Government/Military

[Satellite TODAY 01-19-10] China has launched its third Beidou navigation satellite, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. announced Jan. 18.     A Changzheng-series rocket carried the satellite into geostationary orbit Jan. 17. The launch is part of China’s Compass Navigation Satellite System and will be followed by the launch of five geostationary satellites and...

[Satellite TODAY 01-18-10] Telespazio and Lockheed Martin were awarded a five-year contract by the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) to provide data, products and services from the Cosmo-SkyMed satellites, Telespazio announced Jan 15. The contract is worth up to $85 million.     Lockheed Martin and e-GEOS, which is jointly owned by Telespazio and the Italian...

[Satellite TODAY 01-15-10] Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force completed a Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) ground system testing demonstration that will enable the SBIRS constellation to move into its next level of integration, Lockheed Martin announced Jan. 13.     The testing validated the functionality, performance and operability of the SBIRS GEO ground system for...

[Satellite TODAY 01-15-10] GMV was awarded a contract from Raytheon to develop ionospheric depletion detection technology for the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) GPS-Aided Geosynchronous Augmented Navigation System (GAGAN) program, GMV announced Jan. 14.     The Madrid-based company will develop specific elements of the GAGAN system related to user-level mitigation of safety problems that civil...

[Satellite News 01-15-10] The Australian Defense Force’s (ADF) deal with Intelsat to purchase a specialized UHF communications payload aboard the IS-22 satellite represented the best value-for money tender received during its industry solicitation process, an ADF spokesperson, who asked not to be named for this story, told Satellite News.     IS-22’s “capability meets our strategic...

[Satellite TODAY 01-14-10] ViaSat received an order valued at about $4.8 million from the U.S. Department of Defense for Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS-LVT) terminals, the company announced Jan. 13.     ViaSat said the award resulted from a competitive procurement for 30 LVT configuration terminals under a foreign military sales program through the Space and...

[Satellite TODAY 01-14-10] Satellite companies have deployed emergency services to assist Haiti following a devastating magnitude-7 earthquake that hit the island nation Jan 12.     Inmarsat-sponsored Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF), the U.N. agency responsible for emergency telecoms support, has dispatched a team equipped with Inmarsat mobile voice and broadband terminals from its base in Managua,...

[Satellite TODAY 01-13-10] The Russian Satellite Communications Co. (RSCC) won a contract to provide communications services to the Federal Taxation Authority (FTA) of the Russian Federation (RF), RSCC announced Jan. 12.     RSCC will provide services to 93 FTA regional administrations in 82 RF subjects using RSCC’s VSAT network.     “Winning the tender, announced by...

[Satellite TODAY 01-13-10] C-Com Satellite Systems has delivered an initial number of iNetVu Mobile antenna systems to its Christchurch, New Zealand-based reseller, the company announced Jan. 12.     The antennas will be deployed by the New Zealand government for emergency communications.     “With New Zealand’s unique geographical features such as the Alpine Fault and weather...

[Satellite TODAY 01-08-10] Integral Systems’ elected Bonnie Wachtel to its board, the company announced Jan. 8.     Wachtel currently serves as a principal of Washington, D.C.-based investment firm Wachtel & Co. and previously served on Integral’s board from 1988 to 2006. The appointment will go before stockholders for approval on Feb. 17.