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21 Nov 18. Plextek RFI designs PA module for Astro Digital. Plextek RFI, a UK design house specialising in microwave and millimetre-wave IC design, has announced that it has successfully designed and supplied a microwave power amplifier (PA) module for California-based satellite manufacturer and space mission operator Astro Digital. The module designed by Plextek RFI incorporates a power GaN output device and a GaAs driver circuit. It will form part of a propulsion system that is being supplied to an in-space transportation service company, and will be launched into space in 2019.
“The specification for this design project presented us with some significant challenges,” said Liam Devlin, CEO of Plextek RFI. “The module design seeks to maximise the DC to RF conversion efficiency, and – as with all of our power amplifier designs – attention to detail was required to manage the thermal performance in a compact space. The different packaging technologies used for the driver amplifier and the output device also necessitated an innovative approach to the PCB design.”
“It was a great experience working with Plextek RFI on this project,” said Patrick Shannon, of Astro Digital. “We needed a design partner who was skilled in all of the semiconductor device, circuit, and packaging technologies needed for our space application. Plextek RFI’s experience with high efficiency solid state amplifiers and track record really stood out from the crowd.” (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
20 Nov 18. Satcom Direct strengthens Inmarsat relationship with new Value-Added Reseller (VAR) status for Jet ConneX. SD has been appointed a Level 1 Value Added Reseller (VAR) for Inmarsat’s Jet ConneX service, the seamless in-flight connectivity solution. The Level 1 VAR status means that SD can now provide the ultra-high-speed data service directly to the business aviation community. This latest progression of the long-term SD and Inmarsat relationship benefits customers by enhancing the support and solutions available to them. The new Jet ConneX Level 1 VAR status brings even more flexibility to the newly-launched SD Xperience which simplifies and improves business aviation connectivity and operations. SD Xperience is the new fully-synchronized, end-to-end solution that combines cabin and cockpit communications services, aircraft connectivity hardware, and flight operations software. SD Xperience delivers purpose-built technology to satisfy the unique, evolving requirements of business aviation, allowing SD to deliver tailored, customer-driven solutions to the global business aviation marketplace. As a Level 1 VAR, SD customers now have more direct airtime provider choices through the SD Xperience.
“SD was the first business aviation communications provider to provision its services and transmit data over Inmarsat’s first two Global Xpress satellites. We’re delighted that our successful partnership continues to grow, and we’ve become the leading supplier of Jet ConneX to the global business aviation sector,” said David Greenhill, President, SD. “Additionally, SD proprietary solutions enhance and optimize the Jet ConneX service to deliver unmatched performance in the air. These exclusive SD services allow operators to manage and maximize bandwidth, improve voice call quality, prioritize passenger data and more – bringing them a better Jet ConneX experience.”
“Inmarsat’s Jet ConneX global inflight wi-fi has experienced unprecedented demand in the business aviation market, with more than 400 activations to date across the world,” said Philip Balaam, President, Inmarsat Aviation. “Our successful, long-standing partnership with SD has been a key part of this success. We are confident that now, as a Level 1 VAR, SD will build on that momentum by placing JX as a cornerstone of their new SD Xperience. We are proud to be one of their premium network providers.”
20 Nov 18. Goonhilly partners with Airbus, other industry leaders and academics in proposed SmartSat CRC to drive Australia’s space sector. Goonhilly joins Airbus, BAE, Harris, Thales, and others in ambitious new research centre initiative. Satellite communications innovator and space gateway Goonhilly Earth Station has joined the consortium backing the SmartSat CRC (co-operative research centre), a proposed space research initiative which plans to drive the Australian space industry through satellite technologies and analytics.
Led by the University of South Australia (UniSA), Airbus Defence and Space and Australian defence sector engineering specialist Nova Systems, in partnership with the South Australian Space Industry Centre, the proposed plan for the establishment of the SmartSat CRC was developed starting early in 2018 and has been submitted to the Australian government for ratification. The first stage of the application process with the Federal Government has been successfully completed and the consortium is now preparing the final stage application, and working on next steps outlining the organisation’s parameters and discussing funding.
