MICROCOM'S SPACE NEWSFEED 29 September 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. http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk<br /><br />Publishers of the Handbook of Satellite Services in Europe, the definitive guide to European satellite communications: http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk/pubs/ssie.html. July 2002 issue now available. Also available online - get a temporary password to review the Handbook by sending a blank email to review@microcomsystems.co.uk.<br /><br />Check out other web resources from Microcom Systems:<br /><br />Satellite Industry Links: the largest free 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 book reviews http://www.satelliteonthenet.co.uk<br /><br />Jobs in Space: space industry recruitment http://www.space-jobs.co.uk<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />CONTENTS<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SATCOMS:<br />Chinese Telecoms Satellite Contract for Alcatel Space<br />Loral and APT Satellite Agree to Joint Ownership of Apstar-V Satellite<br />Vistar Telecommunications Develops Marine Telematics Solution for Volvo Penta of the Americas<br /><br />NAVIGATION:<br />QinetiQ and Parthus Developing Applications for NavStream 3000 GPS Location Platform<br /><br />MILITARY SPACE:<br />Boeing Team Wins FAB-T Contract<br />US Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Awards Component Contracts for MUOS<br /><br />SCIENCE:<br />ESA Awards Asteroid Spacecraft Studies<br /><br />TECHNOLOGY:<br />New Focus Partners with JPL to Develop Laser for Caesium Atomic Clocks in Space<br /><br />LAUNCH SERVICES:<br />Bechtel-Lockheed Martin Team Awarded Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site Operations and Management Contract<br /><br />LAUNCHES:<br />Progress M1-9<br />Nadezhda 7<br />Launch Schedule<br /><br />BUSINESS:<br />Alcatel Space Announces Restructuring<br />Andrew Corporation Details Restructuring Plans<br />Canal+ Technologies Sold to Thomson Multimedia<br />Integral Systems Announces Stock Buyback Plan<br />Interlink Logistics Acquires Sat-Trac Application Software from American Millennium<br /><br />PRODUCTS AND SERVICES:<br />Betaresearch and Scopus present "betacube" for Pay TV Services<br />Conexant Introduces Complete Satellite Front-End Set-Top Box Semiconductor Solution<br />NovAtel Launches OEM4-G2 GPS Engine<br /><br />PEOPLE:<br />Lockheed Martin Names New President Continental Europe<br />Norsat Announces the Appointment of Yutaka Ueda as Chief Executive Officer and President<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 />Chinese Telecoms Satellite Contract for Alcatel Space<br /><br />(27 September 2002) Alcatel has signed a contract with the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) for the development and construction of a new telecommunications satellite.<br /><br />Alcatel will provide the payload module to CAST for the integration of the first China made high capacity communication platform DFH4 into a complete satellite. The new satellite that will be delivered to APT (Hongkong), is tailored to provide communication, radio and TV broadcasting services to telecom operators and to radio and TV stations.<br /><br />The satellite is to be launched by China Long March launcher in 2005.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Loral and APT Satellite Agree to Joint Ownership of Apstar-V Satellite<br /><br />(23 September 2002) Loral Space & Communications' Loral Orion subsidiary has agreed with APT Satellite Company Limited, to equally share ownership of the Apstar-V satellite scheduled to enter service in the third quarter of 2003.<br /><br />Loral's capacity on the satellite will be designated Telstar 14.<br /><br />Under manufacture by Space Systems/Loral, Apstar-V is a high-powered C/Ku band hybrid satellite based on SS/L's 1300 platform. The new spacecraft will operate a total of 54 transponders, 38 C band and 16 Ku band at 138° East longitude. Apstar-V will provide Ku band voice, video and data services to China, India and East Asia, and broadbeam C band services throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia and Hawaii. The new satellite also will be used to carry entertainment and multimedia services for the main cities of Asia to and from the US through Hawaii.<br /><br />The purchase price of US$ 115 million, representing half of the total cost of the satellite in orbit, for Loral's 50% interest in the satellite (19 C band and 8 Ku band transponders) will be paid in increments through 2008. S$ 57.5 million will be paid prior to launch and funded primarily from the liquidation of existing launch deposits, as well as cash on hand. The second US$ 57.5 million will be paid in increments ramping from US$ 10 million to US$ 17 million annually beginning in the fourth quarter of 2005.<br /><br />This payment schedule is designed to coincide with the anticipated utilisation on the satellite. Further, this transaction does not change Loral's projected cash and capital expenditure plans through 2004.<br /><br />To ensure a timely launch of Apstar-V in 2003, Loral and APT have agreed that, if a US license to launch the satellite on board a Chinese Long March rocket has not been secured by September 30, 2002, a Western launch provider will be used.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Vistar Telecommunications Develops Marine Telematics Solution for Volvo Penta of the Americas<br /><br />(25 September 2002) NSI Global Inc's Vistar Telecommunications unit has developed a satellite-based marine telematics solution in conjunction with Volvo Penta. Vistar has received an initial purchase order for 7,000 units from Volvo and has begun shipping production units. Communications services will be provided by NSI's Vistar Datacom unit over its GlobalWave satellite-based wireless network.<br /><br />Volvo Penta is one of the most important suppliers of technically advanced engines and power systems in selected marine and industrial applications. Initial distribution of the marine telematics solution will be to boaters throughout North America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, providing emergency and other communication services under Volvo's Seakey and other private brands.<br /><br />The solution for Volvo Penta was developed around Vistar's GlobalWave MT2000. Using this marine telematics solution, boaters will be able to issue emergency alerts and to receive a response from Volvo Action Service indicating that the alert has been received and is being acted upon. Requests for concierge service and requests for vessel service calls can also be communicated to the Volvo Action Service centre. In addition to water-level alarms and boat battery low-voltage alarms the Vistar designed system provides position reporting and tracking capability which can be initiated either on board the boat or remotely through the Internet.<br /><br />The GlobalWave system offers ubiquitous satellite coverage over all of North America, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, and operates 24 hours a day. The GlobalWave MT2000 system represents the smallest, most-powerful satellite communications platform available, providing sensor capability on volume, temperature, pressure, and voltage; producing reports on location and speed; and triggering alarms when sensor thresholds are exceeded. Because GlobalWave provides two-way communication capabilities, a request for current status can be sent to the asset and an immediate response will be provided. Environmentally sealed and fully tested to withstand shock, vibration, and other harsh environmental conditions, the MT2000 can operate for several years on batteries or use any source of vehicle power using its smart power management system.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NAVIGATION<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />QinetiQ and Parthus Developing Applications for NavStream 3000 GPS Location Platform<br /><br />(25 September 2002) QinetiQ and Parthus Technologies have signed a collaborative licensing agreement for Parthus' NavStream 3000 GPS location platform for deployment in a number of areas including defence, telematics, transportation and security/authentication.<br /><br />NavStream 3000 is the latest and most advanced GPS platform from Parthus. While GPS technology offers unrivalled location accuracy, certain environments like indoor or urban canyons have traditionally degraded accuracy performance. NavStream 3000 uses latest hardware and software advances to determine the exact location of an individual, vehicle, or an asset/device in practically any circumstance. This includes "static" situations (indoor locations, built up urban environment, or remote/global locations) or in "high velocity" situations (transportation, automotive or asset tracking).<br /><br />QinetiQ will be integrating the NavStream 3000 platform with other advanced technologies for which it owns the Intellectual Property (IP) and then marketing the solutions as part of its telematics and telecommunications programmes. The agreement also enables Parthus and QinetiQ to deliver total systems solutions for GPS enabled location based services and to devise suitable modifications or developments to the existing 3000Q chip set, when its performance or functionality needs to be specifically tailored.<br /><br />QinetiQ's current commercial market development activities embrace four distinct business areas:<br /><br />* Defence applications<br />* Transaction authentication that uses GPS positioning for the<br /> financial, banking and e-commerce markets<br />* A range of telematics products that use GPS as a positioning sensor<br /> to provide "context sensitive information" that is relevant to the<br /> users' location.<br />* "Real-time" GPS positioning and integration with other sensors on<br /> vehicles for motor sport and other leisure pursuits.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />MILITARY SPACE<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Boeing Team Wins FAB-T Contract<br /><br />(23 September 2002) The U.S. Air Force's Electronic Systems Center (ESC) at Hanscom Air Force Base has selected The Boeing Company as prime contractor for a six-year, US$ 273 million contract to design and develop the first increment of wideband satellite communications terminals for a transformational Department of Defense initiative known as the Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T).