Microcom's Space Newsfeed 14 September 2003<br />Space Industry News from Around the World<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Published by Microcom Systems Ltd, consultants in satellite communications since 1985.
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http://www.spacenewsfeed.co.uk/ratecard.html<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Contents<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Satcoms:<br />Connexion by Boeing Selects Intelsat for North-Atlantic Routes<br />EBU and New Skies Sign Major Special Events Agreement<br />EchoStar Awards Lockheed Martin Contract For A2100 Satellite<br />Eutelsat Awards Contract For Hot Bird 8 To EADS Astrium<br />Kingston and Tandberg Television Collaborate on David Bowie D-Cinema Event<br />Locatel Switches To Satellite for Digital Delivery Of Its Video Rental Films<br />New Skies Signs SSVC for Distribution of British Forces Broadcasting Service<br />SES Astra Expands Satellite Broadband to New Territories in Europe<br />SkyFrames and Broadband Wireless Exchange to Bring Satellite, WiFi, VoIP to Troops in Iraq<br />SkyFrames to Supply Broadband Comms to ComGuard CTS of Canada<br />Virtual Private Networks (VPN) Over Satellite<br /><br />Earth Observation:<br />NASA, NOAA and Lockheed Martin Investigate Satellite Accident<br /><br />Navigation:<br />Pay-As-You-Go Motoring Just Around the Corner<br /><br />Military Space:<br />Mobile VSAT Systems for Joint Combat Camera<br /><br />Science:<br />NASA Approves James Webb Space Telescope Mirror Architecture<br /><br />Technology:<br />Aerojet Successfully Completes Milestones for NEXT Ion Engine Program<br /><br />Launch Services:<br />Arianespace to Launch Astra 1KR<br />ILS to Launch Amazonas Satellite<br />ILS to Launch AMC-15<br /><br />Launches:<br />Classified NRO Satellite<br /><br />Business:<br />Acquisition of ERA Technology Limited<br />Class Action Lawsuit Against Bernard Schwartz<br />XM Satellite Radio Announces Placement of US$ 150 M in Securities<br /><br />Products and Services:<br />Intelsat and TVNZ Satellite Services to Launch a New Alliance<br />Kingston's Customer Controlled Playout Lowers Barrier of Entry<br />Maxwell Technologies' Boostcap Ultracapacitors Qualified for Space<br />Motorola Introduces Ground-Breaking Miniature A-GPS Module<br />ND SatCom Launches SkyWAN Compact at IBC 2003<br />QinetiQ Announces Its Low Signal Strength GPS<br />SES Astra and News Equipe Join Forces for Occasional Use Market<br />SkyStream Enhances Mediaplex 20 Video Services Platform<br />Tandberg TV Launches Industry’s Highest Performance, Lowest Bit-Rate Encoder<br /><br />People:<br />Boeing Names Elbon VP International Space Station<br />iDirect Technologies Announces Appointment of Peter Slade<br />SkyStream Names Steve Recht CFO and VP of Operations<br />SS/Loral Assigns Two Marketing Executives to Asian Region<br />Stratos Global Appoints James Parm as President and CEO<br />XM Names New SVP of Sales and Marketing Solutions<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />EEBC 2003<br /><br />The broadband event demanded by the industry in Central and Eastern Europe. Aims to harmonise and accelerate growth throughout the region to achieve the full triple-play services of video, data and telephony for Cable and Wireless TV systems. Will include Technical Training, Seminars, Industry Conference, Exhibition, Forum of Program Providers, Congress of CATV Organisations.
www.eebc.com.ua<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SMi's Global MILSATCOM<br />24th and 25th November 2003<br />Radisson SAS, Portman Hotel, London<br /><br />SMi's Fifth Annual Global MILSATCOM Conference brings together an international line-up of speakers to analyse current requirements and projects along with future developments in the field of Military Satellite Communications. For further details and to download a conference brochure and registration form, please visit:
www.smi-online.co.uk/milsatcom3.asp<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 />Space Bookshop - books for space professionals.<br />
http://www.satelliteonthenet.co.uk/bookshop.html<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Satellite Internet access in Africa, Europe and the Middle East<br />
http://www.satelliteonthenet.co.uk/internet1.html<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Satcoms<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Connexion by Boeing Selects Intelsat for North-Atlantic Routes<br /><br />(12 September 2003) Connexion by Boeing will use Intelsat satellite service for the implementation of in-flight broadband Internet and data services for passengers on trans-Atlantic airliners starting in 2004.<br /><br />Following successful service demonstrations with Lufthansa and British Airways earlier this year, Connexion by Boeing signed a contract with Intelsat for satellite connectivity that will enable airborne travellers to access high-speed Internet and data services via Intelsat's powerful 907 satellite at 332.5 ºE, the newest spacecraft in Intelsat's global fleet.<br /><br />The contract includes two transponder leases using 907's Ku band Spot 1 beam for real-time transmission and reception of web pages, e-mail, data and entertainment content. Passengers will be able to quickly connect their laptops or Internet-enabled PDAs to wireless LANs or Ethernet jacks inside equipped airplanes, with end-user speeds comparable to land-based cable modem or DSL service. The satellite connectivity may also be used by airline crews for efficient communications with ground operations.<br /><br />(source: Intelsat)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />EBU and New Skies Sign Major Special Events Agreement<br /><br />(11 September 2003) New Skies Satellites NV will provide the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) with full-time satellite capacity and special events transmission services to guarantee coverage of some of the world's most prominent events taking place over the next 18 months.<br /><br />Specifically, the EBU has chosen New Skies' global network for the delivery of live video footage from the Athens Olympics, the UEFA Euro 2004 competitions, and the US presidential elections. The deal ensures that the EBU's 119 member and associate member broadcasters, as well as the wider broadcasters' community using EBU's network services, will have access to the coverage their viewers demand.<br /><br />The multi-event package for the EBU complements an existing full-time, valued-added video contribution service between the United States and Europe, making New Skies' transmission network the primary trans-Atlantic carrier of the EBU's breaking news and special events coverage.<br /><br />The EBU has co-located digital transmission equipment in New Skies' state-of-the-art Washington DC mediaport, which features an high speed fibre link to a major video hub, connecting all local access providers in the area. The EBU routes its digital video traffic through this connection to New Skies' mediaport for uplink and broadcast to points across Europe and the Middle East over NSS-7. For the US events, New Skies will supplement this existing service with additional fibre links between the EBU's Washington bureau and New Skies' mediaport for seamless connectivity to the EBU users' earth stations throughout Europe.