News on key developments at SupremeSAT, and general news on the Space and Satellite industry from across the web
A Proton rocket stood up for launch. Photo: TsENKI [Via Satellite 06-03-2015] The Russian federal space agency Roscosmos issued a statement carried by International Launch Services (ILS) that attributed the May 16, 2015 Proton launch failure to the rocket’s stage three steering engine. The findings come from the Russian State Commission, which traced the mission…
RD-180 engines. Photo: ULA/NASA [Via Satellite 06-03-2015] The United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) has released a formal solicitation seeking proposals for public-private investments in rocket propulsion system prototypes. This solicitation is part of a comprehensive Air Force plan to transition off the Russian supplied RD-180 propulsion system used on the…
A train traveling through Colorado. Photo: Jerry Huddleston [Via Satellite 06-03-2015] Norsat announced it has received orders in excess of $800,000 for its mobile, wayside and base station antennas for exclusive use in Positive Train Control (PTC) applications. The order brings total 2015 year to date commitments from customers to purchase approximately $1.3 million for…
Digital rendition of space debris. Photo: NASA [Via Satellite 06-03-2015] Orbcomm and Turkish satellite operator Turksat have joined the Space Data Association (SDA), an international non-profit association of satellite operators that supports the sharing of space environment and Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum data. The SDA improves Space Situational Awareness (SSA) among satellite operators to reduce…
Photo: IPSAT Sdn Bhd [Via Satellite 06-03-2015] IPSAT Sdn Bhd, a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) communications company in Malaysia, has purchased a Hughes HX broadband satellite system comprised of a hub and remote terminals. Implementation of the hub is underway in Malaysia, with completion expected by the end of the month. IPSAT provides both…
An early lab test of freeing a solar panel for the DARPA Phoenix program. Photo: U.S. Naval Research Lab/DARPA [Via Satellite 06-02-2015] The United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has revamped its Phoenix satellite program for a geostationary satellite-servicing vehicle, changing the goals of the initial mission and future potential missions to better…
Aireon global space-based ADS-B diagram. Photo: Aireon [Via Satellite 06-01-2015] Iridium Communications has completed the first successful integration of the Aireon payload on an Iridium Next satellite. This is a key technical milestone toward the first launch of Iridium Next and the first demonstration of the Aireon air traffic surveillance capability. The forthcoming Aireon service…
A VSAT capable of leveraging the Inmarsat-Gilat partnership. Photo: Inmarsat [Via Satellite 06-02-2015] Inmarsat and Gilat Satellite Networks have partnered on a wholesale, fully managed high-speed satellite broadband service delivered through Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band network and Gilat’s SkyEdge 2-c platform. The service is available in select regions for fixed Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT)…
The AsiaSat 4 satellite’s C-band footprint. Photo: AsiaSat [Via Satellite 06-02-2015] AsiaSat is planning to deploy a dedicated Ultra-HD broadcast platform in the next few months, starting with a C-band transponder on the AsiaSat 4 satellite at 122 degrees east. The platform will be able to deliver two to five full time Ultra-HD channels, which…
Mobile devices drive greater demand for cruise line connectivity. Photo: MTN [Via Satellite 06-02-2015] MTN Communications has signed agreements for maritime communications services with six customers. Four of the customers — Crystal Cruises, Moana Cruises, Paul Gauguin Cruises and Phoenix Reisen — renewed agreements, and two — American Cruise Lines and Club Med Cruises —signed…