The SmartSat CRC consortium aims to enhance connectivity, navigation and monitoring capability for the benefit of Australia, helping to maximise its resources by solving major satellite system and advanced communications challenges. The goal is to catapult Australia’s space industry into a leadership position in several areas including intelligent satellite systems, advanced communications, and earth observation driven data analytics.
The research consortium aims to co-develop intellectual property and specialist industry expertise that will spawn new businesses, create economic value and generate new high-tech jobs in Australia. Other economic benefits include applying advanced space technologies and space related data to diverse areas of society and the economy, from agriculture and the environment to healthcare and disaster detection and management.
The 67-member SmartSat CRC consortium also includes blue-chip industry leaders Harris Corporation, Thales Australia, BAE Systems, Dassault Systems and other space engineering companies as well as partnerships with NASA, JAXA and UK Catapult and University College London (UCL).
Professor Andy Koronios, Dean of Industry and Enterprise at UniSA, said: “With its technological and commercial expertise, as well as its expanding capabilities and resources, we are confident that Goonhilly will make a significant contribution to the SmartSat CRC.”
Dr Bob Gough, Head of Business Development, Australia & Asia-Pacific at Goonhilly, commented, “The space industry is a global one and Goonhilly is well poised to support Australian organisations as they look to extend their reach. At our UK site we offer world-class satellite capacity with visibility spanning 145° West to 135° East. enabling our customers to reach millions of people and receive sites in a single satellite hop. This is complemented by our connectivity with bundles of subsea cables and fibre, and our new multi-million-dollar datacentre.”
“Establishing a technical and operational presence in Australia is essential for Goonhilly as we fulfil our goal to create a worldwide deep space network; joining the SmartSat CRC perfectly complements this objective. We are bringing our business model of cooperation and collaboration which has been so successful in the UK, and we will use this proven approach in our numerous SmartSat CRC projects.”
“With the global industry leaders and world-class university researchers in SmartSat CRC, there is huge potential to develop new space industry opportunities that benefit all of Australia and the broader Asia Pacific,” Gough added.
SmartSat CRC is determined to accelerate the nation’s space industry momentum following the July 1st establishment of the Australian Space Agency, which was the launchpad for developing space-based opportunities to enhance businesses and communities.
19 Nov 18. Airbus and Eutelsat sign UK satellite investment deal. European satellite company Eutelsat and aerospace group Airbus will on Monday sign a multi-million pound deal to build components of two new communication satellites in Britain, British business minister Greg Clark said.
The agreement between Eutelsat and Airbus will see key parts of the new satellites, including the platform structure, propulsion system and antennas, manufactured at Airbus facilities in Stevenage and Portsmouth. Britain is keen to boost its space sector at a time when it faces a challenge due to Brexit. This has meant some UK-based companies have been excluded from future work on the EU’s 10bn euro (£8.9bn) Galileo satellite programme. Earlier this year Britain announced plans to build its first spaceport for launching satellites at Sutherland in Scotland.
“This investment is a significant vote of confidence for the UK’s world leading space industry,” Clark said in a statement. “The spaceport will further develop our expertise and capabilities in the space sector enabling us to launch small satellites.” (Source: Reuters)
19 Nov 18. CSIRO to kickstart investment in future of Aussie space industry. Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has announced a round of direct investment to support the development of key technologies to advance Australia’s domestic space industry and capabilities. Space technologies will receive $16m as part of CSIRO’s Future Science Platforms (FSP) to identify and develop the science needed to leapfrog traditional technologies and find new areas for Australian industry to work in. It will initially focus on advanced technologies for Earth observation, and then address challenges such as space object tracking, resource utilisation in space, and developing manufacturing and life support systems for missions to the moon and Mars. The investment is part of CSIRO’s FSP portfolio, aimed at dedicating research to new and emerging opportunities for Australia.
According to CSIRO, it aims to help reinvent old and create new industries, as well as grow the capability of a new generation of researchers through specially-created student places in these ‘future’ fields.
