August 2015

The littoral combat ship USS Independence (LCS 2). Photo: U.S. Navy/ Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Trevor Welsh [Via Satellite 08-11-2015] The U.S. Navy has ordered Digital Modular Radios (DMRs) and related equipment from General Dynamics to enable communications aboard new vessels with the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). The order is valued at more…

Mirante Dona Marta, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: Higor de Padua Vieira Neto [Via Satellite 08-11-2015] Comtech EF Data has received an order worth $1.4 million from a large mobile network operator in Latin America. The customer plans to update its satellite mobile backhaul network. Comtech EF Data is providing CDM-625A/L advanced satellite modems with DoubleTalk Carrier-in-Carrier,…

NanoRacks deploying CubeSats from the ISS. Photo: NanoRacks. [Via Satellite 08-11-2015] NanoRacks has added Peter Bak to its ranks as the company’s first head of European operations. Bak spent the last three years working with Danish CubeSat company Gomspace as COO and head of customer deliveries. At NanoRacks, he will serve current and future European…

Carl Marchetto, Lockheed Martin Commercial Space’s new vice president and general manager. Photo: Lockheed Martin [Via Satellite 08-11-2015] Lockheed Martin Commercial Space has placed Carl Marchetto at the helm as its new vice president and general manager. Following the company’s two-satellite contract with Arabsat and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Mike Hamel,…

Takashi Yabashi, president and CEO of B-SAT. Photo: B-SAT [Via Satellite 08-10-2015] Japan-based Broadcasting Satellite System Corporation (B-SAT) intends to ramp up its progress toward 4K and 8K transmissions when its newest satellite, BSAT 4a, comes online. The operator purchased the satellite from Space Systems Loral (SSL) earlier this month to replace BSAT 3a. “BSAT…

Kratos small satellite solutions. Photo: Kratos Defense and Security Solutions [Via Satellite 08-10-2015] RT Logic, a subsidiary of Kratos Defense and Security Solutions has partnered with Spaceflight Networks to offer small satellite companies ground radio products optimized for Spaceflight’s global network of ground stations. According to RT Logic, the radios meet both low rate Command…

Amiee Chan, president and CEO, Norsat. Photo: Norsat [Via Satellite 08-10-2015] Norsat repaid the remaining balance of its $1.3 million acquisition loan, including a $0.8 million voluntary accelerated payment, resulting in the company being debt free. Norsat reported this development in its second quarter financial results, ended June 30, 2015. “Overall, strong cash flows over…

Artist’s rendition of Al Yah 3. Photo: Yahsat [Via Satellite 08-10-2015] UAE-based satellite operator Yahsat and Orbital ATK have completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Al Yah 3 spacecraft and payload. The Ka-band High Throughput Satellite (HTS) is based on Orbital ATK’s GEOStar 3 platform, and is under construction at the company’s Dulles,…

Stephen Eisele. Photo: SST-US [Via Satellite 08-10-2015] Surrey Satellite Technology US (SST-US), the Colorado-based subsidiary of SSTL, has added Stephen Eisele and Rick Sanford to its business development team. Eisele and Sanford report to COO Doug Gerull in SST-US’s focus on developing new business and expanding existing opportunities within the United States aerospace market. Eisele…

An OG2 Satellite attached to an ESPA ring prior to launch. Photo: SNC [Via Satellite 08-07-2015] Orbcomm achieved record high revenues during its second quarter earnings increasing 85 percent year over year (YoY) despite losing one of its first six Orbcomm Second Generation (OG2) satellites. The satellite Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications company reported $44.9 million in…