Telesat Selects Astrium for Telstar 12 Vantage High Throughput Satellite
Telesat has procured a powerful, multi-mission satellite from Astrium that will replace the Telstar 12 satellite at 15 degrees west while significantly expanding coverage of growing markets in South America, the Atlantic and Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The high throughput satellite is expected to launch in late 2015.

The new satellite, called Telstar 12 Vantage, will use a combination of broad regional beams and more focused high throughput spot beams to increase capacity and offer performance for broadband networks on the ground, in the air and at sea. By using Ku-band across all coverage beams, Telstar 12 Vantage will be fully backwards compatible with existing Ku-band terminal equipment.

In addition to optimizing coverage of the regions now served by Telstar 12, Telstar 12 Vantage provides new, high capacity coverage of Brazil and East Africa and builds on Telesat’s position in mobility and energy services with new coverage of the Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Atlantic and North Sea from its central orbital location of 15 degrees west.

Boeing Demonstrates Possibilities for Military Access to Low-Cost Communications Pathways

ViaSat 1 Broadband Satellite
Photo: Space Systems/Loral

Boeing has transmitted a government-developed, frequency-hopping signal through a commercial satellite, demonstrating the potential for the military to access more communications pathways at a lower cost than building new satellites, while protecting its data from jamming attempts.
In July, Boeing used the government’s protected tactical waveform to securely transmit information over ViaSat 1. The government signal is compatible with industry standards and multiple frequency bands.

DARPA Seeks to Lower Satellite Launch Costs with XS 1 Program
DARPA has established the Experimental Spaceplane (XS 1) program to develop a fully reusable unmanned vehicle that would provide aircraft-like access to space.

The vehicle is envisioned to operate from a “clean pad” with a small ground crew and no need for expensive specialized infrastructure. The setup would enable routine daily operations and flights from a wide range of locations. XS 1 seeks to deploy small satellites faster and more affordably, while demonstrating technology for next-generation space and hypersonic flight for both government and commercial users.

Heico to Acquire Satellite Component Maker Lucix
Heico Corporation has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Lucix Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of high performance, high reliability microwave modules, units, and integrated sub-systems for commercial and military satellites. The purchase will be made for an undisclosed amount of cash to be paid at closing and future potential cash payments if Lucix should meet certain performance criteria. Lucix’s financial information was not disclosed.

Heico expects the acquisition to be accretive to its earnings within the first year following the acquisition. The acquisition is subject to expiration of the regulatory waiting period.

KVH, SES Sign Capacity Agreement to Meet Rising Maritime Communications Demand

AMC 21 at Orbital’s facilities.
Photo: Orbital

SES and KVH Industries have signed an expanded capacity agreement to provide connectivity to luxury, government and commercial ships across the Caribbean and beyond. The deal will benefit the U.S. Coast Guard and its mission-critical use of reliable mobile broadband throughout North America. KVH’s agreement with the government homeland defense agency represents the largest maritime VSAT agreement to date, according to SES.

KVH will use a 36MHz Ku-band transponder aboard SES’ AMC 21 satellite to provide high-speed Internet access and VoIP services via its mini-VSAT broadband network to vessels traversing the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and coastal waters off the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.