Microcom's Space Newsfeed 2 March 2003<br />Space Industry News from Around the World<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Published 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. January 2003 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 />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 />Delivering Satcom Solution to New Mexico State Police<br />New Skies and Intelsat to Expand Services in AOR<br />Verestar Selected as European Gateway for Connexion by Boeing<br /><br />Navigation:<br />A Step Closer to Safer Aviation in Africa<br /><br />Military Space:<br />EMS Technologies to Develop Next Generation Military Spacecraft Antennas<br />Harris Corporation Demonstrates Vehicle-Mounted, Multiband Communication System<br /><br />Science:<br />Calian Supplies ESA with Big Dish<br />Galileo Team Disbanding as Long Jupiter Tour Winds Down<br />Pioneer 10 Spacecraft Sends Last Signal<br /><br />Launch Services:<br />Boeing to Consolidate Delta Launch Vehicle Manufacturing and Assembly<br />Contract Signed for Development of Vega Small Launcher<br />Orbital Recovery Chooses Ariane<br /><br />Business:<br />PolarSat Launches New Satellite-Communications Company<br /><br />Products and Services:<br />Encore Networks Announces Enhanced IP VPN Solutions<br />Intelsat Offers Customers Turbo Product Coding<br />IR Introduces Radiation-Tolerant "Building Block" DC-DC Converters<br />STMicroelectronics' Power Control IC for Satellite LNBs Runs from Single Supply<br />Wegener Introduces the Unity4650 IRD<br /><br />People:<br />Boeing Names Dave Ryan to Head its Satellite Manufacturing Business<br />Intelsat Promotes Ramu Potarazu<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 />Delivering Satcom Solution to New Mexico State Police<br /><br />(26 February 2003) EMS Technologies Inc has announced that the New Mexico State Police has deployed 60 Packet Data Terminals (PDT-100), EMS's wireless two-way data communication radio that supports GPS tracking. Based on the success of the initial deployment, New Mexico officials intend to add more units to bring the total to 170 terminals to cover all 12 police districts in the state by this summer.<br /><br />The PDT-100 operates over Mobile Satellite Ventures' (MSV) geostationary MSAT-1 satellite to enable police officers to quickly check drivers' licenses, verify license plates, and make stolen-vehicle inquiries from their patrol cars anywhere in the state.<br /><br />The applications include a new ability to do digital-text dispatching, which gives police added security because messages cannot be intercepted on police scanners. And, because the messaging is done digitally on a different network than the voice network, dispatch operators can focus their time on more urgent incoming emergency-assistance calls.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />New Skies and Intelsat to Expand Services in AOR<br /><br />(26 February 2003) New Skies Satellites NV and Intelsat Global Sales & Marketing Ltd have announced an arrangement to use their existing orbital and satellite resources at a single orbital location to expand their respective commercial service offerings to the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.<br /><br />Under the terms of the agreement, New Skies will allow use of its C-band frequency rights at 20º W, where the US-licensed hybrid Intelsat 603 satellite is currently providing Ku band services. In return, each company will separately market the satellite's C band capacity for the delivery of video, Internet and data services throughout the Atlantic Ocean region, sharing revenues from C band operations.<br /><br />Each company may also offer "cross-strapped" services, where customer transmissions may be uplinked to the satellite in the C band and downlinked in the Ku band, and vice versa.<br /><br />In addition, the two companies are exploring opportunities for a similar arrangement using New Skies' NSS-513 satellite, which was replaced in the Pacific Ocean region by NSS-5 in December 2002.<br /><br />The Intelsat 603 satellite began operations in July 1992 and employs 64 C band and 24 Ku band transponders (36 MHz equivalent). The satellite's Global, Hemi and Zone C band beams offer comprehensive coverage of the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In its current inclined orbit, Intelsat 603 is expected to provide services until July 2008.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Verestar Selected as European Gateway for Connexion by Boeing<br /><br />(26 February 2003) Verestar Inc. has been selected by Connexion by Boeing as its European Gateway for ground station services. Connexion by Boeing, a business unit of The Boeing Company is the high-speed mobile information service provider that enables airline passengers to access e-mail and the Internet while in flight.<br /><br />The two-year agreement with Verestar is for transmission services over multiple Ku band satellites, in addition to terrestrial connectivity, Internet access, and network services for Connexion by Boeing's European coverage.