Microcom's Space Newsfeed 20 June 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 />Alcatel Wins PanAmSat Contract for Galaxy 17<br />Gilat Selected to Deploy Rural Telephony Network in Papua New Guinea<br />Gilat Signs Agreement with Korean Management and Control Services Company<br />Globalstar Retains Access to All of Its Allocated Frequencies<br />Loral Skynet Extends Agreement to Distribute HBO Asia on Telstar 10<br />PanAmSat Extends Global Hybrid Network Through Fibre Deal with ST Teleport<br />PanAmSat Signs HD Deal with NHK<br />Smart Digital Communications Expands Internet Access in Malaysian Schools<br /><br />Earth Observation:<br />RapidEye Constellation Contract for SSTL<br />Tahoe Uses Satellite Imagery and Geotechnologies for Wildfire Risk Assessment and Emergency Response Planning<br /><br />Military Space:<br />Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman Team Completes Requirements Milestone for Transformational Communications Program<br />Submarines Link to Military Satellites with Raytheon Sub HDR<br />ViaSat Wins US$ 47 Million Order in MIDS Tactical Network Terminal Lot 5 Award<br /><br />Science:<br />EADS-CASA to Build Instrument for SMOS mission<br />Parlex to Supply Products for GLAST Mission<br /><br />Manned Space:<br />Gentex to Equip Pilots for Upcoming Private Space Flight<br /><br />Technology:<br />NASA 'Evolutionary' Software Automatically Designs Antenna<br /><br />In Orbit:<br />Loral Skynet Adds Telstar 18 to Their EPOCH IPS System<br /><br />Launches:<br />Intelsat 10-02<br /><br />Business:<br />Alcatel and Finmeccanica to Form the Space Alliance<br /><br />Products and Services:<br />Tariam’s VPN Over Satellite Broadband<br /><br />People:<br />iDirect Technologies Appoints VP of Sales and Managing Director, Asia - Pacific Rim<br />KVH Appoints Director of Business Development, Satellite Products<br />Terayon Announces Resignation of COO<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />EEBC 2004 - Eastern Europe Broadband Convention - 13-15 October 2004, Kiev, Ukraine.<br /><br />Exhibition, Conference, Technical Training and Round Table Discussion of Industry Organisations will be devoted to progress trends in the broadband industry of Central and Eastern Europe.<br /><br />All industry organisations and companies are welcome to participate and investigate possibilities of making business in the CEE market! For full details see www.eebc.com.ua<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Military Satellites Applications, 15th - 16th July, The Thistle Marble Arch Hotel, London.<br /><br />A two-day conference highlighting applications of satellite systems for the military and an unmissable pre-conference site visit on 14th July to EADS Astrium. Examine recent programmes and technologies on Earth Observation, Satellite Communications, Navigation and Space Launch through presentations from an exceptional international speaker panel.<br /><br />For further information and to book online please visit http://www.iqpc-defence.com/GB-2232/MIC<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 presentation http://www.satelliteonthenet.co.uk/ads/SAR_Solutions_and_Strategies.pdf<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 />Alcatel Wins PanAmSat Contract for Galaxy 17<br /><br />(15 June 2004) Alcatel has signed a contract for the construction and delivery of a new satellite for American operator PanAmSat. Designated Galaxy 17, it will be the first European-built satellite in PanAmSat’s fleet. PanAmSat is one of the world’s largest suppliers of satellite communication services, covering the United States, Latin America, Africa, Europe, Middle East and Asia.<br /><br />Based on Alcatel’s Spacebus 3000 B3 platform, Galaxy 17 will be fitted with 24 Ku band and 24 C band transponders to provide television and telephone transmission services for North America. It will weigh about 4100 kg at launch, and offer beginning-of-life power of approximately 9.5 kW, plus a design life of 15 years.<br /><br />As part of today’s contract, Alcatel Space is in charge of satellite construction and delivery of a satellite simulator. In addition, it is responsible for the launch campaign, satellite positioning and in-orbit tests.<br /><br />(source: Alcatel Space)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Gilat Selected to Deploy Rural Telephony Network in Papua New Guinea<br /><br />(16 June 2004) Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd has been selected by Telikom Papua New Guinea (PNG) to provide a hub and 500 DialAw@y IP VSATs for rural telephony services across the island country. The network is expected to expand to 2,000 sites and will provide support for IP, education and health applications.<br /><br />DialAw@y IP is one of the only VSAT products capable of providing high-speed Internet connectivity and toll-quality telephony service on a single, low-cost platform. Each unit supports a PC/LAN connection and up to six telephone channels. It is a low-cost solution for the fulfilment of Universal Service/Access Obligations, Public Call Office requirements and small office/home office (SOHO) requirements for bundled telephony and Internet access.<br /><br />DialAw@y IP networks are rapidly deployed, highly scalable and field upgradable. The remote equipment functions in extreme weather conditions, has a long lifespan and can be monitored from a distance. Ultra-low power consumption (less than 25W) enables the units to operate in remote locations that have minimal or no electricity, by incorporating a single-panel solar system or power generators.