Technology

Swe-Dish Launches FA150K Two-In-One Concept

Swe-Dish Satellite Systems introduced a new concept by combining two of the company’s products available on the market. The Two-In-One concept consists of the new FA150K Lite and the compact and rugged IPT Suitcase. This solution offers the users a mission configurable solution that provides a flexible way to adjust to unpredictable changes of a critical mission or the need for a rapid regrouping on a moments notice.

The IPT Suitcase connects to the larger FA150K Lite antenna and the system is operated via the IPT Suitcase graphical user interface. Using the FA150K Lite antenna provides a 5dB better link margin than when using the IPT Suitcase alone, which increased bandwidth. (Swe-Dish Satellite Systems AB; Halsingegatan 40, S-113 43 Stockholm, Sweden; Tel: +46 8 728 50 00; Fax: +46 8 728 50 50; Web: http://www.swe-dish.com)

Ultra Electronics-DNE Unveils New Hardware

Ultra Electronics-DNE Technologies released its new secure digital voice order wire interface option module for the CV-MCU product line.

The new module, dubbed the CV-FOM-D/OW, passes traffic to and from a cryptographic unit or an enhanced tactical satellite signal processor using a standard fiber-optic cable link. (Ultra Electronics – DNE Technologies Inc.; 50 Barnes Park North, Wallingford, Conn. 06492; Tel: 203/265-7151; Fax: 203/265-9101; Web: http://www.ultra-dne.com)

Newtec Expands Azimuth Family

Newtec unveiled a product offering for transmitting IP data over DVB-S2 satellite links. The new concept expands the existing Azimuth family of DVB-S and DVB-S2 modulators, demodulators and modems with the addition of a new interface and processing module.

The NTC/7015 module allows IP services to be connected directly to the modulation equipment by providing on-board switching and encapsulation according to common industry protocols. (Newtec Company N.V.; Laarstraat 5, B9100 St-Niklaas, Belgium; Tel: +32(0)3.780.6500; Fax +32(0)3.780.6549; Web: http://www.newtec.be)

Panamsat Develops Broadcast Solution With On Call Communications

Panamsat and On Call Communications announced the development of a new satellite-based communications solution. The combination of Panamsat’s Quickspot on-demand satellite technology and On Call’s Onspot auto-deploying broadband satellite communications systems is designed to enable the coverage of breaking news and live events by broadcasters. (Panamsat; 20 Westport Road, Wilton, Conn. 06897; Tel: 203-210-8000; Web: http://www.panamsat.com)

Services

China Satcom Completes Gilat VSAT Deployment

China Satellite Communications Corp. (China Satcom) completed its deployment of about 1,000 Gilat Skyedge VSATs, Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. announced. The VSATs will provide rural telephony services in Gansu Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Loral Skynet Do Brazil To Support Brazilian Project

Loral Skynet Do Brasil announced that it has reached an agreement with Vicom, a subsidiary of Comsat International, to lease Ku-band capacity on Skynet’s Estrela do Sul 1 (Telstar 14) satellite.

Comsat will use the capacity to operate and manage the satellite component of its hybrid communications network for Caixa Economica Federal, Brazil’s state-owned financial institution. The VSAT network, connecting more than 6,000 lottery and banking outlets across Brazil, provides broadband services to support lottery transactions and general banking functions.

Masten Introduces Small Payload Launch Service

Masten Space Systems unveiled its system to launch small scientific payloads into space. Masten is offering missions under its Cansat To Space program for an introductory price of $99.

The company’s XA 1.0 suborbital launch vehicle will carry the soda can-sized payload at least 100 kilometers into space, where they will experience several minutes of microgravity and can be exposed to the vacuum of space. The vehicle will then return to its take-off point where the Cansats are removed and shipped to their owners.

Normal prices for a mission will be $199 per payload. Qualified educational institutions receive the educational discount price of $129. Custom payloads are also available in 1 kilogram increments for $250 per kilogram.

The typical 350-gram payload for the program include science experiments such as amateur space telescopes, surveys of cellular mitosis in microgravity and multi-spectral Earth imaging missions for environmental science experiments.