Dr Sarah Pearce, deputy director, CSIRO astronomy and space science, said: “The new CSIRO Space Technology FSP will build on CSIRO’s existing space-related activities, with a focus on cross-disciplinary opportunities and deep industry collaboration.”
The space industry plays an essential role in the lives of all Australians.
The nation’s telecommunications, especially in rural areas, rely on satellite infrastructure. A number of Australian industries rely on access to accurate satellite images and other data derived from space; weather forecasts and positioning technologies on mobile devices even rely on space science and space-based infrastructure.
Dr Pearce explained to Space Connect that CSIRO has extensive expertise in the space ecosystem, particularly in areas like Earth observation, data analytics, space tracking and informatics.
Additional key areas where CSIRO has world-leading technology or operations experience and expertise that can be applied to space, include:
- Carbon fibre manufacturing;
- 3D printing and additive manufacturing;
- Printable solar cells;
- 3D mobile mapping technology;
- In-situ resource extraction;
- Remote operations;
- Astronaut health and nutrition;
- Space tracking and situational awareness; and
- Radio astronomy.
“What we are now discovering is that CSIRO has expertise in areas that can help build the space industry, in areas like plant genomics, 3D printing and additive manufacturing, space object tracking, in-situ resource utilisation and life support systems,” Dr Pearce said.
CSIRO chief executive Dr Larry Marshall said the CSIRO Future Science Platforms have an important role to play in inventing and securing Australia’s path to prosperity.
“Our Future Science Platforms aim to turn Australia’s challenges into opportunities where new science can break through seemingly impossible roadblocks to give Australia an unfair advantage on the world stage,” Dr Marshall said.
CSIRO’s investment in space technology builds on the launch of CSIRO’s Space Roadmap for Australia and supports the newly formed Australian Space Agency’s goal of tripling the size of the domestic space sector to $10-12bn by 2030. It will also grow CSIRO’s 75 years of work in space. Dr Pearce expanded on the collaboration between CSIRO and the newly formed Australian Space Agency.
“We are working very closely with the Space Agency to help grow Australia’s domestic space industry. Which while currently small in the global context, is poised for growth thanks to pioneering technology transformation, industry momentum created by the new Australian Space Agency, and growing demand for satellite services,” she said.
CSIRO supports supply chains through advanced manufacturing, managing big data and helping small and medium enterprises. CSIRO also has an established network of national and international partnerships throughout the space sector.
FSPs are an investment in science that underpins innovation and that has the potential to help reinvent and create new industries for Australia. FSPs will see CSIRO grow the capability of new generation of researchers and allow Australia to attract the best students and experts to work on future science. (Source: Defence Connect)
15 Nov 18. Peraton Awarded $243m Space Communications Network Services Contract Extension. Award reaffirms Peraton’s 30-year partnership supporting NASA missions. NASA has awarded Peraton a $243m one-year contract extension to continue supporting NASA’s Space Communications Network Services (SCNS). Peraton will continue to support NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s largest services program, with mission integration planning and engineering support for near Earth and space communications connectivity including telemetry, tracking and command.
“We are honored to continue supporting NASA on missions that advance scientific discovery via human space exploration to better understand our planet, solar system, and what lies beyond,” said Roger Mason, president, Space, Intelligence and Cyber sector at Peraton.
Since 2011, Peraton’s commitment to SCNS has delivered critical communications and data relay services on programs such as the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope, Earth Observing System satellites, and other specialized missions like the Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 mission.