<br /><br />(source: Gilat Satellite Networks)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Gilat Signs Agreement with Korean Management and Control Services Company<br /><br />(14 June 2004) Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd has announced an agreement with the Korean management and control services company, Taegwang E&C Co. Ltd, for the supply of a Skystar 360E satellite hub and remote VSAT terminals. The satellite-based VSAT network was successfully installed and will be operated by, the leading Korean telecom operator, Korea Telecom.<br /><br />Taegwang E&C Co. Ltd, is a management and control services company that provides Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and water management services for such Korean companies as KEPCO (Korean Electric Power Corporation), KARICO (Korea Agriculture and Rural Infrastructure Corporation), KOWACO (Korea Water Corporation) and KNR (Korea National Railroad).<br /><br />The Skystar 360E hub will provide Voice over IP, cross-border data services and high-speed Internet services for national and international services both inside and outside of Korea.<br /><br />(source: Gilat Satellite Networks)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Globalstar Retains Access to All of Its Allocated Frequencies<br /><br />(14 June 2004) United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted a Report and Order with new rules for "Big LEO" MSS systems that will allow Globalstar to continue using all of its currently assigned frequencies. The Globalstar system currently uses 1610.0 to 1621.35 MHz for transmissions from handsets to Globalstar satellites and 2483.5 to 2500.0 MHz for transmissions from Globalstar satellites to its handsets.<br /><br />Although the FCC has required Globalstar to share limited frequencies with other services, the FCC decided to maintain Globalstar's access to all of these frequencies, rather than to reduce the bandwidth available to Globalstar as some parties advocated.<br /><br />Globalstar offers satellite telecommunications services, for both voice and data, from virtually anywhere to more than 110,000 subscribers in over 120 countries around the world.<br /><br />(source: Globalstar)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Loral Skynet Extends Agreement to Distribute HBO Asia on Telstar 10<br /><br />(14 June 2004) Loral Skynet has renewed an agreement with HBO Pacific Partners, VOF, to distribute the region's leading entertainment channels, HBO and Cinemax, across Asia through its television arm HBO Asia. In accordance with the long- term agreement, Loral's Telstar 10 satellite will continue to distribute HBO Asia's programming to thousands of cable outlets across Asia.<br /><br />Singapore-based HBO Asia brings the best of Hollywood to Asia through its exclusive first-run licensing deals with major Hollywood studios including Columbia Tri/Star, DreamWorks, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios and Warner Bros. In addition to proprietary and award-winning HBO Original programming produced exclusively for its viewers, HBO Asia works with a number of prominent independent studios to secure exclusive rights to a host of quality movies. HBO Pacific Partners, VOF is a joint venture of media giants Paramount Films, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Time Warner and Universal Studios.<br /><br />Launched in 1997, Telstar 10 is located at 76.5° East and carries 27 C band and 24 Ku band transponders (36 MHz equivalents). The C band payload provides coverage of Asia, Australia, parts of Europe and Africa. The Ku band payload covers Korea, Taiwan, Macau and China, including Hong Kong. Telstar 10, which hosts one of the most extensive cable neighbourhoods in Asia, distributes cable TV programming, direct-to-home services, and telecommunications, as well as Internet and VSAT (very small aperture terminal) services.<br /><br />Joining Telstar 10 over Asia will be Telstar 18, set to launch aboard a Sea Launch rocket late this month. Telstar 18, which will be located at 138° East, is equipped with 19 C band transponders at 36 MHz and 8 Ku band transponders at 54 MHz. The C band covers Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific islands and Hawaii and the Ku band reaches China, India, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea. Its main markets will be cable programming, direct-to-home broadcasting, Internet, VSAT, and IP-based two-way services within Asia while providing an inter-connect to the US.<br /><br />(source: Loral Skynet)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />PanAmSat Extends Global Hybrid Network Through Fibre Deal with ST Teleport<br /><br />(15 June 2004) PanAmSat Corporation has announced the signing of a fibre interconnectivity agreement with ST Teleport, a leading full-service satellite communications solution provider based in Singapore. The recently signed agreement extends the reach of the PanAmSat global network from Singapore to California increasing the Company's ability to deliver its customers' programming via satellite and fibre to and from the Asia-Pacific and North American regions.<br /><br />ST Teleport owns and operates a technical facility in Singapore with existing ties to PanAmSat's Pacific Ocean region and Indian Ocean region satellites which are: PAS-2, PAS-4, PAS-7, PAS-8 and PAS-10. PanAmSat's customers are now able to utilise the fibre between Singapore and Los Angeles, with an additional link between Los Angeles and PanAmSat's Napa, California teleport.