Microcom's Space Newsfeed 15 February 2004<br />Space Industry News from Around the World<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Web resources from Microcom Systems:<br /><br />Satellite Industry Links: the largest 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 space bookshop http://www.satelliteonthenet.co.uk<br /><br />Jobs in Space: space industry recruitment http://www.space-jobs.co.uk post your CV or job specification here<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Handbook of Satellite Services in Europe<br /><br />This unique publication provides detailed information on all aspects of the European satellite scene including extensive data on service providers, national regulations, satellites used in Europe as well as background on satellite communications technology. http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk/pubs/ssie.html<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Advertise on Microcom's websites and reach over 25,000 space and satellite industry professionals each month. http://www.spacenewsfeed.co.uk/ratecard.html<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Contents<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Satcoms:<br />Associated Christian Television System Renews AMC-4 Lease<br />Globalstar to Offer Enhanced Caribbean Region Satellite Phone Coverage<br />Globecomm Systems Awarded US$ 1.5 M Infrastructure Contract by HNS<br />LogicaCMG and New Skies Satellites Deliver Secure Internet Protocol Multicast Services<br />New Satellite DTH platform for Nigeria<br />ViaSat to Supply VSAT Systems for Coalition Network in Iraq<br /><br />Navigation:<br />Initial EGNOS Navigation Tests in China<br /><br />Military Space:<br />Northrop Grumman-Led Team to Compete for Space Based Radar Program<br />SI International Wins US$ 6 M Air Force Space Command Contract<br /><br />Science:<br />UK and ESA Announce Beagle 2 Inquiry<br /><br />Technology:<br />Goodrich to Provide High Temperature Composite Technology on Reusable Launch Vehicle Demonstrator<br /><br />Launch Services:<br />AsiaSat Buys Fully Integrated Satellite Control System from Integral Systems<br /><br />Launches:<br />DSP 22<br /><br />Business:<br />ATK Announces Pricing of US$ 250 Million Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes<br />ATK Board Authorises Repurchase of Up to Two Million Shares of Common Stock<br />Court Confirms DirecTV Latin America Reorganisation Plan<br />ITT Industries to Acquire Kodak's Remote Sensing Systems (RSS)<br />KVH Announces Closing of Public Offering<br /><br />Products and Services:<br />Gilat Introduces the Next Generation - SkyEdge Product Family<br />KVH Launches New Tracphone F33<br /><br />People:<br />iSECUREtrac Announces Management Changes<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 />Space Bookshop - books for space professionals.<br />http://www.satelliteonthenet.co.uk/bookshop.html<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Satcoms<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Associated Christian Television System Renews AMC-4 Lease<br /><br />(12 February 2004) Associated Christian Television System (ACTS) Inc has extended its residency in the leading faith-based neighbourhood aboard SES Americom's high-powered AMC-4 satellite, with an extension of its C band transponder agreement. ACTS continues to rely on SES Americom's AMC-4 to distribute a broad range of Christian programming locally, nationally, and internationally through its faith-based Super Channel WACX-TV in Orlando, Florida.<br /><br />Associated Christian Television System's Super Channel reaches much of Florida's population through a network of television stations and direct-to-home satellite service providers.<br /><br />SES Americom's AMC-4 is the premier home to a broad range of faith-based broadcasters, who are delivering everything from traditional religious programming to compelling self-help solutions designed to appeal to people of all cultures, religious backgrounds, and regions of the world. Residents of the religious programming neighbourhood include Adventist Media Productions, Loma Linda Broadcasting, Hand of Hope Outreach dba The Prison Television Network, Familyland Network, Associated Christian Television System Inc, Safe Television, Golden Eagle Broadcasting, Dominion Video/Sky Angel, La Familia Network, Prime Time Christian Broadcasting, TVU Music Television, Daystar Television Network, Cornerstone Television Network, and Three Angels Broadcasting Network.<br /><br />AMC-4 is a hybrid C/Ku band satellite that became fully operational in January 2000 at 101° W. AMC-4 carries twenty-four 36 MHz 20-watt C band transponders providing fifty state, Canadian, Mexican and Caribbean coverage. In addition the spacecraft has twenty-four 36 MHz 110-watt Ku band transponders providing Americas-wide coverage. Each Ku band transponder is switchable between North America and South America, fully supporting two-way communication throughout the Americas. AMC-4 also has four 72 MHz transponders in the extended Ku band that are able to support inter-American communications.