<br /><br />(source: New Skies Satellites)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />EchoStar Awards Lockheed Martin Contract For A2100 Satellite<br /><br />(10 September 2003) Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems has been awarded a contract to build an A2100 geosynchronous satellite for EchoStar Communications Corp. The satellite, designated EchoStar X, will provide distribution of direct-to-home broadcast services across the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii following its scheduled launch in third quarter, 2005. Financial terms were not disclosed.<br /><br />The EchoStar contract marks the fourth new commercial satellite order received by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems during 2003.<br /><br />EchoStar X will be based on the A2100AX platform, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems and will have a minimum service life of 15 years. EchoStar X will be the sixth satellite built by Lockheed Martin for EchoStar Communications Corp, and the fourth based on the A2100 platform. The high power Ku band spacecraft will provide direct-to-home services and back-up to other satellites in the EchoStar fleet and will be located at 110° West.<br /><br />(source: Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Eutelsat Awards Contract For Hot Bird 8 To EADS Astrium<br /><br />(12 September 2003) Eutelsat and EADS Astrium have signed a contract for the construction the Hot Bird 8 broadcast satellite which will be launched in early 2006 by Arianespace on-board an Ariane 5 rocket.<br /><br />With 64 transponders that can be operated simultaneously, of which 58 transponders will operate at full power for most of the satellite’s lifetime, Hot Bird 8 is the largest satellite yet ordered by Eutelsat. It will join the company’s constellation of Hot Bird broadcasting satellites at 13° East that provide television, radio and interactive services to almost 100 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.<br /><br />Hot Bird 8’s mission is to replace existing Hot Bird capacity and to join Hot Bird 7A in bringing in-orbit sparing to a level where 13° East can maintain its reputation as one of the most secure multi-satellite video neighbourhoods. The satellite has been designed to cover all 102 Ku band transponders/frequencies at 13 degrees East which means that it can substitute any transponder on the other Hot Bird satellites.<br /><br />EADS Astrium, as prime contractor for Hot Bird 8, will design and build the satellite and supply both the payload and the platform. The spacecraft will have a launch mass of less than 5 tons, a solar array span of 45 metres once deployed in orbit, and a spacecraft solar array power of almost 14 kW at end of life. It will provide commercial services for a minimum of 15 years.<br /><br />Hot Bird 8 is based on the E3000 version of the Eurostar family, already ordered by five major satellite operators. 34 Eurostar spacecraft have been ordered to date, of which 23 have already been launched and have proven highly reliable in operational service.<br /><br />(source: Eutelsat)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Kingston and Tandberg Television Collaborate on David Bowie D-Cinema Event<br /><br />(9 September 2003) Kingston inmedia and Tandberg Television joined forces to provide the broadcast delivery backbone to David Bowie's world-wide Digital Cinema showcase which took place on Monday night (8 September). Kingston and Tandberg's combined expertise in MPEG-2 encoding, digital receivers, mobile services and satellite uplink enabled the delivery of high quality digital sound and video from London's Riverside Studios to over 65 cinemas in more that 20 European countries.<br /><br />The event was the first live concert broadcast in cinemas to feature 5.1 DTS Digital Surround Sound with high-resolution 96/24 technologies. DTS (Digital Theater Systems) encoded the multi-channel audio feed at the concert venue using its CAE-5 professional broadcast encoder. Kingston provided two highly redundant SNG trucks that encoded the live signal using Tandberg Television's MPEG-2 solution E5710, giving high performance compression and flawless audio and video at low bit rates, as well as being the industry's first encoding platform to integrate DTS audio 'pass through'.<br /><br />Kingston then uplinked the signal onto Eutelsat W2 to simultaneously reach over 65 cinemas in more than 20 European countries, including selected Odeon cinemas in Birmingham, Brighton, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London's West End and Manchester. Kingston also provided uplink and routes services to take the broadcast to locations in Asia on Tuesday (9 September).<br /><br />The signal received at the designated cinema sites, using Tandberg Integrated Receiver Decoder devices was fed to DTS' XD10 Digital Cinema Media player which output the 96 kHz 24 bit-quality surround sound audio and video.<br /><br />Kingston and Tandberg Television have a successful ongoing relationship, with Kingston investing in Tandberg's evolution 5000 encoders, decoders, modulators and multiplexers to give customers robust high quality video, audio and data services. They have also worked together to trial and introduce new technologies such as Tandberg Television's Prekor unique Dynamic Pre-Correction combined with higher order satellite modulation technology, and successful trials using IP data over 16QAM.<br /><br />The world-wide D-Cinema event celebrated the launch of David Bowie's brand new album 'Reality', due to be released on September 15th on ISO/Columbia Records. He performed an exclusive live set at London's Riverside studios showcasing the new album, as well as a few highlights from his legendary back catalogue. Bowie is known as a supporter of new technologies. His online community was the first to offer ISP capabilities to its subscribers; he was an early exponent of email in the 1980s and was at the cutting edge of digital technology by offering the first widespread online download of the track 'Telling Lies' in the mid 90's.<br /><br />(source: Kingston inmedia)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Locatel Switches To Satellite for Digital Delivery Of Its Video Rental Films<br /><br />(1 September 2003) Locatel, France’s leading integrator of audio-visual and multimedia technology solutions, and Eutelsat have signed a distribution contract for the digital delivery of video rental films by satellite to Locatel’s customer hotels. In switching to a direct satellite link-up into the local servers of the hotels, Locatel has two objectives: to simplify the delivery process and to enhance the range of titles it offers for rental.