Government/Military

[Via Satellite 10-15-2015] On Oct. 14, Eutelsat, Hispasat, Inmarsat, Intelsat, SES, Thuraya and Yahsat, under the umbrella of the EMEA Satellite Operators Association (ESOA) and the Global VSAT Forum (GVF), signed a Crisis Connectivity Charter with the global humanitarian community represented by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Emergency...

[Via Satellite 10-15-2015] The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) stood up its newest directorate, the Launch Systems Enterprise Directorate (SMC/LE), at Los Angeles Air Force Base on Oct. 14. Under the leadership of Claire Leon, the new directorate brings together the Launch Systems Directorate (LR) and the Rocket Systems Launch Program...

[Via Satellite 10-14-2015] The U.S. Army has issued a delivery order to TeleCommunication Systems (TCS) for Micro Satellite (Microsat) Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs), baseband networking equipment, and associated engineering services. The order has a total value of $223.4 million, if all options are exercised through September 2020. The initial funding on this order is $9.9 million for the...

[Via Satellite 10-13-2015] The British Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary are trialing Wi-Fi service from satellite communications provider NSSLGlobal on a select number of ships. The service uses technology augmented from NSSLGlobal’s commercial shipping sector for the Royal Navy, and enables crew to use their personal devices to connect with friends and family for...

[Via Satellite 10-13-2015] The German Aerospace Center, Deutsche Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) has joined the Space Data Association (SDA), an international group of satellite operators that promote the sharing of space environment and RF spectrum data in a controlled, safe and reliable manner. DLR conducts Research and Development (R&D) work in aeronautics, space,...

[Via Satellite 10-13-2015] Advantech Wireless has completed the delivery of a multi-million-dollar order of 1.2m Engage-class high-performance VSAT flyaway terminals. The terminals were for a military customer in Latin America. Advantech Wireless’ 1.2m Engage VSAT solution is a fully integrated tri-band system. The terminal is based on a high efficiency, ruggedized tri-band 1.2 Meter motorized...

[Via Satellite 10-12-2015] NASA and The Aerospace Corporation have received confirmation the Optical Communications and Sensor Demonstration (OCSD) CubeSat, launched Oct. 8 by an Atlas 5 rocket, is in orbit and operational. The OCSD is testing a unique space-based laser communications system. The laser is hard-mounted to the spacecraft body, and the orientation of the...

[Via Satellite 10-09-2015] United Launch Alliance (ULA) orbited a defense satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) along with 13 CubeSats on Oct. 8 using an Atlas 5 rocket. The 13 Government Rideshare Advanced Concepts Experiment (GRACE) CubeSats are comprised of nine NRO-sponsored CubeSats and four NASA-sponsored CubeSats. Manufacturers of the CubeSats consist of...

[Via Satellite 10-07-2015] The first competitive contract for the U.S. Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program is off to a precarious start, as vehicles from both United Launch Alliance (ULA) and SpaceX are undergoing significant changes. On Sept. 30, the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) released a Request for Proposal...

[Via Satellite 10-06-2015] In light of lost sales to satellite manufacturers in the United States, the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) is urging Congress to reauthorize the Export Import Bank of the United States in order to restore Export Credit Agency (ECA) funding. Tom Stroup issued a statement to Congress highlighting the impact of Ex-Im bank’s...