<br /><br />The network extension from Singapore offers customers an alternative as well as a more direct route for the distribution of content to the 10,000 US cable headends that receive programming via PanAmSat. And, with programming transported from PanAmSat's teleport in Napa to the ST Teleport in Singapore by transpacific fibre, broadcasters and cable operators in the US will gain improved access to PanAmSat satellites in the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean regions. This greater ease of access allows international broadcasters to more easily use PanAmSat's global network as a platform for the distribution of ethnic programming including sports, news and entertainment.<br /><br />(source: PanAmSat)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />PanAmSat Signs HD Deal with NHK<br /><br />(15 June 2004) PanAmSat Corporation has signed an agreement with Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) to deliver live sporting events and breaking news in high-definition (HD) format via the company's world-wide satellite and fibre network.<br /><br />NHK will uplink news and sporting events across the US via mobile satellite news gathering (SNG) vehicles to PanAmSat's domestic satellite fleet. The high-definition signals will then be downlinked to the company's Atlanta teleport, where recently installed HDTV equipment will allow PanAmSat engineers to monitor the programming content for quality assuredness. PanAmSat will then provide the terrestrial fibre link to reach NHK's US gateway in New York City.<br /><br />(source: PanAmSat)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Smart Digital Communications Expands Internet Access in Malaysian Schools<br /><br />(15 June 2004) ViaSat Inc is supplying a LinkStar broadband satellite communications network to Smart Digital Communications Bhd in Malaysia to provide high-speed Internet Access to more than 1,500 schools. The LinkStar VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) network is the first broadband satellite network of its kind in Malaysia, and once the remote terminal installation is complete - planned by the end of August - the network is expected to become the largest VSAT network in the country. The value of the contract for ViaSat is approximately US$ 4 million.<br /><br />Smart is partnering on the project with Malaysia's second largest ISP, Jaring, which has more than 800,000 subscribers nation-wide. The new satellite network is part of the Malaysian government's National Broadband Plan, a joint effort by the national ministries of education, telecommunications and finance. Initially targeted at high-speed Internet access, possible future additions include distance learning and Voice-over-IP, plus expansion to other government agencies. The LinkStar network hub is located in Kuala Lumpur.<br /><br />LinkStar is a hub-based VSAT system that provides efficient broadband communications for Internet access, enterprise networking, retail operations, distance learning, and other multimedia applications. Remote LinkStar terminals receive data from a shared, 60 megabit-per-second (Mb/s) broadcast from the access hub, and can transmit back to the hub at up to 2.5 Mb/s. Dynamic bandwidth allocation increases or decreases data rates on-the-fly for better service and more efficient use of bandwidth. LinkStar hubs and remote terminals are compliant with the digital video broadcast (DVB) international standard. Since its introduction in September 2001, approximately 20,000 LinkStar DVB-RCS-ready terminals have been shipped world-wide.<br /><br />(source: ViaSat)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Earth Observation<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />RapidEye Constellation Contract for SSTL<br /><br />(14 June 2004) Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd has been awarded a £ 19.2 million (US$ 35 M) contract by MacDonald, Dettwiler & Associates (MDA) of Canada to supply the spacecraft platforms, integration and launch arrangements of a five-microsatellite constellation for high resolution Earth observation.<br /><br />The five satellites will each provide 6.5-metre GSD multispectral Earth observation images, primarily for use in agricultural and cartographic information services. Major users of the data will be the insurance industry, utilising the data for risk modelling and claim assessment. Expansions to this core business include crop monitoring and mapping, quality management and subsidy control.<br /><br />RapidEye is the world's first commercial Earth observation constellation. Conceived by the German company, RapidEye AG, the project has been made possible through the application of SSTL's low cost small satellites and opens a new and significant business sector for the space industry.<br /><br />RapidEye AG has brought together MDA, SSTL and Jena Optronik of Germany for this mission. SSTL are responsible for the design and construction of the five satellite platforms, supporting the optical payloads that will image the Earth with a ground sampling distance of 6.5 metres in 5 spectral bands. The imaging payloads will be supplied by Jena Optronik and integrated by SSTL at the Surrey Space Centre. Each spacecraft will have a mass of about 150 kg.<br /><br />The satellite platforms, designed and manufactured by SSTL, will use the company's latest advanced microsatellite avionics, a precision attitude orbit and control system with star tracker providing 30 degrees roll-offset for accurate image targeting, onboard propulsion for constellation station-keeping, a high-rate X-band data downlink, and a bi-directional S band mission control subsystem. SSTL will also provide the Spacecraft Control Centre ground equipment for the mission.