<br /><br />Locatel, which currently reaches 135,000 hotel rooms and 70,000 hospital beds, provides the equipment for its customers to access a wide range of audio-visual and multimedia services. Until now, access has been based on a pay-per-view system, with a choice of four films has been broadcast at a fixed time each day and a selection of video players made available for communal use at each client location. Films have been delivered to the hotels on VHS cassettes.<br /><br />“Thanks to satellite delivery and to local storage of the films in digital format, every customer can now watch the programme of his or her choice on a video-on-demand basis with full freedom to watch whenever they choose and to interrupt the film as often as required. Eighteen films will be available full-time - four times more than our daily offer today,” says Guillaume Deguerry, Export Director for Audiovisual Hotel and Health Services at Locatel.<br /><br />Every ten days, two new films will be sent to all client hotels in compressed MPEG 2 format via a signal uplinked from the Eutelsat platform in Rambouillet (France) to the Atlantic Bird 2 satellite. Using routing and distribution software developed by Castify Networks Systems (Castify EBN) to encrypt the signal and manage its delivery, the content is received simultaneously by all digital servers in the hotels. The receive equipment comprises a parabolic antenna 90 cm in diameter, connected to a local server equipped with the Castify EBN client software which looks after access rights. The Castify EBN software also ascertains that the content has been fully received and, if necessary, uses the redundant data to reconstitute any missing elements before storing the content at the hotel on the local server.<br /><br />(source: Eutelsat)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />New Skies Signs SSVC for Distribution of British Forces Broadcasting Service<br /><br />(8 September 2003) New Skies Satellites NV has announced a long-term agreement with The Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC), a registered charity set up to entertain and inform Britain's Armed Forces around the world, for the distribution of The British Forces Broadcasting Service.<br /><br />SSVC will use New Skies' NSS-7 satellite - with its broad coverage of Europe and Africa extending across the Atlantic to the Americas - to deliver BFBS radio and television programming to British military bases throughout the Atlantic Ocean region. These include remote installations in The Falkland Islands and Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean, Belize in Central America, and Goose Bay, Newfoundland in Canada.<br /><br />Specifically, NSS-7 will carry BFBS TV 1 and 2 and BFBS Radio 1 and 2. BFBS Radio 1 is a pop and information channel targeted at the younger soldiers, sailors and airmen. BFBS Radio 2 provides a mix of talk/news radio via relays of BBC Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live, supplemented by BFBS programming. BFBS TV has a varied programming mix, with unique access provided by the UK networks and extensive program agreements with major television distributors. The signals are uplinked from New Skies' partner mediaport in the United Kingdom.<br /><br />(source: New Skies Satellites)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SES Astra Expands Satellite Broadband to New Territories in Europe<br /><br />(11 September 2003) SES Astra has announced 5 new contracts for the provision of Astra one-way satellite broadband services. The high speed satellite Internet services via Astra target additional territories in Europe and North Africa, notably Algeria, Hungary, Ireland, Poland and the Czech Republic.<br /><br />SES Astra signed a long-term contract with Servisys, a French provider of networks and software solutions for small to medium-sized businesses and replicated branch offices, for services to Algeria. This is the first Astra-delivered service specifically targeted at residential audiences in a North-African country.<br /><br />In the Czech Republic, SES Astra's new commercial partner is Pragonet, a countrywide telecommunications service provider.<br /><br />In Hungary, telecom incumbent Matav will offer DSL-type satellite services via Astra, and in Ireland, MediaSatellite Ltd, a service provider for one and two-way satellite network services will market satellite broadband services to end-consumers in co-operation with Irish telecom operator Eircom.<br /><br />In Poland finally, SES Astra has entered into an agreement with Onet.pl, Poland's leading Internet portal, which registers more than a billion impressions a month, making it the only Polish portal amongst the most visited in the world.<br /><br />The launch of all five of the new broadband services on Astra has already been initiated. Astra has been offering high speed satellite Internet services to end-consumers in the Benelux (with BySky), Germany (Deutsche Telekom) and Italy (Netsystem) since 2000.<br /><br />(source: SES Astra)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SkyFrames and Broadband Wireless Exchange to Bring Satellite, WiFi, VoIP to Troops in Iraq<br /><br />(8 September 2003) SkyFrames Inc has signed an agreement with The Broadband Wireless Exchange to work together, along with other contributing companies to provide reliable communications that will enable US troops to better communicate with their friends and families.<br /><br />On August 14, 2003, Edward Bukstel, VP of SkyFrames, received an email inquiry at the Company's Philadelphia location. "The inquiry did not include a telephone number. I later found out that it was from a unit in Iraq that was trying to find a way to better communicate with people at home," stated Bukstel.<br /><br />The Pentagon has been contacted and SkyFrames received confirmation of the communications issues for the troops in Iraq. Additional discussions have occurred regarding supplying equipment for non-secure communications.<br /><br />Since the initial emails, the scope, magnitude and significance of the project have increased. The requirements include multiple WiFi networks, Satellite Communications and VoIP lines. The list of items required for this installation includes everything from cable connectors, special pliers, to satellite dishes. According to a Major in Iraq, "Emails just don't get the job done when you are a mom or dad over here trying to talk with your children under 5 years of age at home."<br /><br />(source: SkyFrames)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SkyFrames to Supply Broadband Comms to ComGuard CTS of Canada<br /><br />(11 September 2003) SkyFrames Inc has announced today an Agreement to supply high speed VSAT equipment and broadband Internet services to ComGuard CTS with offices and operations in Iqaluit, Baffin Island; Rankin Inlet, Northwest Territories; and Delta, British Columbia.<br /><br />For the first time Rankin Inlet will have access to T1 equivalent broadcast speeds across SkyFrames products and services. A static IP address will be provided with the SkyFrames Product and the system will be connected to ComGuard's existing infrastructure to provide advanced services including VoIP, WiFi, and DSL capabilities to their respective clients.