Government/Military

[Via Satellite 08-03-2016] Advantech Wireless has delivered an upgraded end-to-end advanced VSAT network solution to an undisclosed national police force in a Latin American country. The network, which covers the country’s entire land area, includes internet for police use, and beyond line-of-site communications for security. The ruggedized remote terminals are able to cover the diverse...

[Via Satellite 08-02-2016] The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently expressed pessimism that the Defense Department’s (DOD) new Principal Deputy Space Adviser (PDSA) could truly improve how the Pentagon procures space programs. In a report (GAO-16-592R) released July 27, GAO said DOD has issues procuring space programs because leadership responsibilities are fragmented and inefficient,...

For many years the United Kingdom has excelled in manufacturing small satellites and CubeSats. What the U.K. industry has been missing is a domestic launch capability to avoid the reliance and dependence on foreign suppliers for launching its spacecraft.

[Via Satellite 07-28-2016] Airbus Defence and Space has selected Harris Corporation to provide a 12-meter deployable reflector and precision boom assembly for its Biomass forest-carbon-monitoring satellite. Biomass refers to the amount of living matter in a given habitat, which is important to understand the Earth’s climate. Scheduled to launch in 2021, the Biomass satellite will...

[Via Satellite 07-28-2016] United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) has successfully launched a national security payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) aboard an Atlas 5 rocket. The mission, NRO Launch 61 (NROL 61), marks ULA’s sixth launch of 2016 and the 109th since the company was founded in 2006. It is also the sixth Atlas...

[Via Satellite 07-27-2016] XTAR and Ball Aerospace have demonstrated a high-throughput service for the United States military using Ball’s Airlink X-1 antenna configured for the C130 hatch and XTAR satellite capacity. In association with its customer, the U.S. Air Force Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities (TENCAP), Support to Special Operations Forces, Ball developed phased array...

[Via Satellite 07-26-2-16] The United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has appointed John Schaub to succeed Peter Wilhelm as director of the Naval Center for Space Technology (NCST). Schaub previously served as the senior executive in charge of NCST’s Spacecraft Engineering Department for 10 years. NCST’s mission is to preserve and enhance a strong space...

[Via Satellite 07-25-2016] The United States Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) awarded ViaSat a non-competitive, firm-fixed-price contract to provide senior leaders and their support staff with global in-flight broadband and communications services. The award covers support for VC-25s, C-17s, C-32s, C-37s, C-40s and the complete range of VIP and special air mission aircraft. According to...

[Via Satellite 07-16-2016] Turkey’s satellite and cable telecommunications company Turksat reported the loss of two personnel during the failed coup attempt July 15th. Soldiers in the separatist plot, which Turkey identifies as part of the FETO/PDY under the leadership of Fethullah Gulen, attacked Turksat’s main campus located in Golbasi, Ankara. Ahmet Ozsoy and Ali Karsli...

[Via Satellite 07-19-2016] Euroconsult projects 20 countries will invest in their first space program by 2025, with the total number of Emerging Space Programs (ESPs) reaching 47 by the same year. The research firm identified 24 countries as ESPs in 2015 having launched a total of 69 satellites in the last 20 years, based on...