Industry Latest

Testing green propellant technologyPhoto: Aerojet Rocketdyne [Via Satellite 02-27-2015] The Department of Defense (DOD) Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program awarded Aerojet Rocketdyne a three-year contract for Research and Development (R&D) into green monopropellants and gas generators. The company has joined forces with the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center; the U.S.…

London, U.K., is considered one of the world’s emerging smart cities. Photo: James Offer (Flickr) [Via Satellite 02-26-2015] The “connected car” and “smart cities” are two potentially new and exciting markets the satellite industry could play in over the coming years, particularly the former as the potential for “always-on” connectivity could be a big draw for…

MDA offices. Photo: MDA [Via Satellite 02-26-2015] MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) has signed a contract valued at more than $23 million with Aselsan Electronic Industries to provide Ku-band payload equipment for a communications satellite subsystem. This award is in addition to the existing contract announced in April 2014 for the provision of a X-band…

Solar Impulse aircraft in flight. Photo: Solar Impulse [Via Satellite 02-26-2015] Intelsat and ITC Global will provide ground-to-ground satellite communication services to Solar Impulse, a completely fuel-free aircraft, during its first round-the-world solar flight. Intelsat and ITC Global will enable the ground crew and support teams to communicate from anywhere to anyone in the world.…

Canadian Armed Forces Lockheed CP-140 Aurora. Photo: Arturus via Wikimedia [Via Satellite 02-26-2015] The Canadian Department of National Defense is upgrading its Lockheed CP-140 Aurora aircraft with advanced airborne satellite communication systems from ViaSat in cooperation with L-3 Electronic System Services (ESS). The collaboration on the Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) program between the three parties,…

Optus Thuraya SatSleeve on iPhone; communications coverage chart. Photo: Thuraya [Via Satellite 02-26-2015] The Optus Thuraya SatSleeve, which transforms a smartphone into a satellite phone, is now available for iPhone 6. The SatSleeve attaches to the back of a compatible device and is activated through the SatSleeve app. It enables iPhone and Samsung Galaxy users…

SpaceX fairing separation test. Photo: SpaceX [Via Satellite 02-25-2015] SES has awarded launches for two of its three recently announced satellites to SpaceX. Of the recently announced SES, 14, 15 and 16/GovSat, SES 14 and 16 will liftoff on Falcon 9 missions in 2017. The contracts further tighten the satellite operator’s relationship with SpaceX, whose…

Recovery of the Cryofenix sounding rocket. Photo: Marcus Lindh/SSC [Via Satellite 02-25-2015] Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) has launched a Cryofenix sounding rocket from the Esrange Space Center in Sweden filled with liquid hydrogen to study the propellant’s behavior in microgravity. The French space agency CNES and partner Air Liquide Advanced Technologies conducted the experiment and…

Auckland, New Zealand seen at 30 cm resolution. Photo: DigitalGlobe [Via Satellite 02-25-2015] DigitalGlobe announced today it has started selling high resolution, 30 cm imagery from its latest satellite, WorldView 3. At this resolution, rated 5.7 on the National Imagery Interpretability Rating Scale (NIIRS), details such as aboveground utility lines in residential neighborhoods, manhole covers,…

NOAA’s Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Md. Photo: NOAA [Via Satellite 02-25-2015] Harris Corporation, prime contractor and systems integrator for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) ground segment for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite–R (GOES–R) series program, has completed the computer hardware delivery, installation and integration for the necessary operational systems. The improved system…