<br /><br />Connexion by Boeing selected Verestar's teleport in Leuk, Switzerland to provide the required communications services for its broadband technology. The Verestar Leuk teleport offers Internet, voice, data and video transmissions to customers in Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. Ideally located in the middle of the Swiss Alps, the teleport has a complete view of the orbital arc from 55° W in the Atlantic Ocean Region to 76.5° East in the Indian Ocean Region.<br /><br />Currently, Connexion by Boeing is conducting service demonstrations with leading European air carriers Lufthansa and British Airways on select trans-Atlantic flights. In addition to providing passengers with Internet and e-mail access including attachments, the broadband service is capable of distributing audio and video content to aircraft, which can then be viewed by passengers. The service also can provide airlines with real-time crew communications that can be used to enhance customer service in flight by providing access to their corporate networks for issuing boarding passes, rescheduling flights or other customer-focused applications.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Navigation<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />A Step Closer to Safer Aviation in Africa<br /><br />(27 February 2003) Between 24 and 26 February, a number of trial flights into Dakar using the EGNOS (European Global Navigation Overlay Service) Test Bed system were carried out to show how the planned provision of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) services over Central Africa could be implemented.<br /><br />ASECNA (Agence pour la SECurité de la Navigation Aérienne en Afrique et à Madagascar) has worked with the European Space Agency, the European Commission and various other European partners to make these trials possible.<br /><br />The Africa and Indian Ocean (AFI) States have adopted a three-phase strategy to implement GNSS for aviation in their region in the framework of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) APIRG (AFI Planning and Implementation Regional Group).<br /><br />The Dakar trials represent the first experimental test phase for the introduction of GNSS, which comprises the deployment of mobile EGNOS test stations in the AFI region to extend test signal coverage. These stations will be used to demonstrate an EGNOS service over the AFI land masses.<br /><br />To provide Approach with Vertical Guidance (APV-1) navigation information is a target of the ICAO GNSS strategy and has been identified as an application of key importance for safer aviation in the region.<br /><br />The Dakar trials aimed to provide an APV-1 signal in the Dakar area and to verify performance in static and dynamic conditions. To this end, a portable EGNOS test station was installed at Dakar airport and connected to the ESTB (EGNOS System Test Bed) in July last year.<br /><br />An aeroplane was fitted with Test Bed User Equipment (TBUE) and an OEM4 Millennium NovAtel receiver. This equipment gave the pilots enhanced navigation information which they used to perform approaches. The EGNOS Test Bed Signal In Space provides accurate positioning data with very good availability.<br /><br />This is the first time an ESTB RIMS (Ranging and Integrity Monitoring Station) has been deployed to test EGNOS services in the sub-Saharan region. Deploying the Dakar RIMS has been beneficial because it not only provides a service in the Dakar region but has enhanced the performance of the ESTB in the Mediterranean and further improved that of the ESTB in the Canary Islands. This has important implications for the provision of EGNOS services outside the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) region.<br /><br />In the framework of the AFI strategy, the first test bed will be installed in Central Africa and will be followed by others in Southern and Eastern Africa. More extended trials and an associated GNSS workshop, planned for May in Yaoundé, are expected to bring together all participants in the region and raise awareness of Europe's GNSS.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Military Space<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />EMS Technologies to Develop Next Generation Military Spacecraft Antennas<br /><br />(26 February 2003) EMS Technologies Inc has been selected by the US Air Force/MJPO to support the Communications-on-the-Move (COTM) Nulling Antenna Study Program.<br /><br />The study is aimed at developing the next generation of spacecraft antennas for military communications satellites. These new antennas will provide broadband communications to a wide array of mobile terminals in hostile jamming environments. They also will enable backbone connectivity for implementing the Department of Defense's Transformational Communication Architecture, the future of network-centric military communications.<br /><br />During the first phase of the COTM Antenna Study, EMS will work with the Air Force to develop the best antenna configurations to serve the military's requirements.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Harris Corporation Demonstrates Vehicle-Mounted, Multiband Communication System<br /><br />(26 February 2003) Harris Corporation is demonstrating its HUMVEE-mounted, Quad-Band, multi-channel SATCOM terminal solution at the US Army (AUSA) Winter Symposium and Exhibition.