December 2014

Alaska Aerospace Corporation’s (AAC) Kodiak Launch Complex. Photo: AAC [Via Satellite 12-31-2014] Tumbling oil prices have led Alaska’s new Governor Bill Walker to implement a fiscal restraint order directing all state agencies to “halt to the maximum extent possible” discretionary expenditures for six projects, one of which is the Kodiak Launch Complex (KLC). Alaska Aerospace…

The Eutelsat 25b/Es’hail 1 satellite. Photo: SSL [Via Satellite 12-31-2014] Starting Jan. 1, 2015 Al-Jazeera Media Network plans to begin broadcasting on the Es’hail 1 satellite, owned by Qatari satellite company Es’hailSat, to reach the full Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The formal switch follows a year of successful dual illumination using Es’hail…

A RT-1702 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) radio. Photo: Exelis [Via Satellite 12-31-2014] Exelis has received an order worth $30 million from a long term international customer for RT-1702 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS) radios. The order includes technological upgrades made to the SINCGARS radios, of which Exelis has…

Artist’s rendition of the first OG2 satellites. Photo: SNC [Via Satellite 12-31-2014] Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), prime contractor for the Orbcomm Second Generation (OG2) satellites transferred operations to Orbcomm in mid-September, the company reported this month. In the 60 days following the July 14 launch by SpaceX, SNC and Orbcomm completed the deployment and checkout…

Huawei Headquarters. Photo: Huawei [Via Satellite 12-31-2014] Huawei and China Telecom Sichuan have developed a commercial 4K Ultra-HD iTV network service in China, which was released today. The 4K network is the culmination of a partnership that began three years ago. The two companies are using H.265 video coding and have created a smart Set…

China as seen from space. Photo: NASA [Via Satellite 12-31-2014] The country of China has been entirely mapped in High Definition (HD) by satellite, according to the Chinese National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation. China began photographing the country at a level that can clearly image objects smaller than one meter by satellite in…

A CalAmp facility. Photo: CalAmp [Via Satellite 12-30-2014] Following fiscal year 2014’s standout performance for its satellite business, communications company CalAmp now anticipates revenues from this sector will even out at a rate lower than previous predictions. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, CalAmp’s satellite business brought in $13.8 million in revenues. It…

VGTRK’s press center, located in the center of Moscow. Photo: VGTRK [Via Satellite 12-30-2014] The Rostelecom board of directors has approved a new joint venture with the cable and satellite pay-TV producer All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (VGTRK). The joint venture merges Rostelecom’s subsidiary NKS-Media with VGTRK’s Digital Television. To facilitate the merger,…

South East Forest Area in Australia as seen by Hodoyoshi 1. Photo: Axelspace [Via Satellite 12-30-2014] The University of Tokyo SmallSat Hodoyoshi 1, developed in partnership with the Next-generation Space Systems Technology Research Association and Axelspace Corporation, has successfully taken its first images of Earth. The SmallSat launched Nov. 6 aboard a Kosmotras Dnepr rocket.…

A satellite Earth station. Photo: Kratos [Via Satellite 12-30-2014] Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has won three contracts for satellite communications equipment for undisclosed customers. The contracts cover a variety of products, including Earth stations, command and control systems and other satellite communication related products and services. Collectively they are worth approximately $40 million. The…