Technology

[Via Satellite 01-31-2014] Comtech Telecommunications announced that its subsidiary Comtech EF Data Corp. has been awarded a $3.1 million order from a government systems integrator for DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier powered DMD2050E Satellite Modems. This new equipment will support the U.S. government’s integrated satellite terminal communications. The DMD2050E modems will use DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier bandwidth compression, a system...

[Via Satellite 01-31-2014] Thuraya Telecommunications launched the Thuraya Orion IP, the company’s first dedicated maritime terminal. Manufactured by Hughes Network Systems, the Orion IP is capable of data transfer rates up to 444 kbps, uses the Thuraya network, and offers Maritime Broadband pricing packages to provide competitive pricing to users in the shipping sector. The...

[Via Satellite 01-31-2014] Advantech Wireless has announced the release of its Advanced Multi-Carrier Demodulator (MCD) with an aggregate throughput of up to 32 Mbps. The MCD is designed for multi-frequency time division multiple access (MF-TDMA), and can support up to 96 return link MF-TDMA carriers on a single card, and also minimizes terminal capital expenditure...

[Via Satellite 01-30-2014] Heirs Holdings has invested in technology from U.S. start up Planet Labs. Through the introduction of “doves,” Planet Labs looks to transform the way imaging of the Earth is carried out. The “doves” are less expensive to produce and deploy than existing technology. They will circle the Earth in low orbit producing...

[Via Satellite 01-30-2014] Astrotech Corporation’s subsidiary 1st Detect Corporation has entered into a strategic Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) agreement with Rigaku Corporation of Tokyo, Japan. The 1st Detect OEM-100PI mass spectrometer, now integrated with Rigaku’s thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), offers a high performance and cost-effective solution. The integrated instrument, the Thermo iMS2, is the first TGA...

[Via Satellite 01-29-2014] UrtheCast now has two of its Earth imaging cameras installed on the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS). Once installed, the telemetry was received by Mission Control Central in Moscow. “With the cameras now successfully installed and communicating with Mission Control, UrtheCast can now focus on the routine commissioning of...

[Via Satellite 01-28-2014] Two frontrunner organizations in interference mitigation — the Radio Frequency Interference End User Initiative (RFI-EUI) and the Satellite Interference Reduction Group (IRG) — have decided to join forces in order to better meet mutual goals. Under this new arrangement, the RFI-EUI will operate under IRG and will be chaired by Roger Franklin...

[Via Satellite 01-28-2014] NASA’s new Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory, a joint project with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is scheduled to launch Feb. 27. As the first coordinated international satellite, the GPM will provide near real-time observations on all types of precipitation. Data form the GPM will be used to study climate...

[Via Satellite 01-28-2014] Comtech PST has released a new Gallium Nitride (GaN) amplifier for applications in the X-Band market. With an AB linear design, the amplifier operates over the 8.5-10 GHz frequency range. Design features include RF input and output sample detectors, thermal and load VSWR protection, and options to control phase and amplitude for...

[Via Satellite 01-27-2014] Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation has completed the integration of the imagery sensor on the WorldView 3 satellite, and is now ready for system-level performance testing. This commercial remote-sensing satellite, scheduled to launch this summer, is being built for DigitalGlobe, a global provider of high-resolution Earth imagery solutions. “With each successive payload...