Government/Military

[Via Satellite 08-15-2016] KBR has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Honeywell Technology Solutions, Inc. (HTSI), the government services arm of Honeywell, with unanimous approval by the KBR board of directors. The transaction is expected to close by the end of October 2016, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. HTSI is headquartered...

[Via Satellite 08-12-2016] The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) has awarded contracts to Raytheon Co. Space and Airborne Systems, L-3 Communication Systems and ViaSat for Protected Tactical Service Field Demonstrations (PTSFDs). PTSFD will demonstrate the ability to provide wideband anti-jam communications to tactical users using the Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) constellation...

[Via Satellite 08-12-2016] Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has selected Aerojet Rocketdyne to conduct an architectural design study for a habitation system that would enable NASA astronauts to live for long durations beyond Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). Under the 18-month architectural design study, Aerojet Rocketdyne and SNC will devise concepts that include standards, common interfaces and testing...

Evolving Priorities for Remotely Piloted, Unmanned Aircraft Some of the early adopters of high-throughput satellites in the defense arena will be users requiring increasingly smaller terminals such as unmanned

[Via Satellite 08-10-2016] Lockheed Martin has signed a contract with NASA to deploy SkyFire, a 6U CubeSat planned to launch to the moon in 2018 with Orion’s Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1). SkyFire is a public-private partnership between Lockheed Martin and NASA. Lockheed Martin will build the satellite with internal investments, and the newly signed contract will...

[Via Satellite 08-08-2016] The U.S. government has given Inmarsat Government approval to lift the stop-work order issued regarding the U.S. Navy’s Commercial Broadband Satellite Program (CBSP) Satellite Services Contract (CSSC). Work following the initial contract, first awarded Sept. 8, 2015, froze due to a bid protest. Inmarsat Government remains the awardee on the single award...

[Via Satellite 08-08-2016] General Dynamics Mission Systems has received a contract modification from the U.S. Navy to improve High-Frequency (HF) communications for the Navy’s four-channel, AN/USC-61 Digital Modular Radios (DMR). The 3G High-frequency third generation Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) increases transmission rates from radio to radio by 24 percent and reduces static and other noises...

[Via Satellite 08-04-2016] The United States Air Force released its second Request for Proposal (RFP) for an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) launch of a Global Positioning System 3 (GPS 3) satellite. Following a draft RFP released on June 14 for industry feedback, the Air Force released a final RFP on Aug. 3. Proposals are...

[Via Satellite 08-04-2016] Telespazio Vega Deutschland has successfully qualified for the frame contract with the European Space Agency’s (ESA) European Space Operations Center (ESOC). The areas of activity in the contract range from system development to 24/7 satellite operations. More specifically, the contract covers six disciplines: satellite operations, operations engineering, IT services, ground station operations,...

[Via Satellite 08-03-2016] The United States Navy has traced the anomaly that caused the fifth Mobile User Objective System satellite (MUOS 5) to not reach its intended location to a failure of the orbit raising propulsion system. The satellite, which successfully launched on June 24, was projected to reach its geosynchronous orbit and enter its...