<br /><br />The prototype system, proposed as a next-generation SATCOM solution for the US Army, provides military X and Ka band, and commercial C and Ku band capabilities for satellite-based, voice, video, and data communications. The terminal also offers significantly greater reliability, as well as several times the communications capacity and throughput of older generation terminals, providing military commanders with highly mobile, HMMWV-mounted communications connectivity within the battlefield and reach-back to headquarters operations.<br /><br />This new generation of Quad-Band satellite communications terminal offers full redundancy, the ability to keep up with the pace of operations with minimum set-up and tear-down times, and the means to meet challenges posed by the harshest of environmental conditions. The terminal, built with the warfighter in mind, was specifically designed to reduce maintenance time and costs, and significantly reduce life-cycle costs.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Science<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Calian Supplies ESA with Big Dish<br /><br />(24 February 2003) Calian's Systems Engineering Division (SED) has been awarded a major contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) following an international competition. Under the terms of the US$ 33 million contract, SED will provide a 35-metre deep space antenna system in Europe.<br /><br />ESA operates and maintains a network of ground stations in support of satellite operations. The network is being augmented by adding deep space antenna systems to support such programs as Rosetta, Mars Express, Bepi Columbo and Gaia. Under a previous contract, SED provided the first of these large antenna systems in New Norcia (Western Australia) where it was recently commissioned and declared ready for operations. The contract announced today is for a second antenna system that SED will develop over a 30-month period, installing the system in Spain in mid-2005.<br /><br />The system will enable X band transmit and receive and Ka band receive capability, with the possibility of future upgrade to Ka band transmission. At 35 metres in diameter and with full-motion capability, the antenna will be one of the largest in the world used for deep space communications. As prime contractor, SED will bring together the skills and equipment from subcontractors and suppliers in many European countries. SED's customer for this project is ESA's European Space Operations Centre based in Darmstadt, Germany.<br /><br />The contract was made possible by the Canada-ESA Co-operation Program, managed by the Canadian Space Agency from its headquarters in Saint-Hubert, Quebec. The Program enables Canadian companies to bid for and obtain technology development contracts from ESA, and to participate in major European space projects. Canada is the only non-European country to participate directly in ESA programs.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Galileo Team Disbanding as Long Jupiter Tour Winds Down<br /><br />(26 February 2003) The flight team for NASA's Jupiter-orbiting Galileo spacecraft will cease operations on Friday, February 28 after a final playback of scientific data from the robotic explorer's tape recorder.<br /><br />The team has written commands for the onboard computer to manage the spacecraft for its short remaining lifetime. Galileo will coast for the next seven months before transmitting a few hours of science measurements in real time, leading up to a September 21 plunge into Jupiter's atmosphere.<br /><br />In the years since astronauts deployed Galileo from the cargo bay of Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1989, the mission has produced a string of discoveries about asteroids, a fragmented comet, Jupiter's atmosphere, Jupiter's magnetic environment, and especially about the geologic diversity of Jupiter's four largest moons. The prime mission ended six years ago, after two years of orbiting Jupiter. NASA extended the mission three times to continue taking advantage of Galileo's unique capabilities for accomplishing valuable science.<br /><br />Now, the onboard supply of propellant is nearly depleted. Without propellant, the spacecraft would not be able to point its antenna toward Earth nor adjust its trajectory, so controlling the spacecraft would no longer be possible. Before that could happen, the flight team last year put Galileo on course for disposal by a dive into the crushing pressure of Jupiter's atmosphere. This strategy eliminates any possibility of an unwanted impact between the spacecraft and the moon Europa. Galileo's own discovery of a likely subsurface ocean on Europa has raised interest in the possibility of life there and concern about protecting it.<br /><br />On November 5, 2002, the orbiter passed closer to Jupiter than it had ever ventured before, flying near an inner moon named Amalthea and through part of Jupiter's gossamer ring to begin its 35th and last orbit around the giant planet. This elongated farewell loop will take Galileo farther from Jupiter than it has been since before it entered orbit in 1995, to a point more than 26 million km away on April 14 before heading back in for impact.