News on key developments at SupremeSAT, and general news on the Space and Satellite industry from across the web
NASA’s Deep Space 1 with NSTAR ion thruster. Photo: NASA [Via Satellite 02-02-2015] Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space have contracted European Space Propulsion (ESP) for the initial development of a new electronic controller for the XR-5 Hall thruster. The companies issued the contract as part of the European Space Agency (ESA)-sponsored Neosat…
Manila, Philippines. Photo: Storm Crypt (Flickr) [Via Satellite 02-02-2015] Philippine telecommunications solutions provider Delnet International has selected Gilat Satellite Networks’ SkyEdge 2 network for 3G and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) cellular backhaul. The Ku-band network will support 2G and 3G Base Transceiver Station (BTS)/Node B sites for Smart Communications, a wholly-owned cellular network…
A Delta 2 rocket carrying NASA’s SMAP satellite. Photo: ULA [Via Satellite 02-02-2015] The Boeing–Lockheed Martin joint venture United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite on Jan. 31 aboard a Delta 2 rocket. The launch also delivered four CubeSats for the agency’s Educational Launch of Nanosatellite (ELANA) initiative. ULA…
OceanTrx4. Photo: Orbit Communications Systems [Via Satellite 02-02-2015] Orbit Communications Systems has received a contract from an Asian Navy customer for its new OceanTRxTM4 maritime satellite communication systems. The customer has used Orbit’s previous-generation OrSatTM maritime VSAT systems for five years, and has decided to upgrade new ships with the company’s latest satcom solution. The OceanTRxTM…
SES 10 coverage. Photo: SES [Via Satellite 01-30-2015] The digitization of the oil and gas (O&G) sector is spurring on demand for new satellite capacity to keep pace with data needs. Dave Sikorski, sales director of North American enterprise and mobility at SES, names three reason for the increase in demand: crew welfare, monitoring regulations…
European Data Relay System (EDRS). Photo: ESA [Via Satellite 01-30-2015] Following the successful test campaign of the first multigigabit optical intersatellite link between the Copernicus Sentinel 1A and Alphasat satellites, the European Space Agency and Airbus have entered a partnership to complete the full European Data Relay System (EDRS). This test campaign paved the way…
Global XpressPhoto: Inmarsat [Via Satellite 01-30-2015] Satcom Direct’s Land Mobile group, which focuses on satellite communications solutions for its land-based enterprise customers, is now authorized to provide Inmarsat Global Xpress (GX) products and services to its clients. Satcom Direct has been an Inmarsat partner since 1997 and has now been appointed as a Value Added…
[Via Satellite 01-30-2015] The U.S. Strategic Command (Stratcom) signed a technical arrangement with Germany to share Space Situational Awareness (SSA) services and information. The arrangement, signed by Maj. Gen. David D. Thompson, Stratcom director of plans and policy, and German army Brig. Gen. Dirk H. Backen, the defense attaché at the Embassy of the Federal…
Participants of the 4H HughesNet program Photo: HughesNet [Via Satellite 01-30-2015] Building on momentum generated in 2014, National 4-H Council and HughesNet, Hughes Network Systems’ satellite Internet service, are announcing a new 2015 program supporting their commitment to introduce more American youth to hands-on, community-based Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education. The partnership brings…
Comtech Xicom TWTAs. Photo: Comtech Xicom [Via Satellite 01-30-2015] Comtech Xicom Technology, a subsidiary of Comtech Telecommunications, has received a $3.8 million follow-on order from a U.S.-based system integrator for Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAs). These TWTAs are for a major U.S. Army program for transportable satellite communications (satcom) systems providing voice, data, video conferencing,…