<br /><br />FAB-T is intended to provide strategic forces with a multi-mission capable family of terminals - or radio systems with special purpose antennas - that utilise a common design, open system architecture to talk to different satellites and enable information exchange between ground, air and space platforms. The initiative represents a key building block in Boeing's vision of the integrated battlespace of the future, where networked information and communications' systems provide a competitive edge to decision-makers and military personnel.<br /><br />The winning proposal features a flexible system architecture design developed by Boeing that can network the battlespace, accommodate terminal upgrades and meet emerging technology requirements for the DoD. Boeing views the FAB-T architecture as a solution that will address not only today's interoperability problems, but tomorrow's as well.<br /><br />Boeing's team includes Harris Corp's Government Communications Systems division; L-3 Communications' Communications Systems West division; TRW Inc's Command, Control and Intelligence Division and ViaSat Inc's Communications Systems Group.<br /><br />As prime contractor and lead system integrator, Boeing will be responsible for the systems engineering and integration, system and terminal architecture, software development, test and evaluation, integrated logistics support and communications engineering, with key support provided by Boeing Satellite Systems. Harris will be responsible for the integration of terminal and antenna hardware; L-3 Communications will be responsible for the development of the modem processor; TRW will be responsible for Advanced Extremely High Frequency waveform management; and ViaSat will be responsible for the communications security module hardware and information security.<br /><br />FAB-T program activity will be carried out in multiple phases. The first increment, managed by the MILSATCOM Terminals Office at ESC, will include the integration of terminals onboard airborne platforms, as well as in various ground-based command posts. Future increments will encompass up to 41 additional airborne platforms with participation from all the armed services.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />US Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Awards Component Contracts for MUOS<br /><br />(24 September 2002) The US Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command has awarded two US$ 40 million contracts to begin the Component Advanced Development phase of the next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system, known as the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS).<br /><br />Component Advanced Development (CAD) is a 14-month effort aimed at reducing risk and advancing system design concepts that stem from MUOS' recently completed 1999-to-2002 Concept Exploration Phase (CEP). The latest award reflects SPAWAR's selection of two teams, which will work in parallel until 2004, when one team will be selected to lead future MUOS efforts.<br /><br />One team, consists of Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Missiles and Space Operations of Sunnyvale, California and General Dynamics Decision Systems of Scottsdale, Arizona. The second team consist of Raytheon, Space Systems/Loral, TRW, Astro Aerospace and Honeywell.<br /><br />The two teams have been funded by SPAWAR to compete for a System Design and Development contract to be awarded in January 2004, for construction of the first MUOS satellite, which will be launched in 2008. Subsequently, the MUOS Program Production and Deployment contract will be awarded in mid-2006 and continue through 2023.<br /><br />MUOS will be an element of the US Department of Defense's Advanced Narrowband Communications system and will replace the current Ultra High Frequency Follow-On (UFO) system over the next two decades. The US Navy's UFO system currently provides narrowband tactical satellite communications to Joint Forces and Coalition partners and was initially launched in 1993.<br /><br />MUOS will be a narrowband satellite communication (SATCOM) system that supports a world-wide, multi-service/multi-national population of mobile and fixed-site warfighter terminals. Its capabilities will provide a considerable increase in throughput over the current Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Follow-on (UFO) narrowband satellite communications system. It will also provide greater flexibility through improved link performance for users such as Navy SEALS and other special forces to operate in difficult environments.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SCIENCE<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />ESA Awards Asteroid Spacecraft Studies<br /><br />(24 September 2002) The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded six studies to develop proposals for probes to investigate the potentially hazardous Near Earth Objects (NEOs), asteroids whose orbits pass close to the Earth and which could, some time in the future, hit the Earth causing widespread destruction.<br /><br />ESA has been supporting activities to monitor and investigate NEOs for a number of years. In ESA's view, these are activities that surpass national boundaries and which it considers to be a service to the international community. ESA's space research institute outside Rome in Italy, ESRIN, also hosts the Spaceguard Central Node. This private non-profit scientific organisation aims to support and co-ordinate NEO research throughout the world.