<br /><br />The five RapidEye satellites will be launched into a 620 km sun synchronous orbit, becoming operational in 2007.<br /><br />(source: Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Tahoe Uses Satellite Imagery and Geotechnologies for Wildfire Risk Assessment and Emergency Response Planning<br /><br />(16 June 2004) DigitalGlobe and Native Communities Development Corporation (NCDC) have announced the award of a wildfire risk assessment and emergency response planning contract using DigitalGlobe's high-resolution QuickBird satellite images and NCDC's proprietary remote sensing technology. The Tahoe Basin Fire Safe Council awarded the contract to the Wildfire Consulting Services Division of Davey Resource Group (DRG) and NCDC. The assessment and planning area covers the unincorporated fire districts located on the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin.<br /><br />DRG and NCDC will utilize 300 square miles of DigitalGlobe's 60-centimeter resolution QuickBird satellite imagery in conjunction with advanced remote sensing, feature extraction and three-dimensional mapping techniques to design and conduct a wildfire risk and hazard assessment, and to develop mitigation plans for each fire protection district. The districts covered include the Fallen Leaf Fire Department, the North Tahoe Fire Protection District, Meeks Bay Fire Protection District and the Lake Valley Fire Protection District. The final product, to be delivered to the Tahoe Basin Fire Safe Council in August 2004, will detail risk assessments and mitigation proposals for each district and adjacent public lands, including detailed geographic information system (GIS) maps, public reviews, and recommendations for continued public education.<br /><br />DigitalGlobe and NCDC's combined geotechnologies will be used to identify and map wildfire threats, including hazardous fuel accumulations, flammable roofing materials, and all major roads and structures situated within each area's wildland-urban interface.<br /><br />NCDC's QuickBird image analysis will enable DRG's wildfire specialists and ground survey crews to efficiently target areas of greatest concern for detailed fire risk assessments. By incorporating NCDC's imagery into detailed GIS-based maps and resource inventories, DRG's wildfire specialists will be able to prepare plans which will assist fire managers and emergency planners during critical evacuation and suppression activities.<br /><br />DigitalGlobe and NCDC recently completed a similar-scale wildfire risk assessment project for the Colorado State Forest Service along Colorado's Front Range, just southwest of Denver. The two organisations are currently developing wildfire risk assessment projects for implementation in New Mexico, Arizona and Manitoba, Canada.<br /><br />(source: DigitalGlobe)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Military Space<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman Team Completes Requirements Milestone for Transformational Communications Program<br /><br />(17 June 2004) A Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman team has successfully accomplished a key requirements review for the Transformational Communications MILSATCOM (TCM) Space Segment with its customer, the US Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. TCM will deliver highly-reliable, survivable, network-centric communications to thousands of deployed and mobile users around the globe.<br /><br />More than 120 government representatives from the USAF MILSATCOM Joint Program Office and user communities, including representatives from all services within the Department of Defense, recently completed a two-day Space Segment Requirements Review (SSRR) at Lockheed Martin Space Systems facilities in Sunnyvale, California.<br /><br />The successful review represented an important milestone in the Risk Reduction & System Definition phase of the program, demonstrating to the customer and user community the Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman team's understanding of the mission and the user needs, how they will be met, and the system approach to best serve those needs as well as product development and technology maturity progress.<br /><br />The Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman team, which also includes ViaSat, Rockwell Collins, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Stratogis, Cisco, L-3 Communications, C&H Associates and Caspian, is conducting risk reduction demonstrations and system trade studies over a 27-month period under one of two US$ 472 million contracts awarded to industry in January 2004 by the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB.<br /><br />This effort will lead to a multi-billion dollar acquisition and operations phase contract to be awarded to a single team in 2006.<br /><br />TCM represents the next step toward transitioning the Department of Defense wideband and protected communications satellite architecture into a single network comprising multiple satellite, ground and user segment components. The system will network mobile and in-motion warfighters; sensors; weapons; and communications, command and control nodes located on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), piloted aircraft, on the ground, in the air, at sea or in space.<br /><br />(source: Lockheed Martin)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Submarines Link to Military Satellites with Raytheon Sub HDR<br /><br />(17 June 2004) Raytheon Company will produce additional Submarine High Data Rate (Sub HDR) multi-band satellite communication (SATCOM) systems under a multi-year contract worth up to US$ 50 million.