World of Satellite-News Updates

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April 18th, 2013
Boeing... Volunteers "To Go"... (Business)

Some 250 to 300 jobs are expected to be cut by Boeing at their...
...Southern California plants. That's about 5 percent of the approximately 5,500 Space & Intelligence Systems positions at the company's El Segundo, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and Torrance facilities. A number of employees have already accepted layoff packages. All cuts are expected to be in place by this coming November.

According to sources, these layoffs are not attributable to sequestration, but deal with Boeing's transfer to more of a production line of work that incorporates a number of assembly line elements. As the costs for satellites are lowered, the company becomes more competitive. Seven additional Boeing satellites are scheduled for launch by year's end, with two already having been pushed to their orbital slots. There is a backlog of 29 satellites.

 

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April 18th, 2013
UNIGEO Consortium And ScanEx RDC Celebrate Ideas Beyond Geoportals
The contest uses ideas and potential of space images and geoportals application in different spheres of human activities.
UNIGEO Consortium supported by ScanEx RDC carries out the contest of geo-projects "Space images—for science and society". The goal of this contest is to make popular the ideas and possibilities of space images and geoportals application in different spheres of human activities: science, education, culture, nature protection, economic activities and civil initiatives.


Contest results will be made public on September 15, 2013 and the winners will be awarded during the 6th International Conference "Earth from Space—The Most Effective Solutions" , which is to be held on October 1-3, 2013.

Since the last conference in 2011 several major events have happened which without doubt gave a new impulse for the development of geoinformational technologies in Russia. All the restrictions concerning usage of aero and satellite imagery were lifted, implementing the principle of “everything that can be seen by a human eye from the space should be open for public access”; the list of instructions of the President of the Russian Federation (dated October 10, 2012, №ПР-2672) in addition to the need of space imagery data introduction envisages evaluation of performance of executives at various levels, depending on how successfully such data is introduced by them; public-private partnership in Russian space industry started to take shape…

More information about the requirements towards projects, contest stages, contest works registration procedure and evaluation criteria are available is the following link.

The 6th International Conference “Earth from Space—The Most Effective Solutions” will take place on October 1-3, 2013 at the Moscow Region “Vatutinki” resort hotel. Key topics of the conference are: nature protection and access to space images and near real-time satellite-based monitoring services from civil society in Russia and abroad. Conference organizers are: ScanEx Research & Development Center, NGO Transparent World. Conference participation requests can be placed by filling in the registration form at the website: conference.scanex.ru.

 

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April 17th, 2013
Astrium’s Study...How To Tidy Up Space Without Causing Collision Cascading
The recovery of “non-cooperative” space debris is a complex task...

Astrium, Europe’s space technology company, has been awarded a study contract by the French space agency CNES. The study will analyze existing concepts and technologies and determine which can be used to successfully tackle large items of space debris, such as launcher stages and end of life satellites.

Entitled “The development of concepts and technologies for handling space debris”, the study is being conducted as part of the CNES’ Orbit Transfer Vehicle (OTV) program. It will help define the parameters necessary for developing suitable space vehicle concepts through a two-step approach named OTV-DEMO/X technological demonstrator, followed by a system demonstrator known as OTV-DEMO/Y.

It is expected that the development of these vehicles will be managed through international cooperation which will see Astrium initiating partnerships during this study phase that will be consolidated as the OTV program moves forward. Partnering Astrium in the study are Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL, UK), an Astrium subsidiary, the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL, Switzerland), Bertin Technologies (France) and Oceaneering Space Systems (USA).

The study awarded to Astrium follows a 2011 study contract that identified a number of key concepts, which will now be consolidated, selected and expanded on. The most promising of them will be assessed with a view to identifying their cost and development schedule.

The recovery of “non-cooperative” space debris is a complex task that involves identifying it and then being able to approach it. Its state of decay following several decades in space and its overall orbit must then be assessed, prior to its seizure by suitable means and subsequent de-orbiting.

