MICROCOM'S SPACE NEWSFEED 21 April 2002<br />Space Industry News from Around the World<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Brought to you by Microcom Systems Ltd, consultants in satellite communications since 1985.
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http://www.satelliteonthenet.co.uk/white.html<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />CONTENTS<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SATCOMS:<br />EMS Technologies Successfully Tests Aeronautical High-Speed Data Terminal<br />Gilat to Supply Indian VSAT Network<br />HNS Europe Signs EgyptSat as DirecWay Service Provider<br />Katelco Signs with Intelsat for Kazakhstan DTH Services<br /><br />NAVIGATION:<br />Lockheed Martin Navigation Systems Awarded Contract to Assist USAF Develop Next Generation GPS<br /><br />MILITARY SPACE:<br />TRW Named as Prime Contractor to Lead Restructured SBIRS Low<br /><br />SCIENCE:<br />NASA Selects Explorer Mission Proposals For Feasibility Studies<br /><br />LAUNCH SERVICES:<br />Integral Systems to Provide Epoch Software and Services to Honeywell International<br /><br />LAUNCHES:<br />NSS-7<br />Launch Schedule<br /><br />BUSINESS:<br />XM Radio Closes on US$ 154 Million in New Financing<br /><br />PRODUCTS AND SERVICES:<br />CSI Wireless Unveils Two New GPS Modules<br />Telesat Unveils High-Speed Internet Service for US and Canada<br />Xytrans Releases Next-Generation Two-Way Satellite Transceiver And Power Amplifier<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />European Satellites For Security, 18-19 June 2002, Brussels.<br /><br />Inaugurated by Dr. Javier Solana, General Secretary European Council and EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy.<br /><br />It will bring together top Governmental, Military and Commercial figures driving Europe's Space Security Policy. What are Europe's Security and Defence requirements and what are the practical challenges for implementation? See
www.eyeforspace.com<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Bolton Associates - Corporate Strategies applies 21st. Century thinking for the Earth Observation, SatCom and Environment Industries that penetrate new markets using creative commercial Risk models and innovation.<br /><br />Visit us at
http://www.BoltonAssociates.com and/or download our Power Point presentation
http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk/ads/EOConsult.ppt [131Kb]<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SATCOMS<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />EMS Technologies Successfully Tests Aeronautical High-Speed Data Terminal<br /><br />EMS Technologies Inc has extended the capabilities of its HSD 128 satcom system to bring airborne connectivity in line with the normal business office.<br /><br />In independent flight testing, the HSD-128 aeronautical satcom terminal was successfully interfaced with an existing ARINC 741 Satcom System. The HSD-128 operating in selective mode now allows users the choice between Standard Aero-H voice and two channels of Swift64 high-speed data.<br /><br />The HSD-128, first deployed on a US military aircraft in late 2001, breaks the barrier of single-channel Inmarsat Swift64 systems and brings greater bandwidth to the aircraft. Dual 64 kb/s channels provide two independent connections or can be combined to deliver 128 kb/s of throughput. The HSD-128 fits into the HPA location of the existing satcom system and shares the same antenna sub-assembly. In this configuration, additional weight and space is not required to facilitate the addition of high-speed data to the aircraft.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Gilat to Supply Indian VSAT Network<br /><br />Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd has been awarded a contract by Tata Teleservices of India to provide a 1,000-site VSAT network. Financial terms were not disclosed.<br /><br />The network, which will be based on Gilat's DialAw@y IP VSAT product, will be used to provide basic telecoms services to rural areas in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It will serve public payphones and fax kiosks and will help Tata Teleservices (TTL) fulfil its universal service obligation to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for Andhra Pradesh. The network may also be used to support high speed Internet access in the future.<br /><br />Installation of the network has started with completion expected in the third quarter of 2002.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />HNS Europe Signs EgyptSat as DirecWay Service Provider<br /><br />EgyptSat has signed with Hughes Network Systems Europe (HNSE) to offer high-speed broadband access via DirecWay to customers throughout the Middle East and Europe.<br /><br />EgyptSat will be an authorised agent and will offer high-speed Internet access to consumers, SOHOs, and enterprises. In addition, EgyptSat will be developing distance learning applications to be offered over DirecWay.<br /><br />EgyptSat was established in 1992 as an IT consulting house in the field of software design, mechanical system automation, communication and networking. The company sells high-speed Internet access via satellite, develops network software systems to manage traffic on networks and provides turnkey technology solutions. Headquartered in London, EgyptSat has facilities in Egypt and resellers throughout the Middle East. Many of the company's clients are also based throughout the Middle East, served by its branch offices as well as authorised resellers.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Katelco Signs with Intelsat for Kazakhstan DTH Services<br /><br />Intelsat has signed a10-year contract with Katelco, the authorised provider of direct-to-home (DTH) services in Kazakhstan, to deliver television and high-speed Internet services to households and businesses throughout the country.