Government/Military

by Christopher Mecray The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) received heaping criticism in recent years for lacking an inspired vision for space exploration to provide a tangible focal point for its future. This criticism manifested in pressure for NASA to better support the case for ongoing funding of the manned space program, which intensified...

by Christopher Mecray A quick examination of key government space programs yields an overwhelming impression of a long-held maxim in this area: Nearly all programs have massively exceeded budgets, many are delayed and performance visibility remains dim going forward. While this is not the first ink to be spilled to lament this fact, we would...

Peter J. Brown With its ability to instantly deliver Internet Protocol (IP)-based video, voice and data anywhere in the world, the satellite industry is simply giving the public and private sectors more options. A few vertical industries where satellite technology offers solutions include health care, energy, public safety, transportation and Homeland Security, each of which...

by Christopher Mecray In perhaps one of the best examples of corporate health schizophrenia in recent years, the aerospace/defense industry is enjoying some of the best of times and enduring perhaps some of the worst of times within its own vertical markets. A dichotomous picture emerges of a healthy, even booming defense sector, offset in...

by Carissa Bryce Christensen Space control–assuring that friendly forces can use the space environment while denying its use to the enemy–is perhaps the highest priority space mission of the United States military. The terminology for the elements of the space control mission–space situational awareness, defensive counterspace and offensive counterspace–may not be familiar, but many of...

by Chris Mecray The summer of 2003 was clearly tough for the global space market, as commercial players struggled to hold on until some semblance of a recovery kicks in–and faces are turning a disturbing shade of blue. While Europe started off the summer on an improving note with a restructuring of its rocket’s program...

by Carissa Bryce Christensen The U.S. Defense Department (DoD) continues to become a bigger customer for commercial satellite communication services. Since September 11, 2001, DoD has increased its use of commercial satellites to support Operation Enduring Freedom from one commercial transponder for the region to more than 35, buying satellite capacity from global suppliers. More...

Supplying a diverse cache of satellite services is currently a major driver among industry executives needing to increase their profit margins. The commercial satellite payload operators catering to global clients are now exploring new opportunities outside of the traditional C- and Ku- and more recently utilized Ka-band spectrums. One band some satellite service providers are...

by Carissa Bryce Christensen Recent world events demonstrate U.S. dependence on space for executing military operations. U.S. national security space spending will dominate the space industry for the immediate future as struggling space companies target growing military and intelligence markets. Good business planning today demands a clear understanding of the recent changes in the U.S....

by Chris Mecray The Bush Administration’s FY04 budget submission, sent to Congress in February, appears to provide for generous funding for ongoing space projects. Though it is more challenging to discern administration priorities in space programs versus, say, fighter aircraft, we see a generally robust level of support for key projects, as recommended in the...