<br /><br />Now ESA has launched a new project to seek the best ideas from industry and academia on how to protect the Earth from NEOs and in particular, to learn more about them. The damage an NEO causes depends on the speed at which it hits the Earth, its size and what it is made of. So, the more we know about them the easier it will be to decide which are potentially dangerous and what is the best action to take.<br /><br />In June a panel of NEO experts met to select the best six proposals.<br /><br />The winning six are:<br /><br />* Don Quijote: This proposal is for a spacecraft named "Hidalgo" to hit<br /> a target asteroid at high speed while the other, "Sancho", observes<br /> what happens from a safe distance before, during and after the impact,<br /> to gather information on the NEO's internal structure. This will also<br /> test possible future mitigation techniques, such as whether "Hidalgo"<br /> could be programmed to hit the asteroid to change its orbit so that it<br /> avoids collision with the Earth.<br /><br />* Earthguard 1: A spacecraft using propulsion technology such as solar<br /> sails or electric propulsion, or "hitching a ride" on a future launch,<br /> would be placed in a heliocentric orbit to observe NEOs from a more<br /> favourable viewpoint.<br /><br />* ISHTAR: This would probe the interior of an NEO to study its structure<br /> and assess the danger with radar tomography, a new technology that uses<br /> ground penetrating radar to make images of the interior of a solid body.<br /><br />* SIMONE: A fleet of low-cost small satellites would fly by and/or<br /> rendezvous with a number of NEOs to characterise the population and<br /> obtain first hand information on the hazardous objects.<br /><br />* EUNEOS: A space survey would be undertaken from an inner solar system<br /> orbit to find the most dangerous NEOs. These are often the most difficult<br /> to observe from ground-based observatories as very often these faint<br /> objects only appear in the daytime sky or very close to the horizon.<br /><br />* Remote observation of NEOs from Space: A space-based observatory to<br /> carry out remote sensing and detect physical characteristics of NEOs,<br /> such as size, composition and surface properties.<br /><br />Preliminary studies, funded by the Agency's General Studies Programme, are now under way for the six proposals. Once these are submitted in 2003, ESA will judge whether one or more of the proposed missions is feasible and merits further development.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />TECHNOLOGY<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />New Focus Partners with JPL to Develop Laser for Caesium Atomic Clocks in Space<br /><br />(23 September 2002) New Focus Inc has entered into an agreement to develop lasers for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Based on New Focus' existing tuneable laser technology, the next generation laser will be used to selectively excite particular transitions of atomic caesium, enabling the production of a new generation of high-performance frequency standards.<br /><br />In the JPL application, the laser source will be used to "cool" the caesium atoms in a highly accurate atomic clock that will be carried by the Space Shuttle and placed on the International Space Station (ISS), as part of an experiment to test many of the predictions of Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity. The current New Focus tuneable laser at 852 nanometers fits well with the extreme environmental demands of this application, providing high reliability, tunability and a narrow linewidth centred at the caesium atomic resonance wavelength. This next generation laser also has applications in the much larger market for commercial caesium clocks, including those deployed in GPS systems.<br /><br />New Focus develops and manufactures innovative photonics solutions for the telecommunications, semiconductor, industrial and biomedical markets. New Focus' product portfolio includes tuneable lasers for test-and-measurement applications, precision opto-mechanical photonics tools, and high-speed opto-electronic devices.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />LAUNCH SERVICES<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Bechtel-Lockheed Martin Team Awarded Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site Operations and Management Contract<br /><br />(25 September 2002) The US Army Space and Missile Defense Command has awarded a Bechtel-Lockheed Martin company, Kwajalein Range Services LLC, a contract for Logistics Support and Integrated Range Engineering Support Services at Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site.<br /><br />Located in the Republic of Marshall Islands, the US Army Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site is designed primarily for ballistic missile defence testing and space surveillance operations. The US Army Space and Missile Defense Command is the Army's proponent for Space and Missile Defense and is responsible for the operation of the Reagan Test Site and other facilities located at Kwajalein Atoll.