“Through this latest study, Astrium will pave the way to solving a major issue for all space users,” said Astrium Space Transportation CEO Alain Charmeau. “In mobilizing our industrial resources in conjunction with those of national agencies, we will put forward innovative solutions and technologies capable of dealing with space debris and thereby ensuring the sustainable development of space.”

Recent studies by the European Space Agency and NASA have shown that the amount of space debris—particularly in low Earth orbit—could cause “collision cascading” also known as the Kessler effect, which would hamper all space activity for 50 years. These studies also point out that the effect can be stabilized by removing, between now and 2020, between five and 10 items of large space debris. This is the scenario in which the OTV study entrusted to Astrium will be conducted.

 

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April 17th, 2013
Norsat International... Acquiring Minds Wish To Know... (Business)

Norsat International Inc. (“Norsat” or the “Company”) (TSX: NII and OTC BB: NSATF), has closed a definitive agreement to acquire...
...certain business assets and assume certain liabilities of a U.S.-based satellite communication systems company. Norsat will pay US$530,170 and will finance the transaction with cash from operations. The acquired assets include new products and associated IP that align with Norsat’s existing product roadmap and allow Norsat to immediately enter new and additional areas within the satellite communications markets with solid state power amplifiers (SSPAs), high power block upconverters (BUCs), SATCOM baseband kits and Microsatellite terminals (terminals with antenna sizes below 1 meter).

“This is an exciting development for Norsat which will advance our core business by augmenting our product portfolio and enhancing intellectual property (IP) for our Satellite Solutions and Microwave business units," said Dr. Amiee Chan, President and CEO of Norsat. “Strategically, this acquisition is consistent with Norsat's ongoing growth strategy. Through it, we will broaden our portfolio of products and services, and the solutions we provide to customers. The expanded sales team and larger product range it brings will enable us to address new market opportunities in the U.S. and around the world. Accordingly, we believe the acquisition will create strong value and has the potential to be accretive to shareholders,” added Chan.

Additional acquisition details have not been disclosed as of this writing.

 

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April 18th, 2013
Orbital’s Antares Readies For Second Try To Launch...Keeping Umbilical Attached

Neither issue alone would have caused the umbilical disconnect, however, the combination resulted in the anomaly...
Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), a major space technology company, today announced that the Antares team has developed a go-forward plan to address the umbilical disconnect issue that resulted in the April 17 launch scrub. The program is currently working toward the next launch attempt on Friday, April 19 at 5 p.m. EDT, weather permitting.


During the initial countdown on April 17, with 12 minutes left in the count, flight controllers saw that an umbilical providing data, which connects the Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) to the upper stage of the Antares rocket, became disconnected prior to the planned disconnect time. The team determined the cause was a combination of slight hydraulic movement of the TEL and not enough slack left in the umbilical to allow for any additional or unplanned movement. Neither issue alone would have caused the umbilical disconnect, however, the combination resulted in the anomaly. Small adjustments are being made early today to both the hydraulics on the TEL and to the umbilical.

“The good news is that this is a simple adjustment to the external support systems,” said Mr. Frank Culbertson, Orbital’s Executive Vice President and Mission Director for the Antares Test Flight. “Given that this is a first run for the rocket and the first time use of a new launch facility, the fact that all systems were performing as planned while the team proceeded through the pre-launch checklists is very encouraging. It speaks volumes about the quality of the work done by this team and our partners.”

The next launch attempt is pending completion of the work at the pad and acceptable weather conditions. Mission managers will meet again later today to review weather and range conditions. At that time they will determine if the team will move forward with beginning the countdown tomorrow morning.

 

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April 17th, 2013
Proba-3 To Be A First... Two Spacecraft Fly As One—Almost Like Being Married

This will be the first mission in which two spacecraft will fly through space as a single unit...relative position accuracy to within less than one millimeter.

