Ku- With An Altitude
Gogo will partner with satellite equipment provider AeroSat to bring a Ku-satellite solution to commercial airlines.
AeroSat will deliver the Ku-satellite antenna, radome, antenna control and modem unit and high power transceiver to Gogo. The AeroSat equipment will be coupled with Gogo’s onboard hardware and software (server and access points) to deliver a complete solution to the airlines. The components have already been developed and are currently going through the airworthiness qualification and certification process. Gogo expects to be able to install the Ku-systems on commercial aircraft as soon as the fourth quarter of 2012.
Gogo also recently announced that it will be one of two global service providers of Inmarsat’s Global Xpress™ Ka-satellite service. Working with Inmarsat, Gogo expects to begin testing of the Global Xpress Ka-aeronautical services after the launch of the first of the three Inmarsat-5 satellites, which is scheduled for mid-2013. Gogo expects to offer Global Xpress Ka-satellite service after the launch of all three I-5 satellites starting in late 2014 or early 2015.
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They’re In The Loop
DeLorme is contributing an inReach™ two-way personal satellite communicator and airtime to support Beneteau Powerboats’ Greatest Loop Expedition.
For the Greatest Loop Expedition, a new Beneteau Swift Trawler 34, crewed by teams of Beneteau dealers and journalists from major U.S. boating magazines, will circumnavigate Eastern North America. The voyage will launch from Annapolis, Maryland, today and will include inland rivers and canals, the Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, returning to Annapolis in September.
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History Flies On A Falcon While A Dragon Roars
“...I think I would count today as a success no matter what happens with the rest of the mission...For us it is like winning the Super Bowl.”—Elon Musk
At 3:44 a.m. EDT, the Falcon 9 carrying Dragon launched from SpaceX’s launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, heading toward the International Space Station. On that journey it will be subjected to a series of tests to determine if the vehicle is ready to berth with the station.
Broadcast quality videos, including video inside of the SpaceX factory, may be downloaded at vimeo.com/spacexlaunch and high-resolution photos are posted at spacexlaunch.zenfolio.com.
At a press conference held after the launch, SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer Elon Musk began, “I would like to start off by saying what a tremendous honor it has been to work with NASA. And to acknowledge the fact that we could not have started SpaceX, nor could we have reached this point without the help of NASA… It’s really been an honor to work with such great people.”
“We obviously have to go through a number of steps to berth with the Space Station, but everything is looking really good and I think I would count today as a success no matter what happens with the rest of the mission,” Musk said.
He continued by expressing his gratitude to the more than 1,800 SpaceX employees. “People have really given it their all.” Describing the scene inside of SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, he said, “We had most of the company gathered around SpaceX Mission Control. They are seeing the fruits of their labor and wondering if it is going to work. There is so much hope riding on that rocket. When it worked, and Dragon worked, and the solar arrays deployed, people saw their handiwork in space operating as it should. There was tremendous elation. For us it is like winning the Super Bowl.”
This is SpaceX’s second demonstration flight under a 2006 Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) agreement with NASA to develop the capability to carry cargo to and from the International Space Station. Demonstration launches are conducted to determine potential issues so that they might be addressed; by their very nature, they carry a significant risk. If any aspect of the mission is not successful, SpaceX will learn from the experience and try again.
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It’s Clean Channel Technology Authorization
Newtec has received authorization from Intelsat, S.A. for use of its Clean Channel Technology™ (CCT) on Intelsat satellites.
CCT is Newtec’s first step toward extending the current DVB-S2 digital signal transmission standard. The technology further improves satellite transmission efficiency by up to 15 per cent compared to the current DVB-S2 standard for IP trunking, backhauling, government networks and broadcast contribution. This data is based on live tests conducted in Newtec’s laboratories and Intelsat’s teleport in Fuchsstadt, Germany. Newtec’s customers will be able to use CCT, as it is available as a software field upgrade for existing Newtec equipment.
During the test at Intelsat’s Fuchsstadt teleport, Newtec demonstrated throughput over a 72 MHz C-band transponder on an Intelsat satellite, or nearly seven bits per hertz. The transmission used CCT and Newtec Bandwidth Cancellation technology alongside a Newtec Wideband modem.
