Government/Military

[Via Satellite 11-26-13] A Ball Aerospace instrument needed for precipitation measurements has arrived in Japan where it will launch aboard NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. Ball’s GPM Microwave Imager (GMI) is a multi-channel, conical-scanning, microwave radiometer that is part of an international satellite mission led by NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Following...

[Via Satellite 11-25-13] The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Swarm satellite mission has been successfully launched from a Rockot launch vehicle at Russia’s Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 1:02 p.m. CET on Friday, Nov. 22nd. All three identical satellites were placed on their orbits approximately 92 minutes after launching. Astrium is the prime contractor for ESA’s Swarm satellite trio....

[Via Satellite 11-25-13] Spain’s Ministry of Defense (MOD) has chosen to use Globalstar’s Spot Satellite GPS Messenger and Spot Connect devices for in-field communications for personnel who are operating in remote locations with no cellular coverage. With nearly 300 units already in deployment, MOD field personnel can now keep in touch with central command for...

[Via Satellite 11-25-13] ViaSat and Harris Corp have been boosted by a key breakthrough in the European milsatcom market. The KOR 24 Small Tactical Terminal, a co-development of the two companies, has been selected by BAE Systems U.K. for installation on the Cobham Falcon 20 for support of Link 16 network pre-deployment training. The KOR...

[Via Satellite 11-22-13] One of the major talking points in 2014 is likely to be the U.S. government as well as the overall military market – two key points for satellite companies. With the impact of sequestration still being felt, satellite companies will hope things start to improve in 2014. Mary Cotton, CEO, iDirect is...

[Via Satellite 11-22-13] MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) has been selected for additional robotics work for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Phoenix Program. MDA has started work under the next phase of the Phoenix Program, with related contracts expected to total approximately $10 million. The work will be carried out by both...

[Via Satellite 11-21-13] Two unfurlable mesh antenna reflectors developed by Harris Corporation have successfully deployed onboard the second U.S. Navy Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite built by Lockheed Martin. The MUOS satellite will provide military users with 16 times more narrowband tactical satellite communications capability than existing UHF satellites, making voice, video and data...

[Via Satellite 11-21-13] The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) testified on the satellite industry’s leading role in the commercialization of space at a hearing held by the United States House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Space Subcommittee. SIA President Patricia Cooper provided testimony on behalf of the association, referencing SIA’s 2013 State of the Satellite...

[Via Satellite 11-21-13] Arianespace has ordered 10 Vega rockets from the Italian manufacturer European Launch Vehicle, to be ready for launch starting at the end of 2015. They follow the original Vega launcher used for the qualification flight, and the five Vega launchers already ordered in 2010 within the scope of the VERTA contract. The...

[Via Satellite 11-20-13] The European Parliament has approved the financing and governance of two European satellite navigation programs: Galileo and EGNOS, from 2014 to 2020. Their total budget of 7 billion euros ($9.47 billion) will be used for the completion of the satellite navigation infrastructure, operations, necessary replenishment and replacement activities, development of fundamental elements...