MICROCOM'S SPACE NEWSFEED 20 October 2002<br />Space Industry News from Around the World<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Brought to you by Microcom Systems Ltd, consultants in satellite communications since 1985. http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk<br /><br />Publishers of the Handbook of Satellite Services in Europe, the definitive guide to European satellite communications: http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk/pubs/ssie.html. July 2002 issue now available. Also available online - get a temporary password to review the Handbook by sending a blank email to review@microcomsystems.co.uk.<br /><br />Check out other web resources from Microcom Systems:<br /><br />Satellite Industry Links: the largest free satellite and space industry directory on the web http://www.satellite-links.co.uk<br /><br />Satellite on the Net: white papers, industry events, launch information and book reviews http://www.satelliteonthenet.co.uk<br /><br />Jobs in Space: space industry recruitment http://www.space-jobs.co.uk<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />CONTENTS<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SATCOMS:<br />Alcatel Espacio to Provide Amheris System for Amazonas Satellite<br />Brazil Selects Gilat to Provide Internet Service to 3,200 Sites<br />Broadband Satellite Internet Access for Schools in Rural Ireland<br />New Mexico's State Police Chooses Infosat Satellite Network<br />Xata to Embed Two-way Satellite-Based Communications into Existing Fleet Management Solutions<br /><br />EARTH OBSERVATION:<br />RSI-COPPETEC Contract Brings Radarsat-1 Surveillance Intelligence to Brazil's Maritime Authorities<br /><br />MILITARY SPACE:<br />L-3 Communications Awarded Multimillion Dollar Contract to Support the US Air Force Satellite Control Network<br />Raytheon Selected for Revolutionary Defense Advanced GPS Receiver Development<br /><br />SCIENCE:<br />Stardust Update - Asteroid Flyby<br /><br />TECHNOLOGY:<br />Ecliptic Signed On to Both Active Private Solar Sail Missions<br />Flawless Tests Validate Spectrum Astro C/NOFS Satellite Design<br />Japan Tests Experimental Space Shuttle<br /><br />LAUNCH SERVICES:<br />Foton-M Launch Failure<br /><br />LAUNCHES:<br />Integral<br />Launch Schedule<br /><br />BUSINESS:<br />Comsat International Holdings Completes Acquisition from Lockheed Martin Corporation<br />Gilat to Negotiate Debt Restructuring<br />Swales Aerospace Doubles Production Capacity<br /><br />PRODUCTS AND SERVICES:<br />American Millennium Corporation Receives Certification of SatAlarm Sentry<br />Analytical Graphics Releases Beta Version of STK 5.0<br />SpaceDev's New Miniature Flight Computer<br /><br />PEOPLE:<br />Director of Business Development Appointed to Tandberg Television Americas<br />Mark K Craig Named JSC Associate Director, Space Development and Commerce<br />NASA Administrator Names Deputy Chief Financial Officer<br />NASA Announces New Stennis Space Center Deputy Director<br />PanAmSat Appoints Estevao Ghizoni as Senior Director<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Bolton Associates - Corporate Strategies applies 21st. Century thinking for the Earth Observation, SatCom and Environment Industries that penetrate new markets using creative commercial Risk models and innovation.<br /><br />Visit us at http://www.BoltonAssociates.com and/or download our Power Point presentation http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk/ads/EOConsult.ppt [131Kb]<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SATCOMS<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Alcatel Espacio to Provide Amheris System for Amazonas Satellite<br /><br />(15 October 2002) The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded Alcatel Espacio a contract for the development and turnkey delivery of the Broadband Interactive Multimedia Communications System by Satellite, called AMERHIS, which will fly on the Hispasat owned Amazonas satellite. The system is planned to be delivered by mid 2004. The value of the system is 56 millions Euros of which ESA's contribution is 28 millions Euros.<br /><br />The system core, is based on a digital processor that provides a compatible interface with the new open standard DVB-RCS (Digital Video Broadcasting-Return Channel Satellite) for the return channel through satellite and the DVB-S consolidated standard for down link. The use of the standard DVB-RCS/DVB-S makes possible the supply of equipment from different manufacturers, which results in the competitive provision of services and equipments. The design of this advanced system has been facilitated thanks to activities funded by the European Union within the IST programme (IBIS Project) and will be validated by using the validation tools developed in Alcatel Space in close co-operation with CNES since 2000.<br /><br />The basic configuration of the AMERHIS system includes a network management centre responsible for the management of the resources on board, four access gateways to provide the system access to the terrestrial network and user terminals, all of them oriented to the commercial offering of new services.<br /><br />The multinational consortium headed by Alcatel Espacio comprises Alcatel Space, Mier Comunicaciones and Indra Espacio, EMS Technologies and Nera.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Brazil Selects Gilat to Provide Internet Service to 3,200 Sites<br /><br />(17 October 2002) Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd has been selected by Brazil's Communications Ministry to provide two-way, satellite Internet service to 3,200 sites nation-wide, in a contract worth US$ 23 million.<br /><br />The satellite communications network, based on Gilat's Skystar 360E VSAT product, will serve Brazil's new GESAC program that was established to provide Internet access to millions of citizens in 3,200 communities nation-wide. It is the first government program of its kind in Brazil.<br /><br />Gilat has provided VSAT services and equipment to many of Brazil's largest Internet service providers, telecommunications operators and private companies for more than 10 years. Those customers include:<br /><br />* Brazil's Star One, which utilises a network of nearly 6,000 Gilat VSATs<br /> for its nation-wide, high-speed Internet service.