Over three decades of mission partnership, Peraton has supported national space and range programs from launch to in-orbit operations. The company’s advanced technologies manage distant spacecraft and facilitate vital data exchange while driving efficiencies in the development, operation, and maintenance of some of the most complex mission systems on Earth. (Source: ASD Network)
18 Nov 18. Brexit restrictions force UK satellite maker to send work to Europe . Surrey Satellite Technology forced to put mitigation measures in place for contracts Surrey Satellite Technology says it will be unable to test the navigation payload it supplies to Galileo after Britain has left the EU © PA Share on Twitter (opens new window) Share on Facebook (opens new window) Share on LinkedIn (opens new window) Share Save Save to myFT Sylvia Pfeifer 8 HOURS AGO Print this page One of Britain’s leading satellite companies is to move sensitive work on the Galileo navigation project to the Continent to ensure it can deliver on a contract after Brexit. Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) says it will be unable to carry out a classified test on the navigation payload it supplies to Galileo after Britain has left the EU at the end of March 2019. It is one of a number of UK companies that will be unable to work on the project after Brexit. Brussels has argued that Britain will no longer have access to the secure elements of Galileo when it leaves the union. In particular it has said that under EU law, countries outside the bloc cannot have access to Galileo’s public regulated service, an encrypted navigation system for government users. “We have put in place an arrangement to do the test on the Continent if we need to,” said Gary Lay, SSTL’s director of navigation. SSTL is in talks with three companies to perform the first test. All unclassified work will continue at SSTL’s facilities in Guildford. In terms of Galileo, the UK’s involvement and expertise will diminish Gary Lay, SSTL director of navigation The company is a spinout from the University of Surrey and is owned by Airbus, the European aircraft manufacturer, but is independently run. It has been involved in Galileo since 2003 and has designed and assembled all the navigation payloads — or brains — of Galileo’s current generation of satellites at its factory in Guildford. Together with its German partner, OHB System, SSTL won a third contract in 2017 to build and supply a further 12 satellites but the prospect of Brexit has forced the companies to put in place mitigation measures. The test of the payload is a small element of the total revenues of the contract and the move will not affect jobs in the UK, said Mr Lay. It will instead create a handful of new jobs in Europe. However, work on Galileo currently accounts for, on average, half of SSTL’s annual revenues. Unless a new security arrangement is put in place between the UK and the EU, work on this contract will be SSTL’s last involvement in the pan-European project. “It is difficult,” said Mr Lay, but he stressed that SSTL was still working on a number of missions. “The space industry is full of big, lumpy projects,” he added. SSTL has already been locked out of bidding to provide the fourth batch of satellites for Galileo, which is currently under way. “For us it is the contract you would want to win. It is the first of a new type of satellites,” said Mr Lay. “In terms of Galileo, the UK’s involvement and expertise will diminish [once Britain exits the EU].” Recommended Analysis Satellites UK cries foul over exclusion from EU satellite plan “I haven’t personally given up hope for politics to clear things up in some way,” he added. The UK has done well out of the Galileo project, which was launched in 2003. London has funded roughly 12 per cent of the annual budget and received a work share of more than 15 per cent. The British government in August announced it would commit £92m to pay for a feasibility study of a national alternative to Galileo. The political declaration that last week accompanied the draft withdrawal agreement from the EU mentioned the potential for consideration of “appropriate arrangements on space co-operation, including satellite navigation”. In a boost for Britain’s satellite industry, Airbus will on Monday sign an agreement with Eutelsat, the French satellite group, to manufacture components for two new satellites at its sites in Portsmouth and Stevenage. The deal is understood to be worth more than €200m. (Source: FT.com)
15 Nov 18. Here’s what the Pentagon thinks the actual cost of a Space Force will be. Since a U.S. Air Force estimate emerged in September, putting the cost of President Donald Trump’s desired Space Force at $13bn, Pentagon officials have been pledging that the “official” cost estimate from the department will be much smaller. Now we know by how much. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan said his team’s initial estimate for the Space Force will be in the “single digits” of billions of dollars, and “could be” lower than $5bn.
The difference in cost is significant, not just for the dollar value but as part of the broader fight over the future of the Pentagon’s space architecture. The $13bn figure sent waves of sticker shock through the defense community and led to accusations that the Air Force — which has been reluctant to embrace the idea of a Space Force — was hyping up costs to kill the idea.
During the Defense One conference on Thursday, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson was asked about Shanahan’s estimate and pointedly defended the figure put forward by the Air Force, saying that the $13bn sum is needed to realize the scope of Trump’s direction to the Pentagon.