<br /><br />Scientific data recorded on the tape recorder during last November's flyby have been gradually played back for transmission to Earth since the flight team repaired radiation damage to the tape recorder in December. Transmissions during a communication session with a NASA Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, California on Thursday night and early Friday finished the playback.<br /><br />The Galileo flight team numbered about 300 people at its peak during the prime mission, but has run much leaner in recent years, with about 30 since the Amalthea flyby. That smaller team is now disbanding, mostly to work on other JPL-managed NASA missions that are in development or already flying.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Pioneer 10 Spacecraft Sends Last Signal<br /><br />(25 February 2003) After more than 30 years, it appears the venerable Pioneer 10 spacecraft has sent its last signal to Earth. Pioneer's last, very weak signal was received on January 22, 2003.<br /><br />NASA engineers report Pioneer 10's radioisotope power source has decayed, and it may not have enough power to send additional transmissions to Earth. NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) did not detect a signal during the last contact attempt on February 7, 2003. The previous three contacts, including the January 22 signal, were very faint with no telemetry received. The last time a Pioneer 10 contact returned telemetry data was April 27, 2002. NASA has no additional contact attempts planned for Pioneer 10.<br /><br />Pioneer 10 was built by TRW Inc and was launched March 2, 1972, on a three-stage Atlas-Centaur rocket. Pioneer 10 reached a speed of 52,200 km/hr needed for the flight to Jupiter, making it the fastest human-made object to leave the Earth<br /><br />On July 15, 1972, Pioneer 10 entered the asteroid belt becoming the first spacecraft to pass through the belt. Pioneer 10 passed by Jupiter on December 3, 1973.<br /><br />The spacecraft was the first to make direct observations and obtain close-up images of Jupiter. Pioneer also charted the gas giant's intense radiation belts, located the planet's magnetic field, and established Jupiter is predominantly a liquid planet. In 1983, Pioneer 10 became the first human-made object to pass the orbit of Pluto, the most distant planet from the Sun.<br /><br />Following its encounter with Jupiter, Pioneer 10 explored the outer regions of the solar system, studying energetic particles from the Sun (solar wind), and cosmic rays entering our portion of the Milky Way. The spacecraft continued to make valuable scientific investigations in the outer regions of the solar system until its science mission ended March 31, 1997.<br /><br />Since that time, Pioneer 10's weak signal has been tracked by the DSN as part of a new advanced-concept study of communication technology in support of NASA's future Interstellar Probe mission. At last contact, Pioneer 10 was 12.2 billion km from Earth, or 82 times the nominal distance between the Sun and the Earth. At that distance, it takes more than 11 hours and 20 minutes for the radio signal, travelling at the speed of light, to reach the Earth.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launch Services<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Boeing to Consolidate Delta Launch Vehicle Manufacturing and Assembly<br /><br />(28 February 2003) Boeing has announced that the company is consolidating all Delta launch vehicle manufacturing and assembly in Decatur, Alabama.<br /><br />Beginning this summer, Delta launch vehicle assembly now done at its Pueblo, Colorado, facility will transfer to the company's Decatur facility where Delta IV production and testing is done. The consolidation should be completed in mid-2004.<br /><br />About 250 people currently work at the Boeing-Pueblo facility. Approximately 160 of the jobs there will transfer to Decatur. Where appropriate, the people who currently hold those jobs will be offered the opportunity to transfer with them. A small workforce will remain in Pueblo through 2007 to support storage of Delta II launch vehicles for the US Air Force.<br /><br />As part of Boeing's commitment to assisting people affected by this announcement, an outplacement service is being established to provide resume writing, career counselling, and interviewing assistance. Boeing also will work with local and regional businesses to set up job fairs.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Contract Signed for Development of Vega Small Launcher<br /><br />(25 February 2003) ESA has signed a contract with the ELV company for completion of the development phase of the Vega European small launcher programme, and CNES signed, on behalf of ESA, a contract with FiatAvio for development of the P80 advanced solid propulsion stage and demonstrator.<br /><br />Step 1 of the Vega small launcher programme was decided by the ESA Council in June 1998. Funding for both the Vega and P80 programmes was approved by the participating states in December 2000.