May 2015

Suphajee Suthumpun, Thaicom CEO. Photo: Thaicom. [Via Satellite 5-12-2014] Thaicom saw a significant increase in its revenues in the first quarter this year compared to the same stage last year. This was one of the highlights of its most recent financial results. The operator gained revenues of 540 million Baht ($16.02 million) in the first…

The first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous orbit (GEO-1) spacecraft in preparation for final factory work at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif. Photo: Lockheed Martin Space Systems. [Via Satellite 05-12-2015] Recently, the U.S. Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center announced the successful completion of the Capability Integration (CI) phase and transition into…

GOES-R, NOAA’s next geostationary weather satellitePhoto:Lockheed Martin [Via Satellite 05-12-2015] Harris Corporation has successfully completed the final two tests of the ground segment of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration‘s (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – R Series (GOES-R). The ground system is now ready for use by NOAA as it prepares for the GOES-R…

From left to right: Firas Kamil, Senior VSAT Engineer, Erbil; Navin Michael, Technical Project Manager, Middle East; and Osama Oulabi, Business Unit Manager, Middle East. Photo: Hermes Datacomms [Via Satellite 05-12-2015] Hermes Datacomms, part of the SpeedCast Group, announced the opening of its newest office in Erbil, Iraq. The new facility is in direct response…

New X-Band GaAs PHEMT MMIC Based LNA and High Power Coaxial Amplifiers Released by Fairview Microwave. Photo: Fairview Microwave. [Via Satellite 05-12-2015] Fairview Microwave, a supplier of on-demand microwave and RF components, introduced a new family of coaxial LNA and high power X-band amplifiers. These RF amplifiers are commonly used in front-end receivers and as…

Swisscom using satellite to fulfill its universal broadband obligation in remote regions of Switzerland. Photo: Swisscom [Via Satellite 05-11-2015] In 2008 Switzerland became the first nation to include broadband within the scope of its universal service scheme. Swisscom, the company responsible for fulfilling the country’s plan turned to SES to deliver Internet access from the…

The Lynx Mark I manned suborbital spacecraft under construction at XCOR Aerospace in Mojave, Calif. Photo: Mike Massee / XCOR [Via Satellite 05-11-2015] XCOR Aerospace has bonded the XCOR Lynx Mark I strakes to the Lynx spacecraft fuselage. Lynx is a piloted, two-seat, fully reusable liquid rocket-powered vehicle that takes-off and lands horizontally. With the…

Tokyo Japan taken by the Hodoyoshi 3 satellite. Photo: The University of Tokyo, Hodoyoshi 3&4 Project. [Via Satellite 05-11-2015] Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has announced that an Epoch IPS ground system from Kratos Integral Systems International (Kratos ISI) is providing command and control for two Japanese micro-satellites. The University of Tokyo developed the Hodoyoshi…

Artist rendition of Sentinel 6, which carries a radar altimeter to provide high-precision and timely observations of the topography of the global ocean. Photo: ESA 2015, Airbus Defence and Space. [Via Satellite 05-11-2015] The European Space Agency (ESA) and Airbus Defence and Space have signed a 177 million euros development and production contract for the…

[Via Satellite 05-11-2015] Aydin Yazilim ve Elektronik San. A.S. (AYESAS) of Turkey and ViaSat signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cover exploration of and cooperation in identifying Tactical Data Link (TDL) products and services opportunities in Turkey and other international markets. The MOU areas of focus include manufacturing of components, software and hardware development…