January 2016

NovaWorks Hyper-Integrated Satlet, rendering. Photo: NovaWurks [Via Satellite 01-27-2016] NovaWurks, a U.S. company that provides high-tech space products and services, is embarking on the demonstration phase of its new modular satellite design set to aid the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Phoenix program, which aims to scavenge and reuse parts from obsolete spacecraft already…

Artist’s rendition of a OneWeb satellite. Photo: OneWeb [Via Satellite 01-27-2016] OneWeb and Airbus Defence and Space, in preparation for OneWeb’s constellation of 648 small telecommunications satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), have created a joint venture named OneWeb Satellites to handle spacecraft manufacturing. OneWeb Satellites is equally owned between both companies, and will design…

SpaceX’s upgraded Falcon 9 rocket. Photo: SpaceX [Via Satellite 01-27-2016] The U.S. Air Force has certified the baseline configuration of SpaceX‘s Falcon 9 launch system to Falcon 9 Upgrade, for use in National Security Space (NSS) missions. The new certification letter, approved Jan. 25, makes SpaceX eligible for award of NSS launch missions using this…

Tom Choi, CEO of ABS (left) and Adolfo Montenegro CEO of Bluesky Pacific Group (right). Photo: ABS. [Via Satellite 01-27-2016] ABS has signed a multi-transponder contract with Bluesky Pacific Group for satellite services on ABS 6. The multi-year capacity deal will offer expanded satellite connectivity services across the Samoan islands and the Pacific. ABS is…

[Via Satellite 01-27-2016] Orbcomm’s new OGi core modem is now commercially available, having demonstrated compliance with Inmarsat’s requirements for RF communication on the Inmarsat I-4 L-band satellites along with the IsatData Pro (IDP) network protocol. The modem is a software-defined radio based on Orbcomm’s satellite modem platform. With a footprint nearly 50 percent smaller than…

Geoff Mulligan, chairman of the LoRa Alliance. Photo: LoRa Alliance [Via Satellite 01-26-2016] The LoRa Alliance, a fast growing industry organization in the Internet of Things (IoT) space, is interested in having satellite companies join its ranks to help set standards for this emerging sector. Founded 10 months ago, the LoRa Alliance started with 11…

The Amos 6 satellite in production. Photo: Spacecom [Via Satellite 01-26-2015] Spacecom, operator of the Amos satellite fleet, announced that SpaceX has scheduled the launch of the Amos 6 satellite for May aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Amos 6, to be collocated with Amos 2 and Amos 3 at the 4…

Sentinel 2A. Photo: Airbus Defence and Space [Via Satellite 01-26-2015] Airbus Defence and Space has signed a contract worth around 285 million euros with the European Space Agency (ESA) to deliver two further optical satellites for the European Copernicus program. As part of the Sentinel 2 Earth Observation (EO) satellite system, these two new models,…

A Telenor Satellite facility. Photo: Skyline Communications [Via Satellite 01-26-2015] Telenor Satellite Broadcasting (TSBc) announced it is changing its name to Telenor Satellite. The name change seeks to reflect the company’s broadening of its satellite-communications portfolio, which includes its expansion into the maritime and energy sectors. Telenor Satellite’s investment in new satellites — including its…

Roof mounted Exede satellite dish. Photo: ViaSat [Via Satellite 01-26-2015] ViaSat has introduced new Exede Business Internet service plans that offer up to 15 Mbps download and 4 Mbps upload speeds, whic support applications such as video, data, voice, remote monitoring, Point-of-Sale (POS) systems and cloud connectivity. Additionally, for those businesses requiring a back-up connectivity…