Spanish industry is leading the Proba-3 mission, a world first in precise formation flying. This European Space Agency (ESA) project aims to demonstrate that two satellites can move as one single object with sub-millimeter precision. This configuration will enable the creation of enormous space telescopes with the lens and detector hundreds of meters apart.

"Proba-3 will be the first mission in which two spacecraft will fly through space as a single unit, pointing at selectable directions, and with sub-millimeter precision, in other words, relative position accuracy to within less than one millimeter," Salvador Llorente, director of this project in SENER, the first Spanish company to lead an ESA mission, explained. There have been very few formation satellite missions up to now, such as the Swedish Prisma project, and only in the near Earth environment and with a level of precision of tens of centimeters.

The new mission includes two satellites weighing approximately 340 kg and 200 kg. They will be launched in 2017—several launchers are being evaluated, including one from India and another from the U.S.—and they will travel jointly attached together until they separate in a highly-eccentric orbit. Their nearest point, the perigee, will only be 600 km from Earth. Every time they pass through this zone they will be in free flight, but under well controlled trajectories.

The operations associated with precise formation flight will take place on the most distant section of the orbit, the apogee, over 60,000 km away, as here the gravitational disturbances are minimised and do not complicate or make the manoeuvres too costly. The formation technology will be tested and the planned tests will be conducted in this region of the orbit.


One of the relevant experiments including scientific application of Proba-3 will be blocking out the Sun with one of the craft in such a way that the other, 150 m away, can examine the Sun's corona in unprecedented detail.

The first satellite, the blocker, will create an artificial solar eclipse in order to facilitate its companion satellite, the coronograh, in gathering the data. A similar technique was already tried in 1975 on the Apollo-Soyuz mission.

"In any case, the primary objective of this mission is to validate the precision formation flight technology, and to be able to position both craft between 20 and 250 metres apart, yet always working together as if they formed a rigid structure," Llorente emphasized.

The researcher highlighted one possible application of this configuration: "If you wanted to build telescopes with long focal length, you could mount the lens on one of the satellites and the detector on the other, which was already proposed -for instance- in the case of the Xeus x-ray telescope." In this way you can avoid the need for large deployable structures and reduce the mass of the launch, apart from improving the position stability when compared with thermo-elastic distortion with such a large structure.

Proba-3 will also serve to validate several optical and laser sensors in addition to the algorithms required for future formation flight missions. Different experiments will be used to confirm that this system works properly, varying the distances between the satellites and their pointing direction.

Rendezvous tests, orbital approach manoeuvres between spacecraft in highly elliptical orbit, will also be performed and could be applied to missions to Mars. Specifically in the mission known as 'Mars Sample Return', which plans to pass a Martian rock from one craft to another.

In addition, researchers will test prevention and emergency systems with the activation of engines and other devices to avoid the risk of the satellites colliding, "a situation that entails the premature end to any mission," Llorente warned.

Although the ESA has entrusted SENER with the task of leading the project, other major partners taking part are Astrium CASA Espacio and GMV from Spain, as well as QinetiQ Space and Spacebel from Belgium. The mission's tracking station will be located in the Redu locality (Belgium), although adjustments between the two spacecraft can be programmed automatically.

The details of Proba-3 have been presented in journals such as 'Acta Astronautica' and at conferences such as the International Workshop on Satellite Constellation and Formation Flying (IWSCFF), held recently in Lisbon (Portugal). Researchers and companies from over a dozen countries are taking part in this third PRoject for On-Board Autonomy (PROBA), the ESA's advanced series of technology demonstration mini-satellites.

 

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April 18th, 2013
Advantech Wireless... Driving Away To New VSAT Heights (Antenna)

Advantech Wireless Inc. has released the new addition to its suite of...
...Drive-Away VSAT Antenna line that includes Pioneer™ and Enterprise™ type of antennae: the POLARIS K-Class ultra-compact, high performance, high quality, roof mount antenna system. The POLARIS130K and POLARIS155K antennas use the patent pending Next Generation Removable Roto-Lok® Cartridge Drive System, specifically designed for no maintenance, ease of repair, and zero backlash. These antennas encompass the industry well-known Roto-Lok® wire drive pedestal and iPoint™, auto-positioning controller and amplifier into the antenna enclosure, making the system a robust standalone sub-assembly ready to install onto almost any vehicle.

