February 2015

SpaceX fairing separation test. Photo: SpaceX [Via Satellite 02-25-2015] SES has awarded launches for two of its three recently announced satellites to SpaceX. Of the recently announced SES, 14, 15 and 16/GovSat, SES 14 and 16 will liftoff on Falcon 9 missions in 2017. The contracts further tighten the satellite operator’s relationship with SpaceX, whose…

Recovery of the Cryofenix sounding rocket. Photo: Marcus Lindh/SSC [Via Satellite 02-25-2015] Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) has launched a Cryofenix sounding rocket from the Esrange Space Center in Sweden filled with liquid hydrogen to study the propellant’s behavior in microgravity. The French space agency CNES and partner Air Liquide Advanced Technologies conducted the experiment and…

Auckland, New Zealand seen at 30 cm resolution. Photo: DigitalGlobe [Via Satellite 02-25-2015] DigitalGlobe announced today it has started selling high resolution, 30 cm imagery from its latest satellite, WorldView 3. At this resolution, rated 5.7 on the National Imagery Interpretability Rating Scale (NIIRS), details such as aboveground utility lines in residential neighborhoods, manhole covers,…

NOAA’s Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Md. Photo: NOAA [Via Satellite 02-25-2015] Harris Corporation, prime contractor and systems integrator for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) ground segment for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite–R (GOES–R) series program, has completed the computer hardware delivery, installation and integration for the necessary operational systems. The improved system…

A Geolink teleport. Photo: Geolink [Via Satellite 02-25-2015] Hong Kong-based SpeedCast International has purchased CETel Group company Geolink Satellite Services. The acquisition is expected to boost the company’s presence in Africa, where Geolink is active in more than 20 countries. In a statement, SpeedCast said a growing number of its customers in the Asia-Pacific are…

A Harris CapRock antenna. Photo: Harris CapRock [Via Satellite 02-24-2015] Harris CapRock has unveiled a fully managed connectivity solution that combines satellite, wireless and terrestrial technology for maritime users. The solution, dubbed Harris CapRock One, brings together satellites from Medium and Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (MEO and GEO) with options such as terrestrial Multi-Protocol Label Switching…

Delegates from the EIAST and ISRO meet at the EIAST facility in Dubai. Photo: EIAST [Via Satellite 02-24-2015] Delegates from the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST) met with representatives from the Indian Consulate in Dubai to discuss possible cooperation between EIAST and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in the field of…

A Comtech Telecommunications facility. Photo: Comtech [Via Satellite 02-24-2015] Comtech Telecommunications’ subsidiary Comtech EF Data has been awarded $5 million in orders for SATCOM equipment and services to expand a communication network in Asia. The unidentified customer will use Comtech EF Data’s CDM-570A/L-IP satellite modems and CDD-564A IP demodulators to dynamically allocate bandwidth and optimize…

KVH mini-VSAT Tracphone. Photo: KVH [Via Satellite 02-24-2015] KVH Industries has recently shipped its 5,000 TracPhone satellite communications antenna system for the mini-VSAT broadband network. Together, the advanced TracPhone antenna systems and global mini-VSAT broadband network constitute an end-to-end solution for maritime satellite communications, providing connectivity to tankers, containerships, fishing fleets, offshore supply vessels, government…

MNAM tv. Photo: MNAM tv [Via Satellite 02-24-2015] The European TV platform operator M7 Group has signed a satellite capacity and distribution agreement with Prague-based CE Media for the distribution of the new Czech cooking and lifestyle channel MNAM tv. MNAM tv is distributed via Skylink, the M7-owned satellite TV platform at Astra 23.5 degrees…