Satellite News articles from February 2007

Satellite News archives from February 2007

Surrey Wins ESA Contract For Geostationary Smallsat Development.
February 5, 2007... Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. has been awarded a development contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) to continue work on a geostationary small satellite platform, the company announced Jan. 31. Under the contract, valued at 2.3...

Sea Launch Picking Up The Pieces After Launch Failure.(Sea Launch Company L.L.C., SES New Skies)
February 5, 2007... Days after the catastrophic failure of Sea Launch's Zenit-3SL vehicle carrying a satellite for SES New Skies, the launch provider is assessing the damage to the launch platform and looking forward to a renewal of operations. According to...

Industry Experts Contemplate Next Steps In Commercial Market.(satellite launch services industry)
February 5, 2007... In the aftermath of the Jan. 30 catastrophic launch failure of Sea Launch's Zenit-3SL vehicle carrying the NSS-8 satellite for SES New Skies, industry experts were trying to anticipate the fallout in the commercial launch market. NSS-8,...

Where's Walrus? NASA Students Track Animals' Movement, Habitat By Using Satellite Imagery.(National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Fish and Wildlife Service)
February 5, 2007... Much like cattle within the continental United States, walrus are a staple for Native Alaskans' livelihood, be it hides for clothing, meat for food, grease for cooking and ivory for tools and scrimshaw for trade. The Pacific walrus is the...

SES New Skies, Thuraya CEOs Assess NSS-8 Fallout.(SES New Skies appointed Robert Bednarek)(Thuraya's chief executive officer, Yousuf Al Sayed)
February 5, 2007... The dramatic launch failure of the NSS-8 satellite means business plans will have to be altered throughout the the length and breadth of the satellite industry. SES New Skies has lost a 100-transponder satellite and the challenge for...

Telenor Expands Equipment, Services For GSA Contract.
February 5, 2007... Telenor Satellite Services has added Inmarsat's Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) service as well as other satellite services to its offerings under its U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Technology Service contract, the...

MDA Wins Advanced Technology Contracts.(MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd., EADS Astrium)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) received two advanced technology contracts from EADS Astrium to provide a pair of data reception and transmission subsystems, MDA announced. One of the advanced communication satellite...

Norsat Receives Order From Global TV.(Norsat International Inc., Global Television Network)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... Norsat International Inc. has received an order from Global TV to supply a turnkey satellite newsgathering system, Norsat announced Jan. 31. Global TV, a division of CanWest Media Works, is a Canadian broadcast network that reaches 96...

Harris Completes AEHF Navy Multiband Terminal Milestones.(Advanced Extremely High Frequency)(Harris Corp. get contract from U.S. Navy)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... Harris Corp. completed a pair of milestones for the U.S. Navy's Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) program, Harris announced. Harris logged onto a Milstar satellite using an AEHF Navy Multiband Terminal prototype system onboard a...

TCS Receives Contract For Satellite Spectrum Management System.
February 5, 2007... TeleCommunication Systems Inc. (TCS) has been awarded a 12-month contract by the U.S. Army to support the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite (WGS) system, TCS announced Jan. 31. Under the contract, valued at more than $700,000, TCS will perform...

General Dynamics To Provide Ground Components For German Military Program.(General Dynamics C4 Systems get contract from German Armed Forces)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... General Dynamics C4 Systems will supply tactical antennas and radio support equipment to the German Armed Forces for the SATCOMBw Step 2 Program, General Dynamics announced Jan. 31. SATCOMBw Step 2 will create a complete satellite...

Iridium, ARINC, ICG To Supply Voice Service For Cathay Pacific.(ARINC Inc.,Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., ICG USA Inc., Iridium Satellite L.L.C.)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... Cathay Pacific Airways of Hong Kong will be the first commercial airline customer to adopt an Iridium-based global satellite voice service developed by Arinc and International Communications Group (ICG), Iridium Satellite announced Jan. 31....

GlobeCast Launches African Channel.
February 5, 2007... GlobeCast has struck a deal to carry North African channel Nessma, GlobeCast announced. The channel is available for direct-to-home satellite reception throughout North Africa and the Middle East via Arabsat's Badr-4 satellite at 26...

Mainstream Data Inks Global Content Delivery Contract For Splash News.(Splash News and Picture)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... Entertainment news and picture agency Splash News and Picture has chosen Mainstream Data's MediasFTP service to deliver the agency's content worldwide, Mainstream Data announced Jan. 29. Splash News provides its subscribers with an...

Air Force's Latest Environmental Satellite Begins Operations.(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... The latest Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) spacecraft has been turned over to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for operational use, manufacturer Lockheed Martin announced. DMSP F-17 Block 5D-3,...

SpaceDev Expands Production Capability in Colorado.(Starsys)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... SpaceDev Inc. will move the operations of its Starsys division from Boulder, Colo., to a new facility in Louisville, Colo., in March, SpaceDev announced Jan. 30. The 72,000- square-foot facility is located in the Colorado Technology Center...

XM Radio To Be Included With Windows Vista.(XM Satellite Radio Inc.)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... XM Radio Online will be included in Microsoft's new operating system, Windows Vista, XM Satellite Radio announced. XM Radio Online provides more than 80 of XM's channels and will be offered as part of the operating system's digital music...

Intelsat To Sell Maryland Teleport.(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... Intelsat plans sell its Silver Spring, Md., teleport, which includes the land, facilities and six antennas ranging in size from 3.8 meters to 10 meters, Intelsat announced Jan. 26. Intelsat plans to solicit offers in early February and hopes...