Advantech Wireless’ latest technology that is GaN based, up to 250W Ku-band redundant, SSPA/SSPB system, can be easily installed directly on the boom, in a cost efficient manner. With Integrated Auto-Pointing iPOINT Controller or separate Indoor Controller options, the new POLARIS K-Class Antenna acquires the satellite in less than three minutes. The iPOINT Auto Acquisition Controller uses industry standard position transducers and a sophisticated pattern recognition algorithm to confirm and refine its heading information using visible satellites.

“The system is simple to install, set up and use” stated Cristi Damian, VP Business Development at Advantech Wireless “Combined with the New Generation of High Power GaN based SSPAs/SSPBs, the POLARIS K-Class Antennas offer the ultimate solution for Broadcast Applications”.

 

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April 18th, 2013
Lockheed Martin... Mobility Plus Security With MUOS (Satellite)

Artistic rendition of the MUOS satellite series, courtesy of Lockheed Martin. [SatNews] Military satellite radios have rarely offered secure data communications while on the move.
That’s due to the fact that older communication systems needed terminals that were stationary and in the open—not ideal for missions when mobility is key and time is of the essence. The Mobile User Objective System, a Lockheed Martin satellite communications network for the U.S. Navy, is changing that concept—the MUOS system accomplished its first secure data and voice call using an on-orbit satellite and associated ground stations.

Recently, two General Dynamics AN/PRC-155 Manpack radios successfully completed a secure radio-to-radio voice and data “call” through the MUOS satellite network, as part of a scheduled MUOS end-to-end system demonstration. The PRC-155 radio is part of the Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Fit family of radios.


Lockheed Martin’s fourth MUOS spacecraft completes its multi-beam assembly mate process. Crowning the satellite, the circular platform contains 16 ultra-high frequency antennas for wide-ranging coverage. With its major components now integrated, the spacecraft can enter system and environmental test.
Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin. “This first data call demonstrates the MUOS system capability for users who have up to now lacked secure data on the move,” said Iris Bombelyn, vice president of Narrowband Communications at Lockheed Martin. “The Manpack radio is the first of many terminal types that we know are waiting to connect to the MUOS network. Over 20,000 existing terminals are preparing to follow, making MUOS a ready and affordable solution to getting secure voice, data and video to mobile users.”
During the demonstration, one radio successfully transmitted voice and data communications through the orbiting MUOS satellite, to the MUOS ground station, back through the satellite and to a second radio.

MUOS satellites are equipped with two payloads: the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) payload that provides a 16-fold increase in transmission throughput over the current Ultra High Frequency satellite system, and a legacy payload that works seamlessly with currently-fielded terminals. Earlier this year, Lockheed Martin delivered the completed waveform, developed by General Dynamics, to the U.S. Navy. The waveform, now published in the government’s library, allows radio developers to integrate the software into existing radios so they can realize the benefits of the MUOS network.

The second MUOS satellite will ship next month to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, for launch in July. After certification of the ground and terminals for use, the WCDMA payloads on both MUOS satellites will be usable by warfighters in the field.

 

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April 21st, 2013
Orbital... A Walloping Good Start... (Launch)

NASA commercial space partner Orbital Sciences Corporation on Sunday launched its...
...Antares rocket at 5:00 p.m. EDT from the new Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad-0A at the agency's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. This test flight was the first launch from the pad at Wallops and was the first flight of Antares, which delivered the equivalent mass of a spacecraft, a so-called mass simulated payload, into Earth's orbit.