<br /><br />In addition to the six channels of local video programming customers have been able to view previously, the Intelsat capacity gives them new access to between 10 and 20 pay-TV channels, Internet, distance education, pay-per-view, corporate TV and satellite cable stations.<br /><br />These new DTH services are being provided on the Intelsat 904 satellite at 60º E, which became operational on 27 March of this year.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NAVIGATION<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Lockheed Martin Navigation Systems Awarded Contract to Assist USAF Develop Next Generation GPS<br /><br />Lockheed Martin Navigation Systems has been awarded a US$ 2.8M extension to the System Architecture and Requirements Definition study to assist the US Air Force GPS Joint Program Office (JPO) in the development of the GPS III - the next generation of GPS satellite systems. The study will be based in King of Prussia, PA and linked with locations and contractors across the country.<br /><br />The JPO, in co-operation with the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) at Los Angeles Air Force Base, is in the process of studying the requirements for analysis and Concept of Operations (CONOPS) development on a narrowed set of potential architectures.<br /><br />Lockheed Martin is the provider of GPS IIR satellites and is the largest provider of GPS enabled weapons as well as a major participant on the GPS ground Operational Control Segment.<br /><br />Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, Lockheed Martin Navigation Systems is responsible for the GPS III architecture study and the GPS-IIR. In addition, Navigation Systems covers the broader functional areas of system of systems architecture and engineering, network architecture, and user applications.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />MILITARY SPACE<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />TRW Named as Prime Contractor to Lead Restructured SBIRS Low<br /><br />TRW has been named prime contractor of a combined team for the US Department of Defense's missile tracking Space-Based Infrared System Low (SBIRS Low) program, under a new agreement reached with the DoD's Missile Defense Agency.<br /><br />In the new combined team approach, TRW subcontractor Spectrum Astro will play a key role developing spacecraft while Raytheon and Northrop Grumman will develop sensor payloads under competitive subcontracts to TRW. Prior to restructuring, TRW, with Raytheon as a principal team member, and Spectrum Astro, with Northrop Grumman, led competing teams to define requirements and complete conceptual designs for an operational SBIRS Low system.<br /><br />The Missile Defense Agency's budget requests for SBIRS Low total US$ 3.63 billion for fiscal years 2003 through 2007, although the program will continue beyond that five-year funding horizon. Program plans call for launch of the first SBIRS Low satellites (Block 06) in 2006-2007, to be followed by launches of upgraded satellites in subsequent blocks.<br /><br />SBIRS Low is a key component of the United States' missile defence system, providing global end-to-end infrared tracking of missiles throughout their trajectories.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SCIENCE<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NASA Selects Explorer Mission Proposals For Feasibility Studies<br /><br />Mission proposals that would discover the brightest galaxy in the universe, measure the chemical building blocks of life, track magnetic storms in the Earth's magnetosphere and study massive explosions on the Sun were recently selected by NASA as candidates for the next missions in the agency's Explorer Program of lower cost, highly focused, rapid-development scientific spacecraft.<br /><br />NASA has also decided to fund as a "Mission of Opportunity" US participation in a European Space Agency (ESA) observatory on the International Space Station.<br /><br />Following detailed mission concept studies, NASA intends to select two of the mission proposals by early 2003 for full development as Medium-class Explorer, or MIDEX, flights. The two missions developed for flight will be launched in 2007 and 2008.<br /><br />The selected proposals were judged to have the best science value among 42 proposals submitted to NASA in October 2001. Each will receive US$ 450,000 (US$ 250,000 for the Mission of Opportunity) to conduct a four-month implementation feasibility study. The selected MIDEX proposals are:<br /><br />* The Astrobiology Explorer (ABE) - a cryogenic telescope to determine<br /> the abundance, distribution and identities of the chemical building<br /> blocks of life. ABE would measure interstellar organic compounds and<br /> would be led by Scott Sandford of NASA's Ames Research Center, at a<br /> total mission cost to NASA of US$ 180 million.<br /><br />* The Next Generation Sky Survey (NGSS) - an infrared telescope designed<br /> to survey the entire sky with 1,000 times more sensitivity than<br /> previous missions. NGSS would be led by Edward L Wright of the<br /> University of California at a total mission cost to NASA of<br /> US$ 180 million.<br /><br />* The Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during<br /> Substorms (THEMIS) mission - a study of the onset of magnetic storms<br /> within the tail of the Earth's magnetosphere. THEMIS would fly five<br /> microsatellite probes through different regions of the magnetosphere<br /> and observe the onset and evolution of storms. THEMIS would be led<br /> by Vassilis Angelopoulos of the University of California at a total<br /> mission cost to NASA of US$ 150 million.<br /><br />* The Advanced Spectroscopic and Coronagraphic Explorer (ASCE) - solar<br /> telescopes that would reveal the physical processes in the outer<br /> atmosphere of the Sun leading to the solar wind and explosive coronal<br /> mass ejections. ASCE would carry three solar instruments 100 times<br /> better than previous coronal telescopes and would be led by John L Kohl<br /> of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory at a total mission cost<br /> to NASA of US$ 177 million.