World of Satellite-News Updates

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May 8th, 2013
Spatial Energy + Golden Falcon... Geospatial Goodness For O&G (Services)

Spatial Energy has signed an agency agreement with...


...Golden Falcon Technical Services, based Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates and Jordan) region. This agreement enables Golden Falcon Technical Services and Spatial Energy to work together to deliver geospatial data and software products and services to the Oil and Gas and Utilities industries in the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC.

“Spatial Energy chose Golden Falcon Technical Services as our partner in the Gulf Cooperation Council region because their business, like ours, practices the “Customer –First Principle”: To create new value through total customer satisfaction in price, quality, service and delivery,” said Chris Carlston, Managing Director, Spatial Energy GmbH.

“Golden Falcon Technical Services is pleased to represent the entire spectrum of Spatial Energy geospatial offerings, from optical and radar imagery to a variety of products and services including elevation data, global oil seeps, geologic studies and cloud-based enterprise data hosting and management” said Ahmed Gebaly, General Manager, Golden Falcon Technical Services.

Mr. Rajeev Narayan, Senior Business Manager, Golden Falcon Technical Services, will be the primary representative for Spatial Energy.

 

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May 8th, 2013
National Space Centre... A Prize Winning Kick-Off (Event)

Sean Sherlock, TD, Minister for Research and Innovation, has launched...


...the GALILEO MASTERS Satellite Technology Competition ‘Kick-Off’ Event, at the Stephens Green & Hibernian Club in Dublin, Ireland. The ‘Kick-Off’ event is part of a series of European ‘Kick-Off’ events that are being organized in each participating country. Representatives from the European Organisers, European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) and from the Ireland Region Organisers, National Space Centre, will meet potential entrants to provide information about the competition, which is now in its 10th year running and boasts a prize fund valued at 1 million euros.

The Irish Regional Prize is sponsored for the second year by National Space Centre Ltd, and this year also has additional prize support from Rubicon and Arclabs incubation centres. The competition, which is supported by the European Commission and the European Space Agency, supports and rewards innovation in business ideas using satellite technology.

Rory FitzPatrick, CEO of National Space Centre, said, "Following our huge success last year in ending up in the top 10 percent across the whole of Europe, we look forward to Ireland again proving its technology credentials in this unique and exciting pan-European competition. We would also take this opportunity to congratulate Con Costello and Vicinity Systems for setting the bar so high for entrants and wish him every success with his business going forward."

 

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May 8th, 2013
GMV... Role-Playing With Vega... (Launch)

The second successful launch of the Vega has occurred.



ESA's Vega launch vehicle. The Vega launch vehicle is the smallest one in the entire European fleet and is capable of placing in orbit a payload of up to 1.5 tons for scientific and Earth observation missions in polar and Low-Earth-Orbits (LEO). The launch, from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, was watched at that location by GMV personnel. The Vega's main payload was the Proba-V satellite, together with two smaller satellites: VNEREDSat-1A and ESTCube-1. This VEGA launch now forms part of the Vega Research and Technology Accompaniment (VERTA) program of the European Space Agency (ESA) and represents the debut of the launcher’s new Flight Program Software Alternative (FPSA).
GMV has been playing a very important role in various areas of Vega’s FPSA over the last three years, especially in the Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) design and validation, with responsibility for developing the guidance and navigation algorithms as well as the Roll and Altitude Control System (RACS).

GMV personnel have carried out various tasks within their respective range of expertise, such as requisite analysis, architecture design, detailed algorithm design and preliminary validation of software prototypes within VEGA’s flight simulator. GMV has also been responsible for FPSA’s Software Quality Assurance (SW-QA) while providing support for Reliability, Availability Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) activities as part of the software development team.

 

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May 8th, 2013
Astrium Services... A PoP For Hybrid Services (SATCOM)

Astrium Services has enhanced its hybrid network offering to enable even more...
...reliable, always available and secure communications for mining companies operating in remote areas. The service improvements follow an extension of Astrium Services’ MPLS capabilities through a new Point of Presence in Paris. A mining company operating an iron-ore mine and office in Guinea and facilities in London, is the first customer to benefit from the extended MPLS capability by ensuring always available satellite connectivity between production sites and hybrid satellite/terrestrial connectivity to the U.K., via the new PoP in Paris. Combining the extended MPLS connection of Astrium Services with satellite services, the customer benefits from affordable and reliable high speed connectivity, which supports optimised mining operations. In addition to the integrated Corporate WAN solution supplied, Astrium Services provides an End-to-End Service Level Agreement (SLA) that ensures always available connectivity and high network performance.

