Government/Military

[Via Satellite 03-28-2016] The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is reviving its in-orbit servicing efforts through a new public-private partnership program called Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS). Under the RSGS vision, the partners would join a DARPA-developed modular toolkit, including hardware and software, to a privately developed spacecraft to create a commercially...

[Via Satellite 03-28-2016] Lockheed Martin has established a test site in New Jersey for the U.S. Air Force‘s Space Fence to validate hardware, firmware and software for detection, tracking, and cataloging of orbital objects more than 1.5 million times a day. The test site will also provide early lessons learned on installation of the S-band...

[Via Satellite 03-28-2016] Orbital ATK’s Cygnus spacecraft, launched March 22 on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket, rendezvoused and berthed with the International Space Station (ISS) on March 26. Cygnus will remain at the ISS for approximately two months before departing with approximately 4,400 pounds (2,000 kilograms) of disposable cargo. Following departure from...

[Via Satellite 03-28-2016] The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) reports that its Astro-H X-ray astronomy satellite, also called “Hitomi,” failed from the start of its operation originally scheduled at 16:40, Saturday March 26 (JST). Astro-H launched Feb. 17, 2016 aboard an H2A rocket. The agency reports it has not been able to figure out the...

[Via Satellite 03-25-2016] DigitalGlobe has reached an agreement with an existing international defense and intelligence customer to convert an existing letter of intent into a definitive agreement. The new agreement extends the customer’s contract by four years and adds direct access to the WorldView 3 Earth observation satellite. DigitalGlobe included this agreement in the company’s...

[Via Satellite 03-24-2016] Network Innovations (NI) in partnership with Intellian has completed the first European Government XpressLink conversion and Global Xpress (GX) Maritime service activation. The company is one of Inmarsat’s primary Value Added Resellers (VARs), having extensive experience in field testing and transmitting on the GX network. The companies took an existing Intellian GX100 1m...

[Via Satellite 03-18-2016] Intelsat has promoted Skot Butler to president of Intelsat General Corporation, the company’s wholly owned subsidiary that provides satellite communications solutions to military, commercial and government customers. Butler replaces Kay Sears, who left to pursue a new professional opportunity. She was president of Intelsat General since 2008, having joined the company in...

[Via Satellite 03-17-2016] The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded Indra a contract to supply equipment for the agency’s Estrack network, used to communicate with and monitor satellites and space missions. The company will develop the fourth version of the intermediate frequency modem IMBU Mk4, or Integrated Modem and Baseband Unit, which plays a key...

[Via Satellite 03-16-2016] Belgian law has formed the Association of the European Space Research Establishments (ESRE) as an international nonprofit organization. Members consist of space research centers in Italy (CIRA), Germany (DLR), Spain (INTA), the Netherlands (NLR) and France (ONERA). Through ESRE, these research centers will strengthen their cooperation and propose common Research and Development...

[Via Satellite 03-16-2016] Comtech EF Data has received a $3.1 million contract award extension for additional Advanced Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) Interface Processor (ATIP) production terminals from the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). The ATIP is a Layer-2 Ethernet bridging device installed on ship, shore and submarine platforms in the Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT). The...