<br /><br />(source: SkyFrames)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Virtual Private Networks (VPN) Over Satellite<br /><br />(10 September 2003) Satellites are ideal for Internet and private network access over long distances and to remote locations. Satellite based IP connections provide a ubiquitous and instantaneous solution to companies seeking to include into their corporate network subsidiaries and production facilities, also in regions with a poor telecommunications infrastructure.<br /><br />A very cost-effective solution results when taking advantage of the public shared Internet infrastructure with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) tunnel. However, Internet protocols are not optimised for satellite conditions, and consequently, the throughput of a VPN over satellite is normally restricted to only a fraction of the available bandwidth.<br /><br />Together with its Partner UDcast, atrexx has developed a solution which overcomes the traditional limitations of VPN via satellite. In the UD-VPN product family, outside the VPN tunnel, TCP is optimised for the long latency, high loss and asymmetric bandwidth conditions - all typical of satellite communications. This "TCP Acceleration" process increases the throughput and efficiency of network access over satellites dramatically. The hardware also performs industry-standard IPsec encryption protocol for the highest level of security, providing end-to-end encryption.<br /><br />This VPN extension to atrexx' 2way2sat family of products and services, based on two-way satellite connectivity, delivers network access at high speed data rates (up to 2 Mb/s) to locations and regions not reachable by traditional service providers. By providing cost-effective standards compliant VPN connectivity through satellite, atrexx and UDcast thus meet the needs of private and public enterprise networks.<br /><br />(source: atrexx)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Earth Observation<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NASA, NOAA and Lockheed Martin Investigate Satellite Accident<br /><br />(9 September 2003) On September 6, while performing work on the NOAA-N Prime spacecraft, being prepared to launch in 2008 for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the satellite was dropped.<br /><br />Lockheed Martin, the contractor in charge of the construction and test of the satellite in Sunnyvale, California, NASA and NOAA formed teams to investigate the accident and assess impact. The 14-foot spacecraft was about three feet off the ground in an upright stance, when it slipped from a fixture, as it was being turned from a vertical to horizontal position.<br /><br />"NASA and NOAA are understandably concerned about this accident, because the NOAA-N Prime spacecraft is vital to the continuity of the polar-orbiting environmental satellite program. We are waiting for an assessment of the damage from the investigation teams. We will have a better idea of the extent of the impact on our satellite programs when the results are available," said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C Lautenbacher, PhD, undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.<br /><br />NOAA's Satellite and Information Service operates two polar-orbiting operational environmental satellites (POES), which are critical in monitoring weather and climate.<br /><br />NOAA-N Prime is under guard, and Lockheed Martin and NASA have secured all records.<br /><br />(source: NASA)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Navigation<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Pay-As-You-Go Motoring Just Around the Corner<br /><br />(9 September 2003) Death and taxes may be unavoidable, but road tolls and car insurance could be made fairer if satellite-assisted distance pricing is implemented.<br /><br />The European Space Agency (ESA) is funding Irish provider of location technology products Mapflow to undertake a feasibility study to look into the possibility of implementing a pan-European road tolling system. The research aims to establish whether satellite technology can be used to calculate the cost of motoring.<br /><br />A plan exists to complement this activity with a real demonstration of the virtual tolling concept in the greater area of Lisbon. Also under ESA funding, the project is being conducted by the Portuguese company Skysoft in close co-operation with the Portuguese motorway authority. The demonstration is planned for the end of 2004.<br /><br />In April this year the European Commission published a proposal that all vehicles should pay road tolls electronically, with full implementation foreseen for 2010. Under the proposal, all vehicles will carry a ‘black box’, which will be tracked by satellites relaying information on the distance travelled by the vehicle, the class of road travelled and the time at which the journey was made.<br /><br />The research commissioned by ESA on behalf of the European Union will evaluate the feasibility of a standard tolling approach throughout Europe. The study will look at the effects of such a system on Europe’s road infrastructure as well as associated technology impacts.<br /><br />Potential benefits of a harmonised road tolling system would be fairer implementation of charging on a 'pay for use' basis, lower costs as the need for physical infrastructure is reduced and also reduced congestion.<br /><br />Germany recently received EU approval to implement a new tolling system for goods vehicles. The system - currently being tested - uses the US-operated Global Positioning System (GPS). The government hopes to raise 650 million Euros a year through the new charges.<br /><br />(source: ESA)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Military Space<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Mobile VSAT Systems for Joint Combat Camera<br /><br />(8 September 2003) ViaSat Inc has received a subcontract for approximately US$ 1.5 million from VSE Corporation for mobile, rapid-deploy Linkway satellite terminals. Using the terminals, military camera crews will be able to quickly and securely transmit video and still imagery from forward military areas to headquarters and command locations in the field, as well as back to the US. ViaSat will also provide system engineering, integration, installation services, and training in the US and abroad.<br /><br />This network features Linkway.IP VSAT terminals, self-pointing antennas, and special power systems to enable users to rapidly set up and operate the system in any location. The complete system will include video capture equipment to enable real-time encoding of video, plus video editing capability as well.<br /><br />Linkway terminals include Dynamic Bandwidth Resource Allocation technology that uses satellite bandwidth more efficiently by allowing bandwidth sharing among remote stations and adjusting the size of the satellite channel to match data traffic. The Linkway.IP VSAT system features hardware specifically streamlined for Internet Protocol (IP) networking to lower the cost of IP networks and applications such as ISP point of presence (PoP) connections; Web distribution, push, and data caching; voice over IP; and data and video multicasting.