<br /><br />This award is a cost-plus, cost-term award fee contract with potential duration extending to fifteen years. Kwajalein Range Services will provide technical services for the missile testing and space surveillance missions as well as complete logistics and infrastructure solutions to support the US Army Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site community. These logistics services include procurement and supply, power, water, facility and housing maintenance, schools, recreation, retail, post office, telecommunications, and sea and air transportation. Phase-in for the program has started.<br /><br />Kwajalein Range Services, LLC (KRS), is comprised of Bechtel National Inc, a subsidiary of Bechtel Corporation and Lockheed Martin. The Kwajalein Range Services team will also include major subcontractor Chugach Development Corporation that will provide logistics support services and AirScan, a veteran owned company, which will furnish aviation services.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />LAUNCHES<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Progress M1-9<br /><br />Launched: 25 September 2002<br />Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />Launcher: Soyuz-U<br />Orbit: LEO, apogee: 226 km, perigee: 226 km: inclination: 51.6°<br />International Number: 2002-045A<br />Name: Progress M-47 (9P)<br />Owner: Russian Space Agency<br /><br />This Progress mission carries supplied to the International Space Station. It is scheduled with the ISS on Sunday 29th September.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Nadezhda 7<br /><br />Launched: 26 September 2002<br />Site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia<br />Launcher: Kosmos 3M<br />Orbit: MEO, apogee: 1022 km, perigee: 987 km<br />International Number: 2002-046A<br />Name: Nadezhda 7<br /><br />Nadezhda 7 (also known as Nadezdha M) is a Russian military navigation satellite which also carries a COSPAS-SARSAT transponder to relay search and rescue signals from emergency buoys.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launch Schedule<br /><br />October: Hotbird 7, Stentor on an Ariane 5 from CSG Kourou, French Guiana<br />October 2: ISS 9A/BA, ITS S1 on the Shuttle Atlantis (STS-112) from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida<br />October 15: Foton M-1 on a Soyuz from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia<br />October 17: Integral on a Proton from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />October 22: military satellite on a Molniya-M from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia<br />October 28: Soyuz (ISS 5S) on a Soyuz U from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />October 29: Nadezhda, AlSat 1 on a Kosmos 3M from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia<br />November: Adeos 2, Micro-Lab Sat, WEOSS, FedSat on an H-2A from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan<br />November: GPS 2R-8 on a Delta 2 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />November 3: Eutelsat W5 on a Delta 4 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida: first EELV launch<br />November 10: ISS 11A, ITS, P1 on the Shuttle Endeavour (STS-113) from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida<br />Q4: AMC 9 on a Proton from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />Q4: Astra 1K on a Proton from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />November 20: TDRS J on an Atlas 2AS from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />December: Galaxy XIII/Horizons-1 on a Zenit 3SL from Sea Launch's Odyssey platform in the Pacific Ocean<br />December: SMART-1 on an Ariane 5 from CSG Kourou, French Guiana<br />December 1: SORCE on a Pegasus XL from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />delayed: DSCS-B6 on a Delta 4 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />December 15: Coriolis on a Titan 2 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California<br />December 15: ICESat/CHIPSat on a Delta 2 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California<br />December 17: Nimiq 2 on an Atlas 5 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />BUSINESS<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Alcatel Space Announces Restructuring<br /><br />(25 September 2002) Alcatel Space has announced an industrial reorganisation plan at its French facilities in Cannes, Nanterre, Toulouse and Valence to cope with the steady decline in the space sector.<br /><br />Restructuring measures, which will be applied within the scope of Alcatel's world-wide cost reduction program, are a further workforce reduction of about 400 during the first half year of 2003 in order to adapt to market trends.<br /><br />Furthermore, Alcatel Space is to launch an industrial conversion project for its Valence plant, which has 250 employees. This project will be carried out in consultation with unions, to conduct jointly a study to explore the reconversion of the production unit by seeking external industrial workloads with partners.<br /><br />Alcatel Space will work closely with labour representatives to reduce its workforce and carry out the Valence industrial conversion project, and will do so in a socially responsible manner. In particular, it will offer early retirement, leave for training and employees outplacement. Alcatel Space's workforce in France has 5200 people at the end of 2002.