Xtar Begins Commercial Service On XTAR-LANT

Xtar LLC, a joint venture between Loral Space & Communications and Hisdesat, announced that the second component of its X-band satellite network, Xtar-Lant, has completed in-orbit testing and has entered commercial service. Xtar-Lant joins the Xtar-Eur satellite that entered service in April 2005.

Stationed at 30 degrees West, Xtar-Lant carries eight 100-watt wide-band X-band transponders in both right- and left-hand circular polarization. This payload enables flexibility and capabilities utilizing legacy X-band equipment. The satellite is a 1300-class model built by Space Systems/Loral and has a specified service life of 15 years.

Xtar-Lant’s coverage area encompasses a region extending from Denver in the United States to the South American and African continents and to the Middle East. Combined with Xtar-Eur’s coverage, Xtar can provide X-band capacity from Denver east to Singapore.

Contracts

Alcatel Alenia Space Wins Boeing Deal

Alcatel Alenia Space won a contract from Boeing to manufacture 12 additional second stage tank assemblies for the Delta 2 rocket.

Under the $11 million contract, the delivery of the new tanks will occur between 2007 and 2009. The tanks will be manufactured in the Alcatel Alenia Space facilities in Turin, Italy.

This is Alcatel’s second Delta 2 tank contract from Boeing. In 2001, Alcatel received a contract for the construction of 21 similar modules.

Arabsat Signs Up JMC Deal

Arabsat signed an agreement with Jordan Media City (JMC) to set up integrated solutions centers and centers for broadcasting and storage of TV materials.

These centers are intended to attract broadcasting companies and private TV stations and meet the increasing demand in the developing digital transmission market. JMC is an Arab Media Co. affiliate from which Arab Radio & Television broadcasts its satellite television channels. JMC provides TV broadcasting capabilities to both private and public sectors and transmit them around the globe via satellite.

Comtech Receives Movement Tracking System Orders

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. announced that its subsidiary, Comtech Mobile Datacom Corp., has received orders totaling $12.6 million on its movement tracking system contract with the U.S. Army.

The total includes $3.3 million of orders and a $9.3 million initial order for the Army National Guard’s acquisition of equipment and services. The Army National Guard order is being funded pursuant to the recently enacted supplemental Army National Guard and Army Reserve Equipment Plan, which includes $113.6 million for National Guard procurements and related program office expenses.

DirecTV To Buy Components From Comtech

Comtech EF Data Corp., will provide DirecTV Inc. with modulators and power switchers under a purchase agreement valued at a minimum of $3.5 million, Comtech announced. Comtech will provide the satellite TV operator with DVB-S2 broadcast satellite modulators and redundancy switches throughout the next two years. DirecTV will use the components to power new high-definition TV uplink services.

Geoeye Receives EC Contract

European Space Imaging received a contract to supply satellite imagery to the European Commission (EC), Geoeye announced.

Under the $2.2 million contract, Munich, Germany-based European Space Imaging will supply imagery of 24 specific European sites collected by the Orbview-3 satellite to the EC throughout the next four years. The EC will use the data for national security projects and to verify farmer’s declarations and claims for agricultural subsidies.

The EC recently renewed its three-year contract for data from Geoeye’s Ikonos imagery satellite.

MacDonald Dettwiler Receives Canadian Government Contract

MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. was awarded a contract by the government of Ontario to provide an information solution covering large portions of Canada.

Under the deal, awarded through a broad public sector partnership coordinated by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources — Land Information Ontario project, MacDonald Dettwiler will delivery data that includes high-resolution satellite imagery captured by Digitalglobe’s Quickbird satellite covering of Eastern, Central and selected areas of Northern Canada.

The information extracted from the images will be used for applications such as source-water protection, conservation, land cover classification and detection of changes in the environment. The solution will also support emergency planning.

The initial work is valued at over Canadian $1.9 million ($1.7 million).

SES-Astra Purchases Additional Satellite Carrier Monitoring Systems

SAT Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Integral Systems Inc., announced that it has delivered an additional Monicsnet Satellite Carrier Monitoring site to SES Astra, thereby extending their existing Monicsnet network. Monicsnet is a global monitoring system that provides automatic monitoring of Astra’s carriers using SAT’s DSP technology. In addition, Monicsnet algorithms automatically detect, characterize and display interfering signals and allow the results to be viewed at any time.