<br /><br />(source: ViaSat)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Science<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NASA Approves James Webb Space Telescope Mirror Architecture<br /><br />(10 September 2003) NASA has selected a beryllium-based mirror technology for the James Webb Space Telescope's (JWST)6.5-metre primary mirror.<br /><br />The JWST prime contractor, Northrop Grumman, recommended to NASA the mirror technology, supplied by Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation be selected for the JWST primary mirror<br /><br />Northrop Grumman made the recommendation following a detailed process that took advantage of insights from a panel of experts representing the contractor team, NASA and the science community. Two mirror technologies, beryllium and ultra low-expansion glass, were tested, and their implementation plans were thoroughly reviewed during a six-month evaluation. Technical performance, manufacturing schedule, facilities, staffing, and cost were factors taken into consideration.<br /><br />The production of the beryllium-based mirrors will begin within the next year. The mirrors will be incorporated into optical assemblies, mounted on the telescope structure, and subjected to a series of tests at cryogenic temperatures, individually and as an integrated system.<br /><br />The Observatory design features a 6.5-metre aperture primary mirror, comprised of 18 hexagonal shaped segments. The telescope will be 2.5 times the diameter, yet weigh only one-third as much, as the mirror on the Hubble Space Telescope. JWST will be orders of magnitude more sensitive than ground-based infrared telescopes.<br /><br />After launch in 2011, JWST will peer into the infrared at great distances to see the first stars and galaxies formed in the universe billions of years ago. A flagship mission in NASA's Origins Program, JWST will search for answers to astronomers' fundamental questions about the birth and evolution of galaxies, the size and shape of the universe, and the mysterious life cycle of matter.<br /><br />NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center manages the JWST project for NASA Headquarters Office of Space Science, Washington. The project consists of an international team involving NASA, the European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, industry and academia.<br /><br />Northrop Grumman is prime contractor leading a team including Ball Aerospace, Eastman Kodak Company and Alliant Techsystems. The major beryllium mirror subcontractors to Ball Aerospace are Tinsley Laboratories, Axsys Technologies and Brush Wellman Inc.<br /><br />(source: NASA)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Technology<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Aerojet Successfully Completes Milestones for NEXT Ion Engine Program<br /><br />(9 September 2003) Aerojet, successfully completed, in early August, manufacture and integration testing of the Xenon Propellant Management System (PMS) and Digital Control Interface Unit (DCIU) simulator for Phase 1 of the NASA Evolutionary Xenon Thruster (NEXT) ion engine development program.<br /><br />Once manufacture of the PMS and DCIU simulator was completed at Aerojet's Redmond, Washington facility, the hardware was delivered to NASA's Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland, Ohio, where integration tests were successfully performed with an engineering model 40-cm ion thruster and a Breadboard power processing unit.<br /><br />The NEXT program is a two-phase effort to develop a next generation high power six-kilowatt ion thruster system for NASA space science missions. Aerojet is a major subcontractor for both the xenon thrusters and feed system.<br /><br />The NEXT thruster discharge and neutraliser cathode flow rates are controllable over a wide range making it possible for the thruster to effectively throttle from two to six kilowatts. The internal volume of the PMS is reduced by greater than an order of magnitude, limiting residual gas losses when the thruster is turned off and significantly improving the engine throttle rate. The PMS is designed to provide three-percent accuracy of flow rate and have a total mass under 18 kilograms for a three thruster system. This compares with 9.2 kilograms for a single thruster xenon feed system on the NSTAR Deep Space 1 (DS-1) system.<br /><br />NEXT utilises design knowledge gained from the DS-1 spacecraft - the first space science mission to successfully use an ion thruster as the primary propulsion system. NEXT has significantly increased power compared to that of the ion thruster on DS-1, as well as provide increased efficiency and system performance characteristics.<br /><br />NEXT is funded by the In-Space Propulsion Program in the Solar System Exploration Division of NASA's Office of Space Science. The In-Space Propulsion Program is managed by the Office of Space Science at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC and implemented by the Marshall Space Flight Center. In June 2002 NASA's Office of Space Science awarded approximately US$ 21 million to GRC to develop a next generation ion propulsion system. Aerojet was awarded its share of the contract through GRC in August 2002.<br /><br />Phase 2 is a two-and-a-half year option to complete hardware development, integrate the components into a full-scale system and perform thruster wear tests.<br /><br />Other members of NASA's NEXT team include the Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Boeing Electron Dynamic Devices; Applied Physics Laboratory; University of Michigan and Colorado State University.<br /><br />(source: Aerojet)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launch Services<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Arianespace to Launch Astra 1KR<br /><br />(9 September 2003) SES Astra has contracted Arianespace to launch the Astra 1KR satellite on an Ariane 5 booster from Europe's Spaceport at the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana in the third quarter of 2005. Financial terms of the launch contract were not disclosed.<br /><br />Astra 1KR is being built by Lockheed Martin on the reliable A2100 platform and will feature 32 active Ku band transponders in the FSS band, with a TWTA output power of 140 watts and a pan-European footprint. With an expected launch weight of approximately 4200 kilograms and a design life of 15 years, the spacecraft's primary mission, following the lost Astra 1K mission of November 2002, will be to replace Astra 1B and 1C at SES' prime Continental European position of 19.2° East.<br /><br />(source: Arianespace, SES Astra)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />ILS to Launch Amazonas Satellite<br /><br />(9 September 2003) International Launch Services (ILS) will launch the Amazonas satellite for Hispasat on a Proton/Breeze M vehicle next year.<br /><br />The Amazonas launch, planned for mid-2004, is scheduled to be the first Proton mission for Hispasat. The heavy-lift Proton vehicle, with the Breeze M upper stage, will lift off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.