Astrium Services is a key provider of fully managed communication services to government, enterprise, humanitarian and the mining industry. This latest extension to its capabilities includes a Mini NNI (Network-to-Network Interface) with connections to the Astrium teleports in Toulouse and Aussaguel, enabling reliable, predictable and secure global connectivity, e.g., for mining sites in Africa. Improved MPLS capabilities enable Astrium Services to develop hybrid networks with full mesh topology, so customers benefit from flexible cross-border communications. Regardless of the network topology used, Astrium Services provides End-to-end network performance and unified QoS for terrestrial and satellite connectivity, acting as the single point of contact for the entire network.

Astrium Services has several MPLS extension agreements in place, such as with PCCW Global in Hong Kong, to offer a comprehensive hybrid network portfolio based on the MPLS capabilities of its partners and its own VSAT services expertise. Today, Astrium Services offers seamless VSAT and terrestrial connectivity for secure corporate communication in 138 countries.

 

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May 8th, 2013
Herschel Happenings... A Black Hole Of Supermassive Proportions (Imagery)

Astronomers using Europe’s Herschel Space Observatory have spotted a...
...cloud of incredibly hot gas very close to the supermassive black hole that lies at the heart of our Milky Way galaxy. The supermassive black hole goes by the name of Sagittarius A*, and weighs in at 4 million times the mass of our Sun. It is nearly 30,000 light years away at the very centre of our galaxy, but is still hundreds of times closer than other such black holes, which are usually found at the centres of large galaxies.


Artist’s impression of the dense torus of gas and dust that orbits close within a few light years of the supermassive balck hole at the heart of our Milky Way galaxy. In the central cavity of the torus, a spiral of hot gas circles the black hole, heated by nearby stars and collisions with fast flowing material from young stars.
Image credit: ESA/C.Carreau
Its relative proximity makes it the ideal target for studying these extreme environments in detail, though our view is often obscured by dense clouds of dust draped throughout the Milky Way. By studying it in far-infrared light, Herschel can see through this dust and examine the surroundings of the black hole itself. The black hole is surrounded by a ring of gas around 30 light years across, but right in the centre is a mini spiral of gas flowing inwards. Herschel observations taken in 2011 and 2012 allowed astronomers to examine the region within around a light year of the black hole itself. The data showed the presence of elements such as carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, as well as simple molecules including water, carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide.

“Herschel has resolved the far-infrared emission within just 1 light-year of the black hole, making it possible for the first time at these wavelengths to separate emission due to the central cavity from that of the surrounding dense molecular disc,” says Javier Goicoechea of the Centro de Astrobiología, Spain, who led this particular study.


The ring of material (blue) around the central black hole, as seen by Herschel, surrounds a spiral of gas (orange) seen here by radio telescopes. Also shown is the spectrum towards the very centre at far-infrared wavelengths seen by Herschel’s instruments. The spikes in the spectrum are due to a range of simple molecules, such as carbon monoxide (CO), water vapour (H2O), ammonia (NH), hydrogen fluoride (HF), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and other combinations of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. These data show that some of the gas is incredibly hot, at temperatures up to 1000 Celsius. Image credits: radio image: NRAO/VLA/C.Lang; spectrum: ESA/Herschel/SPIRE/PACS/ J.R. Goicoechea et al. (2013).
Herschel showed that some of the material in the inner spiral is moving incredibly quickly, at speeds of over 300 km/s (1 million km per hour), and must be very close to the black hole itself – possibly on the verge of falling in.

“The observations are consistent with streamers of hot gas speeding towards Sgr A*, falling towards the very centre of the Galaxy,” says Dr. Goicoechea. “Our Galaxy’s black hole may be cooking its dinner right in front of Herschel’s eyes.”

But what really took astronomers by surprise was the temperature of the gas, reaching temperatures of 1000 Celsius in places—much hotter than most interstellar material which is at temperatures of −200 Celsius or below. Some of the heating is due to intense light from nearby stars, as well as from very hot material very close to the black hole itself, but the team has calculated that this can only account for a relatively small temperature increase. The most likely cause is that intense shockwaves and turbulence, possibly due to fast-moving gas from young stars, causes the material to heat up as it is thrown around.