<br /><br />The US Navy Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence and Space (PEO C4I & Space) recently issued the first year contract, worth US$ 33 million. To date, Raytheon has developed and delivered more than 50 Sub HDRs under previous contracts worth more than US$ 130 million.<br /><br />Sub HDR links submariners to the Global Broadcast Service, the Milstar satellite constellation, and the Defense Satellite Communication System, via a unique mast antenna that connects them to the above-sea world.<br /><br />Sub HDR gives submarines high data rate, multi-band SATCOM capability for the first time. The system lets sailors transmit and receive mission-critical information by raising a mast just above the ocean's surface while the ship is submerged at periscope depth. Operating via military satellites, Sub HDR enables underwater forces to be full participants in co-ordinated fleet battle group and joint task force network centric operations. The mast-mounted SATCOM system transmits secure wideband multi-media, secure and non-secure Internet access, voice and data traffic, imagery and video teleconferencing.<br /><br />Sub HDR's acquisition began in 1996, following a competitive procurement and PEO C4I & Space's (The U.S. Navy Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence and Space's) selection of Raytheon. Within 21 months, the system performed a land-based, over-the-air demonstration of its Super High Frequency (SHF) and Extremely High Frequency (EHF) multi-band satellite tracking and communication capabilities. The multi-band SHF and EHF SATCOM mast was upgraded with Global Broadcast Service (GBS), Ka band high data rate receive capability, in 1999. During low rate initial production (1999), seven systems were produced, and the system was subsequently tested on the attack submarine USS Providence SSN 719 in August 2000.<br /><br />(source: Raytheon)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />ViaSat Wins US$ 47 Million Order in MIDS Tactical Network Terminal Lot 5 Award<br /><br />(17 June 2004) ViaSat Inc has won a delivery order valued at approximately US$ 47 million for Multifunctional Information Distribution System terminals from The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), San Diego.<br /><br />The order includes LVT(1) airborne and LVT(2) ground-based Low Volume Terminals under the Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract awarded in January 2000. The MIDS LVT provides secure, high capacity, jam resistant, digital data and voice communications capability for US Navy, US Air Force, and US Army platforms. Delivery of the Lot 5 units is expected to begin in June of next year and continue through the first quarter of ViaSat's fiscal year 2007.<br /><br />The ViaSat MIDS terminal was recently approved for full-rate production for Navy tactical platforms. The MIDS terminal was approved for US Air Force and US Army full-rate production last year.<br /><br />The Lot 5 award includes LVT(1) terminals and spares for F-18 and F-16 aircraft, the A-10, the MH-60 helicopter, the Air Force JICO Support System, and Taiwan via Foreign Military Sales (FMS). The award also includes a significant number of LVT(2) terminals and spares for various Army and Air Force systems including the JICO Support System (JSS) and the U.S. Army PM-TRCS (Tactical Radio Communication System), SHORAD (Short Range Air Defense), TFIS (Tactical Data Link Fielding and Integration Support System), TOC/AMDCC (Tactical Operation Center/Air Missile Defense Command and Control), and J-UCAS (Joint - Unmanned Combat Air System), as well as for Taiwan, Japan, and Canada via FMS procurement. ViaSat is currently the only certified producer of the LVT(2).<br /><br />(source: ViaSat)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Science<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />EADS-CASA to Build Instrument for SMOS mission<br /><br />(17 June 2004) A significant milestone in the development of ESA’s Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission was reached last week when the contract to build the payload was signed between ESA and EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company)-CASA from Spain.<br /><br />The contract to build the payload is worth 62 million Euros. EADS-CASA now heads an industrial consortium of more than 20 companies from all over Europe, and is committed to construct the innovative MIRAS (Microwave Imaging Radiometer using Aperture Synthesis) instrument that will form the core of the SMOS mission.<br /><br />Scheduled for launch in early 2007, SMOS is the second Earth Explorer Opportunity mission to be implemented as part of ESA’s Living Planet Programme. The main aim of the mission is to further the development of climatological, meteorological and hydrological models by observing soil moisture over the Earth’s landmasses and sea-surface salinity over the oceans for a period of at least 3 years.<br /><br />The moisture in soil and the salt in the oceans are intrinsically linked to the Earth’s water cycle and climate. Currently, in-situ measurements for soil moisture are sparse, but if we are to better understand the water cycle so that the forecasting of climate, weather and extreme events such as floods can be improved more data are urgently required. The same is true for data on ocean salinity - only a small fraction of the ocean is sampled on any regular basis. However, salinity is an important factor driving the currents in the ocean and in turn ocean circulation plays a crucial role moderating the climate. Therefore, comprehensive data on ocean salinity would greatly improve our knowledge of the conditions that influence global ocean circulation and thus climate.