 billion, compared to $947 million in the prior- year quarter. Full Story

U.S. Army Believes In Immersive SimTraining
The U.S. Army's Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) has announced performance will begin on the Warfighter Field Operations Customer Support (FOCUS) contract. Full Story

Control & Integration In Six Aruba NewGen Offerings
Aruba Networks, Inc. [NASDAQ: ARUN] has debuted a new generation of ultra high-performance Multi-Service Mobility Controllers and 802.11n Access Points. The new products make it possible to converge 802.11n wireless LANs, firewall-enforced user access control, cellular-to-Wi-Fi integration, and secure remote access into a single unified mobile network. Full Story

DataPath Gains SWAN Award
A $2.9 million award has been given to DataPath, Inc. 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. Full Story

Ground Breaking For Space Breaking Efforts By SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., otherwise known as SpaceX, conducted official ground breaking ceremonies today at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This opens a new era in commercial space operations for the company. Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
Asia Broadcast Satellite Beams For NET 25 - VOOM’ing Business For Ascent, MEASAT & VOOM - Dubai-Centric Debut For NSSL - GE-SAT Transponders Target Eastern Indonesia Full Story

November 4, 2007
MEASAT Makes ANTRIX Capacity Concerns Go Away
MEASAT Satellite Systems and ANTRIX Corporation Limited have announced the signing of an agreement for the leasing of Ku-Band capacity on the MEASAT-3 satellite. ANTRIX is the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization (“ISRO”). Full Story

GVF Hosts A Meeting Of SatMinds In Nigeria
GVF and UK-EMP, organizers of the 3rd West Africa Satellite Communications Summit (WASCS3), taking place in Lagos, Nigeria, 20th to 21st November 2007, have announced a further increase in the level of sponsorship support for the Summit from the communications solutions sector. Full Story

No More Change For Chang’e-1
From The Hindu online news update service comes a story datelined in Beijing indicating the Chang’e-1, China’s lunar probe, will undergo no further orbital corrections. Full Story

Another Prestigious Award For Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel
The Space and Missile Systems Center commander, Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel, has received the California State University Dominguez Hills Alumni of the Year Award. Full Story

Swedish Space Corp. & China Meteorological Admin Getting Together
The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) has signed a new contract with the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) and they are now involved in a new Chinese meteorological satellite project. Full Story

ProtoStar & PlanetSky Get Set For 1st Satellite Launch
ProtoStar Ltd. and PlanetSky Ltd. have announced a strategically important anchor customer lease agreement today wherein PlanetSky will secure C band capacity on ProtoStar’s first satellite, which is to to be launched in May 2008. Full Story

The Sea Launch Odyssey For Thuraya-3 Is Underway…
The Odyssey Launch Platform and the Sea Launch Commander have departed Sea Launch Home Port. This is all in preparation for the launch of the Thuraya-3 satellite. Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
Wi-Fi Folk Battle The CSIRO, Buffalo Loses… So Far! - Thermally Speaking, SpaceDev Has Radiator On Their Minds - Norsat Patent Pride - Precision Positioning Is A Spectralux Feature - Aerospace Components Now Part of Parker Hannifin Full Story

November 3, 2007
Expanded Alliance Hardens Space Micro & DR Technologies
By joining forces, Space Micro Inc. and DR Technologies will be bringing radiation hardened structures to both the military and space markets. They will work together to support the development, testing and marketing of new technologies and products related to intelligent, multifunctional structures for space and military applications. Full Story

Algeria Believes In Alsat-2
During a speech at an international workshop held in Algiers, Algeria, the director-general of Algeria’s space agency ASAL, Azzedine Oussedik, told SciDev.net his country is on schedule to launch their second satellite system, Alsat-2. Full Story

Globalcom Is SPOT On
Globalcom Satellite Communications has debuted their SPOT Satellite Messenger. This new unit is the smallest satellite messenger available and provides a satellite GPS personal locator. Folk check in with their families, ask for help, track their progress, or call for 911. Full Story

November 2, 2007
NASA Heats It Up Again
NASA’s Space Shuttle Program has successfully fired a four-segment, reusable solid rocket motor. This occurred on Thursday, November 1st, at the ATK Launch Systems Group, a test facility located in Promontory, Utah, and burned for approximately two minutes. Full Story

November 1, 2007
MilsatMagazine To Up Published Frequency Due to Overwhelming, Positive Response!
Phenomtastic! That happens to be the most accurate phrasing I can offer regarding the SatNews Publishers participation in this week’s MILCOM 2007 in Orlando, Florida. Full Story

Andrews Space Flying High With ACEI Gain
Andrews Space has acquired Automated Controlled Environments, Incorporated (ACEI). The latter firm is a privately held California corporation developing fault-tolerant aerospace avionics and advanced control systems. Full Story

Three Is A Charm For SAR-Lupe
The third SAR-Lupe satellite was boosted into orbit today from the Plesetsk Space Center by a Russian Cosmos-3M rocket. The lift-off occurred at 1:51 a.m., CET. The satellite will provide high-res images to the German Ministry of Defense. Full Story

Raytheon & Team Are Truly Grounded With Success
The transition of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite Systems, otherwise known as NPOESS as well as to save breath, has now found the command, control and communication segment (C3S) transitioned to the operations and support team by Raytheon Company [NYSE:RTN], Northrup Grumman Corp. and NPOESS themselves. Full Story

Loral’s Acquisition Completed, Moving On Up As Well As Moving Out Announcements, Too
Loral Space & Communications Inc. [NASDAQ: LORL] has announced the CAD 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. Full Story

Growth Continues With MilSegement for Iridium
Iridium Satellite continues to relish the continued growth in the firm’s military sector business—they know have 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 10 percent over last year). Full Story

GOHSEP'ing and GSMART'ing With Mobile Satellite Ventures
Mobile Satellite Ventures’ (MSV) announced today they 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). Full Story

ORBITS: News Briefs
Snell & Wilcox Multiformat Switchers Production Boon For NDTV - Ultralife Gets Stationary Power - Moving On Up… At ABI Research - A New Internet Video Standard From Skype & Logitech - For Rippin’ Video On Demand, An Agreement Between On2 & RipCode - A Future View… Of Commercial Space… - Xirrus Xtends Conference Coverage Full Story

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