This research used data from the spectrometers that are part of Herschel’s SPIRE and PACS instruments. “These instruments can identify the emission from specific types of atoms and molecules out in space,” said Edward Polehampton, of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, and a member of the SPIRE spectrometer team. “Such detailed analysis has only been possible thanks to Herschel being in space, well away from the obscuring effects of the Earth’s atmosphere”.

Herschel completed its scientific observations in April 2013, when its supply of liquid helium coolant was exhausted. “This is a fascinating study with Herschel of what goes on right at the centres of galaxies. Even though Herschel has now finished observing, there’s still a huge amount of work to be done,” said Matt Griffin, of Cardiff University and lead scientist of the SPIRE instrument. “Over the next few years, as we process the full archive of Herschel data, we know there will be many more results like this”.

* “Herschel Far-Infrared Spectroscopy of the Galactic Center. Hot Molecular Gas: Shocks versus Radiation near Sgr A∗” by J.R. Goicoechea et al., is published in Astrophysical Journal Letters, 7 May 2013.

The study focuses on a spectral scan towards Sgr A∗ at wavelengths of approximately 52–671 microns taken with the PACS and SPIRE spectrometers, and is part of the PRISMAS (PRobing InterStellar Molecules with Absorption line Studies) and SPECHIS (SPIRE Spectral Line Surveys of HIFI-GT-KP Sources) Herschel Guaranteed-Time Programmes.PACS spectra between 52 microns and 190 microns were obtained during March 2011 and March 2012. SPIRE observations between 194 microns and 671 microns were obtained during February 2011.

 

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May 8th, 2013
C-COM...Eutelsat’s New View Of iNetaVu® For A Constellation


The vehicle mounted auto-pointing antenna is now officially approved to operate on Eutelsat's Satellites constellation.

C-COM Satellite Systems Inc., (TSX VENTURE:CMI) global provider of mobile auto-deploying satellite antenna systems, announced that it has received type approval for its next generation iNetVu® 1201 antenna system from Eutelsat, the leading European satellite operator.

The iNetVu® 1201 vehicle mounted auto-pointing antenna is now officially approved to operate on Eutelsat's Satellites constellation. It's one of the few 1.2m drive-away systems which has met all the auto-pointing characterization tests per the latest Eutelsat ESOG Module 260 requirements.


"The 1201 system has undergone the rigorous ESVA and auto-pointing test procedures as set by Eutelsat to ensure its ability to auto-point and peak successfully to Eutelsat Satellites with a simple push of a button," said Bilal Awada, CTO of C-COM Satellite Systems Inc.

"Our next generation of antenna models continue to break new ground. Receiving Eutelsat Type Approval is a testament to the high quality systems C-COM manufactures, both in terms of pointing accuracy and RF performance," said Leslie Klein, CEO of C-COM Satellite Systems Inc.

 

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May 8th, 2013
Harris... Helping To Protect Brazil's Western Borders (Comms)

Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) was selected by SAVIS Tecnologia e Sistemas S/A to...


...provide an end-to-end tactical communications system for SISFRON, which is the largest border security program in Latin America. Harris will work with Savis Tecnologia e Sistemas S/A, an Embraer Defesa & Segurança subsidiary, to provide border security personnel with tactical voice, situational awareness and surveillance capabilities from Harris wideband radios. These radios deliver live video, tactical chat, and situational awareness to the lowest echelons. Savis is the prime contractor on the SISFRON program.

Harris will supply tactical communications subsystems, accessories, software, services and support for the pilot phase of SISFRON (Sistema Integrado de Monitoramento de Fronteiras), the integrated border monitoring system the Brazilian Army is developing across the western borders of Brazil. This initial phase of SISFRON will provide surveillance and protection across approximately 650 kilometers of Brazilian border territory. SISFRON intends to cover the entire interior border of Brazil, which is more than 16,000 kilometers of territory that divides 11 Brazilian states and 10 neighboring countries.

The Harris tactical communications system consists of radios and accessories from across the entire Harris Falcon III® 7800 tactical radio family—including High-Frequency, Very-High-Frequency, Multiband, Soldier Personal Radio and High-Capacity Line-of-Sight radios. Harris tactical communications systems will be installed in vehicles, shelters and operations centers.

 

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May 8th, 2013
New Mexico’s Governor Verifies A Grasshopper Is A Tenant

Good news on two fronts for this fast moving company.