<br /><br />Not only will this mission further the understanding of the Earth system, but it will also demonstrate a new measuring technique by adopting a completely different approach in the field of remote sensing. SMOS will carry the first-ever polar-orbiting satellite-borne 2-D interferometric radiometer. From an altitude of 763 km, the novel MIRAS instrument has been designed to capture images of microwave radiation emitted from the surface of the Earth at L band (1.4 GHz).<br /><br />MIRAS is made up of a central structure and three deployable arms. There are 69 antenna elements, so-called LICEF receivers, which are equally distributed over the central structure and three arms. Each LICEF is an antenna-receiver integrated unit that measures the radiation emitted from the Earth at L band. The measuring principle takes advantage of the fact that moisture and salinity influence the emissivity of soil and seawater, respectively. From the information gathered, scientists will be able to derive maps of soil moisture and ocean salinity on a global scale.<br /><br />SMOS is executed in close co-operation with the French Space Agency CNES and the Spanish Agency CDTI.<br /><br />(source: ESA)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Parlex to Supply Products for GLAST Mission<br /><br />(14 June 2004) Parlex Corporation has been awarded contracts totalling over US$ 1 million from the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) to supply rigid flex circuit assemblies for production of the Gamma Ray Large Camera Space Telescope (GLAST).<br /><br />The GLAST Mission is part of NASA's Office of Space and Science Strategic Plan, with launch anticipated in February 2007. GLAST is a next generation high-energy gamma-ray observatory designed for making observations of celestial gamma-ray sources in the energy band extending from 10 MeV to more than 100 GeV. The GLAST project is funded in the United States by NASA and Department of Energy and by government agencies in France, Italy, Japan, and Sweden.<br /><br />(source: Parlex)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Manned Space<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Gentex to Equip Pilots for Upcoming Private Space Flight<br /><br />(15 June 2004) Gentex Corporation has provided its most advanced lightweight flight helmets and oxygen masks for the aircrew of the world's first private-sector, sub-orbital space flight scheduled for June 21. The equipment was specified by Scaled Composites LLC, a California-based aerospace company founded by Burt Rutan, who designed the spacecraft.<br /><br />Rutan's prototype SpaceShipOne will be launched from the Mojave Civilian Aerospace Test Center, a commercial airport in the California desert, and is expected to reach an altitude of 60 miles. In a test flight last month, it was the first privately funded spacecraft to reach a record altitude of 40 miles.<br /><br />The SpaceShipOne project team is competing for a US$ 10 million prize that will be awarded to the first team to build, without government support, a spacecraft that can take three people to at least 365,000 feet and repeat the flight two weeks later using at least 80 percent of the same hardware. The project will employ a White Knight carrier aircraft that will take SpaceShipOne to an altitude of about 50,000 feet, where the spacecraft will be released and fire a rocket engine to climb to the edge of space.<br /><br />The Gentex helmets and masks will be used on both the White Knight and SpaceShipOne.<br /><br />Gentex is the major supplier of high performance helmet systems for military pilots who frequently undergo stresses of up to nine Gs. The company works closely with major airframe and electronics manufacturers as well as government development agencies to create advanced life support equipment. In addition, the company is the leading supplier of high-altitude oxygen breathing equipment for military aircraft of the US and many other nations.<br /><br />(source: Gentex Corporation)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Technology<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NASA 'Evolutionary' Software Automatically Designs Antenna<br /><br />(14 June 2004) NASA artificial intelligence (AI) software - working on a network of personal computers - has designed a satellite antenna scheduled to orbit Earth in 2005.<br /><br />The antenna, able to fit into a one-inch space (2.5 by 2.5 centimetres), can receive commands and send data to Earth from the Space Technology 5 (ST5) satellites. The three satellites - each no bigger than an average TV set - will help scientists study magnetic fields in Earth's magnetosphere. NASA scientists have spent two years developing the evolutionary AI software that designed the antenna.<br /><br />The software started with random antenna designs and through the evolutionary process, refined them. The computer system took about 10 hours to complete the initial antenna design process. The computer program was told what performance the antenna should have, and the computer simulated evolution, keeping the best antenna designs that approached what was asked for. Eventually, it zeroed in on a design that met the desired specifications for the mission.<br /><br />Scientists also can use the evolutionary AI software to invent and create new structures, computer chips and even machines.