<br /><br />Italy is the leading contributor to the Vega programme with 65%, other participants being Belgium (5.63%), France (12.43%), the Netherlands (3.5%), Spain (5%), Sweden (0.8%) and Switzerland (1.34%). Belgium, France, Italy and the Netherlands are also contributing to the P80 programme.<br /><br />ELV is the prime contractor for the Vega launcher. Its shareholders are FiatAvio (70%) and the Italian space agency, ASI (30%). FiatAvio is the prime contractor for the P80.<br /><br />The Vega small launcher configuration consists of 3 solid stages: the P80 first stage, the Zefiro 23 second stage, the Zefiro 9 third stage and an upper liquid propulsion module, called AVUM.<br /><br />Vega's target lift capability is 1500 kg and it will inject its payload into a circular orbit at 700 km altitude. The launch base to be used for Vega is the European Spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana.<br /><br />Arianespace will be the commercial operator for Vega. The first qualification launch is planned for mid-2006, with an expected frequency of 3 to 4 launches a year.<br /><br />The P80 has twofold objectives: to serve as the first stage of the launcher and to develop new technologies for the future A5 solid booster.<br /><br />An integrated project team (IPT), comprising staff from ESA and the Italian and French space agencies (ASI and CNES), will manage the Vega launcher contract and ensure overall system coherence. It is to be located at the ESA establishment near Rome, ESRIN.<br /><br />The P80 contract will be managed, under the authority of the IPT, by CNES through a dedicated project team, including ESA and ASI staff. The P80 team is to be located at the CNES establishment in Evry, near Paris.<br /><br />The values of these development contracts are: 221 million Euros for the Vega launcher, and 40 million Euros for the P80.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Orbital Recovery Chooses Ariane<br /><br />(27 February 2003) Orbital Recovery Corporation has selected Ariane as the primary launch vehicle for its Geosynchronous Spacecraft Life Extension System (SLES), signing an agreement with Arianespace to orbit at least four SLES space tugs beginning in 2005.<br /><br />SLES will be carried as a secondary payload on Ariane launches, with a lift-off mass of 500-800 kg, depending on the space tug's specific mission.<br /><br />The unique SLES is designed to extend the useful lifetime of multi-million dollar telecommunications satellites by 10 years or more, and also is capable of rescuing satellites stranded in incorrect orbits.<br /><br />The agreement calls for an initial SLES launch on Ariane in the first quarter of 2005, followed by two more SLES flights in 2005 and contract provides for additional launches in 2005 and beyond.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Business<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />PolarSat Launches New Satellite-Communications Company<br /><br />(26 February 2003) PolarSat, a new, privately-held Canadian company focused on the manufacture of satellite communications equipment, has purchased the assets and product lines of the former broadband division of NSI Global Inc.<br /><br />The firm has raised Cdn$ 9 million from three major investors active in the satellite-communications industry, and has retained key former NSI employees to ensure a smooth transition and rapid start-up.<br /><br />In purchasing all assets, contracts and receivables of NSI Communications, PolarSat emerges well invested, financially stable and poised to further develop its niche market.<br /><br />PolarSat is chiefly involved in the VSAT segment of satellite communications. VSATs allow customers to securely communicate (via voice, data and video) with branch locations anywhere in the world. Typical markets are in growing economies such as China, Africa, India and the Middle East. Industrial applications include oil and gas exploration, mining, and government agencies.<br /><br />The investment in PolarSat provides operational funding for a minimum of three years. The investors are:<br /><br />* Telenor Satellite Networks AS, a subsidiary of Telenor ASA and a leading provider of satellite-based communications and services.<br />* Infinium (India) Ltd and associates, a privately owned company providing telecommunications and VSAT services in India.<br />* Agilis Communication Technologies Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Singapore Technologies Electronics Ltd, one of the largest electronic system houses in Asia.<br /><br />Besides its commitment to the VSAT Plus II and FlexiDAMA product lines, PolarSat will now be able to accomplish additional research and development with this development. Analysts peg the global potential for this niche market at US$ 350 million a year, with a 15% annual growth.<br /><br />PolarSat's head office and manufacturing plant is presently located at 6900 Trans-Canada Highway, Pointe Claire, Quebec, Canada.