July 2014

Digital rendering of Thales U.K. satellites. Photo: Thales U.K. [Via Satellite 07-29-2014] Thales Alenia Space’s recently created subsidiary Thales U.K. is preparing to take on a major company project, according to CEO Martin Gee. Roughly three months after forming, the subsidiary is planning to take a lead role in the creation of a new “mini”…

An O3b satellite. Photo: O3b [Via Satellite 07-29-2014] SES Government
 Solutions (SES GS) reports that as of July 8, 2014, the company has received approval from the General Services Administration (GSA) to
 offer O3b Networks services on the agency’s schedule. The approval makes SES GS the first distribution partner offering services from O3b’s Medium Earth…

Peter Beck, founder and CEO, Rocket Lab. Photo: Rocket Lab [Via Satellite 07-29-2014] Rocket Lab revealed plans to build a carbon-composite dedicated small satellite launch vehicle named Electron. Currently under construction in New Zealand, the company anticipates launching payloads of up to 100-kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for less than $5 million. Silicon Valley…

The AFSPC Delta 4 launch from Space Launch Complex-37. Photo: ULA [Via Satellite 07-29-2014] United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, launched three Air Force satellites on July 28, 2014. Using a Delta 4 rocket, the company carried two Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) satellites and the Automated Activation…

Digital rendering of IPstar satellite. Photo: IPstar [Via Satellite 07-29-2014] NBN Co has selected Thaicom subsidiary IPstar Australia (IPA) to provide interim satellite capacity for remote and regional areas of Australia and Tasmania. The agency anticipates the service will connect as many as 9,000 locations, easing the demand from customers until the NBN Co Satellite…

DeLorme’s inReach-Explorer satellite communicator. Photo: DeLorme [Via Satellite 07-29-2014] Lockheed Martin Flight Services (LMFS) has approved DeLorme’s inReach satellite communicator for use in the company’s Adverse Condition Alerting Service (ACAS) and Surveillance-Enhanced Search and Rescue. Pilots using an inReach device as part of LMFS can obtain ACAS alerts for severe weather, closed airports and other…

Computer model of space debris in Geostationary Orbit (GEO). Photo: NASA [Via Satellite 07-28-2014] To reign in the ever-expanding proliferation of space debris, cooperation between the governments of the United States and Russia is essential, said Jer-Chyi Liou, chief scientist for orbital debris with NASA’s orbital debris program office. Speaking at the NewSpace 2014 conference,…

Rockwell Collins Satcom products. Photo: Rockwell Collins [Via Satellite 07-28-2014] Rockwell Collins has sold its satellite communications business to an Atlanta-based private investor group. Roughly 365 employees along with operational centers in Duluth, Ga., and Stockholm, Sweden, have now become a new entity named DataPath. The company will keep its focus on designing, manufacturing and…

Gray Labs Facility. Photo: Gray Labs [Via Satellite 07-28-2014] ViaSat has acquired a high-rate modem product line and custom spacecraft technologies for Earth observation from Gray Labs. As part of the agreement, Gray Labs president Jim Gray has taken a senior consulting position with ViaSat to guide the company’s satellite-to-Earth Information, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)…

The Pearl Mist. Photo: Pearl Sea Cruises [Via Satellite 07-28-2014] MTN Communications has signed contracts for expanded and new services with three cruise ship operators. Pearl Seas Cruises, Lindblad Expeditions, and Windstar have selected MTN to enhance communications, crew welfare solutions, entertainment and corporate operations. Pearl Seas Cruises chose MTN for its inaugural ship, the…