Artistic rendition of Antares launch courtesy of
Orbital Sciences. "Today's successful test marks another significant milestone in NASA's plan to rely on American companies to launch supplies and astronauts to the International Space Station, bringing this important work back to the United States where it belongs," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. "Congratulations to Orbital Sciences and the NASA team that worked alongside them for the picture-perfect launch of the Antares rocket. In addition to providing further evidence that our strategic space exploration plan is moving forward, this test also inaugurates America's newest spaceport capable of launching to the space station, opening up additional opportunities for commercial and government users."
The test of the Antares launch system started with the rocket's rollout and placement on the launch pad April 6th, and culminated with the separation of the mass simulator payload from the rocket. The completed flight paves the way for a demonstration mission by Orbital to resupply the space station later this year. Antares will launch experiments and supplies to the orbiting laboratory carried aboard the company's new Cygnus cargo spacecraft through NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract.

"Today's successful test flight of Orbital Sciences' Antares rocket from the spaceport at Wallops Island, Virginia, demonstrates an additional private space-launch capability for the United States and lays the groundwork for the first Antares cargo mission to the International Space Station later this year," said John Holdren, director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. "The growing potential of America's commercial space industry and NASA's use of public-private partnerships are central to President Obama's strategy to ensure U.S. leadership in space exploration while pushing the bounds of scientific discovery and innovation in the 21st century. With NASA focusing on the challenging and exciting task of sending humans deeper into space than ever before, private companies will be crucial in taking the baton for American cargo and crew launches into low-Earth orbit. I congratulate Orbital Sciences and the NASA teams at Wallops, and look forward to more groundbreaking missions in the months and years ahead."


The Orbital Sciences Corporation Antares rocket is seen as it launches from Pad-0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, Sunday, April 21, 2013. The test launch marked the first flight of Antares and the first rocket launch from Pad-0A. The Antares rocket delivered the equivalent mass of a spacecraft, a so-called mass simulated payload, into Earth's orbit.
Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Orbital is building and testing its Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. After successful completion of a COTS demonstration mission to the station, Orbital will begin conducting eight planned cargo resupply flights to the orbiting laboratory through NASA's $1.9 billion CRS contract with the company. NASA initiatives, such as COTS, are helping to develop a robust U.S. commercial space transportation industry with the goal of achieving safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station and low-Earth orbit. NASA's Commercial Crew Program also is working with commercial space partners to develop capabilities to launch U.S. astronauts from American soil in the next few years.

 

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April 21st, 2013
Advantech Wireless... Driving Away To New VSAT Heights (Antenna)

Advantech Wireless Inc. has released the new addition to its suite of...
...Drive-Away VSAT Antenna line that includes Pioneer™ and Enterprise™ type of antennae: the POLARIS K-Class ultra-compact, high performance, high quality, roof mount antenna system. The POLARIS130K and POLARIS155K antennas use the patent pending Next Generation Removable Roto-Lok® Cartridge Drive System, specifically designed for no maintenance, ease of repair, and zero backlash. These antennas encompass the industry well-known Roto-Lok® wire drive pedestal and iPoint™, auto-positioning controller and amplifier into the antenna enclosure, making the system a robust standalone sub-assembly ready to install onto almost any vehicle.

Advantech Wireless’ latest technology that is GaN based, up to 250W Ku-band redundant, SSPA/SSPB system, can be easily installed directly on the boom, in a cost efficient manner. With Integrated Auto-Pointing iPOINT Controller or separate Indoor Controller options, the new POLARIS K-Class Antenna acquires the satellite in less than three minutes. The iPOINT Auto Acquisition Controller uses industry standard position transducers and a sophisticated pattern recognition algorithm to confirm and refine its heading information using visible satellites.

“The system is simple to install, set up and use” stated Cristi Damian, VP Business Development at Advantech Wireless “Combined with the New Generation of High Power GaN based SSPAs/SSPBs, the POLARIS K-Class Antennas offer the ultimate solution for Broadcast Applications”.