“Whatever is put forward needs to implement the president’s proposal. What we put forward was in the cost estimates to implement a standalone department,” she said.
“The president is going to be making some decisions to put forward a proposal in concert with his fiscal year 20 budget proposal that will go to the Congress in February. So the cost will be really based on what are the elements in the model in that proposal, and our cost estimate that we gave to a lot of people in the Pentagon is September was the cost of a fully fledged standalone department and also a unified combatant command.”
In an exclusive interview with Defense News last month, Shanahan pledged that his cost would be “less” than the Air Force figure.
“The goal here is not to create a lot of incremental cost,” he had said. “In this department, you know with this secretary and this Congress, people in the White House, they’re not going to let us just go throw money at that.” (Source: Defense News)
15 Nov 18. AST&Science, after an intensive competitive process, today announced the selection of Midland, Texas, as the location for its new high-volume North American satellite manufacturing plant and corporate headquarters. The space technology company’s new 85,000 sq. ft. facility is located within the Space Port Business Park located at the Midland International Air and Space Port, the first commercial airport to obtain a Space Port License from the Federal Aviation Administration. It will augment the current R&D, engineering and manufacturing capabilities in Maryland and Europe operated by AST&Science and its subsidiary AST&Defense.
The new plant will be one of the largest “New Space” manufacturing facilities in the United States and will create more than 160 space manufacturing jobs in Midland, according to AST&Science chairman and CEO Abel Avellan, who said the company expects to invest over $30m in the facility over the next several years and to achieve annual production capacity of 100,000 space modules, which are called Microns.
The new AST&Science plant will design, build, integrate, manage and launch satellite platforms into low-Earth orbits (LEO) in a fully integrated aeronautical and space operation. Avellan noted that the collocation of the high-volume manufacturing and direct airside access for the horizontal launch capability, using carrier aircraft at the Midland Space Port, will be an important element in the company’s planned rapid LEO satellite deployments.
The company’s patented modular construction process will dramatically reduce the cost and weight of the LEO satellites, while providing unprecedented levels of power and performance.
“Our revolutionary technology will change the way satellites are manufactured, launched and used in space and on Earth. From Midland, we will scale up quickly to produce high quantities of low-cost ultra-powerful LEO satellite platforms,” said Avellan. “This will open up an astonishing range of commercial and defense applications not previously possible with traditional satellite manufacturing techniques.”
Construction of the facility is now complete, thanks to the partnership with the Midland Development Corporation (MDC), and initial production is scheduled to commence early next year. The first satellites will be launched for orbital tests in 2019.
“We are delighted to be welcomed by the City of Midland and the grand state of Texas, where big things happen,” commented Adriana Cisneros, a board member and chief strategy officer of AST&Science, as well as CEO of Cisneros.
Brent Hilliard, chairman of MDC, said: “We’re thrilled to announce this partnership with AST&Science. Midland gets 160 jobs in a diversified, high-tech industry, and can offer AST&Science a location with access to an airport and licensed space port. The MDC provided a scalable manufacturing location that was a key factor in bringing this new industry to Midland. It’s a symbiotic collaboration that makes perfect sense.”
Earlier this year, AST&Science acquired a controlling interest in NanoAvionics, a European manufacturer and systems integrator of small lightweight satellites, and forged a partnership with Cisneros, the original founders of DIRECTV in Latin America and a large media player based in Miami, Florida.
15 Nov 18. China to Launch First of a 320 Satellite Constellation By Year’s End. Andrew Jones, Senior Editor at gbTimes, is reporting that China will launch the first of approximately 320 satellites for a planned LEO communications constellation before the end of the year, according to information derived from the country’s main space contractor. The experimental first satellite has been developed under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), which revealed last week at the 2018 Zhuhai Airshow that the launch would take place soon. The satellite will be sent into a 1,100 km. altitude orbit by a Long March 2D launch vehicle to test L- and Ka-band communication capabilities and compatibility in LEO.
A Long March 2D appears set to launch the SaudiSat 5A and 5B Earth Observation satellites with passengers including Jiading-1 from Jiuquan on November 20, but Hongyan-1 will likely be aboard a later launch. It will be one of nine satellites orbited by 2020 as a pilot demonstration for the Hongyan system, which translates as ‘wild goose.’ The name likely comes from the fact that geese were used to deliver messages in ancient China.
The first 60 satellites making up the first phase of deployment of the Hongyan constellation are expected to be in orbit and operational by around 2023, with the 300+ satellite system, which will provide global coverage, to be completed by 2025. (Source: Satnews)
12 Nov 18. Fleet Space Technologies’ First Smallsats Successfully Launched by Rocket Lab. On Sunday, November 11 at 14:50 AEDT, Fleet Space Technologies’ first two satellites, Proxima I and II, were launched via Rocket Lab’s manifest, It’s Business Time — this launch marks Australia’s first ever commercial cubesat launch of smallsats to orbit. The launch of the two smallsats at Launch Complex-1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula represent a huge step forward for Fleet Space Technologies’ mission to build Earth’s next industrial revolution, bringing some 75 billion devices online. The Proxima I and II satellites are a pair of identical 1.5 U cubesats that were designed and built within six weeks.
Executive Comment
Flavia Tata Nardini, Co-founder and CEO, Fleet Space Technologies, said that this is an incredible milestone to have successfully launched our first commercial cubesats, Proxima I and II, onboard Rocket Lab’s latest mission. This is the first launch of many scheduled for Fleet Space Technologies the next smallsats, Centauri I and II, will be pushed to orbit via a SpaceX Falcon 9 for the former, and an ISRO’s PSLV C43 for the latter, during the coming weeks. Thist is an extraordinary feat to have four satellites launching within one month of each other, on three separate missions. (Source: Satnews)
11 Nov 18. Icom Passes Iridium Communications’ Muster as a VAM. Will Develop a Truly Global PTT Handheld Radio. Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM) has announced that Icom Incorporated (Icom) has joined the company’s partner ecosystem as a licensed Value-Added Manufacturer (VAM) and will be developing the world’s first, truly global, push-to-talk-only (PTT) radio handheld. Based in Japan, Icom is a manufacturer of two-way handheld radios and will harness their expertise in the making of their first Iridium® handheld. This new device will be suited for remote workers, first responders, global military, NGOs and other organizations in need of real-time communications throughout areas lacking ground infrastructure. Iridium PTT technology allows teams to remain closely coordinated with their headquarters or other field teams around the world, instantly, regardless of geography. The development of this new PTT handheld comes in response to increased market demand for products that are focused on providing a rugged solution that supports Iridium’s PTT capability. Icom was selected, in large part, due to their expertise in the land-mobile radio (LMR) industry where they provide dozens of products through a growing portfolio. This is the first satellite-based handheld developed by Icom, and it is designed to integrate seamlessly with Icom’s current selection of accessories. This will allow for the new satellite handheld to be quickly inventoried and integrated with their existing deployed products. Both Icom’s and Iridium’s distribution networks will offer the new handheld, expanding Icom’s presence to the satellite industry and bringing Iridium’s satellite PTT capabilities to Icom’s existing global sales network. The new handheld is expected to be available in 2019.
Executive Comments
Joel Thompson, VP, Global Product and Service Management at Iridium said that when searching for the correct partner to develop the firm’s first PTT-only handheld, the company had a number of required criteria. First and foremost is a track record of world-class product success that will support the proven reliability and robustness that Iridium subscribers have come to expect. Icom is a premier brand with recognized expertise. They fit the exact mold of everything Iridium could wish for in order to develop a world-class product for customers.
Icom President Masataka Harima added that Icom has been developing various wireless communications equipment for land use, marine use and air band use. This satellite PTT project will be a tough challenge, but the project will fill an important piece of the company’s product lineups that cover all areas from the surface of the Earth and even into space.
Iridium has global communications coverage and is in the final stages of a $3bn initiative to upgrade its entire low-Earth-orbiting satellite constellation with a new generation of interconnected satellites, known as Iridium NEXT. To date, 65 new satellites have been placed in orbit, with the final launch of 10 satellites planned for December 30, 2018. Upon completion, a total of 75 Iridium NEXT satellites will have been delivered to space, with 66 in the active constellation and nine serving as on-orbit spares. (Source: Satnews)
13 Nov 18. Advanced TV Reports: Is the “Mega-Constellation” Bubble About to Burst? Advanced TV has posted an article that leads off by saying the satellite industry is a carefully structured business and that with every DTH satellite costing upwards of a quarter-billion dollars to build launch (and insure), operators must be certain of the business they expect to gather. However, there are plans afoot for thousands of new satellites to be launched over the next five years. Even though these lower orbiting satellites cost considerably less than their geostationary cousins, the overall sums involved are massive. There’s now a growing doubt and the belief that some of these proposed mega-constellations are already in trouble. A note from respected industry analyst Tim Farrar (of TMF Associates) suggests that some of the constellation plans are deeply flawed. He argues that the satellite sector may be repeating some of the stupidities of the 1999-2000 ‘dot-com’ financial bubble.
For example, Farrar focuses on SpaceX’s plans to build and launch an initial 1,584 satellites at just 55 kms. in altitude to serve millions of users in ‘not spots’ for broadband communications. Farrar is blunt and says that Elon Musk (whom he calls the ‘poster child’ of these new developments) is suffering “increasing frantic attempts to raise money in the face of a rapid decline in launch demand, and increasing competition from Blue Origin [backed by billionaire Jeff Bezos], which doesn’t need to make a profit.”
Farrar continued, “SpaceX’s attempts to find new sources of revenue are also proving deeply problematic because the broadband satellite constellation business now appears to be in even more dire straits than the launch business.”
Farrar adds that another giant ‘would-be’ constellation builder, Greg Wyler and his proposed OneWeb service, is facing similar problems. “Recently rumors have circulated that SoftBank is looking to exit from OneWeb (before the next tranche of its $1bn equity commitment is due after the test satellites are launched in early 2019), as the system costs increase and questions abound over the size of the market opportunity for satellite broadband. Certainly, Masayoshi Son’s attitude to the project appears to have changed dramatically in the last year, from touting satellite as an alternative to fiber, to not even mentioning satellite in a recent lengthy feature on the Vision Fund.”
Farrar adds that the first ‘dot com’ satellite-related meltdown occurred in 1999 with the financial collapse of Iridium. “And it now appears that there are several multi-billion dollar satellite projects that could suffer the same fate within the next year.” (Source: Satnews)
13 Nov 18. A New Name and a New Adventure — Advantech Wireless Now Doing Business as SpaceBridge™. Attention is normally attracted to the use of the word “New.” Such is definitely the case for SpaceBridge Incorporated, as the company has been renovated from “Advantech Wireless Inc.” to “SpaceBridge™.”
The firm’s new journey has now begun for “All Things Connected” — SpaceBridge enters the global SATCOM marketplace with their new name and commitment to excellence. Advantech Wireless Inc., is now doing business as SpaceBridge™. The company thanks all of their partners, clients and suppliers for helping them to significantly grow their business and SpaceBridge™ remains committed to the same degree of excellence, spirit of innovation and customer satisfaction as previously demonstrated and experienced over the past 30 years of operation.
Above all, we commit to rewarding our customers with unsurpassed technologies and solutions that have been developed by the firm’s talented and loyal team— a team that has earned customers’ trust with innovative technology development, superior product delivery and customer service. (Source: Satnews)
11 Nov 18. Orbit Logic’s STK Scheduler Software and CPAW Delivered to General Dynamics Mission Systems for Landsat 8 and 9. Putting together a satellite mission that involves sophisticated equipment and numerous government agencies is no small task, which is where Orbit Logic’s STK Scheduler software and Collection Planning & Analysis Workstation (CPAW) comes into play.
Orbit Logic announced they have delivered their STK Scheduler software and Collection Planning & Analysis Workstation (CPAW) software to General Dynamics Mission Systems for mission planning and scheduling for the Landsat Mission Operations Center (LMOC) for Landsat 8 and 9.
Orbit Logic is now in the process of integrating the software into the Landsat ground system. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) awarded the Landsat Multi-satellite Operations Center (LMOC) contract to the General Dynamics team to develop and carry out operations of the Landsat 9 Mission Operations as well as assuming operations of the on-orbit Landsat 8 observatory.
Landsat 9 will be the next satellite in the Landsat series that images the Earth’s surface. It is currently scheduled for launch in December 2020. Orbit Logic software will streamline and modernize the mission planning and collection planning process, taking over for the Generic Mission Planning System and the Collection Activity Planning Element (CAPE) that was previously developed and operated by USGS.
Orbit Logic’s STK Scheduler will produce a deconflicted schedule for satellite communications between the Landsat satellites, U.S. and international ground stations, and TDRSS satellite communication nodes.
Orbit Logic’s CPAW software will be used for Landsat 8 and 9 to generate validated, deconflicted, and optimized high fidelity imagery collection plans. A significant number of requirements were satisfied out of the box with Orbit Logic’s COTS software products. Plus, Orbit Logic provided engineering services to integrate with other elements of the ground system and develop models of the Landsat spacecraft bus and sensors. Additionally, Orbit Logic’s planning software solution provides a multi-mission planning system to support L8 and L9 simultaneously.
“Orbit Logic is happy to continue to add to our growing support for America’s civil space mission.” Said Ella Herz, Orbit Logic COO. “Our Landsat planning software delivery follows recent and upcoming Orbit Logic software deployments for NASA Wallops, TDRSS SGSS, Restore-L, and NOAA SARSAT.”
Orbit Logic specializes in mission planning and scheduling solutions for aerospace and geospatial intelligence with their operationally proven COTS products that create better plans faster with fewer resources for all mission phases. Orbit Logic services are available to configure, customize, and integrate Orbit Logic’s mobile, web-based, desktop, and flight software applications to provide turn-key operational solutions that leverage the latest available technologies to meet customers’ goals. (Source: Satnews)
12 Nov 18. A New Vertical Services Division is Launched by Satellite Operator Spacecom. Spacecom (Tel Aviv Stock Exchange: SCC), the operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, announced that the company is expanding sales with a Vertical Solutions Division that will target MNOs, government programs, service providers and other commercial groups operating in the data, mobile, and video markets.
Spacecom’s new division adds value to customers by enabling them to reach a broader range of new business opportunities as they add complementary applications and push further into digital markets. The new division’s first deal is a multi-year contract with a leading Southern Africa VSAT services provider via AMOS-7.
Spacecom is partnering with select international and local vendors as well as integration, installation, operation and management experts on a case by case basis. Based on its growing satellite fleet, the company is working with clients and partners to determine the optimal solution for the new services utilizing capacity on AMOS-3, AMOS-4, AMOS-7 and AMOS-17, following the latter’s scheduled launch in 2019 to service Africa.
Executive Comment
David Pollack, the President and CEO of Spacecom, said that by advancing new market opportunities for clients, Spacecom is enabling them to increase business in additional spheres of activity. This initiative incorporates the company’s deal-making talents with an array of top-of-the-line satellite related solutions and infrastructure, thereby adding value to the marketplace and meeting emerging consumer needs. As Spacecom expands the firm’s reach in Africa, the Vertical Solutions Division will further the AMOS brand throughout the continent. (Source: Satnews)
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At Viasat, we’re driven to connect every warfighter, platform, and node on the battlefield. As a global communications company, we power millions of fast, resilient connections for military forces around the world – connections that have the capacity to revolutionize the mission – in the air, on the ground, and at sea. Our customers depend on us for connectivity that brings greater operational capabilities, whether we’re securing the U.S. Government’s networks, delivering satellite and wireless communications to the remote edges of the battlefield, or providing senior leaders with the ability to perform mission-critical communications while in flight. We’re a team of fearless innovators, driven to redefine what’s possible. And we’re not done – we’re just beginning.
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