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Products and Services<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Encore Networks Announces Enhanced IP VPN Solutions<br /><br />(26 February 2003) Encore Networks has announced the addition of Virtual Private Network (VPN) solutions for satellite enterprise data networks to its BANDIT product line. The enhanced capabilities include existing support for IPsec VPN, dynamic firewall, IP routing, numerous legacy data protocols, and Selective Layer Encryption (SLE). These features enable satellite users running applications over IP to realise the benefits of broadband communications without experiencing the inherent performance degradation typically associated with satellite circuits.<br /><br />Satellite modems have been widely adopted throughout global markets as an efficient means of providing the full spectrum of broadband communications services via satellite-based RF transponders. Satellite providers have deployed more than 800,000 enterprise circuit drops world-wide, and providing end-to-end VPN services has been limited and challenging. Satellite propagation delay reduces throughput of TCP, affecting IPsec and other VPN protocols. Now, with Encore’s Selective Layer Encryption feature, significant improvements have been implemented to optimise the performance of key applications over satellite networks, such as email, file transfer, and Internet surfing.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Intelsat Offers Customers Turbo Product Coding<br /><br />(26 February 2003) Intelsat can now deliver greater value to customers through the availability of Turbo Product Coding for use with selected pre-engineered bandwidth solutions targeted at Internet service providers, carriers and corporate network customers.<br /><br />Turbo Product Coding, one of the most advanced forward error-correction (FEC) coding improvements available for satellite modems, such as the Comtech EF Data CDM-600, reduces the amount of power required for antennas to transmit signals to a satellite while maintaining high error correction performance. As a result, customers can use smaller, less expensive antennas, thereby enabling voice, data and Internet applications to be supported more cost-effectively.<br /><br />Intelsat and Comtech EF Data are working together to provide various Turbo Product Coding promotions to customers. As part of this introduction, the companies are, for a limited time and subject to terms and conditions, offering customers special incentive credits that can be applied to a new Comtech EF Data CDM-600 modem equipped with Turbo Product Coding.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />IR Introduces Radiation-Tolerant "Building Block" DC-DC Converters<br /><br />(26 February 2003) International Rectifier has introduced the M3L28 family of standard, off-the-shelf, radiation-tolerant DC-to-DC converter "building blocks" that address space industry demand for shorter design cycles and less costly design analyses.<br /><br />The new DC-DC converters feature high reliability, and are designed for extended operation in moderate radiation environments. The converters are designed to operate without performance or power de-rating under the temperature extremes of -55 to +125 degrees Celsius. The mechanical design has been characterised and qualified to absorb the mechanical shock and vibration normally encountered during launch and are suitable for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and launch vehicles.<br /><br />The new converters are targeted for point-of-load regulation for power systems, and feature hybrid assembly technology, to minimise size and weight. The products are available in the most common input voltage of 28V, with standard output voltages of 3.3V, 5V, 12V and 15V for single output models, and +/-5V, +/-12V and +/-15V for dual-output models. The converters include an input EMI filter that is capable of meeting the conducted emissions and conducted susceptibility requirements of MIL-STD-461C.<br /><br />All components are stress de-rated to meet the requirements of MIL-STD-975, MIL-STD-1547 and GSFC PPL-21. Radiation test data, includes TID, SEE, neutron and prompt dose.<br /><br />Key Specifications<br /><br />* TID (total ionizing dose) less than 25krad<br />* SEE greater than 37 MeV-square cm/mg<br />* MIL-STD-461C, CE03 and CS01 compliance<br />* TTL compatible ON/OFF command<br />* Operating temp: -55 to +125 degrees Celsius<br />* Outline dimensions: 5.8 (l) x 3.8 (w) x 1.0 (h) cm<br />* Weight: Less than 85 grams<br /><br />Availability and Pricing<br /><br />Samples and flight units are available now. The M3L28xxS is US$ 2,650 each and the M3L28xxD is US$ 2,675 each in 50-lot quantities.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />STMicroelectronics' Power Control IC for Satellite LNBs Runs from Single Supply<br /><br />(28 February 2003) STMicroelectronics has introduced a power supply and control IC for the low-noise block circuits used in analogue and digital satellite broadcasting TV receivers. The part is designed for use in set-top boxes in all regions and in emerging TV set and PC card applications.<br /><br />The LNBP21 voltage regulator enlarges a well-established family of power and control ICs for low noise blocks. Unlike previous versions, which used a linear approach, the LNBP21 uses a step-up DC-DC converter so it can work from a single input voltage between 8V and 15V.