<br /><br />Four NASA Ames computer scientists wrote the AI evolutionary program that operates on 120 personal computers, which work as a team. The scientists wrote the AI software because it can create designs faster than a human being can do so.<br /><br />(source: NASA)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />In Orbit<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Loral Skynet Adds Telstar 18 to Their EPOCH IPS System<br /><br />(16 June 2004) Integral Systems Inc has announced a contract with Loral Skynet for the expansion of Skynet's existing EPOCH IPS (Integrated Product Suite) satellite control system to support the Telstar 18 satellite.<br /><br />Loral Skynet's current EPOCH control system operationally supports four different satellites types from three different satellite manufacturers, including Space Systems/Loral (1300), Lockheed Martin (A2100 and Series 7000) and Astrium (Eurostar 2000).<br /><br />EPOCH is the only commercial off the shelf (COTS) satellite control system in the world with a proven capability to operate diverse fleets of satellites with a single system. Integral also is the only satellite control system provider to have delivered satellite control systems to operate satellites from every major and minor geosynchronous communications satellite manufacturer, including Alcatel, Astrium, Boeing, LM, SS/L, Orbital, Northrop Grumman, APL and Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST). Loral Skynet's system incorporates Integral Systems' EPOCH IPS to provide complete real-time command and control system, as well as flight dynamics, automated scheduling, procedure execution and offline trending and analysis functions.<br /><br />(source: Integral Systems)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launches<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Intelsat 10-02<br /><br />Launched: 16 June 2004<br />Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />Launcher: Proton M/Breeze M<br />Orbit: GEO, 1° W<br />International Number: 2004-022A<br />Name: Intelsat 10-02<br />Owner: Intelsat<br />Contractor: EADS Astrium<br /><br />Intelsat 10-02 is a commercial communications satellite, owned and operated by Intelsat.<br /><br />Intelsat 10-02 is based on the Eurostar E3000 platform and carries 36 Ku band and 70 C band transponders. It had a launch mass of 5575 kg and a design life of 13 years.<br /><br />The satellite will provide video, corporate networking, Internet and voice services across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South America and portions of Asia and North America.<br /><br />Approximately 50% of the satellite's Ku band transponders are owned by the Norwegian company Telenor Broadcast Holdings AS, through its subsidiary Telenor Satellite Broadcasting, the leading satellite operator and satellite services provider in the Nordic Countries, and a long-standing customer of Intelsat. Canal Digital AS, the largest distributor of pay-TV services in the Nordic market together with other customers will use the satellite for television, broadband, voice, data and Internet applications in Europe and the Middle East.<br /><br />Intelsat 10-02 will replace Intelsat 707 at 1° W. Intelsat 707 will then be moved to a new location at 53° W to support customer demand in the Americas, Europe and Africa.<br /><br />(source: Intelsat, International Launch Services)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Business<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Alcatel and Finmeccanica to Form the Space Alliance<br /><br />(18 June 2004) Alcatel and Finmeccanica have signed a memorandum of understanding to merge their space activities and form alliances in the space sector through the creation of two sister companies, to which both partners will contribute their respective satellite industrial and service activities.<br /><br />The first company, Alcatel Alenia Space, of which Alcatel will hold approximately 67% and Finmeccanica approximately 33%, will combine Alcatel Space and Alenia Spazio’s industrial activities. It will concentrate on the design, development, and manufacturing of space systems, satellites, equipment, instruments, payloads and associated ground systems. The management team of Alcatel Alenia Space will be located in France. The company will operate through five business divisions (Telecommunications, Optical Observation and Science, Observation Systems and Radar, Navigation, Infrastructure and Transportation). It will have estimated 2004 sales of 1.8 billion Euros and will employ around 7,200 people.<br /><br />The second company, of which Finmeccanica will hold approximately 67% and Alcatel approximately 33%, will combine Telespazio with Alcatel Space’s operations and services activities. It will concentrate on operations and services for satellite solutions, which includes control and exploitation of space systems as well as value-added services for networking, multimedia and earth observation. Its management team will be located in Italy. It will have estimated 2004 sales of 350 millions Euros and employ around 1,400 people.<br /><br />The two groups have decided to combine their respective strengths in the space industry to better serve this growing market and to benefit from the expansion of their customer base as well as to leverage the strong complementary nature of the technologies and know-how contributed by both parties. The two groups have identified significant operational synergies and economies of scale, in particular in R&D, product development, procurement policy and increased industrial efficiency.