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Andrew Corporation Details Restructuring Plans<br /><br />(25 September 2002) Andrew Corporation has provided details of the restructuring plan it announced in July. To reduce costs in anticipation of continued reductions in customer capital spending, Andrew will discontinue several non-strategic businesses: the equipment building, wireless accessories, and satellite modem businesses.<br /><br />In addition, as part of a restructuring plan, Andrew will close several manufacturing and engineering facilities, consolidating into fewer, more efficient facilities. These actions will reduce the Andrew workforce by a net amount of about 800 people, reflecting a gross reduction of 1,200 current employees with 400 people to be added at relocated manufacturing operations by the end of fiscal 2003.<br /><br />The previously announced restructuring will result in pre-tax charges for discontinued operations of approximately US$ 35 million, along with pre-tax restructuring and other one-time charges of approximately US$ 36 million in the September 2002 quarter. In addition, costs of about US$ 5 million for relocation of inventory and manufacturing equipment will be recorded as incurred in operating expenses during fiscal 2003.<br /><br />These actions are expected to result in one-time earnings per share charges of US$ 0.59 in fiscal 2002 and US$ 0.04 in fiscal 2003, mainly in the third and fourth quarters. After tax charges are estimated to be US$ 26 million (US$ 0.30 per share) for the loss on disposal of discontinued operations, US$ 25 million (US$ .29 per share) for restructuring in 2002, and US$ 4 million (US$ 0.04 per share) for restructuring in 2003.<br /><br />Estimated pre-tax fiscal 2002 losses from discontinued operations of US$ 16 million (US$ 11 million after tax or US$ 0.13 per share) will be included in the September quarter.<br /><br />The discontinued businesses have four facilities in the United States, one of which houses shared engineering activities serving other Andrew businesses. These facilities are in Newnan, Georgia; Burlington, Kansas; Addison, Illinois; and Sunnyvale, California. These four manufacturing facilities will be closed and the shared engineering activities will be relocated to a new, smaller facility in Addison, Illinois.<br /><br />The restructuring activities will result in the closing of the Denton, Texas; Richardson, Texas; Tinley Park, Illinois; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Burlington, Iowa facilities in the United States. International facilities to be closed include Bad Blankenburg, Germany; Krasnoyarsk, Russia; Newton Abbot, England; and Wellington, New Zealand. These facilities will be replaced by new manufacturing facilities on the US/ Mexico border and in Europe. In addition, two new, smaller engineering offices will be established in Europe, along with a new engineering office in Texas.<br /><br />It is anticipated these actions will be completed by September 30, 2003 and result in annual savings of more than US$ 40 million in fiscal 2004. Because of the timing of restructuring actions taking place through September 30, 2003 and considering that certain costs of relocation and consolidation will be expensed as incurred, the net savings from these actions will be about US$ 10 million in fiscal 2003.<br /><br />The expected net cash costs of the actions is about US$ 12 million, representing charges of US$ 21 million included in the US$ 76 million total charges, capital expenditures of US$ 8 million anticipated for the two new manufacturing plants, and estimated proceeds of US$ 17 million from sales of businesses and assets.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Canal+ Technologies Sold to Thomson Multimedia<br /><br />(25 September 2002) Canal+ Group, a Vivendi Universal subsidiary, has sold its 89% stake in Canal+ Technologies to Thomson Multimedia for E190 million in cash.<br /><br />This transaction, approved by the respective Boards and which still needs to be examined by the relevant competition authorities, is part of Vivendi Universal's ongoing disposal of assets program.<br /><br />Thomson Multimedia is already a shareholder of Canal+ Technologies, together with Canal+ Group, Sun Microsystems, Sony and Sogecable. Last April, Vivendi Universal and Thomson Multimedia concluded a strategic partnership agreement in the domain of digital media related to the fight against piracy, broadband products and video services.<br /><br />Canal+ Technologies will continue to provide technology and services to Canal+ Group and its digital TV operators, as well as to all the third-party operators with whom it is in business.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Integral Systems Announces Stock Buyback Plan<br /><br />(23 September 2002) Integral Systems Inc's Board of Directors has approved a plan to repurchase up to 10% of its common stock. The stock repurchase program will be transacted over an indefinite period of time and purchases will be made as management and the Board of Directors deem prudent.