<br />* Telecommunications giant Empresa Brasileira de Telecomunicacoes SA<br /> (Embratel), which uses more than 7,000 Gilat VSATs for rural telephony<br /> and high-speed Internet service nation-wide.<br />* GTECH Corp, the world-wide online lottery company, which uses Gilat's<br /> broadband VSATs at more than 3,800 sites to support government-authorised<br /> lottery applications.<br />* Banco Bradesco SA, South America's largest bank, which utilises Gilat<br /> VSATs to support teller services, intranet, file transfers and automatic<br /> teller machines (ATMs) at more than 2,500 sites.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Broadband Satellite Internet Access for Schools in Rural Ireland<br /><br />(16 October 2002) SchoolSat is a trial service providing fast access to the Internet for schools in rural Ireland using leading-edge satellite technology developed by Web-Sat in Dublin and supported by the Telecommunications department of the European Space Agency (ESA).<br /><br />The aim of the trial is to investigate how far this technology can offer a solution to connect schools to the Internet, to build networks between schools and to transmit large files of information be it data, video, audio, or graphics.<br /><br />The service is based on the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) standard which is deployed Europe-wide (and is becoming accepted as a world-wide standard) for digital television. It allows the user to receive Internet services with a relatively small antenna (less than 1metre diameter) and a PC equipped with a satellite modem anywhere within the footprint of the Eutelsat W3 satellite (used by Web-Sat). This PC can be used as a gateway to connect multiple PCs to the Internet.<br /><br />The Belgian company ATiT, audio visual and IT service providers specialising in education and culture, initiated SchoolSat as a project under ESA Telecom’s User Segment programme in response to the currently low levels of Internet connectivity for schools in Ireland.<br /><br />The SchoolSat service currently serves the Donegal Education Centre and 9 secondary schools in the county, ranging from the largest secondary school in Ireland, Carndonagh Community School on the Inishowen peninsula serving more than 1300 students, to the small Gaeltacht Vocational School on Arranmore island with just 46 students. The schools taking part have been equipped with small satellite dishes that allow them to send and receive information at a speed far faster than ISDN.<br /><br />Many teachers taking part in the trials have reported a significant improvement in their use of the Internet for teaching purposes through their use of satellite-supported network.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />New Mexico's State Police Chooses Infosat Satellite Network<br /><br />(15 October 2002) The New Mexico State Police have chosen Infosat Telecommunications' mobile satellite (MSAT) packet-data and voice terminals to improve the range and quality of law enforcement communications.<br /><br />Using Infosat's mobile satellite system, police officers will have mobile access to State data and be able to communicate with one another electronically in message form for the first time. As a result, officers will minimise personal risk and better evaluate day-to-day calls by retrieving and sharing critical data, including information about dangerous addresses or stolen vehicles.<br /><br />Infosat's mobile satellite system will also serve the new voice terminals in New Mexico's State Police cars, which will allow officers to communicate with colleagues virtually anywhere their patrol routes or criminal pursuits may take them. In contrast, New Mexico State Police's terrestrial-based network covers only approximately 85% of the state's area.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Xata to Embed Two-way Satellite-Based Communications into Existing Fleet Management Solutions<br /><br />(15 October 2002) Xata Corporation has announced a partnership with Orbcomm LLC to offer low-cost, two-way satellite communications to new and existing Xata customers. The partnership will combine two-way satellite with Internet and PC-based software, enabling Xata customers to drive additional productivity gains into their fleet operations while further enhancing their customer service.<br /><br />The Orbcomm satellite network will be an optional, integrated offering within Xata's solutions and will be essential for any fleet operation that wants to see and communicate with any vehicle, no matter what its location.<br /><br />Orbcomm is attracting interest in many market sectors due to its successful penetration of several industries and partnerships with market-leading companies, including Volvo Trucks North America, GE Transportation Systems and Garmin International, a leading avionics manufacturer for the general aviation market.<br /><br />The integration of Orbcomm into Xata's system architecture is already underway as the company plans to rollout the new capabilities to a number of test sites later this month. The products are slated for general availability in January.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />EARTH OBSERVATION<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />RSI-COPPETEC Contract Brings Radarsat-1 Surveillance Intelligence to Brazil's Maritime Authorities<br /><br />(17 October 2002) Radarsat International (RSI) of has signed an agreement with COPPETEC, a special operations division of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a recently established maritime-pollution watchdog, will make a satellite-based oil pollution monitoring program for Brazil a reality.<br /><br />The one-year contract with COPPETEC (Fundação Coordenacao de Projetos, Pesquisas e Estudos Tecnologicos), valued at US$ 522,500, calls for RSI to routinely provide COPPETEC with Radarsat-1 imagery - the core surveillance source for its maritime monitoring campaign.<br /><br />Delegated by Brazil's National Association of Petroleum (ANP) to establish a maritime surveillance centre, COPPETEC aims to develop operational tools to better monitor and to protect the country's marine environment from harmful pollutants. Of particular concern is the Campos Basin, a region that houses the majority of offshore oil platforms and is subject to heavy shipping activity and traffic.