July 2015

The U.S. House Of Representatives. Photo: Stephen Melkisethian (Flickr) [Via Satellite 07-31-2015] On July 30 the United States Congress missed what many considered to be the soonest viable attempt to reauthorize the Export-Import bank — an important player in the satellite industry — leaving the Export Credit Agency (ECA) inactive for a lengthier amount of…

Peter Beck, founder and CEO, Rocket Lab. Photo: Rocket Lab [Via Satellite 07-31-2015] Small satellite launch company Rocket Lab has signed a Commercial Space Launch Act Agreement with NASA, enabling the company to use NASA resources such as personnel, facilities and equipment for launch efforts. The partnership opens up the opportunity for Rocket Lab to…

Inuvik Satellite Station Facility (ISSF). Photo: Natural Resources Canada [Via Satellite 07-31-2015] The government of Canada has announced an investment of CA$3.7 million ($2.8 million) in the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility (ISSF) to improve and build roads granting access to the facility. Canada collaborated with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and PrioraNet Canada in 2010…

An SES Uplink antenna. Photo: SES [Via Satellite 07-31-2015] Digital TV operator StarTimes has entered an agreement with SES subsidiary SES Platform Services for Direct-to-Home (DTH) distribution services for subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Under the new multi-year agreement, SES Platform Services will be providing signal turnaround, video processing, and uplinking services for StarTimes’ SD and…

[Via Satellite 07-31-2015] Globecomm has received an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract from a preexisting customer to upgrade its telecommunications infrastructure. The global multilateral organization previously ordered several hundred fixed terminals and mobile communication trailers. Now the customer is purchasing RF upgrade kits, antennas, complete terminals and associated services, leveraging modernized IP and baseband…

Artist’s rendition of Telstar 18. Photo: SSL [Via Satellite 07-30-2015] Telesat expects it will order a previously announced replacement satellite by the end of this year. The new satellite would replace Telstar 18, which is currently in orbit at 138 degrees east providing coverage for the Asia-Pacific. Telstar 18 entered service in 2004 and has…

Samuel Beckett bridge at sunset in Dublin, Ireland. Photo: Giuseppe Milo (Flickr) [Via Satellite 07-30-2015] VT iDirect, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Technologies Engineering (ST Engineering), has formed a wholly owned subsidiary, VT iDirect Solutions in Ireland. The new subsidiary is set up as a Research and Development (R&D) center, with a focus on…

Intelsat’s North America headquarters. Photo: Intelsat [Via Satellite 07-30-2015] Intelsat, in announcing its second quarter earnings results, affirmed that the satellites it has awaiting near term launches are still scheduled for when previously anticipated despite launch failures of both International Launch Services’ (ILS) Proton and SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets in recent months. “Our expected satellite…

C-COM Satellite Systems’ iNetVu Ka-1202V Drive-Away antenna system. Photo: C-COM Satellite Systems [Via Satellite 07-30-2015] C-COM Satellite Systems’ iNetVu 1.2m Ka-band vehicle mount antenna system has received type approval from ViaSat for use on the network that powers its Exede Enterprise service. The new antenna operates in Ka band but is field switchable to also operate in Ku band.…

[Via Satellite 07-30-2015] DataPath is opening a new office at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Md., to support U.S. Army programs and the company’s field services engineers around the world. Aberdeen Proving Ground employs more than 22,000 civilian, military, and contractor employees, and is home to the Army’s Program Executive Office Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO…