Finance

A U.S. Air Force technology program is scheduled to get new sensing technology in orbit within just two years instead of the typical seven. Separately, Australian Defense Force (ADF) officials estimate that taxpayers will save more than $100 million on its UHF payload program. Both are examples of military payloads that will be hosted on...

Big remains beautiful in the satellite business, but launch vehicle operators are preparing new offerings to meet expected demand from commercial and government customers for small- and medium-class rockets that can deliver smaller payloads more cost-effectively. Demand for large spacecraft will hold true for operators placing communications spacecraft in geostationary orbit, but the overall picture...

Demand for communications and other services helped drive a strong 2008 performance for the satellite sector. Via Satellite takes a closer look at developments that shaped the business and how some of those factors, such as long-term contracts and increased demand, will help keep satellite players in the black through a tougher economic climate. Global...

TerreStar-1, Sirius FM-5 Launch Preview [Satellite News 06-30-09] The scheduled launches of the TerreStar-1 and Sirius FM-5 satellites mark an extremely important week for North American satellite communications. For both TerreStar and Sirius XM Satellite Radio, the next step in the companies’ service development plans are crucial and dependant on the success of these launches....

[Satellite Today 06-09-09] Thales Alenia Space ETCA signed a contract with Astrium to provide electronic equipment and services for the latest batch of Ariane 5 rockets, Thales announced June 8.     Arianespace announced a contract with Astrium in February valued at more than 4 billion euros ($5.1 billion) for the production of 35 Ariane 5...

[Satellite News 04-10-09] SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, in a speech to an executive luncheon at Satellite 2009, said he expects to sign deals in the commercial arena for its Falcon 9 launch vehicle this year. The company, which is aiming to revolutionize the launch services arena is set for a pivotal year, as it not...

Asia’s complex political dynamics and tough regulatory environment mean the region is likely to remain a fragmented, yet highly important market for the satellite industry, panelists said March 26 at Satellite 2009. Many countries in Asia impose tough — sometimes insurmountable — restrictions on foreign companies that want to enter their markets, making it difficult...

While there is a sense of optimism across the satellite industry, from the variety of opinions expressed during SATELLITE 2009, it is clear that there is no consensus on whether 2009 will be a year of growth or a year of hanging on.   Overall, the industry enjoyed much success in 2008 and has not...

As companies cut travel budgets they communicate more, and as such, the overall information technology sector is in a good position to help other sectors in a time of tough circumstances around the globe, Hamadoun Toure, secretary general of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), said during the “Satellite SWOT: New Opportunities, New Risks, New Technologies...

Iridium CEO Matt Desch and Inmarsat CEO Andy Sukawaty joined forces in their criticism of Globalstar CEO Jay Monroe and his company’s $574 million financing award from France’s export credit agency, Coface, on the MSUA-6 opening session panel of mobile satellite sector (MSS) CEOs.     “Congratulations to Jay. He’s a bit cheerier now than he...