March 2015

O3b solar array deployed. Photo: O3b Networks [Via Satellite 03-16-2015] SES  Government Solutions hosted their second O3b satellite demonstration for more than 50 U.S. government customers at the SES Washington Media Port in Bristow, Va. SES is the first distribution partner to offer O3b capability directly to the U.S. government. The system is currently available on their…

TCS’s new deployable X/Y Tracking Antenna System. Photo: TCS [Via Satellite 3-16-2015] TeleCommunication Systems (TCS), announced the availability of its new deployable X/Y Tracking Antenna System. The deployable systems are specifically designed for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites in support of Earth observation, remote sensing, and telemetry, tracking and control for…

Photo: Azercosmos [Via Satellite 03-13-2015] Intelsat and Azercosmos, the national satellite operator of Azerbaijan, have teamed to deliver a new telecommunications satellite at 45 degrees east. With both companies bringing resources to the mix for the design, manufacture and operational phases of development for the Azerspace 2/Intelsat 38 satellite, the two operators — one a…

KVH Industries’ latest coverage map. Photo: KVH [Via Satellite 03-13-2015] KHV Industries has bolstered the amount of capacity available for maritime customers using its mini-VSAT Broadband network in three parts of the world. The fresh capacity goes to the Asia Pacific after a key beam was increased by 60 percent, the Pacific Northwest via a…

Lockheed Martin’s concept for NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services 2 program. Photo: Lockheed Martin [Via Satellite 03-13-2015] Lockheed Martin has revealed its proposed cargo resupply solution for NASA’s Commercial Resupply Service 2 (CRS-2) contract. The solution uses a reusable space-servicing vehicle dubbed Jupiter based on the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) science satellite currently in…

Photo: Thales Group [Via Satellite 03-13-2015] France’s Direction Générale de L’Armement (DGA) has selected Thales and Airbus Defence and Space to work together as co-prime contractors for a trio of military satellites. The companies were awarded to build the Capacité de Renseignement Electromagnétique Spatiale (CERES) or Space Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) capacity, which will use three…

A Comtech Xicom SuperPower TWTA [Via Satellite 03-13-2015] Comtech Xicom Technology has released high power Ku-band and Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS)-band SuperPower Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAs). Designed for efficiency, the devices can double available TWTA output power and directly replace Klystron Power Amplifiers (KPAs) in satellite communications uplink applications. The model XTD-2000KHE Ku-band TWTA supplies…

David Madden, director of military satellite communications directorate at AFSMC. Photo: AFSMC [Via Satellite 03-12-2015] The United States Air Force sees now as the opportune time to pursue more creative paths with future satellite designs. David Madden, director of the Military Satellite Communications Systems Directorate at the Air Force Space Command (USAF) Space and Missile Systems…

Graphic of Gilat and Intelsat’s rural cellular infrastructure. Photo: Gilat [Via Satellite 03-12-2015] Gilat Satellite Networks and Intelsat have joined forces to provide Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) with a 2G/3G cellular infrastructure solution with the aim to better serve rural regions. The companies expect the network to enter service in 2016. The partnership is looking…

SES NSS 6 satellite’s ku-band spot beam over the Middle East. Photo: SES [Via Satellite 03-12-2015] SkyStream has renewed capacity on SES‘s NSS 6 satellite and has taken on additional capacity on SES’s NSS 12 satellite to deploy VSAT networks across the Middle East. SkyStream will use the Ku-band capacity on NSS 6 at 95…