<br /><br />Amazonas will be the biggest of the Hispasat fleet that will cover Brazil and the rest of America, Europe and Northern Africa with transatlantic and Pan-American capacity. Amazonas will be the first satellite conceived and designed for Latin America with coverage and power appropriate for the specific needs of satellite communication in the region. With this satellite, Hispasat has plans to offer a wide range of services including the traditional satellite telecommunication services as well as content broadcasting, Internet access and broadband services.<br /><br />Amazonas has 32 active transponders in Ku band and 19 active transponders in C band. The satellite is based on Astrium's Eurostar 3000 platform and it will have an operating life of 15 years and a total launching mass of approximately 4,600 kg.<br /><br />(source: International Launch Services)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />ILS to Launch AMC-15<br /><br />(8 September 2003) International Launch Services (ILS) and SES Americom have set the launch of the AMC-15 satellite for the second half of 2004 on a Proton launch vehicle.<br /><br />SES Americom ordered an unspecified Proton launch from ILS earlier this year, and recently assigned it to a Proton/Breeze M launch for the AMC-15 satellite. The spacecraft is an A2100 model built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems (LMCSS), with a Ku/Ka band payload for distribution of video, Internet and broadband services across the US including Alaska and Hawaii. The target launch date is August 2004.<br /><br />ILS is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Corp in the United States, which builds the Atlas rocket; and Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Russia, which builds the Proton vehicle.<br /><br />The AMC-15 launch will follow closely two other ILS Atlas IIAS missions (AMC-10 and AMC-11) for SES Americom planned for the first quarter of 2004.<br /><br />(source: International Launch Services)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launches<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Classified NRO Satellite<br /><br />Launched: 9 September 2003<br />Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />Launcher: Titan 4B/Centaur (B-36)<br />Orbit: GEO<br />International Number: 2003-041A<br />Name: classified satellite<br />Owner: NRO<br /><br />This launch was of a military reconnaissance satellite for the US Air Force and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Details were not disclosed.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Business<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Acquisition of ERA Technology Limited<br /><br />(10 September 2003) ERA Technology Ltd has announces that it has reached agreement to sell the entire issued share capital of the Company to Chelton Ltd and expects to complete the transaction by mid September 2003.<br /><br />ERA Technology provides specialist, high value added, technology-based services including design and development, testing, assessment and expert advice. ERA was founded in 1920 and has built a reputation for technical expertise through its constant innovation at the leading edge of technology. This capability is delivered through its highly skilled workforce of 300 people, of which over 70% have a bachelor's degree and some 50% have a Masters degree or a PhD.<br /><br />ERA's turnover in the financial year ended 31 December 2002 was £21.3 million and its projected turnover for 2003 is £23 million. ERA has net assets as of September 1st 2003 of £10.8 million, including over £5 million in cash.<br /><br />ERA will continue to serve its many customers and to operate in the broad range of technology markets it focuses on today.<br /><br />The entire management team of ERA Technology, including the Chief Executive Mr Fred Cahill, will remain with the company. Post completion ERA will operate within the Chelton Group where it will contribute its substantial technical talent enhancing the group's research and development capability. The role to deliver both scientific strength and technical knowledge will enable the insertion of new and innovative technology not only into Chelton but also into the wider Cobham group.<br /><br />(source: ERA Technology)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Class Action Lawsuit Against Bernard Schwartz<br /><br />(11 September 2003) A class action lawsuit has been filed by Weiss and Yourman on behalf of purchasers of securities of Loral Space and Communications Ltd who invested in Loral securities between June 30, 2003 and July 15, 2003.<br /><br />The complaint was filed in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and charges defendant Bernard Schwartz with violations of federal securities laws. It alleges that defendant issued materially false and misleading statements which resulted in plaintiffs purchasing Loral securities during the Class Period at artificially inflated prices.<br /><br />This action was the first one filed alleging these claims and seeks damages on behalf of investors. Plaintiffs are represented by Weiss and Yourman, a law firm with significant experience and expertise in prosecuting class actions on behalf of defrauded shareholders in federal and state courts throughout the United States.<br /><br />(source: Weiss and Yourman Law Office)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />XM Satellite Radio Announces Placement of US$ 150 M in Securities<br /><br />(8 September 2003) XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc has priced a public offering of 11,320,755 shares of its Class A Common Stock to Legg Mason Funds Management Inc, Legg Mason Capital Management Inc and another large institutional investor, each on behalf of its investment advisory clients.<br /><br />Expected net proceeds will be approximately US$ 150 million. The transaction is expected to close on September 10, 2003.<br /><br />XM expects that all or a significant portion of the net proceeds may be used for funding for the construction of XM-4, its new ground spare satellite, if insurance proceeds are not received in a timely manner. XM expects to otherwise use the proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include the repurchase or pre-payment of outstanding debt.<br /><br />(source: XM Satellite Radio)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Products and Services<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Intelsat and TVNZ Satellite Services to Launch a New Alliance<br /><br />(8 September 2003) Intelsat Global Sales and Marketing Ltd and TVNZ Satellite Services Ltd will join forces in the occasional use broadcast services business. This alliance is designed to leverage the strengths of each company by offering a global network of satellite and terrestrial infrastructure, complemented by a portfolio of television broadcast and enterprise services. Upon final completion of the agreement, the alliance between Intelsat and TVNZ will create a unique combination, under one umbrella, of occasional use satellite provider and television broadcaster.