<br /><br />(source: SES Americom)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Globalstar to Offer Enhanced Caribbean Region Satellite Phone Coverage<br /><br />(11 February 2004) Globalstar has begun engineering and development work aimed at providing enhanced service coverage and system capacity for its customers in the Caribbean and south-eastern US regions. When completed, this work should lead to improved call connectivity and reliability, as well as a greater capability to handle anticipated call traffic in this area for years to come.<br /><br />Improvements in Globalstar's Caribbean service are expected to begin in April of this year, when the company is scheduled to complete installation of a new, fourth antenna at its existing gateway in Las Palmas, Puerto Rico. The new antenna will provide greater reliability and redundancy for Globalstar service across the eastern Caribbean and parts of the Atlantic Ocean.<br /><br />Later this year, site preparation and construction work are expected to begin on an entirely new gateway in southern Florida, providing additional coverage and service capacity across a broad area reaching from the Bahamas and the south-eastern US to the Gulf of Mexico and western Caribbean.<br /><br />(source: Globalstar)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Globecomm Systems Awarded US$ 1.5 M Infrastructure Contract by HNS<br /><br />(10 February 2004) Globecomm Systems Inc has been awarded a US$ 1.5 million contract from Hughes Network Systems (HNS) to upgrade the HNS North Las Vegas Network Operations Center (NLV).<br /><br />The NLV operations centre is an essential site for managing HNS' US-wide DirecWay two-way IP-based broadband satellite services and also will support SpaceWay, HNS' advanced Ka band satellite system scheduled for launch later this year. The first SpaceWay satellite will launch in mid 2004, with commercial service in North America following later in the year.<br /><br />(source: Globecomm Systems)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />LogicaCMG and New Skies Satellites Deliver Secure Internet Protocol Multicast Services<br /><br />(13 February 2004) LogicaCMG has successfully demonstrated its state-of-the-art Secure Multicast system over a live satellite network using New Skies IPsys Premier Service. The system employs new and highly efficient security mechanisms to dramatically improve the flexibility of satellite broadcast service provision.<br /><br />Subscribers using the system will benefit from greater control over the services they receive and the innovative billing approach compared to traditional satellite broadcast systems such as Digital Video Broadcast - Satellite (DVB-S). By creating their own service package from the range of multicast services supported by the broadcaster, the subscriber will only be charged for the content delivered.<br /><br />This will unlock the true benefits of multicasting in a pay-for-content environment, whether for business or consumer applications. In addition, many subscribers can be connected via the same satellite receiver, yet still individually select which services they wish to receive and be charged for on a per-second or per-kbyte basis.<br /><br />LogicaCMG's solution works by securing transmission at the Internet Protocol (IP) layer enabling a rich mix of services (video, audio, Internet or business applications) to be delivered over a single satellite channel. The data remains secure all the way to the subscriber's computer terminal, and the security techniques used extend readily to support Digital Rights Management (DRM) of cached data.<br /><br />The New Skies IPsys Premier Service was an immediate choice for the demonstration, bringing carrier-class, high speed satellite broadcast services to virtually anywhere in the world. IPsys enables multicast streams to be delivered reliably at rates from 128 kb/s to 140 Mb/s+, configurable to meet the changing demands of broadcasters, corporate networks and content providers.<br /><br />Such is the increase in demand for multi-recipient services such as web-casting and distribution of video clips, that many sectors, including Digital TV/Radio, Internet Service Providers and 3G mobile are seriously starting to examine the potential of multicasting to significantly reduce network costs.<br /><br />(source: LogicaCMG)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />New Satellite DTH platform for Nigeria<br /><br />(10 February 2004) Playout expertise, economies of scale and falling transmission costs are just a few of the considerations that led FSTV (Frontage Satellite Television) to choose the UK as a base from which to run a brand new satellite DTH platform for Nigeria. FSTV will carry a bouquet of 25 channels including BBC World News and MTV. Some of these will also be proprietary and include the country’s first dedicated sports channel.<br /><br />Kingston has been chosen to provide FSTV with technical services including satellite downlink, uplink onto New Skies 7 and fully managed playout for 4 channels, with more expected to follow. FSTV will also base their programme and scheduling operations at Kingston’s offices and have access to its comprehensive studio facilities and editing suites.