<br /><br />A key initiative of that objective is the creation of an operational monitoring program using Radarsat-1 imagery. RSI is providing COPPETEC with weekly deliveries of Radarsat-1 scenes over the Campos Basin. With RSI's near real-time service, imagery is available to COPPETEC within six hours of acquisition. COPPETEC is then making the processed imagery available to regulatory authorities such as Brazil's environmental agency IBAMA, the Brazilian Navy and ANP.<br /><br />COPPETEC first tested the feasibility of Radarsat-1 as an operational pollution monitoring tool last March when it signed an agreement with RSI to receive 50 Radarsat-1 scenes. The success of that trial provided the positive results and the foundation COPPETEC needed to continue to develop its surveillance program.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />MILITARY SPACE<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />L-3 Communications Awarded Multimillion Dollar Contract to Support the US Air Force Satellite Control Network<br /><br />(16 October 2002) L-3 Communications' Telemetry-West division has been awarded a multimillion dollar contract to provide High Power Amplifiers (HPAs) to Honeywell Technology Solutions Inc (HTSI) in support of the Satellite Control Network Contract (SCNC).<br /><br />Over a rigorous 18-month selection process, this award has culminated in an HPA design that will serve the future commanding needs of the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) for many years to come. The value of the contract, when all options are exercised, is estimated at over US$ 25 million.<br /><br />The AFSCN is a network of two communications and operational control centres and multiple antennas located at nine sites world-wide. These ground stations are the vital communications link between the National Command Authorities and US forces world-wide. Honeywell, which earlier this year selected L-3's Communication Systems-West division as part of the Honeywell Technology Solutions team on the SCNC, competitively selected L-3 Telemetry-West to provide the multi-kilowatt HPAs in both L and S band frequencies for dramatically improved satellite command capabilities.<br /><br />The SCNC program consolidates development, systems engineering, integration and sustainment functions into one contract for the AFSCN. Honeywell will replace the existing communications technologies that make up the ground network and tracking systems of the AFSCN with improved components and antenna systems, providing new capabilities to ensure the system is operational 24 hours a day.<br /><br />L-3 Telemetry-West is the heritage supplier of the AFSCN Automated Remote Tracking Station (ARTS) HPAs now in service world-wide to support Space Ground Link System (SGLS) command capabilities. The new award will lead to development and production contracts to replace the ARTS HPAs with both SGLS and Unified S band (USB) command capability to allow expanded transmission into both L and S band frequencies.<br /><br />Telemetry-West also provides both SGLS and USB spaceborne command/telemetry transponders, which interface with the AFSCN ground network.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Raytheon Selected for Revolutionary Defense Advanced GPS Receiver Development<br /><br />(14 October 2002) Raytheon Company has been selected to participate in the development of the revolutionary Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR), a powerful digital handheld terminal that combines computing capabilities with secure GPS Navigation. DAGR is scheduled to replace the existing Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver (PLGR).<br /><br />The GPS Joint Program Office of the US Air Force Space and Missiles Center selected Raytheon as one of two contractors for initial development and low rate production of first article test units. Final selection of the DAGR production contractor is expected during the fourth quarter of 2003, after completion of first article testing. While DAGR is planned to support all US military forces and allies, its primary user will be the US Army.<br /><br />Raytheon's DAGR provides this advanced capability by utilising commercial off the shelf hardware and a commercial graphical user interface operating system to provide a large, user-friendly, easy-to-view display. DAGR also utilises the GPS Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module, or SAASM, the security architecture mandated on all next generation GPS equipment for Precise Positioning Service (PPS) user.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SCIENCE<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Stardust Update - Asteroid Flyby<br /><br />(16 October 2002) NASA's Stardust cometary probe will take advantage of flying near a small asteroid next month to test many procedures the spacecraft will use 14 months later during its encounter with its primary science target, comet Wild-2.<br /><br />Stardust will pass within about 3,000 km of asteroid Annefrank at 04:50 November 2, Universal Time. The spacecraft will automatically image Annefrank using camera tracking of the mountain-sized rock as it speeds by at 7 km/s.<br /><br />Annefrank is about 4 km across. Unfortunately, the flyby distance is too great for Stardust's instruments to produce a picture that would show any surface detail. Also, the angle of the encounter relative to the Sun will give Stardust a view in which only a thin crescent of the asteroid will be sunlit during approach, providing an additional challenge for the optical-navigation system to recognise it as a guiding light.<br /><br />Aerogel dust collectors that will gather comet dust from Wild-2 will stay open for the asteroid flyby. The Max Planck Institute dust analyser and the University of Chicago dust flux monitor also will be operating. However, no dust from the asteroid is anticipated at the distance the spacecraft will pass.<br /><br />The asteroid was discovered in 1942 and later named in honour of Anne Frank, author of an inspiring diary of the two years before she was taken to a Nazi concentration camp.<br /><br />Stardust will bring samples of comet dust back to Earth in 2006 to help answer fundamental questions about the origins of the solar system.