Link to Newtec’s Clear Channel Technology
An App For All Reasons
NASA has just released an updated version of the free NASA App for iPhone and iPod touch.
The NASA App 2.0 includes several new features and a completely redesigned user interface that improves the way people can explore and experience NASA content on their mobile devices. A team at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, completely rebuilt the NASA App for iPhone and iPod touch. It now has a fast and intuitive interface for the approximately 4.7 million people who’ve downloaded it so far.
Other new features of NASA App 2.0 include weather forecasts in the spacecraft sighting opportunities section; maps, information and links to all of the NASA visitor centers; a section about NASA’s programs, as well as the ability to print, save and access favorite items, and bookmark images. The NASA App 2.0 requires iOS 5.0 or later.
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VSAT Solutions Are At The Hub Of The Matter
Comtech Telecommunications Corp. has announced that its Tempe, Arizona-based subsidiary, Comtech EF Data Corp., was awarded a $3.5 million in Advanced VSAT Solution orders from Harris CapRock Communications, a premier global provider of managed solutions for remote and harsh environments and a business division of Harris Corporation.
Harris CapRock will deploy the Advanced VSAT Solutions throughout five of their operational hubs and onboard its maritime customers’ vessels, including Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd.’s cruise ship fleets.
The Advanced VSAT incorporates industry-leading optimization. DVB-S2 and VersaFEC with ACM/VCM enable efficient physical layer without compromising latency, while the ultra low overhead Streamline Encapsulation and Enhanced GSE enable efficient link layer. Header compression and lossless payload compression enable efficient transport for IP datagrams, and RAN optimization minimizes the bandwidth required for mobile backhaul. WAN optimization provides TCP connection management, TCP optimization, image reduction and smoothing, caching, bandwidth pooling, and other capabilities for significant bandwidth savings. And, the Advanced QoS and Group QoS ensure the highest quality of service with minimal jitter and latency for real-time traffic, priority treatment of mission critical applications and maximum bandwidth efficiency.
Complementing the Advanced VSAT Solutions, LPOD Block Up Converters were also ordered based on their field-proven performance characteristics and unmatched remote monitor and control capabilities.
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Three In The Hopper...
Prof. Ita Ewa, the Minister of Science and Technology said last Thursday that Nigeria would launch three satellites and send astronauts into space by 2015.
“In 2015 we are preparing to launch NigeriaSAR-1 satellite. The NigeriaSAR is a security satellite with an acronym that stands for Synthetic Aperture Radar. This satellite will have a very high resolution that can cover kilometres, and for a backup of the communication satellite, there will be NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-3. Also, because of the experience we gained in Surrey, U.K., we are going to build an Assembly Integration and Testing Centre for satellite technology, it is ongoing but this year we will put in more efforts to that technology. And before I leave office in 2015 we will send a Nigerian Astronaut into space.”
He said by 2018 Nigeria would launch a manufactured satellite and in 2025 develop rocket and propulsion system. Ewa enumerated the achievements of the ministry to include the launch of two low earth observation satellites—NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X as well as a communication satellite, NigComSat-1R. He also said a rocket was recently launched from Epe, Lagos. (Source: allAfrica.com)
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XBOX Nanosats—Not For Playing ‘Space Invaders’
Similar in design to STRaND-1, the Surrey Satellite Technology’s (SSTL) identical twin satellites will each measure 30cm (3 unit Cubesat) in length, and will use components from the XBOX Kinect games controller to scan the local area and provide the satellites with spatial awareness on all three axes—thus allowing them to dock.
Other applications include the safe removal of space debris and spacecraft maintenance, with a low cost “snap-on” nanosatellite...
Space innovators at the University of Surrey and SSTL are developing ‘STRaND-2’, a twin-satellite mission to test a novel in-orbit docking system based upon XBOX Kinect technology that could change the way space assets are built, maintained and decommissioned.
STRaND-2 is the latest mission in the cutting edge STRaND (Surrey Training, Research and Nanosatellite Demonstrator) programme, following on from the smartphone-powered STRaND-1 satellite that is near completion. Similar in design to STRaND-1, the identical twin satellites will each measure 30cm (3 unit Cubesat) in length, and utilise components from the XBOX Kinect games controller to scan the local area and provide the satellites with spatial awareness on all three axes.
