General news on the satellite and space industry from around the web
Photo: Exelis [Via Satellite 02-06-2015] Harris is purchasing Exelis for $4.75 billion in an acquisition expected to close by June 2015. Both boards of directors unanimously approved the acquisition, and Harris has secured $3.4 billion from Morgan Stanley Senior Funding for fully committed bridge financing. The company anticipates permanent financing in the form of term…
ALASA concept art. Photo: Boeing/Chuck Schroeder [Via Satellite 02-06-2015] The United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plans to conduct 12 orbital test launches of an Airborne Launch Assist Space Access (ALASA) integrated prototype system starting in 2016. The project, now in its second phase with Boeing as the prime contractor, seeks to drastically…
The Millimetron Space Telescope under construction. Photo: Roscosmos [Via Satellite 02-06-2015] Russian satellite manufacturer ISS Reshetnev has started building the Millimetron Space Telescope, a future observatory to study the properties of black holes, stellar and planetary formation, and the nature of dark energy. Slated to launch in 2025, the telescope will operate the 0.3-17 millimeter…
[Via Satellite 02-06-2015] Inmarsat has selected IDG Europe to provide L-TAC services to Sweden. L-TAC is a satcom system designed to meet military requirements on the Inmarsat I-4 satellite network. The service uses an antenna adaptor to work with existing tactical radios without needing additional training or certification. L-TAC is interoperable between Ultra-High Frequency (UHF)…
A Kymeta prototype radome. Photo: Kymeta [Via Satellite 02-05-2015] In preparation for the launch of its first EpicNG High Throughput Satellite (HTS) toward the end of this year, Intelsat has signed a significant partnership with Kymeta, designer of an electronically steerable flat satellite antenna. Kymeta will introduce Ku-band “mTenna” satellite antenna solutions tailored to EpicNG,…
Seatback in-flight entertainment via IFC. Photo: Global Eagle Entertainment [Via Satellite 02-05-2015] Global Eagle Entertainment (GEE) is jointly designing a new In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) antenna with Quantenelektronische Systeme GmbH (QEST). The new global antenna aims to provide airlines with a reliable, high-speed IFC solution that operates at all latitudes — including equatorial regions — where…
Artist rendition of the Anik F1R. Photo: Airbus Defence & Space [Via Satellite 02-05-2015] Telesat has signed an agreement with AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, a subsidiary of AMC Networks, the owner and operator of several cable brands. Under the deal, AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology will use C-band capacity on Telesat’s Anik F1R satellite.…
Diagram of ADS-B satellite tracking coverage. Photo: Aireon [Via Satellite 02-05-2015] The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Aireon have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to enhance aircraft tracking in the Singapore Flight Information Region (FIR). Through this collaboration, Aireon aims to work with CAAS to enhance surveillance coverage over the entire Singapore…
A man using SPOT satcom technology. Photo: Globalstar [Via Satellite 02-05-2015] Globalstar Europe Satellite Services has reached an agreement with Agiltech for the distribution and retail sales of Globalstar’s SPOT satellite communications portfolio of products across France. SPOT’s satellite-enabled tracking and positioning capabilities currently help organizations across Europe to monitor, track and support people and…
The U.S. Air Force’s AEHF 2 satellite. Photo: Patrick Air Force Base [Via Satellite 02-04-2015] In the recently released budget request for Fiscal Year 2016, the United States Department of Defense (DOD) asked for $177.5 billion, of which $7.1 billion would be allocated specifically to space-based systems. This is approximately $300 million less than what…