<br /><br />Specifically, the portfolio of services will offer customers comprehensive choice in global occasional use satellite distribution, as well as access to television production and packaging services. Event management, host broadcast services and on air enhancement products are examples of the expanded range of offerings.<br /><br />Targeted to serve the news, sport and special event needs of the international television broadcast community, the alliance will leverage the combined assets of both companies to better benefit customers. In addition to its global network of ground resources, Intelsat will contribute dedicated capacity on eight of its satellites, with additional capacity available. TVNZ will contribute occasional use services and television broadcast solutions expertise.<br /><br />The alliance will be managed day-to-day by TVNZ. International (24/7) operations centres in Auckland and in Washington DC will provide seamless support for all service requirements including booking, billing and special event planning.<br /><br />The alliance product and solutions portfolio will ensure that current arrangements and contracts with existing customers will be honoured.<br /><br />(source: Intelsat)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Kingston's Customer Controlled Playout Lowers Barrier of Entry<br /><br />(12 September 2003) Kingston inmedia has revealed its Customer Controlled Playout solution at IBC 2003. This competitive new playout platform is part of Kingston inmedia's commitment to providing the right level of service to operators at each stage of their channels' development.<br /><br />Customers control programme scheduling and ingest from their own premises using a VPN connection. As the channel matures and requires more ingest or takes on a new direction, operators can decide to outsource more complex playout requirements to Kingston as well as adding new functionality, such as subtitles, teletext, live events, voice overs and multiple audios, for example.<br /><br />Kingston's Customer Controlled Playout comprises:<br /><br />* A remote managed platform - giving operators the power to ingest content<br /> and make changes to their programming schedule from their own premises<br /> using a 1Mb to 4Mb VPN connection.<br />* Graphical overlay capability, providing between 1 and 5 layers of video<br /> on the screen at any one time<br />* Connectivity to Kingston's MCR with fire suppression, dual redundant<br /> power sources and redundant air conditioning<br />* Provision of 30 day ITC compliance recordings<br />* High quality 24 hour monitoring and support services<br /><br />(source: Kingston inmedia)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Maxwell Technologies' Boostcap Ultracapacitors Qualified for Space<br /><br />(8 September 2003) Maxwell Technologies Inc's BOOSTCAP ultracapacitors showed no significant effects from either gamma or proton irradiation in tests conducted by NASA, and met or exceeded expectations in other environmental stress testing performed by the Johnson Space Center (JSC) earlier this year.<br /><br />"Ultracapacitors already are recognised as a standard energy storage and power delivery component for commercial applications in consumer and industrial electronics and transportation systems," said Robert Tressler, Maxwell's vice president of sales and marketing. "This performance in rigorous tests conducted by NASA and JSC, coupled with our technical expertise and customer relationships as a supplier of space-qualified microelectronics devices, give us an immediate opportunity to market ultracapacitors for space applications that require extremely high reliability and radiation tolerance."<br /><br />Maxwell's microelectronic products for the space market include memory modules, power modules and single board computers that incorporate proprietary shielding technology and other radiation mitigation techniques to provide guaranteed life-of-the-application performance and radiation tolerance.<br /><br />According to a paper entitled, "Susceptibility of 'Ultracapacitors' to Proton and Gamma Irradiation," presented at this year's Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects Conference (NSREC), Maxwell's ultracapacitors are candidates for applications in low earth orbit and, with further tests in high total ionising doses, may also be suitable for applications in interplanetary exploration.<br /><br />Electrical characteristic testing conducted by NASA measured the capacitance (C) and equivalent series resistance (ESR) of Maxwell's ultracapacitors. Pre- and post-radiation electrical tests determined that after exposure to gamma doses up to 200 Krad(Si) and proton irradiation up to 2 Mrad(Si), no significant changes in C or ESR were observed in the PC10, PC100, and PC1000 devices tested.<br /><br />Boostcap PC5 ultracapacitors also met or exceeded expectations in tests by JSC's Parts Analysis and Assurance (PAA) Group for use in the International Space Station (ISS) Portable Electrical Equipment Kit (PEEK), indicating that the components are suitable for space applications. Tests to determine the components' performance across a range of environmental stress conditions were: Visual Inspection; Fine Leak Test; Accelerated Life; Static Burn-in; Reverse Bias; Self-Heat via Rapid Charge-Discharge; Over Voltage Pulse; Thermal Shock; Destructive Physical Analysis; and Electrical Parameter testing at periodic intervals.<br /><br />(source: Maxwell Technologies)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Motorola Introduces Ground-Breaking Miniature A-GPS Module<br /><br />(10 September 2003) Motorola Inc has launched FS Oncore, a breakthrough miniature Global Positioning System (GPS) product. The FS Oncore module, smaller than a dime at 200 sq mm, is used for adding accurate location sensing to virtually any portable electronics product. The GPS receiver, designed specifically for cost-sensitive, high performance applications is capable of supporting autonomous and assisted-GPS functionality, with applications ranging from cellular handsets and accessories to asset tracking and Personal Digital Assistants (PDA).<br /><br />Based around Motorola's Instant GPS single-chip solution, the FS Oncore module is expected to lead a new generation of location and time-aware portable electronic products. This product offers more features and convenience for the user. Features include cameras that will time- and location-stamp photos, PDAs with maps which will offer real time navigation and E-911 compliant cellular phones that can find friends, family members, restaurants and nearby shops with goods on sale.<br /><br />Features include:<br /><br />Integration Simplicity - The interface between the FS Oncore module and the host processor is kept simple, allowing customers to separate the host microprocessor and GPS designs. Eliminating interrupt structures found in embedded GPS receivers provides a more flexible approach to base-band processor choices and software structures. Benefits of this approach include faster time to market for hardware and software flexibility to satisfy dynamic market demands. With a serial protocol supporting industry standard 3GPP A-GPS messages, achieving position fixes in weak signal environments could not be easier. Physical communications are via software configurable UART or SPI.