<br /><br />Kingston has everything in place to get a DTH platform up and running quickly, and also has the additional services ideal for an expanding multi-channel operation planning to launch its own proprietary channels. By managing all of these elements, Kingston eliminates the need for complex and costly multiple contracts, putting satellite delivered services within reach of countries and organisations that would have previously been excluded on the grounds of cost.<br /><br />(source: Kingston inmedia)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />ViaSat to Supply VSAT Systems for Coalition Network in Iraq<br /><br />(12 February 2004) ViaSat Inc has been awarded a contract valued at over US$ 7 million from Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems Inc for satellite communications equipment for a coalition military network being installed in Iraq.<br /><br />The network will use commercial satellites to provide secure voice and data services, plus voice-over-IP to integrate telephone and data on a common network, connecting coalition forces to each other and to the coalition backbone. The order is for a hub and 20 remote terminals.<br /><br />This network is expected to give coalition forces access to new network-centric services that would otherwise only become available with the future launch of the Transformation Communication MILSATCOM (TCM) architecture. The coalition military network is designed to support over 1000 telephone lines as well as fast "cable modem-like" data access to the coalition Wide Area Network (WAN) backbone.<br /><br />The bandwidth savings enabled by ViaSat Linkway and LinkStar satellite modems can significantly reduce the cost of leased commercial satellite bandwidth as compared to the Single Channel Per Carrier (SCPC) networks they replace. Linkway and LinkStar VSATs include Dynamic Bandwidth Resource Allocation technology that shares bandwidth among remote stations and adjusts the size of the satellite channel to match data traffic. The work under this contract will be performed over the next 6 months at ViaSat's facilities in Carlsbad, Clarksburg, and Norcross.<br /><br />(source: ViaSat)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Navigation<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Initial EGNOS Navigation Tests in China<br /><br />(9 February 2004) The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS) is undergoing tests prior to service entry in the middle of the year in Europe. A test bed EGNOS in China enabled initial maritime navigation tests on the Yang Tse river. Carried out jointly by European and Chinese teams, the tests were successful. Within this co-operation between ESA and Chinese institutions, Alcatel Space’s engineers were responsible in setting up the infrastructure needed to obtain the required signal, as well as training Chinese engineers.<br /><br />Dynamic tests using the EGNOS signal had been carried out last summer on aircraft in South and Central America. For the European Union, Alcatel Space was prime contractor for this test project, dubbed EDISA, in charge of system architecture, installation of the testbed and test result processing. Alcatel Space was helped by Spanish partners (GMV, Indra), as well as by the Spanish civil aviation (AENA), supporting by French civil aviation technical services.<br /><br />These tests in South and Central America have illustrated the operational benefits in Europe of the soon to be available EGNOS service.<br /><br />Alcatel Space is prime contractor for the EGNOS system.<br /><br />Calling on the GPS and Glonass satnav constellations, EGNOS delivers high-performance positioning services to users. It is an integral part of the service offering for Galileo, Europe’s planned satellite navigation system, in which Alcatel Space is also a major partner.<br /><br />(source: Alcatel Space)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Military Space<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Northrop Grumman-Led Team to Compete for Space Based Radar Program<br /><br />(10 February 2004) Northrop Grumman Corporation has assembled a best-of-industry team to develop the Space Based Radar (SBR) system. SBR is a transformational program designed to bring global, persistent surveillance to military and intelligence community users. The system will be an integral component of the nation's future integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) network.<br /><br />Northrop Grumman, as prime contractor and systems integrator, will provide the ground segment, user segment and operations and support elements.<br /><br />The Boeing Company is responsible for the design, development and production of the SBR space segment including launch vehicle integration.<br /><br />Raytheon Company will provide global mission and system management, and support to other ground segment elements.<br /><br />General Dynamics Corporation will provide mission and ground systems analysis and mission data processing elements.<br /><br />BAE Systems brings core competencies in innovative, large-scale, information storage and retrieval technologies to SBR.