Governor Susanna Martinez just announced the State of New Mexico has signed SpaceX as a tenant for testing its reusable 'Grasshopper' rocket at Spaceport America. The company, also called Space Exploration Technologies Corp., has signed a three-year agreement to lease land and facilities at Spaceport America, Martinez's office said. It will carry out the next phase of flight testing for its reusable rocket program.

Additionally, SpaceX CEO Gwynne Shotwell stated, "Spaceport America offers us the physical and regulatory landscape needed to complete the next phase of Grasshopper testing. We are pleased to expand our reusable rocket development infrastructure to New Mexico."



Gwynne Shotwell is confirmed as a keynote speaker for ISPCS 2013, October 16th-17th. At ISPCS 2013, you will get a firsthand look at growing platforms for innovation, like the 'Grasshopper,' that are increasing our access to space. Participants will come together to address strategies to manage the risks and reap the rewards of the rapidly evolving commercial space industry.

 

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May 7th, 2013
SES... Getting Set For The Liftoff... (Satellite)

SES S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) has announced that the...


...SES-6 satellite has safely arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The spacecraft is now being processed for launch on board an ILS Proton Breeze M rocket scheduled to lift-off at 15:18 local time on June 3, 2013 (11:18 a.m. CET, 5:18 a.m. EDT).


Artistic rendition of the SES 6 satellite,
courtesy of EADS Astrium. SES-6 was built by EADS Astrium in Toulouse, France, based on the highly reliable Eurostar E3000 platform. The satellite is equipped with 43 C- and 48 Ku-band transponders (36MHz equivalent) and will enable the delivery of next generation broadcast services. These services include HD video distribution and mobile services, from its 40.5 degrees West location in geostationary orbit, covering North America, Latin America, Europe and the Atlantic Ocean.
Martin Halliwell, Chief Technology Officer of SES, said, “SES-6 will replace the existing NSS-806 satellite at 40.5 degrees West and provide significant capacity expansion at a strategic slot over the Americas. The satellite’s expanded Ku-band payload can support DTH platforms, VSAT services and government digital inclusion programmes throughout Latin America. The C-band payload will add incremental capacity to support channel growth at a key cable neighborhood. We thank Astrium for the delivery of the spacecraft and look forward to a successful launch campaign with ILS Proton.”

SES-6 will have a launch mass of 6,100kg., a wingspan of 40m once its solar arrays are deployed in orbit, and a spacecraft power of 13kW at the end of its 15-year design lifetime. SES-6 will be the sixth Eurostar satellite in the SES fleet, following the successful launch of ASTRA 2F in September of 2012. Three more Eurostar E3000s for SES are currently in final integration and tests in Astrium facilities.

 

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May 8th, 2013
NSR... The Market For Aeronautical SATCOM (Analysis | Reports)

NSR’s Aeronautical Satcom Markets report answers the...
...critical questions affecting the in-flight connectivity business. Based on NSR’s extensive coverage and strong foundation of measuring and monitoring the changes and trends that drive aeronautical satcom services, this report maps additional ancillary revenues, connectivity and bandwidth requirements, passenger take-up and the global evolution of this marketplace in the coming decade. This complete analytical tool will help readers track the development and advances of this evolving market. It will help answer fundamental questions about aeronautical satcom services such as:

What are the main aeronautical satcom markets?
What are the connectivity requirements for each airframe segment?
What will be the impact of the expansion of air-to-ground systems on satellite services and vice-versa?
What is the competitive landscape and the competitive forces at play?
How many airframes are in the addressable market?
What type of platform and frequency bands will be used?
What trends and drivers are impacting the market?
What is the market share of service providers and equipment manufacturers in this market?
How much will passengers spend on connectivity?
What will be the penetration rate of satellite in the in-flight connectivity market?
Which services will help the passenger experience grow the market the most in the short-, medium and long-term?
Are there still new opportunities and if so, which ones will be the most important in the coming decade?
What level of demand for satellite bandwidth and capacity will emerge in each frequency band, platform, and region?
Bottom Line: How does NSR see the Aeronautical SatCom Markets developing over the next 10 years in each region and for each segment of the market?
With a solid track record and proven methodology is what underpins NSR’s Aeronautical Satcom Markets report. The report analyzes the speed at which these changes take place and where the market will grow in the decade ahead.