Technology

[Via Satellite 06-27-2014] International Rectifier (IR) introduced its D series of low power radiation-tolerant two output Direct Current-to-Direct Current (DC-DC) converters for satellite power systems. The new series offers low output noise, guaranteed End-of-Life (EOL) output voltage drift with notable output cross regulation. Each converter output is independently regulated with 5-Watt maximum rated output power...

[Via Satellite 06-26-2014] ASC Signal Corporation was selected by government and commercial customers to deliver 115 Ka-band gateways and large antennas systems over the course of the past six months. A large number of ASC’s 2.5-meter Nomadic multi-band antennas and several 4.9-meter dual-band (Ka-band and low-Passive Intermodulation (PIM) X-band) antennas are on order for defense...

[Via Satellite 06-25-2014] Cobbett Hill Earth Station is upgrading the network for its maritime services unit, International Ocean Services (ION), to the iDirect Evolution 3.2 platform. This is the first of a series of technology investments Cobbett Hill has planned for ION, which it acquired in 2013 to expand into the maritime satellite communications sector....

[Via Satellite 06-24-2014] European Space Propulsion (ESP), an Aerojet Rocketdyne subsidiary, delivered the first set of MR 103G satellite thrusters to Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) for the FormoSat 7 program, a joint mission between Taiwan’s National Space Organization (NSPO) and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The program will seek to observe...

[Via Satellite 06-23-2014] KVH Industries released an inertial navigation system designed for battlefield activities for the company’s Tactical Navigation (TACNAV) family of products. The TACNAV Three-Dimensional (3D) system is fiber optic gyro-based, and provides full 3-D navigation with an embedded Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). It can function by itself as a standalone inertial navigation...

[Via Satellite 06-18-2014] iDirect Asia achieved International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008 certification for sales distribution, marketing, engineering support and development for the company’s Internet Protocol (IP)-based satellite communications products in the Asia-Pacific region. iDirect Asia carried out assessments on processes and procedures and handled pre-audit and final audit measures to help meet the ISO’s...

[Via Satellite 06-19-2014] Emcore Corporation entered into a new long-term supply contract with Space Systems Loral (SSL) to produce and deliver high efficiency, multi-junction solar cells for SSL satellites. The cells will be manufactured at Emcore’s facility in Albuquerque, N.M. Emcore has been providing solar cells to SSL for 15 years, and in 2013, the...

[Via Satellite 06-16-2014] Northern Sky Research (NSR) analysts see lots of growth stemming from the use of High Throughput Satellites (HTS) between now and 2023. In a webinar based on the “Wireless Backhaul, Trunking and Video Offload via Satellite, 8th Edition” report, NSR predicts that a growing number of satellite services will shift from Fixed Satellite...

[Via Satellite 06-17-2014] Thuraya Telecommunications, a Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) operator, launched the company’s first ruggedized satellite broadband terminal designed with U.S. military standard components, the Thuraya Internet Protocol (IP) Commander. The terminal is expected to be commercially available in the third quarter of 2014. The Thuraya IP Commander was developed in collaboration with SRT...

[Via Satellite 06-16-2014] Comtech Telecommunications’ Santa Clara, Calif.-based subsidiary, Comtech Xicom Technology, received a $5.3 million order from an existing customer for 500-Watt Ka-band high-power amplifiers for the High Throughput Satellite (HTS) sector. These amplifiers will enable high capacity consumer broadband applications, and will be located at multiple gateways. High Throughput Satellites provide more total...