Government/Military

New technology will provide far faster data transfer speeds in the Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT), a defense contractor stated. The advance was created by a Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT]/Northrop Grumman Corp. [NOC] team, Lockheed announced. The announcement comes after the Air Force recently shut down the TSAT program competition without awarding a contract to...

[Satellite Today 01-22-09] LBiSat Satellite Communications has implemented a hosted voice platform from Alianza to provide Voice Over IP (VOIP) services in remote regions for the U.S. Forest Service, Alianza announced Jan. 21.     LBiSat uses iDirect hub technology to support IP in a satellite environment.     Alianza’s platform is built on a service-oriented architecture...

As a new president and Congress are poised to enact a roughly $800 billion economic stimulus bill, it is clear that the measure could provide immense help to critically tight defense and space budgets. Further, increased spending in this area could help to spur growth in the moribund U.S. economy, helping to slow its descent...

Updated — January 15, 2009 – 4:31 p.m. EST Legend: + Targeted For | * No Earlier Than (Tentative) | ** To Be Determined 2009 Launches Date: Feb. 4 Mission:NOAA-N Prime Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Delta II Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base – Launch Pad SLC-2 Launch Window: 2:22 – 2:32 a.m. PST/5:22...

The European Space Agency will see several major spacecraft launches this year, ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain said. Among major spacecraft being orbited are Herschel-Planck, GOCE, SMOS and CryoSat-2, he said. ESA also will make final selection of astronauts, and two European astronauts will be joining the International Space Station: Frank De Winne, for a...

[Satellite Today 01-19-09] Raytheon Co. completed vibration testing on a sensor designed to monitor climate for three years from NASA‘s Glory satellite, expected to be launched later this year, Raytheon announced Jan. 16.      Raytheon said it anticipates completing of the sensor tests in time to deliver the  to NASA during the first quarter of...

Barack Obama as president is spelling out his policies, including a call to protect U.S. space assets by using both military and diplomatic means, and by hardening satellites against attack. Currently, the Missile Defense Agency and the armed services don’t have any assignment to protect military or civilian (communications, commerce and financial) satellites and other...

NASA Associate Administrator Chris Scolese is now the NASA acting administrator, with the resignation this week of NASA Administrator Mike Griffin, who is departing from his post automatically with the arrival of a new occupant at the White House. Griffin is stepping down from leading the largest space agency in the world amidst widespread praise...

The leading congressional critic of ballistic missile defense programs will retain her powerful post overseeing those efforts, as the 111th Congress organizes itself for the next two years. Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.), will continue to chair the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) strategic forces subcommittee, HASC Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) announced. However, the ranking Republican...

Iran is amassing materials such as tungsten copper and specialized aluminum and titanium sheets that are key to production of missiles, including long-range weapons, The Wall Street Journal reported. The report comes as Iran continues to flout world opinion and United Nations resolutions by producing nuclear materials that, with reprocessing, can be used to build...