<br /><br />(source: Northrop Grumman)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SI International Wins US$ 6 M Air Force Space Command Contract<br /><br />(12 February 2004) SI International Inc has been awarded a prime contract to provide Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) engineering and technical services to the Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) for defining, developing, fielding, testing, and sustaining their components of the BMD system. The competitive task order has a 11-month base period with a one-year option. The task order's potential value is US$ 6 million, inclusive of the option period.<br /><br />With BMD as a key focus area, SI International has been supporting the AFSPC and US Strategic Command (USSSTRATCOM), formerly US Space Command for more than seven years. In addition, SI International has supported AFSPC Space-Based Sensors systems, Spacelift Range systems, Range Standardization and Automation, military satellite communication (Milsatcom) systems, the Air Force Satellite Control Network, and other AFSPC programs since 1996.<br /><br />(SI International)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Science<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />UK and ESA Announce Beagle 2 Inquiry<br /><br />(11 February 2004) Beagle 2, the British-built element of ESA's Mars Express mission, has failed to communicate since its first radio contact was missed shortly after it was due to land on Mars on Christmas Day. The Beagle 2 Management Board met in London on Friday 6 February and, following an assessment of the situation, declared Beagle 2 lost.<br /><br />The UK Science Minister Lord Sainsbury and the European Space Agency (ESA) have announced that an ESA/UK inquiry would be held into the failure the Beagle 2 lander.<br /><br />The Inquiry Board is to be chaired by the ESA Inspector General, René Bonnefoy. The UK deputy chairman will be David Link MBE.<br /><br />The inquiry will investigate whether it can be established why Beagle 2 may have failed and set out any lessons which can be learnt for future missions. Such inquiries are routine in the event of unsuccessful space missions and this one will help inform future ESA robotic missions, to Mars and other bodies in the solar system.<br /><br />The Inquiry Board will be set up under normal ESA procedures by the Inspector General. Because the inquiry is into a British-built lander, it will report to Lord Sainsbury as well as to the Director General of ESA.<br /><br />Its terms of reference are as follows:<br /><br />1. Technical Issues<br /><br />* Assess the available data/documentation pertaining to the in-orbit<br /> operations, environment and performance characterisation, and to the<br /> on-ground tests and analyses during development;<br />* Identify possible issues and shortcomings in the above and in the<br /> approach adopted, which might have contributed to the loss of the<br /> mission;<br /><br />2. Programmatics<br /><br />* Analyse the programmatic environment (i.e. decision-making processes,<br /> level of funding and resources, management and responsibilities,<br /> interactions between the various entities) throughout the development<br /> phase;<br />* Identify possible issues and shortcomings which might have contributed<br /> to the loss of the mission.<br /><br />The Board, made up of people with no direct involvement in the Beagle 2 mission, is expected to begin work shortly and report by the end of March 2004.<br /><br />The Beagle 2 project to make a lander element of the ESA Mars Express mission was headed by the Open University, providing the science lead, and EADS-Astrium, the prime contractor responsible for the main design, development and management of the lander.<br /><br />Beagle 2 was designed to look for signs of life on Mars. It was to parachute down to the surface of the planet and collect soil samples, which would have been analysed for signs of past and present biological activity. The lander was also packed with a suite of instruments to take pictures, acquire geological information and study the weather, including temperature, pressure and wind.<br /><br />The Beagle 2 lander was funded through a partnership arrangement involving the Open University, EADS-Astrium, the DTI, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC), the Office of Science and Technology and ESA. Funding also came from the National Space Science Centre and the Wellcome Foundation. UK principal investigators for Beagle 2 came from the Open University (gas analysis package), Leicester University (environmental sensors and x-ray spectrometer) and Mullard Space Science Laboratory (imaging systems).<br /><br />The ESA Mars Express spacecraft, the mother ship, successfully entered orbit around Mars on Christmas Day and, following a series of orbital manoeuvres, has been performing excellently as it starts its two-year global survey of the planet. Among first results announced on 23 January were unprecedented 3-D high-resolution images of the surface and the detection of water ice on the South Pole.<br /><br />(source: ESA)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Technology<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Goodrich to Provide High Temperature Composite Technology on Reusable Launch Vehicle Demonstrator<br /><br />(11 February 2004) Goodrich Corporation has been awarded a contract from NASA - Langley to supply an integral, high-temperature composite flaperon control surface to be tested on a reusable launch vehicle. Dubbed the X-37, the Boeing-designed test vehicle is intended to be the first to operate in both the orbital and re-entry phases of space flight. The contract is expected to generate US$ 1.4 million in revenue for Goodrich over the next 2 years.