Executive Moves

Boeing Names New President Of Connexion Unit

Stanley Deal has been named the new president of Connexion By Boeing, Boeing announced April 12. Deal, currently leading sales and marketing operations at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, will assume the new role May 1, when Connexion President Laurette Koellner becomes president of Boeing International Relations.

Deal previously served as vice president of sales and business development for Connexion before moving to commercial airplanes in June.

Caprock Appoints Head Of New Maritime Division

Caprock Communications appointed Tore Hilde vice president of European operations. In addition to expanding Caprock’s European presence, Hilde will be in charge of launching a new maritime services division based in Norway. The new maritime division will further expand the company’s position in the industrial maritime, cruise line and commercial shipping markets.

Prior to joining Caprock, he served as CEO of the Norwegian company Telenor Satellite Services, a subsidiary of Telenor ASA Group. Hilde has also served on a number of boards of directors in the satellite communications and maritime industries.

Geoeye Names Vice President Of International Sales

Geoeye appointed of Paolo E. Colombi as vice president of International Sales.

Colombi has more than 25 years of experience in sales, operations and international management in high-technology and telecommunications systems and services. He will be directly responsible for all international business development and sales, and serve as a resource to more than a dozen regional affiliates and regional distributors around the globe.

Prior to joining Geoeye, Colombi was senior vice president of International Sales for Telular Corp. Before that he was executive vice president of sales for Lotus Interworks LLP and also served in various executive-level positions for Teleglobe International Corp. Previous to that, Colombi had 12 years’ consecutive tenure for Sprint International and both for its predecessor company GTE Telenet, and for its successor company Global One.

EMS Expands Space Systems Division Staff

EMS Technologies Inc. Defense & Space Systems Division announced the addition of new staff to oversee the development of technology solutions for U.S. government laboratories and airborne and terrestrial solutions.

Theresa Brunasso will be responsible for government research and development technology marketing; Bayne Bunce was named head for airborne and terrestrial solutions; and Jim Daly was be in charge of airborne and terrestrial solutions for sensors and smart weapons activities.

ITT Names President And GM, Space Systems Division

ITT named Chris Young as president and general manager of its Space Systems Division.

Previously, Young served as vice president and director for the divisions commercial & space sciences group.

Young first joining ITT’s Aerospace Communications Division (A/CD) in 1982. After serving in a series of managerial and project engineering positions, he was named director of space engineering for A/CD in 2001. In 2003, he was named director, space programs for A/CD.

MSV Hire Vice President Of Government Solutions

Mobile Satellite Ventures LP (MSV) hired James Corry to lead MSV’s system solutions for all federal, state, and local government needs, as well as the solutions for emergency responders and public safety. Corry joins MSV from Sprint Nextel, where he held the position of director of Federal Wireless, focused on intelligence, law enforcement, first response, and Department of Defense agencies of the Federal government. Prior to his Sprint Nextel career, Corry served as CTIA’s director of Carrier Relations .

Raytheon Names Vice President Of Space Systems, Intelligence And Information Systems

Raytheon Company named Chuck Enoch vice president of space systems for the company’s Intelligence and Information Systems (IIS) business in Aurora, Colo.

In his new position, Enoch will lead the space systems product line, which focuses on command and control operations for civil, military and proprietary programs.

Prior to being named director of operations in the summer of 2001, Enoch was director of operations and maintenance for IIS at a customer location in Australia. He has more than 30 years experience in systems engineering, program management and operations and maintenance at Raytheon, the former E-Systems, Northrop Grumman and Loral Data Systems.

SES Global Appoints Executive Comitee Member

SES Global added New Skies CEO Dan Goldberg to its executive committee, SES Global announced. The move follows the completion of SES Global’s acquisition of New Skies in March.

Goldberg, will continue to lead New Skies and will report to Romain Bausch, president and CEO of SES Global. Goldberg has been with New Skies eight years and became CEO in 2002.