Technology

[Via Satellite 10-06-2014] Inmarsat reports LightSquared has not submitted a quarterly Phase 2 payment due on Sept. 30. The company owed $12.5 million along with a related payment of $5 million, which was never received. Based on the terms set in the cooperation agreement, Inmarsat issued a notice of default on Oct. 1, 2014. LightSquared...

[Via Satellite 10-03-2014] When the United Kingdom first announced its goal to grow the country’s share of the global space industry to 10 percent, it garnered a lot of attention. Since that time, two satellite industry primes, Lockheed Martin and Thales Alenia Space have set up new divisions and are actively looking to build up...

[Via Satellite 10-03-2014] The French Space Agency, CNES, has signed a contract with STmicroelectronics to develop the Astragan1 chipset, which aims to bring fast satellite broadband to users everywhere, including in areas outside those covered by terrestrial fixed and mobile broadband networks. The chipset will support services equivalent to those offered by fiber optic, ADSL...

[Via Satellite 10-03-2014] Comtech EF Data has received $1.7 million in satellite communications equipment orders from a systems integrator in Asia. The customer ordered the equipment to support the expansion of an existing satellite-based network infrastructure based upon Comtech EF Data products. The orders specified high-speed and mid-range satellite modems, including the CDM-625A Advanced Satellite...

[Via Satellite 09-30-2014] Northern Sky Research (NSR) has released its “Satellite Operator Financial Analysis (SOFA), 4th Edition,” report in which the research group finds an increased focus on operational efficiencies is driving both acquisitions and new High Throughput Satellite (HTS) payloads being launched. The report gives a detailed analysis of Avanti Communications in particular, focusing...

[Via Satellite 09-30-2014] Alliant Techsystems (ATK) has shipped its 6,000 titanium propellant tank from the company’s Commerce, Calif. facility this month. Last year, ATK’s Commerce site reached its 50th anniversary, remaining in operation for pressure vessel design and manufacturing projects since 1963. ATK has expanded the number of qualified propellant tank designs it offers to...

[Via Satellite 09-30-2014] Orbit Communications Systems has been awarded a $725,000 contract to upgrade a ground station in Alaska for a U.S.-based system integrator. To reduce downtime, the company is performing the upgrade with its Pedestal Interface Unit (PIU) to accelerate the shift from a government analog system to digital without needing to replace the...

[Via Satellite 09-30-2014] Macom has released a new set of surface mount S-Band Gallium Nitride (GaN) power products: the 30 Wpk and 85 Wpk hybrid GaN amplifiers and a 350 Wpk pallet option based on aluminum. The new products are specialized for applications in commercial air traffic control, weather radar and military radar. The 30 Wpk hybrid...

[Via Satellite 09-29-2014] Com Dev International has received an Authorization to Proceed (ATP) contract worth more than $7.5 million from an undisclosed customer to manufacture components for a High Throughput Satellite (HTS). The company will provide multiplexer equipment, microwave components and waveguide and coaxial switches for the Ku-band spacecraft. Com Dev will fabricate the components...

[Via Satellite 09-29-2014] National Geographic, in partnership with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) intends to develop new imagery from the International Space Station (ISS) for educational purposes. The interest demonstrated by National Geographic and others has prompted CASIS to expand the “Good Earth” imaging suite to encompass hyperspectral sensors, Synthetic...