<br /><br />Goodrich's Santa Fe Springs, California-based carbon plant will be manufacturing the test vehicle's flaperon, which helps steer the vehicle. The flaperon will be made of Goodrich's proprietary high-temperature composites. Traditional vehicles such as the Space Shuttle use thermal protection tiles on a metallic frame, the combination of which is quite heavy and costly to maintain. The X-37 will benefit from Goodrich's lightweight, composite structure, which becomes stronger as it is subjected to increasing temperatures.<br /><br />Goodrich's Santa Fe Springs, California facility specialises in composite materials capable of withstanding the temperatures for use in a variety of applications from jet engine nozzles to space vehicle re-entry surfaces.<br /><br />(source: Goodrich Corporation)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launch Services<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />AsiaSat Buys Fully Integrated Satellite Control System from Integral Systems<br /><br />(12 February 2004) Integral Systems Inc is provide a single, consolidated primary satellite control system to Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) for its AsiaSat 2, AsiaSat 3S and AsiaSat 4 satellites. The AsiaSat 2 satellite is based on the Lockheed Martin Series 7000 platform, while the AsiaSat 3S and AsiaSat 4 satellites are based on the Boeing 601HP platform.<br /><br />The system will be based upon Integral Systems' EPOCH IPS (Integrated Product Suite) that has become the industry standard for consolidated operations of mixed fleets of satellites. This contract will deliver AsiaSat an easy-to-use, fully integrated multi-satellite control centre using a single platform that provides complete real-time command and control, orbital analysis and manoeuvre planning as well as offline trending/analysis functions for all three satellites of the AsiaSat fleet. The new system will simplify AsiaSat's satellite operation, and in turn reduce operating cost.<br /><br />Integral Systems has also supplied satellite ground systems to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US Air Force, the US Navy, the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), Loral Skynet, New Skies Satellites, EchoStar, Sirius Satellite Radio, Binariang Satellite Systems, Shin Satellite Public Company Ltd., SES Americom, Optus, ChinaSat, EOSAT, Alcatel, TRW, ROCSAT, EUMETSAT and Orbital Sciences, among others.<br /><br />(source: Integral Systems)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launches<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />DSP 22<br /><br />Launched: 14 February 2004<br />Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />Launcher: Titan 4B (B-39)<br />Orbit: GEO<br />International Number: 2004-004A<br />Name: DSP 22<br />Owner: US Air Force<br />Contractor: Northrop Grumman<br /><br />DSP 22 is a US military early warning satellite. The Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite constellation provides early warning of ballistic missile launches world-wide.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Business<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />ATK Announces Pricing of US$ 250 Million Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes<br /><br />(12 February 2004) ATK (Alliant Techsystems) has announced the pricing of its offering of US$ 250 million aggregate principal amount of its 2.75% convertible senior subordinated notes due 2024 in a private placement pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. In addition, the company has granted the initial purchasers of the notes the option to purchase up to an additional US$ 30 million aggregate principal amount of notes. The private placement is expected to close on February 19, 2004.<br /><br />The notes will be unsecured, senior subordinated obligations of the company and will, subject to certain limitations, be guaranteed on a senior subordinated basis by substantially all of the company's existing subsidiaries. The notes will be convertible into shares of the company's common stock upon the occurrence of certain events, at a conversion rate of 12.5843 shares per US$ 1,000 principal amount of notes, subject to adjustment. Interest will accrue on the notes at a rate of 2.75% per annum. In addition, after August 20, 2009, the company will pay additional interest of 30 basis points per annum during specified six-month periods if the trading price of the notes exceeds 120% of the principal amount of notes for specified periods. The notes will be redeemable at the company's option on or after August 20, 2009, and holders of the notes will, on specified dates and upon the occurrence of certain circumstances, have the right to require the company to repurchase all or some of their notes. The notes will mature on Feb. 15, 2024.