Alphasat Moved to Operational Orbital Position, Ready for Service

Alphasat. Photo: ESA

Alphasat, designed and built by Astrium, has reached its operational in-orbit position and has successfully completed all in-orbit tests.
Built for Inmarsat, Astrium developed the technology with investment support from the Technology Strategy Board and the United Kingdom Space Agency. The satellite carries a new generation of advanced geomobile communications payload in L-band to augment Inmarsat’s existing broadband network service across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The spacecraft also delivers additional L-band space segment redundancy and consolidates safety of life services for the aeronautical and maritime sectors.

European Parliament Allocates Funds for Galileo and EGNOS Programs

The European Parliament has approved the financing and governance of two European satellite navigation programs: Galileo and EGNOS, from 2014 to 2020. Their total budget of 7 billion euros ($9.47 billion) will be used for the completion of the satellite navigation infrastructure, operations, necessary replenishment and replacement activities, development of fundamental elements such as Galileo-enabled chipsets or receivers, and the provision of services. Responsibility for the progress of the programs and their overall supervision will stay with the Commission.

Galileo is expected to begin providing services toward the end of 2014, and is expected to be fully operational by 2020. EGNOS, the European Satellite Based Augmentation System, has been fully operational since 2011. It works to increase the accuracy of the U.S. GPS positioning. The European GNSS Agency will gradually assume responsibility for the operational management of the programs while the ESA will remain responsible for the deployment of Galileo, and the design and development of new generation of systems.

Rai and Eutelsat Communications have signed an agreement enabling Italy’s public service broadcaster to deliver its new portfolio of HD channels across the country. Rai will broadcast its three flagship channels in HD – Raii 1, Rai 2, and Rai 3 – via the TivùSat satellite platform, which transmits through Eutelsat’s Hot Bird satellites.

Italian satellite TV homes will automatically receive Rai’s new HD channels on a FTA basis.

SES’ Astra 5B Launch Delayed by Hispasat

Arianespace has delayed the launch of SES’ Astra 5B satellite to January 2014 due to the non-availability of Astra 5B’s co-passenger satellite, Hispasat’s Amazonas 4A. The launch, aboard an Ariane 5 booster from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guyana, was previously scheduled for Dec. 6, 2013. The Astra 5B spacecraft will now be put into safe storage until the launch preparations can resume.

The Amazonas 4A satellite, designed by Hispasat, has opted to delay the launch in order to spend more time making adjustments. The launch, which was to be Arianespace’s last of the year, is expected receive a new January launch date.

SIS Live Selects Ateme Codecs for SNG Vehicles

SIS Live has selected Ateme’s Kyrion encoders and decoders to equip 18 new Ka-band vehicles with the latest compression technology for its clients, ITN and ITV. The Kyrion CM5000 uses a mode of satellite modulation known as “smaller guard intervals,” that will soon be standardized under DVB-S2x, maximizing the effective bandwidth of satellite transponders. The CM5000 front panel and web interfaces meet all operational expectations with quick access to configuration menus and immediate settings for fast transmission start, as well as a built-in monitor that removes the need for a separate monitor in the vehicle.

Rai Selects Eutelsat to Expand HD Broadcasting

Eutelsat Hot Bird 10 satellite before launch. Photo: Arianespace

Rai and Eutelsat Communications have signed an agreement enabling Italy’s public service broadcaster to deliver its new portfolio of HD channels across the country. Rai will broadcast its three flagship channels in HD – Raii 1, Rai 2, and Rai 3 – via the TivùSat satellite platform, which transmits through Eutelsat’s Hot Bird satellites.

Italian satellite TV homes will automatically receive Rai’s new HD channels on a FTA basis.