<br /><br />Stardust is a part of NASA's Discovery Program of low-cost, highly focused science missions. JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington DC.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />TECHNOLOGY<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Ecliptic Signed On to Both Active Private Solar Sail Missions<br /><br />(14 October 2002) Ecliptic Enterprises Corporation has been invited to join both active private solar sail mission teams: The Planetary Society and its Cosmos-1 project, and Team Encounter and its Earthview Flight and Humanity's First Starship missions.<br /><br />Early last week Ecliptic's popular RocketCam product successfully debuted in NASA's Space Shuttle fleet aboard the orbiter Atlantis, and later in the week the firm announced its first order for a RocketCam system designed to be used on a spacecraft - the DART spacecraft now under development by Orbital Sciences Corporation.<br /><br />For The Planetary Society, Ecliptic is on contract to provide pre-launch data systems engineering for the Cosmos-1 Project Operations Pasadena Center, followed by project operations support during the actual mission, planned for early 2003. The project's principal sponsor is Cosmos Studios.<br /><br />For Houston-based Team Encounter, Ecliptic has been designated as the supplier of the onboard video imagery systems for the Earthview and Starship missions. The first launch of the two, Earthview, is planned for late 2004. Ecliptic plans to supply versions of its RocketCam system for capturing dramatic views of sail deployment and departure activities. Other principal suppliers for these missions include Arianespace, L'Garde and Microsat Systems Inc.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Flawless Tests Validate Spectrum Astro C/NOFS Satellite Design<br /><br />(16 October 2002) Spectrum Astro has announced that after a month of highly successful qualification testing of its Developmental Test Vehicle (DTV) for the Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS), the flight structure is validated and ready for production.<br /><br />The DTV underwent testing at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), where Spectrum Astro's engineers worked closely with Goddard personnel to accomplish the testing 11 days ahead of schedule. Personnel from the C/NOFS Management Program Office (CMPO), Kirtland AFB, New Mexico also supported the testing. Production of the C/NOFS flight structure now begins on schedule and with no modifications at Spectrum Astro's Integration and Test facility in Gilbert, Arizona.<br /><br />The DTV consists of a flight-identical structure with mass models simulating the C/NOFS spacecraft and payload components. The tested configuration was representative of the space vehicle in a pre-deployed condition while being launched atop a Pegasus launch vehicle. Each of the environmental tests performed on the DTV is accomplished to verify the structure will have the ability to withstand the launch environment during placement into a 400 km by 710 km elliptical orbit. The all-up weight of the DTV is over 360 kg.<br /><br />A number of tests were performed on the DTV, including Acoustic, Modal Survey, Random Vibration, and High Capacity Centrifuge (HCC) strength tests. The tests also included the successful deployment of an engineering model solar array. Spectrum Astro began flight fabrication for the C/NOFS spacecraft structure in late July in anticipation of successful test results. After completing internal and CMPO reviews, Spectrum Astro plans to begin bus integration in November 2002.<br /><br />The Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System is a joint project of the Air Force Space Test Program and the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate. The C/NOFS mission is to forecast and specify ionospheric scintillations in the Earth's equatorial region. Scintillations degrade the performance of communication, navigation, and surveillance systems that rely on trans-ionospheric radio wave propagation. C/NOFS is scheduled to launch in November 2003.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Japan Tests Experimental Space Shuttle<br /><br />(18 October 2002) The National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) has performed a test flight of its High Speed Flight Demonstration program experimental space shuttle from a test site on Christmas Island, Kiritimiti in the Pacific Ocean.<br /><br />The flight of the unmanned vehicle was used to validate the performance of the craft's navigation, auto-pilot and communications systems. During the nine and a half minute test flight the jet propelled shuttle attained an altitude of 600 metres and a velocity of 290 km/hr.<br /><br />The test vehicle is 3.8 m long and has a mass of 735 kg. Originally it was intended that this craft would be the first step towards a manned space vehicle, but this development is now on hold following budgetary problems.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />LAUNCH SERVICES<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Foton-M Launch Failure<br /><br />(15 October 2002) A Soyuz U rocket launching the Foton M-1 spacecraft exploded 29 seconds after launch from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia. One of the four RD-107 engines on the first stage of the launcher fell off, causing the flight control system to abort the flight. The crippled rocket then fell close to the launch pad, exploding on impact causing fires and a powerful shock wave.<br /><br />One soldier was killed and eight were injured by debris from the explosion.<br /><br />The Foton M-1 satellite was carrying 44 experiments, provided by the European Space Agency (ESA), Russia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan and the USA, into fluid physics, biology, crystal growth, radiation dosimetry and exobiology. The satellite would have spent 15 days in orbit before returning a capsule to Earth.<br /><br />The launch failure may delay the launch of Soyuz TMA-1 to the International Space Station, which is scheduled for 28th October.