<br /><br />The company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the private placement, concurrently with the closing of the offering, to repurchase under its recently announced share repurchase program up to US$ 75 million of its common stock from purchasers of the notes in negotiated transactions which the company expects will be sold short by purchasers of the notes. The company intends to apply the remaining net proceeds toward its intended acquisition of Mission Research Corporation or for general corporate purposes.<br /><br />(source: Alliant Techsystems)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />ATK Board Authorises Repurchase of Up to Two Million Shares of Common Stock<br /><br />(11 February 2004) ATK (Alliant Techsystems) has announced that its board of directors has authorised the repurchase of up to two million shares of the company's common stock. The authorisation extends through March 31, 2005.<br /><br />The shares may be purchased from time to time in open market, block purchase, or negotiated transactions, subject to the company's loan covenants and depending upon market conditions and other factors.<br /><br />ATK had 38.7 million common shares outstanding at the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2004 on December 28, 2003.<br /><br />(source: Alliant Techsystems)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Court Confirms DirecTV Latin America Reorganisation Plan<br /><br />(13 February 2004) The US Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware has confirmed the DirecTV Latin America's Plan of Reorganisation, setting the stage for the company to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The DirecTV Latin America expects that the Plan of Reorganisation will become effective by the end of February 2004.<br /><br />DirecTV Latin America filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code in March 2003 in order to aggressively address its financial and operational challenges. The filing applied only to the US entity and did not include any of the operating companies in Latin America and the Caribbean, which have continued regular operations.<br /><br />(source: DirecTV Latin America)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />ITT Industries to Acquire Kodak's Remote Sensing Systems (RSS)<br /><br />(9 February 2004) ITT Industries Inc has signed a definitive agreement to purchase the Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) business from Eastman Kodak Company for US$ 725 million, significantly broadening its own well-established space payload and service product offering for US military as well as other science, government and commercial customers.<br /><br />RSS is the world's leading supplier of high-resolution satellite imaging systems and image information processing services. The combination of the two businesses will create a full-spectrum satellite payload provider with the latest visible and infrared satellite imaging technology in the US$ 6 billion remote sensing market. The transaction is subject to US regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.<br /><br />ITT's space businesses, within the Defense Electronics & Services segment, provide a broad range of products and services including infrared meteorological sensors and navigational payloads, as well as ground-station satellite control services and space launch services. ITT has provided sensors for every one of the NOAA operational weather satellites since 1978, and is currently under contract to maintain, sustain and modernise systems at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Deep Space Network for interplanetary missions.<br /><br />Other current contracts include:<br /><br />* a contract to modernise technology for the Global Positioning Satellite<br /> (GPS) network<br />* a contract to produce space-based measurement instruments to improve<br /> future weather forecasting world-wide<br />* a contract to provide launch services for two Minotaur research and<br /> development missions<br /><br />RSS, which includes Kodak's wholly owned subsidiary Research Systems Inc, is based in Rochester, New York. RSS is the world's leading producer of high-resolution optical and electro-optical imaging components, systems and payloads for ground- and space-based telescopes, remote sensing satellites and other space-based platforms, as well as ground, air and space-based image collection and processing products and services. RSS' customers include the US Department of Defense, science laboratories, other government agencies, and commercial customers such as Space Imaging and DigitalGlobe.<br /><br />RSS employs 1,800 people and generated 2003 revenue of approximately US$ 425 million. ITT Industries' Defense Electronics & Services segment, which includes its space business, employs approximately 10,000 people and generated 2003 revenues of US$ 1.8 billion.<br /><br />(source: ITT Industries)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />KVH Announces Closing of Public Offering<br /><br />(13 February 2004) KVH Industries Inc has announced that it has closed its public offering of 2,750,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price of US$ 18.75 per share.