<br /><br />The part also features 22 kHz tone signalling, to allow the LNB to be controlled using the Eutelsat DiSEqC protocol. The oscillator starts quickly to facilitate this feature, making it possible to tell the LNB to change its polarisation or signal band.<br /><br />ST has also integrated an I(2)C bi-directional bus interface into the LNBP21 to offer another way to control the LNB.<br /><br />The part offers short-circuit protection and diagnostics of the LNB. It features digital cable-length compensation and has over-temperature protection. Protection against electrostatic discharge of up to 4 kV on the power input-output pins has been included.<br /><br />The LNB21 is available in two packages - an SO-20 or a Power SO-20 version.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Wegener Introduces the Unity4650 IRD<br /><br />(27 February 2003) Wegener Corporation has introduced the Unity4650 IRD (integrated receiver decoder) for broadcast television.<br /><br />The Unity4650 decodes both MPEG 4:2:2 and 4:2:0, and has a new family of advanced options for high end digital broadcast applications and is a key upgrade to the Unity line of DVB receivers.<br /><br />The Unity4650 is a DVB-compliant receiver with two option module slots to allow enhanced features. The Digital output option module includes an SDI digital output with embedded AES audio as well as Genlock. A 4 port RF switch can be added. The optional 8PSK Turbo demod enables broadcasters to make more efficient use of satellite capacity. The Unity4650 is designed to work in broadcast networks that demand both professional analogue and digital outputs.<br /><br />Wegener's patented COMPEL Network Control and COMPEL CA Encryption are integrated into the Unity4650.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />People<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Boeing Names Dave Ryan to Head its Satellite Manufacturing Business<br /><br />(27 February 2003) Boeing has selected Dave Ryan to lead Boeing Satellite Systems effective immediately. Ryan, a 13-year Boeing employee, succeeds Randy Brinkley, who has announced his intent to leave the company on June 1, 2003.<br /><br />As vice president and general manager of Boeing Satellite Systems, or BSS, Ryan will report to Bill Collopy, vice president and general manager of Launch and Satellite Systems, a division of St. Louis-based Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.<br /><br />Located in El Segundo, California, Boeing Satellite Systems is the world's largest manufacturer of commercial communications satellites and a major provider of space systems, satellites and payloads for national defence, science and environmental applications.<br /><br />Ryan was most recently vice president and deputy general manager, Space and Intelligence Systems. Prior leadership assignments include a variety of military and commercial satellite programs.<br /><br />Prior to joining Boeing in 1990, Ryan spent a 13-year career designing and operating satellite systems at TRW Defense and Space. His technical training is in communication systems engineering, satellite payload systems engineering, and satellite integration and test. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Rice University in 1976 and his Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Rice University in 1977.<br /><br />Through June 1, Brinkley will remain with Boeing reporting to Jim Albaugh, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and will work to ensure a smooth leadership transition and continued quality performance at BSS.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Intelsat Promotes Ramu Potarazu<br /><br />(24 February 2003) Ramu Potarazu, President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Intelsat Global Service Corporation, will be promoted to President & COO Intelsat (Bermuda), Ltd next month. In addition, he will head Intelsat's global sales and marketing efforts.<br /><br />In his position with Intelsat Global Sales & Marketing Ltd, Mr Potarazu will assume expanded responsibilities for the direction of business development, marketing, broadband programs and establishing new strategic business units for voice and data, video, and government services. As President & COO of Intelsat (Bermuda) Ltd, he will also be responsible for directing Intelsat's corporate strategy.<br /><br />In other changes, Kevin Mulloy will succeed Mr Potarazu as the President of Intelsat Global Service Corporation. Mr Mulloy is currently Senior Vice President, Strategy & Business Development, of Intelsat Global Service Corporation.<br /><br />Other key management personnel include Joe Corbett, who will remain Executive Vice President & CFO of Intelsat Ltd; David Meltzer, who will remain General Counsel & Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, of Intelsat Global Service Corporation; and Tony Trujillo, who will be named Senior Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), of Intelsat Global Service Corporation. Mr Trujillo is currently Senior Vice President, Corporate Services, of the same organisation.<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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