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />LAUNCHES<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Integral<br /><br />Launched: 17 October 2002<br />Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />Launcher: Proton<br />Orbit: MEO, apogee: 153,000 km, perigee: 9,000 km: inclination: 51.6°<br />International Number: 2002-048A<br />Name: Integral<br />Owner: ESA<br />Contractor: Alenia Aerospazio<br /><br />Integral (International Gamma Ray Astrophysics Laboratory) is a scientific satellite owned and operated by the European Space Agency.<br /><br />Integral, the most sensitive gamma-ray observatory ever launched, will to gather some of the most energetic radiation that comes from space. It will pinpoint and study gamma-ray sources in unprecedented detail and will help to solve some of the biggest mysteries in astronomy: Integral will investigate the origin of enigmatic gamma-ray bursts, brief but extremely powerful releases of energy, and will bring much new information on stellar explosions and black holes.<br /><br />Integral has four instruments to give the spacecraft maximum versatility in its task of studying the gamma-ray Universe. Designed to complement each other, their combined observations will allow scientists to get a very complete and accurate picture of each celestial target at different wavelengths.<br /><br />The first two are dedicated gamma-ray instruments. Imager on Board the Integral Satellite (IBIS) is the sharpest-resolution gamma-ray camera ever built. Spectrometer on Integral (SPI) will measure the energy of gamma rays with exceptional accuracy. In particular, it will be more sensitive to fainter radiation than any previous gamma-ray spectrometer. The other two instruments are designed to provide complementary scientific data about Integral's targets. The Joint European X-Ray Monitor (JEM-X) will make observations simultaneously with the main gamma-ray instruments and will provide images at X-ray wavelengths. The Optical Monitoring Camera (OMC) will do the same but at visible-light wavelengths. The total weight of the four instruments is about 2 tonnes, roughly half the launch weight of Integral.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launch Schedule<br /><br />October 22: military satellite on a Molniya-M from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia<br />October 28: Soyuz (ISS 5S) on a Soyuz U from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />October 29: Mozhaets, AlSat 1 on a Kosmos 3M from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia<br />November: Hotbird 7, Stentor on an Ariane 5 from CSG Kourou, French Guiana<br />November: NSS-6 on an Ariane 44L from CSG Kourou, French Guiana<br />November 7: GPS 2R-8 on a Delta 2 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />November 10: ISS 11A, ITS, P1 on the Shuttle Endeavour (STS-113) from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida<br />November 16: Eutelsat W5 on a Delta 4 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida: first EELV launch<br />November 20: TDRS J on an Atlas 2AS from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />November 26: Astra 1K on a Proton from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />December: Galaxy XIII/Horizons-1 on a Zenit 3SL from Sea Launch's Odyssey platform in the Pacific Ocean<br />December: SMART-1 on an Ariane 5 from CSG Kourou, French Guiana<br />December 1: SORCE on a Pegasus XL from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />delayed: DSCS-B6 on a Delta 4 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />December 10: Adeos 2, Micro-Lab Sat, WEOSS, FedSat on an H-2A from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan<br />December 15: Coriolis on a Titan 2 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California<br />December 17: Nimiq 2 on an Atlas 5 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />December 19: ICESat/CHIPSat on a Delta 2 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California<br />January: AMC 9 on a Proton from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />January: GPS 2R-9, ProSEDS on a Delta 2 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />January: Thuraya 2 on a Zenit 3SL from Sea Launch's Odyssey platform in the Pacific Ocean<br />January 9: Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) on a Delta II Heavy from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />January 16: Spacehab research laboratory (Freestar) on the Shuttle Columbia (STS-107) from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />BUSINESS<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Comsat International Holdings Completes Acquisition from Lockheed Martin Corporation<br /><br />(17 October 2002) Comsat International Holdings (CIH), formerly known as World Data Consortium, recently completed its acquisition of Comsat International (CI) from Lockheed Martin Corporation.<br /><br />CIH, based in Washington DC, is a privately held telecommunications investment and management company with significant experience in telecommunications and other infrastructure industry services across the world.<br /><br />Comsat International, based in Bethesda, Maryland, provides domestic, regional and international data and voice telecommunications services through a fully integrated managed fibre, wireless, and satellite network to key Latin American markets, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.<br /><br />CIH sees this acquisition as an opportunity to leverage Comsat International's financial stability and strong network to support CIH's growth strategy. CIH plans to grow through the acquisition of both new customers and the strengths of new complementary assets.<br /><br />The CIH leadership plans to emphasise a customer-driven approach to acquisitions and product line extensions and strengthen their sales focus while maintaining engineering and technology prowess.<br /><br />With this recent closing, CIH takes an 81% ownership position in CI. Lockheed Martin Corporation retains a 19% interest in the company. Additional details of the agreement were not disclosed.