<br /><br />High Performance - Capable of signal detection to -152 dBm, the FS Oncore module offers leading edge GPS performance in both autonomous and assisted operation modes.<br /><br />Autonomous or Assisted Operation - The FS Oncore module can be used with non-proprietary GPS-assistance standards for compatibility with almost any cellular network. By completing its position calculation locally, the device eliminates network overhead and potential issues associated with network centric GPS systems, and is suitable for fully autonomous operation.<br /><br />Low Power Consumption - The FS Oncore module consumes an average of 70 mW while providing one position fix per second. Power consumption is minimised by the on-board power management features, which will only power on the TCXO while GPS measurements are active. This module also can be placed in standby via software commands, thus reducing current consumption to less than 15 uA.<br /><br />Reflowable LGA Package - Manufactured using high temperature solder, the 24 pad LGA package reflows onto the customer's PCB, eliminating the need for RF and power connectors.<br /><br />Low Production Costs - Supplied in tape and reel format ready for automated pick and place, the FS Oncore module removes the need for manual assembly, greatly reducing the cost of manufacturing. Since the module reflows directly into the customer's product, GPS specific RF and data connectors are also eliminated, increasing reliability and reducing costs.<br /><br />Automotive or Commercial Temperature Range - Recognising the demand for cost effectiveness, the FS Oncore module is available in either commercial temperature range or the more demanding automotive temperature range. The automotive version, slightly larger at 14.5 x 18 x 2.7 millimetres, is supplied with a fully shielding can and is suitable for operation from -40 to 85 degrees Celsius. The smaller unshielded commercial version is suitable for operation from -20 to 75 degrees Celsius.<br /><br />Firmware Boot-Load - The FS Oncore module optimises cost structure by utilising host memory space to store the GPS firmware. At power-up, a simple AT command handshake is all that's required before S-Record boot-loading occurs. Once the code is loaded and executed, the module becomes an autonomous or assisted GPS unit depending on firmware type.<br /><br />Together with sample quantities of FS Oncore modules, low cost evaluation kits will be available in September 2003 from Synergy-GPS. Full production parts and software support for autonomous and self-aiding operation will be available in first quarter 2004.<br /><br />(source: Motorola)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />ND SatCom Launches SkyWAN Compact at IBC 2003<br /><br />(12 September 2003) ND SatCom AG has introduced its new SkyWAN Compact solution. With this new product ND SatCom expands its model family from the high end VSAT market with fully meshed networks to comprehensive but lower priced star-topology VSAT solutions. This addition to the solution portfolio allows ND SatCom to cover an even broader market segment of star and hybrid star / meshed networks.<br /><br />The SkyWAN Compact package combines SkyWAN IDU 2000 together with the low power Radio Frequency Transmitter family in a highly integrated and compact format solution. SkyWAN IDU 2000 is a derivative of ND SatCom's flagship the SkyWAN IDU 5000. It is based on the same technology platform. This slim version is offered off-the-shelf in star topology configuration. Seamless integration into SkyWAN networks is possible.<br /><br />SkyWAN is a highly flexible and versatile VSAT system for establishing wide area corporate networks whilst providing IP router and frame relay switch functionality. SkyWAN provides instant bandwidth-on-demand through its fully dynamic bandwidth allocation scheme. Valuable space segment resources are automatically assigned to stations requiring transmission capacity as and when they need it, whilst freeing up resources for on-demand use by other stations in the network.<br /><br />(source: ND Satcom)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />QinetiQ Announces Its Low Signal Strength GPS<br /><br />(11 September 2003) QinetiQ, one of Europe's largest science and technology solutions companies, extends its expertise in leading-edge positioning and navigation solutions with the announcement of their Low Signal Strength (LSS) GPS Module bringing the advantages of GPS to a whole new range of customer solutions.<br /><br />The technology will be available to customers and development partners by the end of 2003. QinetiQ's LSS GPS module enables satellite tracking in extremely low signal environments. For the first time robust positioning solutions will be available within buildings, in urban canyons and under dense foliage.<br /><br />The LSS GPS module is at the core of QinetiQ's development of a positioning integration platform that is being developed in a modular, configurable way to reduce cost and time to market for partners and solution providers. QinetiQ will work with partners with complementary technology and expertise to produce world-class solutions to realise the growing opportunities in navigation and positioning markets.<br /><br />With QinetiQ's enhanced LSS GPS module it is possible to find and track positions in extreme and difficult environments. These advantages enable new customer applications such as improved customer service by using a dispatch system within the taxi industry that uses GPS information to automatically assign the closest vehicle to a customer request<br /><br />Other applications might include:<br /><br />Increased Fleet Efficiency: QinetiQ's low signal strength GPS can support ambulances and other service fleets to take the shortest route between two locations. Consequently, fuel costs are reduced and customer service improves.<br /><br />Preventative Maintenance: QinetiQ's GPS, combined with enterprise software can be used in the trucking industry to keep track of vehicle mileage and trigger maintenance alerts.<br /><br />Improved Safety: In taxis, school buses and many other fleet types, QinetiQ's GPS improves driver and passenger safety, by allowing the driver to summon help quickly in the event of an emergency situation.<br /><br />(source: QinetiQ)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SES Astra and News Equipe Join Forces for Occasional Use Market<br /><br />(10 September 2003) SES Astra and News Equipe, the Dutch-German provider of SNG (Satellite News Gathering) services and facilities, have decided to join forces to develop the occasional use market in the Benelux and the German speaking countries. The co-operation agreement will be officially signed on Saturday 13 September on the Astra stand at the IBC Exhibition in Amsterdam.<br /><br />As part of the co-operation, SES Astra will offer occa