Docking systems have never been employed on such small and low cost missions and are usually reserved for big-budget space missions to the International Space Station (ISS), or historically, the Mir space station and the Apollo program. The STRaND team sees the relatively low cost nanosatellites as intelligent “space building blocks” that could be stacked together and reconfigured to build larger modular spacecraft.
SSTL Project Lead Shaun Kenyon explained: “We were really impressed by what MIT had done flying an autonomous model helicopter that used Kinect and asked ourselves: Why has no-one used this in space? Once you can launch low cost nanosatellites that dock together, the possibilities are endless – like space building blocks.”
The STRaND-2 twins will be separated after launch. After the initial phase of system checks, the two satellites will be commanded to perform the docking procedure and, when in close proximity, the Kinect-based docking system will provide the satellites with 3D spatial awareness to align and dock.
Dr. Chris Bridges, SSC Project Lead, explains: “It may seem far-fetched, but our low cost nanosatellites could dock to build large and sophisticated modular structures such as space telescopes. Unlike today’s big space missions, these could be reconfigured as mission objectives change, and upgraded in-orbit with the latest available technologies.”
Other applications include the safe removal of space debris and spacecraft maintenance, with a low cost “snap-on” nanosatellite providing backup power, propulsion or additional on-board computing capability.
SSTL Project Lead Shaun Kenyon explained: “We were really impressed by what MIT had done flying an autonomous model helicopter that used Kinect and asked ourselves: Why has no-one used this in space? Once you can launch low cost nanosatellites that dock together, the possibilities are endless – like space building blocks.”
The STRaND-2 twins will be separated after launch. After the initial phase of system checks, the two satellites will be commanded to perform the docking procedure and, when in close proximity, the Kinect-based docking system will provide the satellites with 3D spatial awareness to align and dock.
Dr. Chris Bridges, SSC Project Lead, explains: “It may seem far-fetched, but our low cost nanosatellites could dock to build large and sophisticated modular structures such as space telescopes. Unlike today’s big space missions, these could be reconfigured as mission objectives change, and upgraded in-orbit with the latest available technologies.”
Other applications include the safe removal of space debris and spacecraft maintenance, with a low cost “snap-on” nanosatellite providing backup power, propulsion or additional on-board computing capability.
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China successfully sent a telecommunication satellite, ChinaSat 2A, into orbit on May 26th.
A Long March-3B carrier rocket was used to launch the satellite from the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The rocket blasted off at 11:56 p.m., Beijing time. The satellite, developed by China Academy of Space Technology, will be used to meet the demands for China’s radio and TV broadcasting and broadband multimedia transmissions, according to China Satellite Communications Co. Ltd. Saturday’s launch marked the 163th mission of the Long March carrier rocket series developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
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Set To Develop An EO System
Korea will initiate a new system in 2018 to monitor environmental conditions by launching the world`s first satellite for monitoring climate change over the Korean Peninsula.
The ministry said the U.S. and Europe observe air pollution and global warming via a low-earth orbit satellite. It orbits about 700 kilometers above the Earth`s surface and its orbit crosses the Arctic and the Antarctic. Therefore, it can seamlessly monitor air pollution in a region and its movement as well as climate change patterns.
A geostationary orbit satellite moves like the Earth in an orientation standing of more than 36,000 kilometers from the Earth. This allows the satellite to focus on a certain point on the Earth.
The Earth environment satellite will be equipped with facilities such as an optical telescope to measure ultraviolet and visible light waves. The device will track the occurrence and movement of ozone, which causes climate change, and sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde across 25 million kilometers from the peninsula.
The satellite`s cost is an estimated 640 billion won (542.3 million dollars). An Environment Ministry source said, “We will manufacture the body of the satellite in 2015 and launch it in 2018 after running all sorts of tests.” (Source: The Dong-A Ilbo.)
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Kazakhstan is reportedly blocking upcoming Russian satellite launches due to a dispute with Russian space authorities over the drop zone for rocket debris, this according to a report on the Radio Free Europe website.