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Gilat to Negotiate Debt Restructuring<br /><br />(16 October 2002) Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd has announced that it, its largest banking creditor, and bondholders holding a majority of the US$ 350 million (face value), 4.25% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2005, have agreed to commence negotiations to restructure the Company's debt to the Bank and the Bondholders<br /><br />These negotiations will be based on certain agreed guidelines that will include concessions from its creditors and lenders. The guidelines anticipate a partial conversion of a major portion of the face value of the Bonds into common equity and options, and a partial exchange of the remaining face amount into new long-term convertible bonds with a grace period for interest payments. The guidelines also anticipate that a certain portion of the principal of the Company's debt to the Bank will be deferred by a few years and that the remaining debt will be converted into equity and new convertible bonds. The Company intends to negotiate better payment terms with its other major lenders and to obtain concessions from its major suppliers. The Company, the banks and bondholders holding a majority of the bonds have agreed to co-operate in crafting a detailed restructuring plan by setting up a fast track timetable (30 days) and to submit the proposed plan to the Bondholders and banks for their approval as soon as feasibly possible.<br /><br />Based upon the progress reached with major lenders and bondholders holding majority of the bonds, and in order to accelerate the completion of the process, the Company has filed an application with the Israeli District Court in Tel Aviv to commence the approval for the restructuring plan and a stay of action by the bondholders. The stay will be effective in Israel and the Company will seek a similar stay in the US. The stay in Israel will be in effect for a period of 30 days subject to the Company's compliance with certain matters requested by the Court. The stay is intended to allow the proper completion of a detailed restructuring plan and its further submission to bondholders and banks. The approved stay will enjoin the Company's bondholders from exercising any rights that could hamper the plan.<br /><br />The Company's petition filed with the Court is supported by it largest banking creditor, the Company's other Israeli banks and bondholders holding a majority of the bonds.<br /><br />While this process is taking shape, the Company's ongoing operations do continue as usual and are unaffected by the restructuring process.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Swales Aerospace Doubles Production Capacity<br /><br />(12 October 2002) Swales Aerospace has unveiled a new 34,000 square foot production and office facility at its aerospace campus in Beltsville, Maryland.<br /><br />The expansion, which includes a 28 ft high bay area, represents a doubling of Swales' capability to design, fabricate and test heat pipe and loop heat pipe systems for the global satellite industry.<br /><br />In addition to the high bay area, other key building features include temperature controlled paint booths, an anodising and iridite coating capability, a speciality-machining centre, an ISO 9001 certified calibration laboratory, a class 100K clean room for multi-layer insulation systems, and associated office space.<br /><br />The new facility complements two existing Swales facilities; a 22,000 sq ft design, test and fabrication facility for flight quality ammonia and cryogenic capillary pumped loops, heat pipes and related thermal management hardware systems, and a 23,000 sq ft facility for fabrication of structural components and composites. Installed equipment also includes ovens, autoclaves, test labs and facilities for controlled preparation of adhesives and compounds for bonding and conformal coatings.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />PRODUCTS AND SERVICES<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />American Millennium Corporation Receives Certification of SatAlarm Sentry<br /><br />(14 October 2002) American Millennium Corporation Inc has announced that it has received Class I, Division 2 certification for hazardous location use of its SatAlarm-Sentry product for both the United States and Canada.<br /><br />This certification entails extensive testing through an independent laboratory to ensure that the AMCi product is non-incendive and can be used in areas where there may be ignitable atmospheres, such as in its main application as a call out system for gas compressors.<br /><br />Certification is deemed necessary for practically all sales of call out systems in Canada. Numerous customers have been requesting AMCi to provide the C1/D2 certification so that they can put the SatAlarm-Sentry units on their remote gas compressors where only a satellite-based system has coverage. Certification will provide additional opportunities for sales in the United States and other countries that are as rigorous in their acquisition requirements as are Canadian end users.<br /><br />Use of only certified systems on any gas compressor should provide an increased measure of safety for the owner/operator of the gas compressor and may even affect insurance costs. Adoption of the C1/D2 standard for its call out products is another example of how AMCi works to provide its customers with sophisticated technology in simple applications. The certified SatAlarm Sentry product is still packaged exactly as before and mounts using magnetic clamps and comes with batteries good for two years of operation without replacement. Installation and activation takes just a matter of minutes and can be accomplished without any training, just using the AMCi installation guide.<br /><br />First production of the C1/D2 product is scheduled for the end of October and will be provided to customers and distributors who have been waiting on final approval.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Analytical Graphics Releases Beta Version of STK 5.0<br /><br />(14 October 2002) Analytical Graphics Inc (AGI) has announced the first beta release of the next generation of its Satellite Toll Kit (STK). STK version 5.0 Beta is being distributed to all interested users for the purpose of gathering feedback and enabling a seamless upgrade to the official release of STK 5.0 in the spring of 2003.