<br /><br />Founded in 1982, Integral Systems is a leading provider of satellite systems and has supported over 190 different satellite missions for communications, science, meteorological and earth resource applications. The Company was the first to offer an integrated suite of COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) software products for satellite command & control, the EPOCH 2000 product line. EPOCH has become a world market leader in commercial applications with successful installations on 5 continents. The Company also offers products and services for satellite integration and test and payload data processing.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Interlink Logistics Acquires Sat-Trac Application Software from American Millennium<br /><br />(24 September 2002) Interlink Logistics Inc has acquired the Sat-Trac backend application software program from American Millennium Corporation Inc. The Sat-Trac backend application software provides a method for receiving, polling and archiving information on the location and activities of mobile assets. It will be integrated into the Interlink Logistics' risk management solution now being marketed to commercial fleets and transportation companies and will provide a proprietary user interface for the viewing of mobile assets by Interlink Logistics' customers.<br /><br />Under the agreement, AMCi will transfer its ownership of the Sat-Trac software to Interlink Logistics including all intellectual property interests and associated technical information. Interlink Logistics will incorporate the Sat-Trac software into its business model as the backend application software running at Interlink Logistics' network operating centre. Interlink Logistics' customers will be able to access the data collected from their mobile assets on their own password protected web sites using Internet web browsers and the Sat-Trac software.<br /><br />In exchange for the transfer of Sat-Trac to Interlink Logistics, AMCi will receive a one-time transfer payment, royalties from the future sales of Sat-Trac, a minority equity interest in Internet Logistics, and Board of Directors representation on Interlink's Board.<br /><br />Ongoing support will be provided by AMCi under contract with Interlink Logistics.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />PRODUCTS AND SERVICES<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Betaresearch and Scopus present "betacube" for Pay TV Services<br /><br />(24 September 2002) Betaresearch and Scopus Network Technologies have successfully integrated Betaresearch's "betacrypt 2" conditional access system and "betanexxt" customer care & billing system with the Scopus' Codico platform. This product package, named "betacube", will offer digital TV broadcasters end-to-end solutions for pay TV applications. "betacube" is targeted at small to mid-sized PayTV operations, cable or DTH networks and offers reliability, scalability and flexibility for lowest start-up costs and optimised investment risk.<br /><br />The core of the integrated solution consists of the DVB-compliant "betacrypt 2" Conditional Access system, the "betanexxt" customer care & billing system and Scopus' Codico product line. Scopus' Digital Turanround (DTA) solutions are the base for this Head-End in the box concept. Scopus provides a modular solution that meets operators needs for future expandability based on professional receivers and decryptors for transport stream decoding and decryption, as well as statistical re-multiplexing. Further, local encoding is supported by Scopus' E-1xxx encoders family, and a network management system for system and element monitoring, control and management.<br /><br />"betacrypt 2" is BetaResearch's highly secure Conditional Access System designed to meet the challenges of digital television. "betacrypt 2" has been developed from scratch and features radically new security features such as 128 bit key length, an adaptive security architecture leading to extended system life cycles, dynamic SmartCard algorithms and DPA resistance. It is a full featured Conditional Access System for DVB/MPEG-2 transmissions, designed for DTH operations as well as cable networks, scaleable from a few thousands to several million subscribers.<br /><br />"betanexxt" is BetaResearch's adaptive Customer Care & Billing solution. Based on its innovative design, "betanexxt" offers a wide range of modular functionality, that it provides in a clear, easy-to-understand user interface. It allows broadcasters to rapidly react to market trends with new or modified service offerings, identify and acquire new customers, and serve existing customer bases more efficiently. "betanexxt" can easily be customised to existing business models and seamlessly integrated into existing processes.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Conexant Introduces Complete Satellite Front-End Set-Top Box Semiconductor Solution<br /><br />(23 September 2002) Conexant Systems Inc has announced two new satellite set-top box (STB) components. The CX24121 is a QPSK direct broadcast satellite demodulator and forward error correction decoder for set-top box and PC receivers, as well as residential gateways. The device is optimised for use with Conexant's silicon satellite tuners.