Government/Military

[Satellite Today 05-01-09] Boeing completed the system-level preliminary design review for its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite system (TDRS) for NASA, Boeing announced April 29.     The review, which followed a delta integrated baseline review completed earlier this year, included presentations on systems engineering, program management, safety and mission assurance, the spacecraft, the launch vehicle,...

[Satellite Today 05-01-09] The final qualification test firing of the third stage solid propellant motor for Europe’s Veega small launch vehicle was conducted at the Salto di Quirra Interforce Test Range in Sardinia, Italy, the European Space Agency announced April 30.     The Zefiro 9A motor fired for nearly two minutes to completely burn its...

[Satellite Today 05-01-09] Comtech Systems has received a $1.6 million increase in funding to its AN/TRC-170 troposcatter engineering and support contract with the U.S. Army, raising the total amount of funding to $9.4 million, Comtech announced April 30.     Comtech Systems will inspect and repair the troposcatter terminals, and install AN/TRC-170 modem upgrade kits for...

[Satellite News 04-30-09] Greater cooperation, better security and managing space debris were some of the key issues discussed at MilSpace 2009 in Paris.     At the week-long event, Brig. Gen. Susan Helms, director of plans and policy for U.S. Strategic Command (US StratCom) made a call for greater co-operation in space. “With the cost of...

[Satellite Today 04-30-09] DigitalGlobe will launch its initial public offering on May 14, when it is scheduled to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "DGI," the company announced April 29.     The digital satelliter imagery company said it is aiming to raise $250 million at the midpoint of its expected...

[Satellite Today 04-30-09] The Japanese government is in a development phase to launch an early warning satellite that can detect missile launches by 2013 and increase the number of the country’s reconnaissance satellites from the current three to four, according to a national space plan released April 27 by Japanese government officials.     The Japanese...

[Satellite Today 04-29-09] Ekahau, a provider of Wi-Fi-based location systems, is integrating its tracking software into GPS receivers designed by NavSync, Ekahau announced April 28.     The tags expand the ability to track the location of assets and inventory from inside a building or across a campus environment to anywhere around the world, Ekahau said....

[Satellite Today 04-29-09] The Africa Union Commission (AUC) is set to inaugurate an AU-AMESD project satellite receiving station at the AUC Headquarters in Ethiopia, AUC announced April 28.      The AMESD, financed by the European Union, aims to enhance environmental monitoring for preparedness and adaptation as well as management of African environmental and poverty issues....

[Satellite Today 04-29-09] Communications and Power Industries Inc. (CPI) received a contract worth approximately $3 million from DataPath to support an upgrade to existing communications terminals used for the U.S. Army’s Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T) satellite communications program, CPI announced April 28.      CPI will supply Ka-band high-power satellite communications amplifiers to upgrade DataPath’s existing...

[Satellite Today 04-28-09] Intelsat signed a $167 million contract to host a specialized UHF payload to provide communication services for the Australian military, Intelsat announced April 27.     Intelsat is dedicating a portion of its Intelsat 22 satellite, which is being manufactured by Boeing, to be used by Australian defense forces for 15 years.    ...