September 2014

News on key developments at SupremeSAT, and general news on the Space and Satellite industry from across the web

China Reviews Final Design of CBERS 4 Satellite – Satellite Today

CBERS 4 at China Academy of Space Technology’s (CAST) facility. Photo: AEB [Via Satellite 09-18-2014] Beijing-based China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) has completed the Final Design Review (FDR) of the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite 4 (CBERS 4) in collaboration with Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE). The completed FDR paves the way for…

USSTRATCOM Grafts DMSP 19 into Constellation – Satellite Today

Artist’s rendition of the DSMP 19 satellite. Photo: Lockheed Martin [Via Satellite 09-18-2014] The United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) has taken operational control of the Lockheed Martin-built Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) 19 satellite. United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched the satellite on April 3, 2014, after which Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air…

Virgin Atlantic Selects Gogo’s 2Ku Service for IFC – Satellite Today

Seats on a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747. Photo: Virgin Atlantic [Via Satellite 09-18-2014] Virgin Atlantic has partnered with Gogo to install the new 2Ku In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) service on the airline’s existing fleet. The companies have agreed on principle terms and are working together to finalize a definitive agreement. Virgin Atlantic is Gogo’s first European…

Congressman Bridenstine: NOAA Satellite Strategy Should be More Like DoD – Satellite Today

Jim Bridenstine. Photo: United States Congress [Via Satellite 09-17-2014] United States Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R-Okla., called for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to make use of commercial weather data to mitigate risk from both pending and potential future weather data gaps. Speaking at the Washington Space Business Roundtable on Sept. 16, the congressman…

CPI Industries Builds on Quad-Band Radome Following Roaming Demo with ViaSat – Satellite Today

A CPI radome under static loads testing. Photo: CPI [Via Satellite 09-17-2014] Communications and Power Industries (CPI) provided a quad-band satellite communications radome to ViaSat in support of the company’s recent flight demonstrations using an integrated Ku-band and Ka-band airborne satellite terminal. The hybrid Ku-/Ka-band terminal and radome enable roaming between beams for In-Flight Entertainment…

Bentley Walker Purchases Capacity on Yamal 402 Satellite – Satellite Today

Gazprom Space Systems and Bentley Walker Execs. Photo: Gazprom Space Systems [Via Satellite 09-17-2014] European Internet Service Provider (ISP) Bentley Walker has signed an agreement with Gazprom Space Systems for capacity on the Yamal 402 satellite. The company intends to use the capacity for services in Africa. Following the purchase, Bentley Walker deployed an iDirect…

MTN to Debut Dual Ku- and Ka-band Antenna with SkyTech – Satellite Today

Skytech’s dual Ka-/Ku-band antenna. Photo: MTN [Via Satellite 09-17-2014] MTN Communications has announced a new Ku-/Ka-band solution in collaboration with Skytech designed for the yachting industry. The Skytech solution, which uses the Skytech BB75 antenna, is optimized through MTN Maestro communications management solution. The new product will provide a segue to MTN’s upcoming high throughput…