Government/Military

[Satellite TODAY Insider 04-02-11] The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) blasted the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for allegedly showing favoritism towards communications network operator LightSquared in dealing with its potential interference issues with GPS signals.    In a March 29 statement to the FCC, the AOPA accused the commission of “failing to balance...

[Satellite TODAY 04-01-11] Geospatial solutions provider RapidEye continued its initiative to build a worldwide network of imagery partners by selecting Ramani Geosystems as its distributor in Kenya, RapidEye announced March 31.     As RapidEye’s first sub-Saharan reseller, Ramani will distribute RapidEye products throughout the entire continent of Africa, excluding Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and...

[Satellite TODAY 03-31-11] Northrop Grumman’s Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites completed an Airborne Laser Test Bed exercise as part of a U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) development program for future satellite defense systems, Northrop Grumman announced March 30.     During the test, the STSS demonstration satellites produced quicker responses to targets, as...

[Satellite TODAY Insider 03-31-11] The United Nations‘ telecommunications agency signed agreements with Intelsat and the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO) March 29 to expedite the restoration of vital telecommunications services in the aftermath of natural disasters.     The agreements aim to expedite the process in which emergency bandwidth is obtained for U.N. disaster relief efforts....

[Satellite TODAY 03-30-11] MDA received an $11.9 million contract from Canada’s Department of National Defense (DND) to operate and maintain its Sapphire System for five years following the system’s launch in late 2011, MDA announced March 29.     MDA’s responsibilities under the contract include: relaying assigned taskings from DND to the supporting satellite, processing the...

[Satellite TODAY 03-30-11] Vizada was awarded a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule 70 Future Comsatcom Services Acquisition (FCSA) contract to provide U.S. government and military customers access to Vizada’s portfolio of mobile satellite services, the satellite communications provider announced March 30.     Vizada will offer its full line of Inmarsat, Iridium and Thuraya products...

[Satellite TODAY 03-29-11] MTN Government Services (MTNGS) has been added to the Future Commercial Satellite Communications Services Acquisition (FCSA) contract under the U.S. General Services Administration‘s (GSA) federal supply Schedule 70 vehicle, the company announced March 28.     The company’s addition to the contract vehicle allows government organizations to access MTNGS’ range of communications solutions...

[Satellite News 03-29-11] While SES Senior Vice President of Engineering and Space Data Association (SDA) Chairman Stewart Sanders believes that the United States is not properly managing its space debris issued, he hailed U.S. President Barack Obama’s National Space Policy as a “great document” and spoke of its importance in engaging the U.S. commercial satellite...

[Satellite TODAY 03-28-11] Hughes Network Systems is supporting the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) robotics competition at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., the company announced March 25.     The FIRST robotics competition aims to foster science and technology education for high school students as they build and...

[Satellite TODAY 03-28-11] The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has launched its 2011 European Satellite Navigation competition for the Taiwanese region, ITRI announced March 25.     The institute said the competition would focus on wireless access applications in vehicular environments and dedicated short-range communications. "By sponsoring the first hands-on applications competition, ITRI sets a significant...