<br /><br />The STK 5.0 experience is designed to enable users to use STK "their way" with a new graphical user interface (GUI) based on familiar Microsoft Windows standards; an open architecture to support customisation and integration with other software packages; and an HTML interface that promotes customised, task-oriented work flows. In addition, STK 5.0 Beta's architectural enhancements will help AGI provide more rapid delivery of new features and products based on their customers' needs.<br /><br />Users are encouraged to join the beta community by visiting www.stk.com/beta and requesting a free STK 5.0 Beta CD-ROM. Beta testers receive evaluation licenses to all key STK analysis and visualisation modules. Those who offer feedback are eligible to win prizes.<br /><br />AGI offers commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) analysis and visualisation software to more than 28,000 aerospace, defence, and intelligence industry professionals through its core product Satellite Tool Kit (STK) and a comprehensive set of STK add-on modules. With integrated land, sea, air, and space elements, the STK software suite technology is ideal for all phases of complex industry programs from system concept and design to real-time operations.<br /><br />Basic STK applications include calculating and visualising a vehicle's position and attitude, determining acquisition times, and analysing its field of view. STK functionality can be extended with add-on modules that support specialised tasks including 3-D battlespace visualisation, communications link analysis, collision avoidance, manoeuvre planning, real-time data interfacing, high-fidelity missile modelling, GIS analysis, attitude simulation, orbit determination, and coverage assessment.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SpaceDev's New Miniature Flight Computer<br /><br />(15 October 2002) The SpaceDev Miniature Flight Computer (MFC) is the perfect high performance 300 MIPS general-purpose flight computer for a wide variety of space vehicles. It is cost-effective, has about 10x the performance-to-power ratio of current flight computers and only uses .5 to 6 watts of power, depending on its mode of operation.<br /><br />The SpaceDev MFC produces an impressive 50 MIPS per watt and operates at speeds up to 300 MIPS. A variable power feature enables users to minimise system power consumption based on processing requirements.<br /><br />SpaceDev's advanced architecture and processing throughput enable a new generation of smaller, higher performance spacecraft to solve more intensive computing problems while using fewer processors than have previously been required.<br /><br />The SpaceDev MFC has successfully passed manufacturing and environmental testing for low earth orbit (LEO) missions and is ready for civil, military and commercial spacecraft, launch applications, and other remotely operated applications.<br /><br />The SpaceDev MFC is one of six innovative and affordable subsystem components developed for the Cosmic Hot Interstellar Plasma Spectrometer (CHIPS) mission. SpaceDev designed and built the sophisticated, high-performance 45 kg microsatellite that will carry the CHIPS instrument. CHIPSat is currently scheduled to launch on December 19, 2002 from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />PEOPLE<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Director of Business Development Appointed to Tandberg Television Americas<br /><br />(16 October 2002) Tandberg Television has announced that the former head of its segment business management group, Carl Furgusson, has become the company's new Director of Business Development for the Americas. In his new position, Carl will focus on the development of new business opportunities within the cable, broadband and ATSC market segments.<br /><br />Carl will provide a link between Tandberg's European research & development teams and the Americas sales, marketing and engineering teams. As Director of Business Development, Carl will also identify market trends and customer requirements particular to the Americas market and ensure these are driven through the development teams to ensure the continued long-term success of the Americas region.<br /><br />Previously based in Tandberg Television's Southampton, UK headquarters, Carl recently relocated to the Americas office in Orlando, Florida.<br /><br />Carl joined Tandberg Television in 1995 as Product Manager for the Digital Satellite News Gathering market and became New Business Development Manager for Digital Terrestrial, Digital Cinema and HDTV in 1997, responsible for the DVB-T in Asia and ATSC markets in America. In 1999, Carl was named as head of the segment business management group of Tandberg Television, retaining his responsibilities for the ATSC market, as well as the mobile communications area.<br /><br />Before joining Tandberg Television, Carl was a Design Engineer for Matsushita Electric in the UK, designing the national brand of microwave ovens for Europe. Carl received a Bachelor of Engineering degree, with honours, from Victoria University in Manchester, England.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Mark K Craig Named JSC Associate Director, Space Development and Commerce<br /><br />(16 October 2002) Veteran NASA manager and engineer Mark K Craig has been named to the new position of Associate Director for Space Development and Commerce at the Johnson Space Center.<br /><br />In his 35-year career with NASA, Craig most recently served as Acting Center Director of the John C Stennis Space Center. In his new position at JSC, he will better focus human space flight's value in science, education, inspiration, technology, and space commerce.<br /><br />A graduate of Purdue University, Craig began his career at JSC in 1967 as a co-op student. He pursued engineering post-graduate study at Rice University, and completed MIT's Program for Senior Executives in 1992. As an aerospace engineer at JSC, he worked on the Apollo, Apollo-Soyuz, Space Shuttle and Space Station programs.<br /><br />He has held a range of management positions at JSC and NASA HQ, including Space Shuttle subsystem manager, Space Station system engineering and integration manager, Mars Rover Sample Return deputy project manager, and Space Exploration Initiative director. In these assignments he has worked extensively with all NASA centres, the White House, Congress, foreign governments, the scientific community and other federal agencies. Craig was on the start-up teams for the Space Shuttle in 1969, the Space Station in 1983 and the Space Exploration Initiative in 1989.