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19 Nov 15. San Jose-based Hera Systems is revealing its plans to launch the first of the company’s satellites that will capture high-resolution Earth images and video in near-real time. Hera Systems has secured its initial round of investment funding and is set to begin initial launches in October 2016. It will be the only company to collect fresh, intelligent, one-meter and higher resolution imagery and video of any location on the globe, and make these products, along with analytics and derived information, easily accessible on-demand via mobile applications. Hera Systems sets itself apart from other providers by offering the combination of all of these features and capabilities in one affordable package.
“What we’ve learned from talking with customers and watching this industry closely for the past 16 years is that people don’t want to go to multiple providers for their imagery and analytics needs,” said Bobby Machinski, CEO of Hera Systems. “Today’s customers want and expect a variety of features and intelligent analytics capabilities from a single source – and they expect a very high value for every dollar spent.”
Hera Systems recently completed its Series A round of investment funding, with Firsthand Capital as the lead investor. The funding has allowed Hera Systems to complete the development of a mockup satellite that demonstrates its technology, purchase components for the construction of the initial satellites, and make commitments to launch opportunities. Hera Systems successfully completed the preliminary design review for the spacecraft – a key engineering and business milestone – late last month.
The company’s initial constellation will comprise nine satellites. Featuring “sun-synchronous” and “inclined orbit” capabilities, these satellites will enable coverage of the entire globe and at varying times during the day. As market demand grows, Hera Systems will expand its constellation to include 48 satellites in order to provide near-hourly updates.
Over the past year, Machinski and his team have focused their energy and resources on developing Hera Systems’ spacecraft design and capabilities, including communications systems and protocols, and the basic architecture for secure data-cloud and supporting web services.
“In the coming weeks, we will announce additional plans for satellites beyond our one-meter system, as well as major partnering arrangements we’re securing with customers,” said Machinski. “Right now, we’re focused on securing additional funding to get us through the next milestones that get us closer to launch.” As Hera Systems prepares for its next round of investments, it is already accepting convertible funding notes. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
19 Nov 15. New solid-state high-power amplifier helps to counter
threat of IEDs. The latest addition to the MtronPTI range of solid-state high-power amplifiers is the compact PA1029 module, which delivers a microwave power output of 50W over frequencies from 2.2 to 6GHz, making it ideal for use in vehicle-mounted counter-IED jamming systems.
Available in the UK from Link Microtek, the new module utilises linear GaN technology to provide instantaneous wide bandwidth, with a minimum gain of 47dB, a maximum gain flatness of 3dB peak-to-peak across the band and typical 2-tone intermodulation of -30dBc.
The Class AB power amplifier is housed in a rugged, sealed case and features built-in monitoring and control circuits to protect it against load VSWR, input overdrive, over/under supply voltage and output overcurrent.
Operating from a 28-30VDC supply, the PA1029 is equipped with SMA female connectors for RF input and output and a 9-way D-subminiature connector for power and control signals. The module measures just 250 x 106 x 27mm excluding connectors and weighs only 900g. It is suitable for use in ambient temperatures