Government/Military

Northrop Grumman’s Astro Aerospace has successfully completed a Critical Design Review (CDR) of the AstroMesh radar antenna reflector for the NASA–Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite. NISAR will make global integrated measurements, providing a detailed view of Earth. The radar imaging satellite will use dual L-band and S-band frequencies to measure...

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) networks and weapon systems remain vulnerable to adversarial cyber-attacks and programs, such as the Joint Regional Security Stacks and Cyber Protection Teams, and aren’t meeting expectations, according to an office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) report published Jan. 25. The DOT&E report, which collects testing assessments from...

Serco, a provider of professional, technology, and management services, has completed the acquisition of BTP Systems following the receipt of all regulatory approvals and satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The acquisition supports Serco’s strategic growth plan in the defense sector by enhancing its portfolio of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat Systems, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance...

The Geospatial World Forum 2018 concluded in Hyderabad, India where more than 50 nations gathered for the annual conference. Throughout the week, discussions across defense and security, Internet of Things (IOT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, geospatial business, environmental shifts, construction, precision farming, smart cities, and the United Nation’s Sustainability Development Goals (SDG17) elevated general...

The U.S. Air Force has cleared SpaceX from the failed Zuma satellite launch earlier this month, saying the launch services provider performed did everything right. This means the reason of the satellite’s failure is still a mystery; however, SpaceX will not lose certification for military missions. Read more at Bloomberg News

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket carrying the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) Flight 4 mission successfully lifted off on Jan. 19. The launch took place at Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, and the U.S. Air Force’s 460th Space Wing confirmed signal acquisition with the...

United Launch Alliance (ULA) just managed to squeeze in a successful launch for the U.S. Air Force before the government shutdown that has extended into Monday. But what could the shutdown mean for other NASA programs — and SpaceX’s Falcon heavy static fire test? Read more at The Verge.

The Colombian government sees satellite as a potentially cheaper (and therefore attractive) alternative to deploying hundreds of miles of fiber. The question is: what’s the most cost-efficient way for an emerging country to loft a satellite for its population? The key, according to Axesat founding partner Miguel Eduardo Rodriguez, is engaging in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)....

Britain’s decision to extract itself from the European Union (EU) has caused it to lose an important satellite monitoring center. The U.K. won the contract in 2010 to host the center that acts as a backup monitor for the Galileo satellite navigation system. Now, the EU will relocate it to Spain to ensure Galileo infrastructure...

Advantech Wireless announced that a customer from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has certified the company’s 1.2m Engage Class VSAT FlyAway Terminal, a fully integrated tri-band system designed for easy deployment and use. The terminal is based on a ruggedized tri-band 1.2 Meter Flyaway Antenna, which can cover X-Band, Ku-Band, or Ka-Band, by replacing...