News & Events

An inflatable 2.4-meter GATR antenna. Photo: GATR Technologies [Via Satellite 07-14-2015] The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) has approved full rate production of 36 inflatable satellite communications antennas from GATR Technologies for its High Bandwidth Special Intelligence-Palletized Terminal (HBSI-PT) Program of Record. The order supplies 2.4-meter X- and Ku-band terminals to support the USMC’s Radio and…

NASA’s Minotaur 4 mission launching the LADEE spacecraft to the Moon on Sept. 6, 2013. [Via Satellite 07-14-2015] The U.S. Air Force’s Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) office has awarded a $23.6 million contract to Orbital ATK to launch the ORS-5 SensorSat spacecraft in mid-2017 using a rocket from the company’s Minotaur launch vehicle family. Orbital ATK…

Artist’s rendition of the Express AM22 satellite. Photo: RSCC [Via Satellite 07-14-2015] Russian Satellite Communications Company, the state satellite operator of Russia, has successfully completed the transferring of the traffic load from its Express АМ22 satellite to the Express AM6 spacecraft at 53 degrees east. The company’s specialists are currently proceeding with translating the Express…

A Virgin America passenger using IFC services on an iPad. Photo: Virgin America [Via Satellite 07-13-2015] ViaSat has entered a technology partnership with Virgin America to provide satellite connectivity for 10 new A320 aircraft through its new hybrid Ku/Ka-band antenna. The first aircraft to use ViaSat connectivity is scheduled to take flight in the continental…

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 (left) and ULA’s Atlas 5 (right). Photos: SpaceX, ULA [Via Satellite 07-13-2015] The Institute for Defense Analyses has completed its Broad Area Review (BAR) of the United States Air Force Space Command’s (AFSPC) launch vehicle certification process. The independent review examined the process and provided specific recommendations to apply lessons learned from…

O3b’s MEO satellite network, artist rendering. Photo: 03b Networks [Via Satellite 07-13-2015] High Throughput Satellite (HTS) capacity will play a critical role in unlocking new markets for the satellite industry as the rate of growth for traditional Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) capacity slows, according to a study from Northern Sky Research (NSR). The firm’s “Global…

ISRO’s PSLV-C28 launch carrying five commercial satellites. Photo: ISRO [Via Satellite 07-13-2015] The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched five satellites from spacecraft manufacturer Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) on a July 10 Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-XL mission. The PSLV-C28 mission was the 30th PSLV launch, and ninth of the XL configuration. Antrix,…

Avanti Communications’ Hylas 2 satellite. Photo: Avanti [Via Satellite 07-13-2015] South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is providing funding for the country’s business chamber, the Foundation for African Business and Consumer Services (FABCOS) and its new major business incubator program, Microtelco e-ncubator, to receive satellite broadband from Avanti Communications. The partnership will provide…

A scale model of the Super Strypi rocket attached to the rail launcher. Photo: Sandia National Laboratories [Via Satellite 07-10-2015] Several companies have expressed interest in commercializing the Super Strypi dedicated small satellite launch vehicle currently under development by the U.S. Air Force Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) office. Speaking July 10 at a Mitchell Institute…

Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI). Photo: Wikipedia [Via Satellite 07-10-2015] Space Systems Loral (SSL) has selected GMV to install the control center for Bank Rakyat Indonesia’s (BRI), upcoming satellite, BRIsat. SSL is building the satellite on its SSL 1300 platform, which — equipped with C- and Ku-band transponders — will enable communications across BRI’s 11,000 branches…