Government/Military

[Satellite TODAY 12-03-11]  Northrop Grumman has won a contract worth $5.75 million from the U.S. Air Force to provide research and development for the Modular Architecture for Signal-processing, Tracking and Exploitation Research (MASTER) program, the company announced. The contract was awarded by the Space and Missile System Center’s Development Planning Directorate.             MASTER supports the...

[Satellite TODAY 12-02-11]  Astrium has received confirmation from the European Space Agency (ESA) following its Preliminary Design Review (PDR) that its Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution launcher project has been approved, the company announced Dec. 1.             The primary upgrade for the Ariane 5 launcher is an upper stage equipped with a Vinci restartable cryogenic engine,...

EADS acquired independent global satellite-based mobility communication services provider Vizada this past August for 673 million euros ($934.32 million). The deal, which is still awaiting final regulatory approvals, will see Vizada become part of Astrium Services, one of the fastest growing operations in Astrium’s space business. Vizada brings a customer base that spans across sectors...

Arianespace Grabs Optus 10 Launch Deal Australian satellite operator Optus has selected Arianespace’s Ariane 5 rocket to launch its new Optus 10 spacecraft into geostationary transfer orbit in the middle of 2013 from the European Spaceport in French Guiana. Optus 10 will be the sixth satellite launched by Arianespace for the Australian operator since orbiting...

Fallen defunct satellites seem to be in fashion these days, including NASA’s decommissioned Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) that impacted earth late September. While much was speculated about the potential landing location, little was said about liability should satellite debris injure people or property on its way down. The 1972 U.N. Convention on International Liability...

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a U.S. Congressional Commission charged with monitoring the trade and economic relationship between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (China) and assessing its security implications, issued a draft annual report in late October that concluded that computer hackers, possibly affiliated with China’s military, had interfered...

[Satellite TODAY Insider 11-24-11] Raytheon has achieved technology milestones on two high-priority civil space and government satellite projects, the company announced Nov. 23.    Raytheon said its Army Secure Mobile Anti-jam Reliable Tactical Terminal (SMART-T) is the first operationally fielded terminal to interoperate with the in-orbit Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite. The company recently...

[Satellite TODAY 11-24-11] Retired U.S. Army Col. Patrick Rayermann has been hired by Orbital Sciences to serve as its senior director of corporate strategy and development, the company announced Nov. 22.    Rayermann will be responsible for identifying strategic and budgetary challenges for Orbital’s government customers and supporting new solutions developments to overcome these obstacles....

[Satellite TODAY Insider 11-23-11] European satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space was awarded two key contracts to build a Turkmen satellite and to develop satellite software for Globalstar’s second-generation satellites, Thales Alenia Space announced Nov. 22.    The Government of Turkmenistan selected Thales Alenia Space to build the country’s first telecommunications satellite, which will be launched...

[Satellite TODAY Insider 11-22-11] An independent congressional advisory panel advised the Pentagon to diversify its traditionally space-oriented capabilities in order to prevent a cyber attack from China and prepare for situations where U.S. space satellites are partially or completely destroyed.    In a report published Nov. 16, the U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission...