MICROCOM'S SPACE NEWSFEED 5 May 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 />American Tower Corporation Chooses DirecWay for Network Monitoring and Control<br />Nera to Develop Next Generation Inmarsat Satellite Terminals<br /><br />EARTH OBSERVATION:<br />RSI Awarded Cdn$ 738,500 in Agriculture-Related Projects<br /><br />NAVIGATION:<br />Orbital Wins US$ 28 Million Transportation Management Contract<br /><br />MILITARY SPACE:<br />Teledyne Solutions Wins Space and Missile Defense Command Contract<br /><br />LAUNCH SERVICES:<br />ESA and CNES Sign Contract on CSG<br />NASA Awards Shuttle Main Engine Contract To Boeing Rocketdyne<br />NASA Completes First Milestone Review for SLI<br />SpaceDev Awarded USAF Contract for Space Vehicle Propulsion Module<br /><br />LAUNCHES:<br />Spot 5, Idéfix<br />Aqua EOS-PM (Earth Observing System Aqua Observatory)<br />Launch Schedule<br /><br />BUSINESS:<br />Lockheed Martin Space Systems Cuts Workforce<br /><br />PRODUCTS AND SERVICES:<br />T-DSL High Speed Internet Launched in Germany<br /><br />PEOPLE:<br />Craig Jorgens Appointed President of ICO Global Communications<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 />American Tower Corporation Chooses DirecWay for Network Monitoring and Control<br /><br />Hughes Network Systems Inc (HNS) has announced a contract with Boston-based tower operator American Tower Corporation to provide DirecWay satellite services. The initial phase of the service contract will equip 500 US-based towers with satellite communications access to be used for priority monitoring and control (M&C).<br /><br />Much of American Tower's existing M&C network was created over time by applying various solutions ranging from high cost dial-up circuits to cellular phones. From a cost and security standpoint, this arrangement didn't have the reliability ATC wanted for its monitoring systems. American Tower will use DirecWay to get real-time connectivity that is cost-effective, reliable, and available everywhere throughout the US.<br /><br />With the DirecWay infrastructure in place, network expansion to additional sites can be accomplished in one easy step. Furthermore, the DirecWay overlay readily supports the delivery of value-added broadband services that may be offered in the future by American Tower's service provider tenants, such as high-speed 2.5G/3G wireless data applications.<br /><br />The initial phase of the American Tower rollout will be completed by autumn of this year.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Nera to Develop Next Generation Inmarsat Satellite Terminals<br /><br />Inmarsat has awarded Nera ASA a contract to develop user terminals for the next generation Inmarsat service for mobile satellite communication (Broadband Global Area Network, BGAN). The contract value is approx. US$ 15 million.<br /><br />The Inmarsat contract comprises design, development and production of advanced high data rate terminals weighing 800-900 grams, for the new Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service planned for 2004. The new terminals will meet customers' demands for increased data capacity at speeds of up to 422/110 kb/s and ease of use.<br /><br />The Inmarsat-4 satellites are planned for launch in 2003/2004 and the BGAN network will be compatible with terrestrial UMTS/IMT-2000 (3G) networks. In the first round, Nera will focus on developing the smallest type of terminals for the BGAN system, known as the pocket solution. The terminal will support high speed communication (voice, data and images) over satellite with an asymmetrical transfer capacity of up to 422/110 kb/s.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />EARTH OBSERVATION<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />RSI Awarded Cdn$ 738,500 in Agriculture-Related Projects<br /><br />Radarsat International (RSI) has been awarded two agriculture-related contracts - the first by the World Bank, and the second by the European Space Agency (ESA) - totalling Cdn$ 738,500.<br /><br />The World Bank contract requires RSI to assess the advantages of Earth-observation satellite data as a tool for verifying the occurrence of extreme weather events. The project focuses on the capabilities of Radarsat-1 and optical satellite data for use as effective tools for detecting drought, flood and frost events in Mexico, Nicaragua, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia and Cambodia.<br /><br />This information will be used by re-insurance and risk management companies who require unbiased information for measuring weather-related damage claims. This project supports the World Bank's efforts to assess and develop index-based weather insurance programs to mitigate the socio-economic and food-source effects of natural disasters.<br /><br />The European Space Agency (ESA) award is a two-year business development contract that funds the design and development of a crop information system. This system will use Radarsat-1 and Envisat data, related agronomy information, and modelling to provide timely and unbiased crop production figures. This information is used by insurance and re-insurance companies, as well as by governments and aid organisations, for food supply and security management.<br /><br />The ESA project will be carried out by a consortium led by Sarmap (of Switzerland), and in collaboration with RSI (of Canada), Synoptics (of the Netherlands), and Bolton Associates (of Malaysia).<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NAVIGATION<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Orbital Wins US$ 28 Million Transportation Management Contract<br /><br />Orbital Sciences Corporation has been selected by Motorola's Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector to supply in-vehicle components and control centre software solutions for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (LACMTA) new Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS).<br /><br />Motorola will oversee the installation and start-up of an integrated wireless communications system that will provide real-time information to LACMTA's dispatchers and system planners. The fleet of "Smart Buses" is expected to begin entering service in the summer of 2003.<br /><br />Orbital's Transportation Management Systems (TMS) division will supply its Mobile Data Terminal (SmartMDT) control unit for more than 2,400 fixed-route buses and service vehicles. Orbital will also install its ORBCAD-NT communications and dispatch software system in LACMTA's Operations Control Center. The ORBCAD-NT system is designed to improve LACMTA's efficiency in managing and controlling its bus and service vehicle fleet.<br /><br />Orbital TMS is the USA's leading supplier of satellite-based Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) systems for the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) market. Orbital's AVL systems are used by 55 public transit and state agency customers in the US and abroad, with units installed, or scheduled for installation, on approximately 25,000 vehicles.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />MILITARY SPACE<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Teledyne Solutions Wins Space and Missile Defense Command Contract<br /><br />Teledyne Solutions Inc has been awarded a multimillion-dollar contract from the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC). Teledyne Solutions will provide a broad array of technical services in support of the Command contract including expertise relating to missiles, optical and radar sensors, targets, command communications, test and evaluation, lethality, systems integration, information technology, simulation, and other areas.<br /><br />Teledyne Solutions will direct a team of more than 40 contractors that will support missile-defense programs for SMDC, the Army Program Executive Office for Air and Missile Defense, and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). These services will be performed under the SMDC Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance Contract, known as SETAC. The contract performance period is for three years with two one-year options. It is anticipated that the SMDC will award approximately US$ 500 million in task orders to the seven SETAC contractors awarded contracts under this acquisition.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />LAUNCH SERVICES<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />ESA and CNES Sign Contract on CSG<br /><br />ESA and CNES have signed a contract on funding to cover the fixed costs of CNES/CGS facilities at Arianespace’s spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana.<br /><br />The total amount of these fixed costs over the five years from 2002 to 2006 is put at 617.4 million Euro.<br /><br />This contract follows on from the decision on Guiana Space Centre (CSG) funding taken on 15 November last year in Edinburgh by the ESA Council meeting at ministerial level, under which the Agency will cover two-thirds of the fixed costs, 411.6 million Euro. The other third is being met by CNES out of its budget for national activities, bringing the overall French contribution to 56% of the total.<br /><br />Europe's spaceport at the CSG is a key component of the sector, ensuring that Europe enjoys independent access to space and helping to optimise the Ariane system's overall competitiveness, which has been sustained by the efforts of all partners at Kourou to drive costs down while consolidating the quality of technical services.<br /><br />The contract sets out the technical and financial arrangements for the use of CNES/CSG facilities as defined in the agreement between the French Government and ESA signed on Thursday 11 April in Paris.<br /><br />Under the contract, the term "CNES/CSG facilities" means the CNES facilities at the CSG and those belonging to ESA made available to CNES for the purposes of carrying out the contract (the downrange stations and the payload preparation complexes operated by CNES). The contract does not however cover the Ariane launch sites in French Guiana made available by ESA to Arianespace.<br /><br />Arianespace is responsible for meeting the variable costs, which depend on the number of launches carried out.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NASA Awards Shuttle Main Engine Contract To Boeing Rocketdyne<br /><br />NASA has awarded a US$ 1.14 billion contract to the Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power unit of the Boeing Company for maintenance and support of the Space Shuttle Main Engine for the next five years.<br /><br />The contract calls for Rocketdyne to support the Space Shuttle flight manifest. Support includes on-going flight and test engineering, as well as engine refurbishment. In addition, the contract requires the manufacture, assembly, test and delivery of three additional Space Shuttle Main Engines.<br /><br />The contract also provides engineering support to both Main Engine processing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center and <br />Main Engine test firing at NASA's John C Stennis Space Center, as well as engine design, manufacturing and engineering management at the Rocketdyne facility.<br /><br />A cluster of three Main Engines on each Shuttle provides much of the power needed to launch into low-Earth orbit. They are the world's only large reusable liquid rocket engines. After the Shuttle orbiter lands, the engines are checked and prepared for the next flight. Some components are returned to Rocketdyne for refurbishment.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NASA Completes First Milestone Review for SLI<br /><br />The Space Launch Initiative (SLI), a NASA-wide effort defining the future of human space flight, has completed its first milestone review - resulting in a narrower field of potential candidates for the USA's second-generation reusable space transportation system.<br /><br />The recent review, called the Initial Architecture Technology Review, analysed and evaluated competing second-generation reusable space transportation architectures and technologies against NASA and commercial mission requirements, as well as safety and cost goals.<br /><br />Architecture refers to the complete transportation system design - that is, the vehicles and their components that fly into space, as well as the ground operations needed for launch. The transportation system design includes an Earth-to-orbit reusable launch vehicle (the Space Shuttle is the first-generation reusable launch vehicle); on-orbit transfer vehicles and upper stages to put satellites into orbits; mission planning; ground and flight operations; and support infrastructure, both on orbit and on the ground.<br /><br />Three contractor architecture teams - The Boeing Company; Lockheed Martin Corp; and a team including Orbital Sciences Corp and Northrop Grumman - presented dozens of potential architectures for review. Following the review, each retained a handful of possible candidates for the USA's next-generation reusable space launch system.<br /><br />Another review will be held in November to further narrow potential space transportation architectures to two or three choices.<br /><br />Since propulsion systems require a long lead-time to design, develop, test and evaluate, propulsion analysis was a chief driver through the recently completed review activity. Studies indicated that kerosene main engines have excellent potential to meet government and commercial needs. The second-generation vehicle will have a two-stage-to-orbit propulsion system based on engines fuelled by all kerosene, all hydrogen or a combination of kerosene and hydrogen.<br /><br />Dependable, long-life engines, along with crew escape and survival systems, and long-life, lightweight integrated airframes are among the Space Launch Initiative's highest priorities. Each greatly impacts the program's bottom line of increased safety, reliability and cost effectiveness.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SpaceDev Awarded USAF Contract for Space Vehicle Propulsion Module<br /><br />SpaceDev has been awarded Phase I of a contract to develop a Shuttle-compatible propulsion module for the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL). SpaceDev also expects to receive an award for Phase II of the contract and will use the project to further expand the company's product line to satisfy commercial and government space transportation requirements. The first two phases of the contract are worth up to US$ 1.6 Million. Total contract value is open-ended.<br /><br />The contract was a result of the critical need to develop an innovative, low-cost propulsion capability that simultaneously addresses NASA Shuttle Hitchhiker Experiment Launch System (SHELS) safety requirements and the Air Force Space Test Program (STP) orbit transfer propulsion performance requirements.<br /><br />SpaceDev's previous work for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on SpaceDev's Secondary Payload Orbital Transfer Vehicle (SPOTV) and its orbital Maneuver and Transfer Vehicle (MTV), combined with this new project for the AFRL, will give SpaceDev important and unique capabilities in the area of placing, inspecting and protecting space-based assets.<br /><br />The SpaceDev MTV was designed to provide on-orbit manoeuvring and orbit transfers of customer microsatellites and payloads launched from expendable launch vehicles.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />LAUNCHES<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Spot 5, Idéfix<br /><br />Launched: 3 May 2002<br />Site: CSG Kourou, French Guiana<br />Launcher: Ariane 42P<br /><br />International Number: 2002-021A<br />Orbit: LEO, apogee: 793 km, perigee: 791 km: inclination: 98.7° (sun synchronous)<br />Name: Spot 5<br />Owner: CNES<br />Contractor: Astrium<br /><br />International Number: 2002-021B<br />Orbit: LEO, apogee: 792 km, perigee: 780 km: inclination: 98.7°<br />Name: Idéfix<br />Owner: French AMSAT amateur radio and satellite association<br />Contractor: French AMSAT amateur radio and satellite association<br /><br />Spot 5 is an Earth observation satellite that was developed jointly by Astrium and CNES at a cost of 26 millions Euros.<br /><br />Spot 5 is equipped with two High Geometrical Resolution cameras enabling it to provide a 2.5-meter resolution across wide spectral band images. Spot 5 images will cover 60 x 60 km. Spot-5 also carries a third instrument, a stereoscopic high-resolution camera.<br /><br />Spot 5 also carries two payloads: Vegetation 2 for wide-area monitoring of the Earth’s plant cover, and Doris, an orbital position-determination and location system.<br /><br />Ariane Flight 151 also carried the amateur satellite Idéfix as an auxiliary payload for the French AMSAT amateur radio and satellite association. Idéfix was installed on the Ariane’s third stage, where it will remain attached during its orbital life of 25 to 60 days. Idéfix is an educational payload involving the transmission of digital telemetry and recorded voice messages. The payload will be activated about 15 days after launch.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Aqua EOS-PM (Earth Observing System Aqua Observatory)<br /><br />Launched: 4 May 2002<br />Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California<br />Launcher: Delta 2<br />Orbit: LEO, apogee: 669 km, perigee: 660 km: inclination: 98.2°<br />International Number: 2002-022A<br />Name: Aqua EOS-PM<br />Owner: NASA<br />Contractor: TRW<br /><br />Aqua is an Earth observation satellite and carries six instruments to monitor rainfall, snow, sea ice, soil moisture and clouds. It is based on TRW’s T-300 platform which is designed to provide low-jitter, precision pointing and longevity for scientific and remote sensing payloads. Aqua has a design life of 6 years.<br /><br />Aqua is a joint project between the United States, Japan and Brazil. The United States provided the spacecraft and four of Aqua's six scientific instruments. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center provided the Moderate Resolution Imaging <br />Spectroradiometer and the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory provided <br />the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder, and NASA's Langley Research Center provided the Clouds and the Earth's <br />Radiant Energy System instrument.<br /><br />Japan's National Space Development Agency provided the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer. The Instituto <br />Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (the Brazilian Institute for Space Research) provided the Humidity Sounder for Brazil.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launch Schedule<br /><br />May: classified NRO satellite on a Titan 4 (B-36) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />May 6: DirecTV 5 on a Proton K/DM 3 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<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 30: ISS UF 2 (Multi Purpose Logistics Module) on the Shuttle Endeavour (STS-111) from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida<br />June 5: Intelsat 905 on an Ariane 44L from CSG Kourou, French Guiana<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 />Lockheed Martin Space Systems Cuts Workforce<br /><br />Lockheed Martin Space Systems (LMT), Missiles & Space Operations, based in Sunnyvale, California has announced that it will cut its workforce to improve its competitiveness.<br /><br />Missiles & Space will implement a workforce reduction of approximately 400 employees by year-end. The reductions will impact both technical and administrative positions primarily at the Sunnyvale facilities. The company expects additional reductions to occur through normal attrition.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />PRODUCTS AND SERVICES<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />T-DSL High Speed Internet Launched in Germany<br /><br />Deutsche Telekom AG and SES Astra have announced the commercial launch of the T-DSL via satellite as of May 1st 2002.<br /><br />The ubiquitous availability of high-speed satellite Internet throughout Germany via Astra’s satellites at 19.2° E follows the successful completion of a 6-month pilot phase involving 500 users.<br /><br />T-DSL via satellite can reach users everywhere in Germany, complementing and extending the reach of the terrestrial T-DSL offer of Deutsche Telekom AG. Using an existing Astra satellite dish, equipped with a Universal LNB and a DVB-compatible PC-Card, users can now enjoy DSL download speeds of up to 768 kb/s via the Astra satellite system. At the same time, consumers can use their PC to access the entire choice of digital free-to-air channels on Astra 19.2° E.<br /><br />Deutsche Telekom is offering two different packages for T-DSL via satellite: The basic package of up to 500 MB download is priced at 19.90 Euro per month. Unlimited downloads are offered at 39.90 Euro per month.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />PEOPLE<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Craig Jorgens Appointed President of ICO Global Communications<br /><br />Former Vodafone-AirTouch executive Craig Jorgens has been appointed president of ICO Global Communications.<br /><br />Most recently Craig Jorgens was responsible for wireless investments for the private equity firm Texas Pacific Group in its San Francisco office. He joined Texas Pacific from Vodafone-AirTouch where he was Executive Director of Global Corporate Development. His responsibilities there included the negotiation of the joint venture with Bell Atlantic and GTE to form Verizon Wireless, and the representation of AirTouch in its acquisition by Vodafone.<br /><br />Greg Clarke, former chief executive officer of ICO, will continue as a Vice Chairman.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Press releases should be sent to: newsfeed@microcomsystems.co.uk<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Microcom makes no charge for this service and makes no payments for the use of material. Microcom makes no warranties about the quality of this free service and accepts no liability for mistakes and errors. 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