<br /><br />These synergies will improve operating profitability by several points and will be reached progressively, in line with business cycles.<br /><br />Alcatel and Finmeccanica will account for Alcatel Alenia Space and the services company respectively using proportional consolidation.<br /><br />Overall, the space alliance will be overseen and co-ordinated by a dedicated Steering Committee, co-chaired by the CEOs of Finmeccanica and Alcatel.<br /><br />The creation of the new companies is expected to be completed by the end of 2004, subject to the signing of definitive agreements and necessary approvals by shareholders and regulatory authorities.<br /><br />(source: Alcatel Space)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Products and Services<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Tariam’s VPN Over Satellite Broadband<br /><br />(16 June 2004) Edinburgh satellite broadband company Tariam has announced further developments in the complex area of VPN over satellite broadband. Tariam has been searching for some time for the key to running VPN over its cheaper DVB-S satellite offerings. Working closely with a company in the USA, and its Satellite Provider, Tariam has announced it has the solution.<br /><br />A new product allows companies and remote users to reliably use Tariam’s entry level satellite solutions to log-on to their Virtual Private Networks. The resolution involves additional hardware to the standard satellite set-up, and is ideal for VPN based remote control and monitoring systems at non ADSL sites. Tariam can provide the product anywhere in the UK or France, and will be offering it in other countries in Europe later this year.<br /><br />The new product solves the issues of performance degradation associated with running IPsec open standards over TCP accelerated satellite connections.<br /><br />With the new solution some additional hardware is required, but the customer can use Tariam's cheaper Sat 500 Pro or Sat 1000 systems. The hardware costs of these are often covered by the grants available in parts of the UK for alternatives to DSL where no fixed line broadband is available.<br /><br />The additional hardware is installed like any terrestrial VPN router, and provides end-to-end VPN solutions. Standard features include a firewall, embedded address management capabilities such as NAT and PrAT, in addition to VPN standards such as IPsec, GRE and SLE.<br /><br />(source: Tariam)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />People<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />iDirect Technologies Appoints VP of Sales and Managing Director, Asia - Pacific Rim<br /><br />(17 June 2004) In response to continuing growth in world-wide market share, iDirect has announced the appointment of KW Chan as Vice President of sales for the Asia - Pacific Rim region.<br /><br />Chan, a 23-year telecommunications veteran, was most recently with SES- Americom as the Director of North East Asia. In this role he was responsible for business development, marketing and sales for Asian Transponder Capacity in the NEA market. Prior to SES-Americom, Mr. Chan was General Manager, Broadcast & Fixed Satellite Systems at Cable & Wireless (Hong Kong Tel) while gaining his initial experience at British Telecom's Wireless Division.<br /><br />Chan is the co-author of a handbook outlining the strategies of introducing non-voice services such as packet switching, videotex, or electronic fund transfer into developing countries. His market development experience, coupled with a diverse background in sales and engineering throughout a number of international markets, allows Chan to bring a wealth of experience to the iDirect team.<br /><br />Educated in the UK, Chan received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Stirling. He also holds a Technical Education Diploma and a Certificate of Management from the British Institute of Management. Chan is also a member of the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) International and Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT) joint proposal development team.<br /><br />(source: iDirect Technologies)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />KVH Appoints Director of Business Development, Satellite Products<br /><br />(15 June 2004) KVH Industries Inc has announced that Mr. Robert Riedford has joined the company as its Director of Business Development for Satellite Products.<br /><br />Mr. Riedford most recently served as sales manager for global diesel and commercial vehicle electronics at Delphi Electronics. While serving in this role, Mr. Riedford doubled electronics sales to North American commercial vehicles. He also oversaw business accounts that encompassed such commercial vehicle manufacturers as Freightliner, Caterpillar, Peterbilt, Kenworth, and John Deere as well as international commercial accounts with Isuzu and Volvo among others.<br /><br />Mr. Riedford holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Evansville.<br /><br />(source: KVH Industries)<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Terayon Announces Resignation of COO<br /><br />(14 June 2004) Terayon Communication Systems Inc has announced that Douglas Sabella has resigned his position as Chief Operating Officer, effective July 16, 2004, to pursue other interests.<br /><br />Sabella has served as Chief Operating Officer since July 2003. The Company has no immediate plans to seek a replacement.<br /><br />(source: Terayon Communication Systems)<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