Technology

[Via Satellite 07-16-2014] India-based Aniara has awarded Dauria Aerospace orders for two small geostationary communications satellites. Each is expected to weigh less than one ton and support up to 16 Ku-band transponders. Spain’s Elecnor Deimos and other companies will also assist in building the satellites, which will use electric propulsion. Aniara purchased the GEO satellites...

[Via Satellite 07-16-2014] Inspired by the United Kingdom’s push to grow its space industry, Lockheed Martin has opened a new office at the U.K. Space Gateway in Harwell, Oxford. The company intends to pursue business opportunities in global security, small communications satellites, space exploration and environmental monitoring. Lockheed Martin Space Systems reports that it met...

[Via Satellite 07-15-2014] Canada-based MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) has acquired a U.S. company with expertise in radar and information sensors for an undisclosed amount. The terms of the agreement have not been disclosed and, in addition to meeting customary closing conditions, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) must approve the...

[Via Satellite 07-11-2014] Skybox Imaging has obtained the first images from its recently launched SkySat 2 Earth observation (EO) satellite. The satellite is the company’s second spacecraft, launched July 8, 2014 aboard a Soyuz rocket. The first images taken show Bangor, Maine and Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Skybox Imaging has progressed through the initial commissioning activities, but...

[Via Satellite 07-11-2014] Eutelsat Communications chose Yohann Leroy to succeed Raphaël Mussalian as Chief Technical Officer (CTO). Mussalian will continue to work with Eutelsat as Special Advisor on Technology Strategy. He will report directly to Chairman and CEO Michel de Rosen. Leroy is tasked with directing satellite procurement, launch, and in-orbit and network operations from...

[Via Satellite 07-11-2014] Iridium has selected a new billing and revenue management solution provided by Oracle Communications in advance of the launch of Iridium NEXT. In the past, Iridium added new services as separate entities in the company’s legacy billing system. Oracle allows Iridium to consolidate its customer interface for all services in one platform....

[Via Satellite 07-10-2014] Meeting with top European Union (EU) officials at Digital Venice 2014, SES CEO Karim Sabbagh and European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA) Secretary General, Aarti Holla highlighted the accelerating rate of digital video consumption to key policy makers and information and communication technology (ICT) companies. An accompanying new SES white paper titled Satisfying...

[Via Satellite 07-10-2014] Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) and the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) are working together to build a new Earth observation satellite: Alsat 1B. The new satellite builds on the accomplishments of Alsat 1A, which was launched in 2002. ASAL has a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Space Agency to promote collaboration...

[Via Satellite 07-10-2014] On July 1, 2014 NSSLGlobal opened its Southbury Conn. Teleport to new and existing customers. NSSLGlobal is operating the new teleport together with the company’s Jacksonville Fla. teleport. The new teleport is being integrated into NSSLGlobal’s Second Generation Digital Video Broadcasting Interactive Satellite System (DVBS2-RCS2) network and is part of the company’s...

[Via Satellite 07-09-2014] Eutelsat has confirmed its latest satellite, Eutelsat 3B, is actively providing commercial services at 3 degrees east. Traffic from existing satellites Eutelsat 3D and Eutelsat 3A, which were already located at 3 degrees East was shifted to Eutelsat 3B overnight on July 5, 2014. Sea Launch lofted the satellite into orbit in...