<br /><br />KVH expects to receive net proceeds from the offering of approximately US$ 48.1 million, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses. KVH has granted the underwriters the right to purchase up to an additional 412,500 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any, at any time on or before March 11, 2004. KVH intends to use the net proceeds of the offering primarily for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures, and possible acquisitions of and investments in complementary businesses.<br /><br />(source: KVH)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Products and Services<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Gilat Introduces the Next Generation - SkyEdge Product Family<br /><br />(10 February 2004) Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd has announced the launch of its next generation of products, the SkyEdge product family. The SkyEdge product family includes a series of VSAT products all able to operate via a single hub, supporting all communications services that customers such as enterprises, carriers, service providers and governmental customers require - from interactive data to broadband IP, public telephony and beyond.<br /><br />The revolutionary, unified platform supports a variety of applications and topologies including mesh, star and multi-star, and represents a major step forward in VSAT technology. It incorporates Gilat’s broad knowledge base and field-proven product offering acquired through nearly two decades of experience with data, telephony and broadband IP applications as a technology vendor and service provider. Gilat’s existing customers will benefit from a migration path to the new product family. The first SkyEdge customers plan to have networks installed in May 2004.<br /><br />Able to support an array of applications in data, telephony and broadband IP, all using the same hub, the SkyEdge product family represents a breakthrough in the industry - it is the first truly comprehensive satellite communications platform to deliver data, voice and video services over a single, powerful system. Until now, each specific VSAT network required its own corresponding hub. This required an investment in separate, additional hubs to support a variety of applications. The SkyEdge family is a result of a two-year research and development effort that allows customers to invest in a single system infrastructure and to add additional VSAT platforms as needed to accommodate new and different application requirements.<br /><br />The family consists of the SkyEdge System (the hub), and five VSAT products including:<br /><br />* SkyEdge Pro - Multi-service VSAT, supporting interactive data, mesh<br /> telephony, broadband IP and video, with plug-in card architecture,<br /> expanding the VSAT capabilities.<br />* SkyEdge IP - IP Router VSAT, supporting interactive, broadband IP, VoIP<br /> and multicasting applications.<br />* SkyEdge Call - Telephony VSAT, supporting thin-route telephony<br /> applications.<br />* SkyEdge Gateway - Trunking Solutions VSAT, providing mesh trunking<br /> solutions supporting digital telephony and IP data on demand trunking<br /> applications.<br />* SkyEdge DVB-RCS - Enhanced Standard VSAT, fully supporting the DVB-RCS<br /> standard. Being much more than only a return link standard, this dual<br /> mode VSAT provides a unique real end-to-end standard solution for a<br /> satellite network operator with an arsenal of additional access schemes,<br /> embedded software and enhanced IP acceleration features for full<br /> flexibility and support in a complex IP environment.<br /><br />The SkyEdge DVB-RCS VSAT has a unique dual mode operational capability that enables the operator to benefit from a DVB-RCS standard VSAT with a broad, customisable enhanced feature set on top of the standard return link.<br /><br />This enhanced DVB-RCS VSAT offers a high performance, two-way, satellite-based solution enabling interactive Broadband IP and multicasting operations based on the DVB-RCS standard return channel. The SkyEdge DVB-RCS VSAT was designed for the high-end market segment of corporations, service providers and carriers in need of an open standard-based solution that is capable of supporting up to 2 Mb/s return link and a variety of VSAT embedded capabilities.<br /><br />The powerful SkyEdge DVB-RCS VSAT has the advantage of complying with the internationally recognised DVB-RCS standard as well as being part of Gilat’s SkyEdge family of products, and can operate in either an enhanced DVB-RCS mode or in Gilat’s multi-service mode. While operating in the enhanced DVB-RCS mode, the SkyEdge DVB-RCS is adapted for delivering interactive Broadband IP and multicasting applications as well as VPN, distance learning and all interactive broadband IP applications. High-speed forward and return channels increase throughput and guarantee efficiency and maximum performance for user applications. In the Gilat multi-service mode, the SkyEdge DVB-RCS provides a wide range of solutions with full telephony and IP capabilities supporting all data and IP multicast applications, broadband IP, legacy protocol and VoIP over mesh, star and multistar network topologies. The SkyEdge DVB-RCS VSAT operates on the same hub system as do the other members of the SkyEdge VSAT product family. This unique feature enables customers to operate standard and multi-service VSATs in the same network.