Technology

[Via Satellite 12-17-2014] Satellites may soon carry Raytheon’s Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology into orbit. The company has successfully validated its GaN Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) technology for use in space-bound equipment. Raytheon GaN MMICs, manufactured at its Andover, Mass. foundry, demonstrated the radiation hardness required for space through Single Event Burn-out (SEB) and Total...

[Via Satellite 12-17-2014] As commissioned by the European Space Agency (ESA), Airbus Defence and Space engineers have developed a new upper-stage engine demonstrator. Although engines that run on storable fuel are a core competency of German-European aerospace engineering, none are currently being produced in the three to eight kilonewton thrust class. Results of the recently...

[Via Satellite 12-17-2014] The European Space Agency (ESA) has made a test — originally created for its Rosetta comet-chaser mission — readily available to all European space missions. The test helps ensure propellant tanks will not crack up when subject to aggressive chemical corrosion. “Stress corrosion cracking has been termed the ‘sleeping monster’ of the...

[Via Satellite 12-17-2014] Advantech Wireless has released its new 2.5kW Tropo C-Band Modular GaN-based Solid State Power Amplifier (SSPA). The new model ARMA-CL2500A operates over the low C-band tropo frequency of 4.4 – 5.0 GHz, and it is fully modular with built-in redundancy for all critical RF and power supply modules. These new SSPAs are...

When we launched the Via Satellite Excellence Awards in 2013, the response from the industry was overwhelming with companies entering across the board. It was also the first time that Via Satellite expanded

The launch of ViaSat 1, Intelsat Epic NG and other new High Throughput Satellites (HTS) is increasing the amount of bandwidth in the sky by a factor of eight to 10. At the same time, the promise of performance

RF over fiber has been acknowledged for some time as superior to copper coax and is now found in many teleports, typically as L-band inter-facility links. However, benefits such as increased link lengths and

[Via Satellite 12-16-2014] Vern Fotheringham, CEO of Kymeta, is stepping down at the end of the year. In his place, Nathan Kundtz, president, CTO and co-founder will serve as CEO on an interim basis while the board of directors initializes a search for a new CEO. “We are extremely grateful to Vern for his contributions...

[Via Satellite 12-16-2014] The satellite communications industry has elected five new members to the Global VSAT Forum’s board of directors, bringing the total number of board members to seven. The newly elected members are Arabsat’s Yasir Hassan Michael and Intelsat’s Michael DeMarco. Re-elected board members are Nancy Eskenazi of SES, Arunas Slekys of Hughes Network...

[Via Satellite 12-16-2014] Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operator STC has finished the renewal and upgrade of the company’s satellite hub for Arabsat in Riyadh. Arabsat President and CEO Khalid Balkheyour said the multi-million dollar renewal enables reliable communications on the company’s Badr 5 satellite, located at 26 degrees east. Arabsat has satellites located...