Government/Military

[12-04-07 – Satellite Today] Northrop Grumman began integration and testing on the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), the company announced Dec. 3.     Integration and testing began with preparations for installation of electrical harnesses, following installation of the propulsion subsystem. Work will continue throughout the next nine months as the spacecraft’s subsystems and...

[12-3-07 – Satellite Today] Northrop Grumman was awarded a four-year, $2.9 million contract to help the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory develop reusable launch systems, Northrop Grumman announced Dec. 3.     Under the Advanced Development of Integrated Warm Structures contract, Northrop Grumman will demonstrate the relative weight and performance benefits of using different types of...

[12-3-07 – Satellite Today] CVG Inc. has been awarded a $1.3 million contract by the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command to provide shipboard commercial satellite communications terminals, CVG announced Dec. 3.     The terminals will be used for the Navy’s Commercial Broadband Satellite Program Small Ship Variant. The contract was awarded on behalf...

[12-3-07 – Satellite Today] Transformational Space Corp. has entered the second round of NASA‘s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program, Transformational Space announced Nov. 29.         The program is offering $175 million to companies developing systems to transport people and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) after the space shuttle is retired. The...

The demand for satellite-based communications is not fading anytime soon, according to a pair of studies released in early November. The fixed satellite services industry recorded an 8 percent growth in revenues and a 5 percent growth in transponder capacity volume in the last year, according to Euroconsult. The growth was driven by a new...

The time is right for NASA to transform its TV channel — NASA TV —- into something more international, more engaging and more likely to attract a larger audience. In effect, NASA TV should be put to rest and in its place should be — The Space Channel. Credit Sputnik for this proposal. On Oct....

[11-30-07 – Satellite Today] Spacehab Inc. has submitted a bid for NASA‘s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) Phase 1 contract , the company announced Nov. 29. Spacehab is working with Lockheed Martin, United Launch Alliance, Cimarron and Odyssey Space Research to develop a commercial cargo transportation capability to serve NASA’s needs for cargo services to...

[11-29-07 – Satellite News] The competition to develop the ground segment for the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation GPS constellation has entered its second phase, as Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Co. received contracts to continue work on their systems. The GPS Next Generation Control Segment (OCX) segment, which includes satellite command and control, mission planning, constellation...

[11-29-07 – Satellite News] Satellite executives are looking to the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Alphasat program to see if public-private partnerships can be effective means of developing new services and technology in the European space arena.     The initiative is designed to develop a new platform capable of carrying a large communications payload, and Inmarsat...

[11-29-07 – Satellite Today] The second of two Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites manufactured by Northrop Grumman Corp. for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has completed thermal vacuum testing, Northrop Grumman announced Nov. 29.     Thermal vacuum testing is conducted to confirm that the satellite will operate according to specifications in...