<br /><br />The SkyEdge DVB-RCS VSAT, compliant with the DVB-RCS standard, goes several steps beyond the standard by providing a variety of operational and performance enhancements. These enhancements are not yet part of the standard, and are currently absent in most, if not all, other standard-compliant products, but are essential for providing cost effective satellite networking services to end users. Embedded technologies such as IP and HTTP acceleration, embedded accelerated VPN, end-to-end QoS, encryption, tiered services and SLA support are some of the VSAT’s extensive IP capabilities. In addition to the DVB-RCS standard access scheme, the SkyEdge DVB-RCS VSAT has additional access schemes and modulation methods for maximum network efficiency and performance.<br /><br />The SkyEdge product family opens new markets and business opportunities for satellite network operators. These include:<br /><br />* Lower entry cost for satellite networking business and operation due to:<br /> * Lowest possible space segment cost with which to start the network’s<br /> operation.<br /> * Single hub for multiple market needs.<br /><br />* Lower recurring space segment and operation costs due to enhanced system<br /> performance:<br /> * Improved space segment utilisation, using 8PSK outbound with Turbo<br /> Coding.<br /> * Better throughput and higher bit rates, up to 2 Mb/s.<br /> * All embedded VSAT platform.<br /> * Tailored VSATs for different markets.<br /><br />* Better end user experience:<br /> * Embedded TCP and HTTP acceleration.<br /> * Embedded accelerated VPN.<br /> * Multiple services over the same VSAT, single box solution.<br /> * Total separation between different user groups, operational over the<br /> same hub.<br /><br />While the SkyEdge product family marks the future road map of Gilat’s product family, the Company will continue to sell, develop and support its existing successful products such as the Skystar Advantage, DialAw@y IP, Skystar 360E, SkyBlaster 360 and Faraway VSATs. More than 45 existing Skystar 360E networks world-wide with more than 40,000 VSATs installed, as well as new customers, have a seamless migration path to the new product family, which will enable existing Skystar 360E and SkyEdge product family VSATs to be operated and managed in the same network.<br /><br />(source: Gilat satellite Networks)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />KVH Launches New Tracphone F33<br /><br />(11 February 2004) KVH Industries has introduced its new Tracphone F33, one of the most compact high-powered satellite communications system available.<br /><br />Tracphone F33 offers global voice coverage and is the first antenna compatible with Inmarsat's Fleet F33 service to also provide access to not only Fleet's 9.6 kb/s data channel but also the high-speed 64 kb/s Mobile Packet Data Service (MPDS). MPDS provides a high-capacity, always-online connection on which users pay only for the data sent and received - not for the time online. This innovative method of connecting to the Internet via satellite provides web access without the constraints of a pay-by-the-minute connection. The Tracphone F33 antenna comes in two configurations: a 19" dome matching KVH's TracVision G4/4 satellite TV antennas and a more compact 14" dome for small boat installations.<br /><br />The Tracphone F33 is suitable for vessels as small as 25 feet and its 19" dome is a perfect match for KVH's TracVision G4/4 satellite TV systems for stylish dual dome installations. The Tracphone F33 package includes the antenna, a transceiver, and a telephone handset and cradle. The system's transceiver serves as the hub for all online communication via the ship's telephone networks and fax machines. Connected to an IP router, Tracphone F33 can also link all shipboard computers to on-shore web-based systems, including e-mail and Internet services. Tracphone F33 can also be used with KVH's Velocity Acceleration software, which boosts the 9.6 kb/s data channel throughput to approximately 56 kb/s. Tracphone F33 is also fully compatible with Inmarsat's next generation satellites scheduled for launch in 2005, ensuring that a mariner's investment in communications today will continue to pay dividends in the future.<br /><br />(source: KVH)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />People<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />iSECUREtrac Announces Management Changes<br /><br />(9 February 2004) iSECUREtrac Corp has announced that Michael P May has stepped down as Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Company effective immediately for personal reasons.<br /><br />Current board member, Thomas E Wharton Jr, has been appointed interim CEO of the Company. Mr Wharton's experience includes over 20 years of managerial and financial experience at technology based companies. Mr. Wharton joined the Board of Directors of iSECUREtrac in December 2001.<br /><br />(source: iSECUREtrac)<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 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 to this email newsletter go to: http://www.spacenewsfeed.co.uk/subscribe.html. You can also unsubscribe from the same page.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Copyright 2004 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