<br /><br />Prior to his work at Stennis, Craig served on the NASA administrator's staff at NASA HQ and was the principal architect of the NASA Strategic Plan. He became deputy director of Stennis in 1995 and acting director there in 2001.<br /><br />Craig began his duties at JSC on Monday, Oct. 7, 2002.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NASA Administrator Names Deputy Chief Financial Officer<br /><br />(16 October 2002) Gwendolyn Brown has been selected as NASA's Deputy Chief Financial Officer, effective November 1. As the Deputy Chief Financial Officer at NASA Headquarters in Washington, she will manage day-to-day financial operations, direct the preparation and submission of annual financial and related reports, and co-ordinate Agency financial management activities with other related federal agencies.<br /><br />Brown replaces Stephen J Varholy, who retired in September. Kenneth J Winter, who has been serving as Acting Deputy at Headquarters during this interim period since Varholy's retirement, will return to his duties at NASA's Langley Research Center as the centre's Chief Financial Officer.<br /><br />Prior to coming to NASA, Brown was a senior Program Analyst with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Directorate for Program and Financial Control at the Pentagon. She was instrumental in instituting streamlined reporting requirements and developing electronic management reports which significantly reduced the amount of required hard copy accounting data.<br /><br />Brown began her Defense Department career as a Management Analyst in 1992, where she helped plan, develop and institute modern business and accounting practices. She joined the Pentagon's financial team after serving on the United States Senate staff. Brown started her public service career as a manager and auditor for the Defense Contract Audit Agency in 1987.<br /><br />She has a bachelor's degree in Accounting from The Catholic University of America and a master's degree in Public Administration from The American University, both in Washington.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NASA Announces New Stennis Space Center Deputy Director<br /><br />(17 October 2002) Michael U Rudolphi has been named Deputy Center Director for NASA's John C Stennis Space Center in south Mississippi, effective in November after the next Space Shuttle launch, STS-113.<br /><br />As Deputy Director, Rudolphi will support Center Director William W Parsons in managing NASA's rocket propulsion test capabilities and Earth Science applications.<br /><br />Rudolphi has served as Manager, Reusable Solid Rocket Motor Project, at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama, since January 2000.<br /><br />Rudolphi began his career with NASA at Marshall in 1988 as Facility Manager for the Advanced Solid Rocket Motor Project in Luka, Mississippi. He managed the design, construction and operation of an ultra-modern US$ 700 million rocket manufacturing facility.<br /><br />Prior to that, Rudolphi was on special assignment to the Solid Rocket Booster Project (SRB) managing the resident office at the contractor plant at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He also served as Project Manager, SRB, from March 1999 to January 2000.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />PanAmSat Appoints Estevao Ghizoni as Senior Director<br /><br />(16 October 2002) PanAmSat Corporation has announced the appointment of Estevao Ghizoni as head of its operations and sales efforts across the southern region of Latin America.<br /><br />Based in Coral Gables, Mr Ghizoni will direct the company's operations and sales efforts across five countries. Mr Ghizoni will report to Carmen Gonzalez-Sanfeliu, PanAmSat's vice president of Latin America.<br /><br />Specifically, Mr Ghizoni will direct PanAmSat's day-to-day operations in five countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. In each of these countries, he will also be responsible for setting the overall strategy and tone for the company's growth.<br /><br />Mr Ghizoni has more than 20 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. Most recently, he was the sales director for a European-based satellite operator. Earlier in his career, Mr Ghizoni was director of sales in Latin America for a wireless telecommunications company. In addition, he was the regional Latin American sales director for another international satellite operator. Mr Ghizoni has also held engineering positions within several telecommunications companies in Brazil prior to entering the world of satellite communications.<br /><br />He holds a BS Engineering degree from Instituto Technologico de Aeronautica, Sao Paulo, Brazil.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Press releases should be sent to: newsfeed@microcomsystems.co.uk<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Microcom makes no charge for this service and makes no payments for the use of material. Microcom makes no warranties about the quality of this free service and accepts no liability for mistakes and errors. Use of this service is taken as confirmation of acceptance of these conditions.<br /><br />If you require further information contact Microcom by email: info@microcomsystems.co.uk<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />This newsletter, and archives dating back to January 2000, can be viewed on the web at http://www.spacenewsfeed.co.uk<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />To subscribe and unsubscribe go to: http://www.spacenewsfeed.co.uk/subscribe.html<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Copyright 2002 Microcom Systems Ltd. All rights reserved.<br /><br />Microcom's Space Newsfeed may be freely distributed on condition that it is distributed complete, not edited in any way, and that no fee is charged. All copies must contain this copyright notice.<br /><br />Microcom Systems Ltd<br />PO Box 21<br />Haverhill<br />Suffolk CB9 0NZ<br />United Kingdom<br /><br />info@microcomsystems.co.uk<br />http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk