February 2015

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

Singapore Aviation Authority Inks MOA with Aireon for Space-Based Aircraft Tracking – Satellite Today

Diagram of ADS-B satellite tracking coverage. Photo: Aireon [Via Satellite 02-05-2015] The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Aireon have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to enhance aircraft tracking in the Singapore Flight Information Region (FIR). Through this collaboration, Aireon aims to work with CAAS to enhance surveillance coverage over the entire Singapore…

Globalstar and Aglitech Partner to Bring SPOT Satcoms to France – Satellite Today

A man using SPOT satcom technology. Photo: Globalstar [Via Satellite 02-05-2015] Globalstar Europe Satellite Services has reached an agreement with Agiltech for the distribution and retail sales of Globalstar’s SPOT satellite communications portfolio of products across France. SPOT’s satellite-enabled tracking and positioning capabilities currently help organizations across Europe to monitor, track and support people and…

Orbital Sciences Adds All-Electric Capability to GEOStar 3 with Aerojet Rocketdyne Thrusters – Satellite Today

Artist’s rendering of a GEOStar 3 satellite. Photo: Orbital Sciences [Via Satellite 02-04-2015] Orbital Sciences will use Aerojet Rocketdyne’s XR-5 Hall thrusters on its newest satellite bus, the GEOStar 3, for an all-electric design. The contract provides electric propulsion systems for the next three years, capable of both orbit raising and station-keeping. Orbital Sciences introduced…

Estonia to Join European Space Agency – Satellite Today

Estonia accedes to ESA Convention. Photo: ESA [Via Satellite 02-04-2015] Estonia, a member state of the European Union (EU) has taken a critical step toward membership in the European Space Agency (ESA). On Feb. 4, the country’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications — who leads foreign trade and entrepreneurship — Anne Sulling, along with…

MaxLinear Acquires Entropic for $287 Million – Satellite Today

Ted Tewksbury, interim president and CEO at Entropic. Photo: Entropic [Via Satellite 02-04-2015] MaxLinear has agreed to purchase semi-conductor solutions manufacturer Entropic, with unanimous approval from both boards of directors. MaxLinear placed the implied total transaction value at approximately $287 million and the implied enterprise value is $181 million — the net of Entropic’s cash…

IDC to Expand US Government Broadcast Network – Satellite Today

[Via Satellite 02-04-2015] International Datacasting Corporation (IDC) has received a contract from the U.S. government to expand its secure satellite-broadcasting network. The company is providing the latest generation of its Cyphercast decryption client, which uses the same Irdeto security technology that is integrated into its high performance satellite receivers. The Cyphercast decryption client ensures the…

GAO Calls on NOAA to Beef Up Contingency Programs for Aging Polar Satellites – Satellite Today

True Color view of North America that depicts weather moving across the continent. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument on the NOAA/NASA Suomi NPP satellite captured the image. Photo: NOAA [Via Satellite 02-03-2015] The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) is in danger of encountering near-term coverage gaps…