Technology

[Via Satellite 09-10-2014] Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) and Kypros Satellites (Kyprosat) have teamed up to provide a turnkey telecommunications SmallSat for Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO). Kyprosat is providing orbital slot assets and asset management services, while SSTL is providing its GMP-T satellite platform capable of delivering up to 5.5 KW of power. The GMP-T...

[Via Satellite 09-09-2014] Lockheed Martin has announced two new upgrades to the A2100 satellite bus, which the company has been aggressively renovating to play a more prominent role in the commercial sector. The improved bus now features a fully reprogrammable payload processor through which users can modify payload configurations and performance in-orbit, adjust satellite to ground...

[Via Satellite 09-09-2014] Qatar based Es’hailSat has awarded a contract to Mitsubishi Electric for the manufacture of its second satellite: Es’hail 2. The project, which began in July 2014, is expected to take 27 months and has an anticipated launch in late 2016. Additionally, Mitsubishi Electric is training Qatari engineers throughout the satellite’s production. Through...

[Via Satellite 09-09-2014] SSL has been selected by Bulgaria Sat, a joint stock company established by the owners of Bulsatcom, to build the company’s first satellite: BulgariaSat 1. Slated for launch in 2016 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the satellite will provide Direct-To-Home (DTH) TV services in the Balkan region. BulgariaSat 1 is based...

[Via Satellite 09-08-2014] ViaSat has reached a comprehensive settlement of all outstanding claims related to its litigation with Space Systems/Loral (SSL) and Loral Space & Communications for breach of contract and patent infringement. In April, a U.S. District Court in San Diego, Calif. determined that SSL breached its non-disclosure agreement with ViaSat by disclosing proprietary...

[Via Satellite 09-08-2014] Satellite communications service provider NSSLGlobal has announced its merger with the ESL group of companies, a satellite solution provider and system integrator specializing in custom solutions for the government, fishing, commercial shipping and offshore industries. NSSLGlobal and ESL both target similar market sectors within complementary geographies. The merger gives each company a...

[Via Satellite 09-05-2014] AvL Technologies’ new 60 cm Manual FlyAway Antenna has received Eutelsat type approval for operation on KA-SAT. The Manual FlyAway Antenna received approval using a Ka-band TRIA feed and Eutelsat’s Tooway modem. The lightweight and compact antenna can be assembled and operational in less than 5 minutes, packs into a small airline...

[Via Satellite 09-04-2014] SES and EchoStar are continuing their partnership at the 105 degrees east orbital slot through a new joint satellite. Known as both SES 11 and EchoStar 105, the spacecraft will carry 24 Ku-band transponders and 24 C-band transponders with the equivalent of 36 MHz. Airbus Defence and Space has been contracted to...

[Via Satellite 09-04-2014] The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA’s) Tactical Technology Office (TTO) has published a request for information (RFI) for robotic satellite servicing missions in or near Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO). Based on the RFI, DARPA is seeking to learn the technical characteristics of spacecraft buses that commercial providers can provide to integrate...

[Via Satellite 09-03-2014] OmniEarth has completed the purchase of IRISmaps in a stock-for-stock transaction. OmniEarth anticipates the acquisition will accelerate its growth in agriculture and energy: the top two markets the company is currently focusing on. IRISmaps portfolio of customized cloud-based geospatial solutions already includes asset and environmental monitoring products that agriculture and energy customers...