Government/Military

[Satellite Today 09-17-08] TeleCommunication Systems Inc. (TCS) received a $23.4 million follow-on order from the U.S. Army for VSATs, the company announced Sept. 17.     The systems, ordered under the Army Communications-Electronics Life Cycle Management Command program, will provide multimedia communications capabilities which convey encrypted voice, video and imagery data.     The Army has procured...

[Satellite News 09-16-08] While there was not much of a satellite presence in the largely warfighter-dominated showroom of the 2008 AFA Air & Space Conference and Technology Expo, Satcom exhibits received lost of attention from U.S. Air Force customers.     The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) demonstrated several of its satellite projects at the...

 [Satellite Today 09-16-08] Northrop Grumman Corp. has completed integrating all electronic units of the payload module for its third advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) military communications satellite, the company announced Sept. 16.     Northrop Grumman said the Advanced EHF system will provide global, highly secure, protected, survivable communications for warfighters operating on ground, sea and...

[Satellite Today 09-16-08]  The Texas National Guard has contracted with SkyPort Global Communications to provide expanded satellite communications solutions throughout the state for ongoing operations, training exercises and in emergencies, SkyPort announced Sept. 16.     As part of the agreement, the Texas National Guard will co-locate routers at SkyPort’s secure teleport facility at the Ellington...

[Satellite News 09-15-08] Northrop Grumman kicked off a three-day event on Monday, Sept. 15 in Washington D.C. The “2008 AFA Air & Space Conference and Technology Expo” unveiled new projects and featured renowned speakers such as U.S. Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz. However, the conference also...

[Satellite Today 09-12-08] The California State Office of Emergency Services (CA-OES) has established the Western Satellite Mutual Aid Radio Talkgroup (W-SMART) operating on the Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) satellite communications network.       With the activation of W-SMART, MSV now provides regional talkgroups extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean enabling and facilitating interoperable...

 [Satellite Today 09-11-08] Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) demonstrated a ‘bundle’ protocol in space, carrying remote-sensing image data to NASA‘s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, via SSTL’s mission control center in England, the company announced Sept. 11. SSTL called the event a “first” for the industry.      SSTL said that sensor data was successfully...

 [Satellite Today 09-11-08] Norsat International Inc. will use a new repayable investment from the Canadian  government to invest in research and development activities to accelerate its product development timeline, the company announced Sept. 11.     Under the terms of the agreement, Norsat said the $5.97 million repayable investment it received through the Strategic Aerospace and...

[Satellite Today 09-11-08] Stratos Global Corp. has signed an agreement with Thrane and Thrane to upgrade the Stratos land Earth stations, Stratos announced Sept. 11.     The MSS supplier said the upgrades enable enhanced pre-assigned data reporting, which  according to the company increases the efficiency of maritime data reporting, allowing vessels using Stratos satellite services...

[Satellite News 09-10-08] Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has been granted an operational license by the U.S. Air Force for the use of Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on the Florida coast, the launch company announced Sept. 10.     SpaceX claims that the receipt of the license, in conjunction...