<br /><br />NASA also selected an investigation to be flown on the International Space Station in partnership with the European Space Agency. At the end of the study, NASA will make a final decision on participating in the ESA-led mission. The Extreme Universe Space Observatory (EUSO) would detect the highest-energy cosmic rays known by using the entire Earth as a particle detector. As extremely energetic particles pass through the Earth's atmosphere they emit a form of blue light that that would be observed by EUSO's large telescope from its vantage point on the ISS. EUSO is under study by ESA for flight on the Columbus module of the ISS, and NASA would provide the large Fresnel lens for the telescope. NASA's contribution to EUSO would be led by James H Adams Jr of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center at a total mission cost to NASA of US$ 21 million.<br /><br />NASA also selected a proposed mission for technology-development funding of the proposed instrument. Stephan S Meyer of the University of Chicago will develop a frequency-selective bolometer to study dusty galaxies in the early universe from a balloon-borne telescope over Antarctica. Meyer will receive US$ 500,000 over the next two years for his study.<br /><br />The current MIDEX missions are the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE), launched in March 2000, and the Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP), launched in June 2001. The third MIDEX mission is the Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Explorer which will be launched in September 2003.<br /><br />The Explorer Program is designed to provide frequent, low-cost access to space for physics and astronomy missions with small to mid-sized spacecraft.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />LAUNCH SERVICES<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Integral Systems to Provide Epoch Software and Services to Honeywell International<br /><br />Integral Systems Inc will be providing Epoch software and engineering services to Honeywell International in support of Honeywell's prime contract to replace the existing communications technologies that make up the Air Force's Satellite Control Network command and control systems.<br /><br />The network, which provides communication services between the Air Force's satellite ground control assets and their satellites, has two communications and control centres and multiple antennas located at each of nine sites throughout the world.<br /><br />Integral's Epoch software will be tailored to provide antenna automation and equipment monitor and control functionality for the antennas and related ground equipment. Integral will also provide engineering services to support integration, testing, and system sustainment.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />LAUNCHES<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NSS-7<br /><br />Launched: 16 April 2002<br />Site: CSG Kourou, French Guiana<br />Launcher: Ariane 44L<br />Orbit: GEO, 21.5° W<br />International Number: 2002-019A<br />Name: NSS-7<br />Owner: New Skies Satellite NV<br />Contractor: Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems<br /><br />NSS-7 is a commercial communications satellite which is based on an enhanced version of Lockheed Martin's A2100AX bus. It will be located over the Atlantic Ocean, providing coverage to Europe, Africa and the Americas where it will replace the NSS-K and NSS-803 satellites.<br /><br />NSS-7 carries 36 C band and 36 Ku band transponders and has 11 high powered coverage beams.<br /><br />Once NSS-7 is operation at 21.5° W, New Skies will relocate NSS-803 to 177° W to replace the ageing NSS-513 spacecraft. NSS-K will be retired.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launch Schedule<br /><br />April 27: Soyuz (ISS flight 4S) on a Soyuz U from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />April 28: classified NRO satellite on a Titan 4 (B-36) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />April 28: DirecTV 5 on a Proton K/DM 3 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />May 2: Aqua on a Delta 2 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California<br />May 3: Spot 5, Idefix on an Ariane 42P from CSG Kourou, French Guiana<br />May 9: Hot Bird 6 on an Atlas 5 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />May 16: Galaxy 3C on a Zenit 3SL from Sea Launch's Odyssey platform in the Pacific Ocean<br />May 21: Progress M-46 on a Soyuz-U from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />May 28: Asiasat 4 on an Atlas 3B from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />May 31: ISS UF 2 (Multi Purpose Logistics Module) on the Shuttle Endeavour (STS-111) from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida<br />June 24: NOAA-M on a Titan 2 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California<br />July 1: Contour on a Delta 2 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />July 15: Space Infrared Telescope Facility on a Delta Heavy from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />July 19: Spacehab research laboratory on the Shuttle Columbia (STS-107) from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />BUSINESS<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />XM Radio Closes on US$ 154 Million in New Financing<br /><br />XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc has closed its public offering of 13.4 million common shares at a price of US$ 11.50 per share resulting in gross proceeds of US$ 154 million.<br /><br />The underwriters of the deal were Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch & C., Credit Suisse First Boston, and Deutsche Bank Securities.<br /><br />XM's programming lineup features 100 digital channels: 71 music channels, more than 30 of them commercial-free, from hip hop to opera, classical to country, bluegrass to blues; and 29 channels of sports, talk, children's an
