Government/Military

[Satellite TODAY Insider 11-12-10] NASA has wasted no time in seeking commercial launch partners since the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 was signed into law in October.      Over the past week, NASA has entered into Modular Space Vehicle (MSV), Rapid Response Space Works (RRSW) and heavy-lift launch vehicle development contracts with 16 different commercial...

[Satellite TODAY 11-11-10] Riverbed Technology has acquired government satellite network optimization specialist Global Protocols, Riverbed announced Nov. 10.     Riverbed will integrate its WAN optimization products with Global Protocols’ SkipWare technologies for Space Communications Protocol Standards (SCPS) to bolster its position in the optimization market. SCPS is a protocol solution developed by NASA and U.S....

[Satellite TODAY 11-11-10] Orbcomm’s 2010 third quarter total revenues jumped 97.9 percent from the same period in 2009 due to a boost in deferred U.S. Coast Guard AIS service revenue, the company announced in its latest results, issued Nov. 10.     Orbcomm reported revenues of $13.9 million in the most recent three-month period, which included...

[Satellite TODAY 11-11-10] The U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction (STSS ATRR) satellite has demonstrated required on-orbit system performance parameters for a prototype sensor technology, the agency announced Nov. 10.     STSS ATRR, launched in May 2009, has been conducting Space Situational Awareness for the agency, which is...

[Satellite TODAY 11-11-10] Canadian satellite communication systems manufacturer Advantech Wireless Broadband has delivered its DVB-RCS/S2 hub and remote terminals to the U.S. Department of Defense for in-theater use under a contract with Agile Communications, Advantech announced Nov. 10.     The combined hub and remote terminal solutions were designed for forward recon voice, data and full...

[Satellite TODAY 11-11-10] Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) repositioned the U.K.-DMC-1 satellite, which is reaching the end of its operational life, the company announced Nov. 10.     SSTL said it has been using unspent propellant to reduce the orbital lifetime and the probability of generating space debris. The satellite’s maneuvers were designed to deplete the...

[Satellite News 11-11-10] Iridium Communications won three U.S. defense contracts to upgrade military ground systems. While Iridium said the deal paves the way for a variety of service optimizations and partnerships in the defense sector, Iridium’s Vice President of Government Programs Scott Scheimreif added the enhancements would support mutual migration towards its next-generation constellation, Iridium...

[Satellite TODAY 11-10-10] GeoEye’s ten-year EnhancedView contract from the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), worth up to $3.8 billion, helped produce strong results for the company during the 2010 third quarter, GeoEye announced Nov. 9.     The satellite and aerial geospatial information and services provider enjoyed 8.1 revenue gains to $86.5 million, compared to $79.9...

[Satellite TODAY 11-10-10] TeleCommunication Systems (TCS) was awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract worth up to $315 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to replace U.S. Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) commercial satellite communications infrastructure supporting next-generation wideband services.     The contract performance period will run through November 2018, which includes a four-year base period with four...

[Satellite TODAY 11-10-10] NASA selected 13 companies for potential contract awards that begin work on the agencies efforts to develop a next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle, NASA announced Nov. 8.     The awards will be valued at a total of about $7.5 million, with a maximum individual contract award of $625,000. Each company will conduct systems...