<br /><br />The CX24109 is the industry's most highly integrated digital satellite tuner for set-top boxes, digital video, audio and data receiver applications. When used in conjunction with either Conexant's single-stream CX24121 or dual-stream CX24130 demodulator, it forms a tightly integrated complete satellite front-end semiconductor solution that enables manufacturers to reduce the overall set-top box cost. The individual components and system solution are compliant with international digital video broadcast/digital satellite (DVB/DSS) standards.<br /><br />The CX24121 shares a common software platform with Conexant's previously announced CX24130 dual-stream demodulator. This provides manufacturers with a software-compatible migration path for applications such as personal video recording, which require dual-stream modulation.<br /><br />The new device includes several advanced features that enhance overall system performance, including integrated signal-to-noise ratio and bit error rate monitors that facilitate channel-performance measurements as well as lower power dissipation from the previous generation. As an added benefit, the device's low jitter MPEG output clock smoothing simplifies the interface to MPEG decoders.<br /><br />The CX24121 demodulator/decoder is sampling now with volume production scheduled for October 2002. The device is packaged in a 80-pin thin-quad flat pack (TQFP). A complete reference design package is also available.<br /><br />The CX24109 is based on a direct-conversion, Zero-IF architecture, which reduces the number of components required for operation. In addition, it includes an integrated low noise amplifier, an integrated variable baseband filter that provides optimal interference rejection, and an integrated local oscillator with on-chip voltage-controlled oscillator and synthesiser that further reduces the overall complete cost of the tuner portion of the set top box.<br /><br />The CX24109 digital satellite tuner is sampling now with volume production scheduled for October 2002. The CX24109 is packaged in a 48-pin exposed thin-quad flat pack (eTQFP).<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NovAtel Launches OEM4-G2 GPS Engine<br /><br />(25 September 2002) NovAtel Inc has launched its latest generation GPS engine, the OEM4-G2. This new engine is available with an Application Programming Interface (API) option - an enhancement that allows system developers to write specialised application software to run on the OEM4-G2.<br /><br />The OEM4-G2 is a small, high performance, dual frequency receiver featuring patented Pulse Aperture Correlator (PAC) technology. This state-of-the art positioning technology virtually eliminates the effects of multipath errors - GPS positioning errors caused by the interaction of the GPS satellite signal and its reflections. In addition to the API option, the OEM4-G2 has many standard features including low power consumption and external oscillator input.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />PEOPLE<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Lockheed Martin Names New President Continental Europe<br /><br />(24 September 2002) Lockheed Martin Global Inc has named Scott A Harris as President, Continental Europe.<br /><br />In this new position, Harris will be responsible for Lockheed Martin's business development activities in continental Europe. The Corporation is actively engaged in a number of European industrial alliances such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Atlas V rocket, MEADS (Medium Extended Air Defence System) and F-100 class frigates.<br /><br />Harris joined Lockheed Martin in 1997 as Vice President, Plans and Analysis, in the Business Development organisation at Lockheed Martin Corporate Headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland. Prior to that, Harris worked at the Department of Defence, where he served as Special Assistant to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defence and Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary. From 1991 to 1995, he was a Senior Analyst in International Policy and Associate Director of the Washington Research Department of RAND where he regularly conducted analyses of NATO and European security issues. He has also served on Capitol Hill as the National Security Advisor to Senate Majority Leaders Robert C Byrd and George . Mitchell. Harris received a PhD in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Norsat Announces the Appointment of Yutaka Ueda as Chief Executive Officer and President<br /><br />(24 September 2002) Norsat International Inc has appointed Mr Yutaka Ueda to the position of Chief Executive Officer and President, effective October 16th, 2002. Mr Ueda replaces Mr Mark Ahrens-Townsend, who has tendered his resignation, effective the same day.<br /><br />Mr Ueda is currently Vice-President and General Manager of ImageOne, one of Japan's solution providers in satellite communications and imagery. ImageOne has been an exclusive distributor of Norsat products in Japan since 2001, and Mr Ueda has been a member of Norsat's board since June of that year. Mr Ueda will be located at the Company's headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.<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. 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 and unsubscribe go to: http://www.spacenewsfeed.co.uk/subscribe.html<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Copyright 2002 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