Government/Military

[Via Satellite 11-24-2014] Several agencies of the United States government are interested in greater amounts of data on solar activity. Flares and dramatic high energy bursts called Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) can and do bombard Earth’s atmosphere with highly energized particles. When a CME occurs, research satellites such as NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), the...

[Via Satellite 11-21-2014] NASA has awarded Northrop Grumman a $121 million contract to build and deliver the third Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) for NOAA’s Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). ATMS provides critical atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles to support weather forecasting. The instrument has 22 channels spanning the frequency band from 23.8 GHz to...

[Via Satellite 11-19-2014] The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is trying to plan for satellite capacity needs beyond the Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) constellation but is having trouble gauging the military’s long-term requirements. “WGS is coming to an end over the next 10 years,” Eron Miller, chief of the services division, comsatcom center at Network...

[Via Satellite 11-18-2014] The United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA) has allocated approximately $50 million to build relationships with foreign companies through the International Partnership Space Program (IPSP). During the two-year program, British companies will receive grants to collaborate with international partners on satellite technologies that address challenges such as deforestation, flooding and disaster relief in...

[Via Satellite 11-17-2014] The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sees room for satellite to play a role in the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet), a developing national broadband network prioritized for emergencies and public safety. Introduced in 2012 from the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, the U.S. government intends to provide interoperable...

[Via Satellite 11-17-2014] The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have selected Harris Corporation for a four-year $159 million Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Harris Falcon 3 radios. The company will supply secure tactical radio systems such as the AN/PRC-152A wideband handheld radio, the AN/PRC- 117G wideband manpack radio and the RF-7800H high-frequency manpack radio...

[Via Satellite 11-14-2014] General Dynamics Canada has received a contract worth more than $52 million for the Mercury Global Project, through which Canada will participate in the United States’ Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) constellation. The Mercury Global Project provides Canadian Armed Forces with access to secure military satcom. General Dynamics Canada is tasked with building...

[Via Satellite 11-13-2014] On November 10, the United States Department of State put into effect amendments to International Traffic and Arms Regulations (ITAR) revising and clarifying the classification of spacecraft and related articles on the U.S. Munitions List (USML). The reforms, which have been advocated for heavily by the satellite industry, are part of the...

[Via Satellite 11-05-201] Boeing has completed testing on its new anti-jamming communications technology, proving it is capable of operating as either a ground-based user terminal or satellite-based networking hub, enabling the military to send and receive secure communications at a lower cost by using existing terminals and satellites. The anti-jam technology uses a protected tactical...

[Via Satellite 11-05-201] AIS Engineering, a woman-owned, small business, was awarded a contract to provide bandwidth for the Joint Satellite Engineering Center (JSEC) for the Project Manager Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (PM WIN-T). AIS will be providing the satellite capacity together with SES Government Solutions (SES GS). The Task Order is valued at more than $50...