Government/Military

Clyde Space has announced that the first satellite designed and built in Scotland will be launched on board a Russian rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan next June.

[Satellite TODAY 02-04-13] The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) has signed a $34 million firm fixed price contract with ViaSat on behalf of the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Program Office (MPO) (JPEOJTRS10).    The deal specifies that ViaSat will design, develop and produce approximately 10,000 cryptographic modules (LCMs) to be integrated into...

[Satellite TODAY 02-04-13] A group of executives from domestic commercial satellite companies have co-signed a letter to the United States Department of Defense to urge the military to better illustrate and communicate their needs and improve the way they buy their services.    Traditional government satellite competitors, including SES Government Solutions President and CEO Tip...

DigitalGlobehas announced that construction of its WorldView-3 satellite is on schedule. The company plans to complete the satellite in time for a mid-2014 launch in order to meet the requirements of its EnhancedView contract with the U.S. government.

[Satellite TODAY 02-01-13] DigitalGlobe and GeoEye have announced the completion of their merger. The combined company now has a market capitalization of $2.1 billion, based on the closing price of DigitalGlobe stock on Jan. 30, 2013. The company will trade on the NYSE stock exchange as DigitalGlobe under the symbol DGI.    As a result...

[Satellite TODAY 01-31-13] NASA has successfully launched a new Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) Wednesday. The spacecraft is the agency’s 11th TDRS and will be used for communications with the International Space Station and to relay more images from the Hubble Telescope.    Currently, the new TDRS carries the letter K designation (TDRS-K), but...

[Satellite TODAY 01-30-13] ITT Exelis received a follow-on contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to provide upgraded satellite remote sensor systems. Exelis will provide additional sensors, simulators and the ground support equipment required for future payload integration activities. Exelis is teamed with Ball Aerospace Technologies Company under the sponsorship of AFRL. The original...

[Satellite TODAY 01-30-13] Hughes Network Systems, Cisco Systems and the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) will continue to support Habitat for Humanity of Westchester, NY in its recovery efforts after Superstorm Sandy.    Habitat for Humanity has been helping residents of the neighborhood of Breezy Point in Queens, NY, to rebuild their homes after they were...

[Satellite TODAY 01-28-13] The need for enhanced communication capabilities and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) requirements for international armed forces is expected to drive demand for military satellites during the next decade. The trend is especially prevalent in North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region, according to online market research firm ReportsnReports.    In...

MBITR2 Image credit: Thales [Satellite TODAY 01-25-13] Warfighter communications systems developer and manufacturer Thales Communications is introducing its next-generation Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio MBITR2, the company announced Jan. 25.    The MBITR2 is an enhancement of its small, lightweight, power-efficient multi-band tactical handheld radio line.    “By leveraging technologies based on the leading narrowband AN/PRC-148...