Unnamed officials spoke about the dispute with Russia’s Kommersant daily and Interfax news agency. No public confirmation was readily available.
The dispute reportedly concerns plans for debris from Russian Soyuz rockets—which carry satellites into orbit—to fall to Earth in the northern Qostanai region after launch from the Baikonur space center. Reports say Kazakhstan wants the drop zone included in an amendment to Astana’s current launch-leasing accord with Moscow.
Qostanai is the same region where nearly 1,000 rare saiga antelopes were recently found dead following the landing of a Russian spacecraft there in April. However, no scientific link between the spacecraft and the dead saiga has been announced. And, given the less-than-friendly relationships between the two countries recently concerning Russia’s new launch site that is under construction, there may be more to this denial of launch than such might seem at first viewing.
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There’s More Asteroid Hazards Than You May Have Thought
Observations from NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) have led to the best assessment yet of our solar system’s population of potentially hazardous asteroids.
The WISE space telescope has been able to detect the infrared light, or heat, of asteroids, and picked up both light and dark objects, resulting in a more representative look at the entire population.
PHAs are a subset of the near-Earth asteroids (NEAs). They have the closest orbits to Earth’s orbit, coming within 5 million miles (about 8 million kilometers), and they are large enough to survive passage through Earth’s atmosphere and cause damage on a regional, or greater, scale.
The new analysis suggests that about twice as many PHAs as previously thought reside in low-inclination orbits, which are roughly aligned with the plane of Earth’s orbit.
The NEOWISE analysis suggests a possible origin for the low-inclinaton PHAs: Many of them could have originated from a collision between two asteroids in the main belt lying between Mars and Jupiter. A larger body with a low-inclination orbit may have broken up in the main belt, causing some of the fragments to drift into orbits closer to Earth and eventually become PHAs.
The discovery that PHAs tend to be bright says something about their composition; they are more likely to be either stony, like granite, or metallic. The NEOWISE results have been accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal.
(Source: Science@NASA, Dr. Tony Phillips)
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Intelsat Is First...No Light Matter As They Sign On SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy...
Falcon Heavy, the world’s most powerful rocket, represents SpaceX’s entry into the heavy lift launch vehicle category.
Intelsat and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) have announced the first commercial contract for the latter’s Falcon Heavy rocket.
“SpaceX is very proud to have the confidence of Intelsat, a leader in the satellite communication services industry,” said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Chief Designer. “The Falcon Heavy has more than twice the power of the next largest rocket in the world. With this new vehicle, SpaceX launch systems now cover the entire spectrum of the launch needs for commercial, civil and national security customers.”
Falcon Heavy is the most powerful rocket in the world and historically is second only to the Apollo-era Saturn V moon rocket. Capable of lifting 53 metric tons (117,000 pounds) to low Earth orbit and over 12 metric tons (26,000 pounds) to GTO, Falcon Heavy will provide more than twice the performance to low Earth orbit of any other launch vehicle. This will allow SpaceX to launch the largest satellites ever flown and will enable new missions.
This is the first commercial contract for SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy launch vehicle. Under the agreement, an Intelsat satellite will be launched into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
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Payloads Scorecard Developed
The Hosted Payload Alliance (HPA) has announced the launch of the research report, “Hosted Payloads: The View From Within” a joint venture between HPA and Euroconsult.
The report will serve as a “benchmarking scorecard” that will evaluate government payloads on commercial spacecraft. Compiled with the aid of HPA executive members, the report identifies all current and historic payloads. It also provides a concise overview of hosted payloads featuring the payload type, launch year, sponsor, manufacturer, host and arrangement.
Additionally, the report features a case study analysis of five hosted payload programs. The case studies were selected in consultation with HPA and cover different payload types, clients and arrangements. Each case study was conducted following a similar structure including program overview, stakeholders map, performance assessment, risk allocation matrix, major drivers and inhibitors and key lessons learned.
“The Hosted Payload Alliance recognizes the success of hosted payloads will be driven by a deep and shared understanding of the issues surrounding hosted payloads”, notes HPA Chairman Don Thoma. “Sustained research and analysis, as delivered in this report, allows industry and governments to respond to the dynamic business of hosted payloads. HPA members are dedicated to leading the educational campaign through partnerships with Euroconsult and other stakeholders”.
The report marks HPA’s first educational endeavor. HPA and Euroconsult will be presenting the key findings in an online webinar in late June, 2012. For more information about the upcoming webinar, please contact asmith@hostedpayloadalliance.org. HPA looks forward to providing subject–matter expertise on the evolving trend of hosted payloads through comprehensive data collection and analysis.
Established in 2011, HPA is an independent, not-for-profit satellite industry alliance formed to increase awareness and promote the benefits of hosted government payloads on commercial satellites. HPA‘s purpose is to serve as a bridge between government and private industry, fostering open communication between potential users and providers of hosted payload capabilities. HPA focuses on education, awareness and developing solutions to common challenges.
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MEASAT Global Berhad (“MEASAT Global”) has entered into an agreement with MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems Sdn. Bhd. (“ASTRO”) for capacity on the MEASAT-3b satellite.
The agreement was executed by a MEASAT Global subsidiary. Under the agreement, ASTRO had committed to leasing 18 Ku-band transponders on MEASAT-3b for the life of the satellite for its Direct-To-Home (“DTH”) services in Malaysia and Brunei.
The MEASAT-3b satellite has been designed to provide an additional 48 Ku-band transponders to the 91.5 degrees East orbital location. Operating in tandem with the MEASAT-3 and MEASAT-3a satellites, MEASAT-3b will provide high powered Ku-band capacity for DTH services across Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and India for growth and backup services.
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A Rugged Outing
Advantech Wireless has unveiled its new KR Series of products for military applications.
This new product line was featured at the CANSEC 2012 show in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
The Advantech Wireless KR Series features the Mobile Communications Unit – MCU 2000, the 3G/WiFi Router, the Remote Eye wireless audio/video camera, the Wireless Bridge WBR-2000, the Eagle Eyes wireless video, voice and Location Vest Unit and the Sniper Wireless Ballistic Calculator System. Designed for in-theatre use, these products offer state-of-the-art technology in compact and rugged form factors.
In addition, Advantech Wireless will also show its newest generation Raptor/Discovery TDMA/SCPC VSAT HUB and terminals, for instant Tactical Satellite Mobile communications, the RAR9160 ruggedized router and the AMT73L MIL-STD-188-165A DISA certified FDMA modem. The performance features of Advantech Wireless products include high performance and interoperability, while meeting the demanding environmental and reliability requirements of the military.
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Network Management That’s Cost Effective
VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a company of VT Systems, Inc. (VT Systems), has announced that Bentley Walker Ltd., one of the largest VSAT network operators in Europe, has upgraded its global satellite network to iDirect’s iDX 3.1 platform release.
IDX 3.1 offers new hardware and software features to support large-scale narrowband networks. Through iDX 3.1, Bentley Walker can extend its reach by offering its service provider partners an efficient and affordable solution to pursue new market opportunities.
iDX 3.1 enables Bentley Walker to scale its existing iDirect networks to a significantly greater number of sites. With Group Quality of Service (GQoS) enhancements, service providers can now manage large-scale networks more cost-effectively by lowering the amount of bandwidth needed to keep idle or dormant remotes in network.
Additionally, the new licensing option for the Evolution XLC-M Line Card enables a single XLC-M to support up to 16 narrowband return channels, making it perfect for large networks featuring one large outbound and numerous small return channels.
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Turkish Delight
SES (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) has signed a multi-year contract with Turkish public broadcaster Türkiye Radyo ve Televizyon Kurumu (TRT).
The agreement is for the free-to-air broadcasting of its international digital channel TRT Turk on ASTRA’s 19.2 degrees East orbital position which started on May 21st. TRT will use former analogue capacity on ASTRA that became available when broadcasters in Germany switched off the analogue satellite signals on 30 April.
With a line-up of more than 800 TV channels and access to nearly 100 million homes across Europe, ASTRA’s 19.2 orbital position provides unrivalled opportunities for broadcasters and TV viewers.