November 2014

Industry and government officials discuss future U.S. government needs. Photo: Via Satellite [Via Satellite 11-19-2014] The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is trying to plan for satellite capacity needs beyond the Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) constellation but is having trouble gauging the military’s long-term requirements. “WGS is coming to an end over the next 10…

A flooded street in New York following Superstorm Sandy. Photo: Oliver Rich. [Via Satellite 11-19-2014] Hughes Network Systems has created a strategic information sharing partnership with the All Hazards Consortium (AHC), a nonprofit dedicated to emergency management, homeland security and business continuity. The company will provide information on disaster-struck areas to AHC’s Multi-Sate Fleet Response…

SES Satellite Operations Center. Photo: SES [Via Satellite 11-19-2014] SES subsidiary SES Broadband Services was awarded a contract to provide Astra Connect satellite broadband to 36 German villages in the Eifel district of Bitburg-Prüm. Orbitcom, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) has partnered with SES for the project and will manage, market and sell the service…

Yamal 402′s European, Southern and steerable beams. Photo: Gazprom Space Systems [Via Satellite 11-19-2014] Globecomm has leased additional capacity on Gazprom Space System’s Yamal 402 satellite, totaling 36MHz. The new capacity will serve customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Globecomm offers services on two Gazprom Space Systems satellites, Yamal 402 and Yamal…

Spacecom and Eutelsat’s combined Ku-band footprint at 16-17 degrees east. Photo: Eutelsat [Via Satellite 11-19-2014] Eutelsat and Spacecom, operator of the Amos satellites, have announced a partnership to cross-commercialize Ku-band capacity on the African service areas of the Eutelsat 16A and Amos 5 satellites at 16 and 17 degrees east, respectively. The amalgamated channel line…

[Via Satellite 11-19-2014] Inmarsat has opened a new office in Auburn, Australia, 10 minutes away from the city of Sydney. The office provides 500 square meters of warehouse space, classrooms, Research and Development (R&D) engineering facilities and demonstration labs. The location was selected for its uninterrupted line-of-sight to the company’s satellites. Inmarsat anticipates seeing growth…

Elena Lu-Ke-Su, CEO of Satcom Global LLC, [Via Satellite 11-17-2014] Satcom Global, a satellite communications provider headquartered in the United Kingdom, has opened a new office in Moscow, Russia, to extend its reach throughout the largest country in the world. The company announced the new office, which had been planned since May 2014, this October.…

Science Minister Greg Clark visits Airbus Defence and Space with UK ESA astronaut Tim Peake. Photo: UK Space Agency (Max Alexander). [Via Satellite 11-18-2014] The United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA) has allocated approximately $50 million to build relationships with foreign companies through the International Partnership Space Program (IPSP). During the two-year program, British companies will…

Busek’s BHT-1500 Hall Effect Thruster. Photo: Busek [Via Satellite 11-18-2014] The Aerospace Corporation has tested Busek Co.’s BHT-1500 Hall Effect Thruster, used for electric propulsion of satellites. The nonprofit found the thruster to be largely unaffected by test facility pressure. According to Busek, the BHT-1500’s design enables it to operate with higher efficiency in the…

Students using satellite-powered tablets. Photo: Newtec [Via Satellite 11-18-2014] Yazmi, a U.S.-based satellite solutions provider and Newtec have created an e-learning capability on the satellite-enabled Odyssey tablet. The devices use Newtec’s TelliCast multicast distribution software to deliver content in remote, low-income regions. Yazmi is using AfriStar and AsiaStar satellites to provide governments with access to…