Technology

[Via Satellite 12-08-2014] A large military contractor has purchased Norsat International’s recently launched SigmaLink Auto and Ranger products. According to Norsat, the customer supplies communications solutions to governments and militaries worldwide. Norsat’s SigmaLink Auto is a product line extension of an existing terminal platform with auto-acquire technology. The terminal can be up and transmitting in...

[Via Satellite 12-05-2014] Spanish satellite operator Hispasat has selected Space Systems Loral (SSL) to build its next satellite: Amazonas 5. Based on the SSL 1300 platform, Amazonas 5 is a multi-mission satellite to supply the full capacity of the Amazonas 4A, and redefine the Amazonas 4B mission originally contracted to Orbital Sciences in 2012. The Orbital-built Amazonas...

[Via Satellite 12-05-2014] The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Airbus Defence and Space as the prime contractor for the Jason CS/Sentinel 6 Earth observation satellite. Thales Alenia Space France is providing the satellite’s main instrument, a radar altimeter that will measure global sea levels with accuracy within a few centimeters. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory...

[Via Satellite 12-04-2014] The Special Purpose Inexpensive Satellite (SpinSat) has been deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) through the Japanese Experiment Module Airlock (JEMAL). The 50-kg, 22-inch diameter spacecraft is dotted with a series of thrusters that will test an Electrically-controlled Solid Propellant (ESP) system from Digital Solid State Propulsion (DSSP). ESPs are insensitive...

[Via Satellite 12-04-2014] Azercosmos has signed an agreement with Gilat Satellite Networks to use the SkyEdge 2-c network to provide multi-application satellite managed services on Azerspace 1. The SkyEdge 2-c system uses enhanced forward channel technology to increase second generation Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite (DVB-S2) bandwidth efficiency, expand forward carrier capabilities to 67Msps using...

[Via Satellite 12-03-2014] Broadcom has designed a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) location hub for smartphones that supports Europe’s Galileo constellation. With the inclusion of Galileo, this brings the number of GNSS constellations supported by the Broadcom BCM4774 to five: Galileo, the United States’ Global Positioning System (GPS), Russia’s Glonass, Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS),...

[Via Satellite 12-03-2014] Spectrolab, a solar cell company purchased by Boeing in 2000, has manufactured its 4 millionth gallium arsenide-based solar cell for space. Collectively, these cells have powered more than 380 spacecraft flights. Hundreds of spacecraft, as well as the International Space Station (ISS), have used Spectrolab solar cells. Spectrolab is currently developing a...

[Via Satellite 12-02-2014] Data and satellite imagery startup OmniEarth is in the process of raising capital for a constellation of 18 Earth imaging satellites to collect space-based data. Ball Aerospace is contracted to build the imagers for the satellites, and Spaceflight Inc. is assisting in finding rideshare opportunities to bring the constellation online by 2018. But...

[Via Satellite 12-02-2014] ExactEarth has purchased one in-orbit Automatic Identification System (AIS) satellite and has received license to obtain AIS data from two more spacecraft. The company has integrated all three into its constellation, bringing the total number of satellites to eight in its AIS network. ExactEarth is also expanding its network of ground stations....

[Via Satellite 12-02-2014] Azercosmos, the national satellite operator of Azerbaijan, has entered a cooperative agreement with Airbus Defence and Space to operate and commercialize the Spot 7 optical Earth Observation (EO) satellite. As part of the agreement, Spot 7 will be renamed Azersky. The Azersky satellite was launched on June 30 aboard the Indian Space...