Satellite TV Remains Popular In Saudi Arabia.(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... About 93.9 percent of households in Saudi Arabia own a satellite dish, Middle East telecoms consultancy Arab Advisors reported in "Saudi Arabia Media Survey 2007," released earlier this month. Showtime, Orbit and Art provide direct-to-home...

SpaceDev Conducts Hot-Fire Test Of Upper Stage Rocket Motor.(contracts with Air Force Research Laboratory)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... SpaceDev has completed a series of three hot-fire tests of its hybrid upper stage motor, the company announced Feb. 1. The tests, conducted at the company's test site in Orange County, Calif., demonstrated the ability to restart a...

NASA To Support PlanetSpace, Transformational Space In Development Of Commercial Transport Systems.(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... NASA signed Space Act agreements with PlanetSpace Inc. and Transformational Space Corp. to support the companies' development of commercial systems that could transport humans and cargo to low-Earth orbit, the agency announced Feb. 1. ...

AMC-18 Begins Operations.(SES Americom launched satellite communications services)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... SES Americom's AMC-18 satellite completed in-orbit tests and has begun operations, the company announced Feb. 1. Built by Lockheed Martin and placed into orbit in December by an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket, AMC-18 will provide broadcast...

Orbiting Wall Street.
February 5, 2007... DirecTV DirecTV Group will acquire Darlene Investments LLC's share of DirecTV Latin America LLC, giving DirecTV Group full equity ownership of the Latin American satellite-TV provider, DirecTV announced Jan. 30. DirecTV Group will...

Churn Discussion Dominates BSkyB Results.(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC strong subscriber growth)
February 5, 2007... BSkyB's results released this week saw strong subscriber growth once again with the operator now at over 8.4 million subscribers. However, one of the main talking points among analysts was the churn figure which has now reached nearly 12...

Sea Launch Assesses Damage To Launch Platform.(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Sea Launch's Odyssey launch platform lost its flame deflector and the aft doors of the hangar have been knocked off their supports, the company announced Feb. 9. The flame deflector is located below the launch pad, while the hangar...

Degradation Of Satellites Threatens Globalstar's Service, Business Plan.
February 12, 2007... Degraded performance from Globalstar's constellation of satellites led the company to warn its customers that they may lose two-way voice and data service as early as next year. Many of the company's 40 satellites are suffering from...

New Initiatives Popping Up In U.K. Pay-TV Markets.
February 12, 2007... There was a flurry of activity among pay-TV players as the week closed in the United Kingdom, with Virgin Media (formerly ntl) announcing its arrival and BSkyB launching a new digital terrestrial television (DTT) initiative. BSkyB...

Maritime Search For Microsoft Scientist Leads To Unprecedented Volunteer Satellite-Data Integration.(Jim Gray)
February 12, 2007... A far-flung volunteer search effort for missing Microsoft database researcher Jim Gray by his fellow high-tech professionals has demonstrated an unprecedented array of technological capabilities. Described as a capable sailor, Jim Gray,...

Europeans Looking For Handle On Satellite Radio.
February 12, 2007... While satellite radio has blazed a trail in the United States, it is still amidst its early days in Europe, although there have been one or two significant recent developments. Ondas Media, a new player in the market, led by former SES Astra...

Worldspace Picks Certicom To Protect New Service in Europe.(Worldspace Satellite Radio)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Worldspace Satellite Radio has licensed Certicom's conditional access system to secure Worldspace's satellite digital radio-based broadcast services for the European market, Certicom announced Feb, 5. Worldspace plans to roll out its...

Iridium Adds Eight Partners For Data Service Offerings.(Iridium Satellite L.L.C.)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Iridium Satellite has appointed eight new value-added partners offering Iridium-based products and services for remote asset management and other machine-to-machine data applications, Iridium announced Feb. 9. Among new resellers are...

Anaren To Supply Globalstar-2 Components.(Alcatel Alenia Space get contract with Globalstar Inc.)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Anaren Inc. will develop and produce the integrated beamforming assemblies for the Globalstar-2 satellite payload, Anaren announced Feb. 7. The contract, awarded by prime contractor Alcatel Alenia Space, is valued at more than $8 million...

Prisma Satellite System Passes Milestone.(Swedish Space Corp.)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... The Swedish-led Prisma satellite system has passed a critical design review at Swedish Space Corp. (SSC)'s Engineering Center in Stockholm. With design approval obtained, final manufacturing of the flight hardware can begin, followed by...

FCC Grants Extension To ICO.
February 12, 2007... ICO Global Communications Ltd. (ICO) has been granted milestone extensions for the construction and launch of its ICO G1 satellite, the company announced Feb. 5. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted the company's...

Northrop Grumman Delivers Advanced EHF Payload Module.(contracts with Lockheed Martin, extremely high frequency)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Northrop Grumman Corp. has delivered the payload module for the first Advanced Extremely High Frequency (EHF) military communications satellite to prime contractor Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman announced. The Lockheed Martin-led team...

Integral Stockholders Halt Actions After Company Makes Changes To Board Of Directors.(Integral Systems Inc. get contract from U.S. Air Force)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Integral Systems Inc. will declassify its board, resulting in a single class of directors with each one up for election every year, the company announced Feb. 6. In response to the move, Fursa Alternative Strategies LLC, Integral's...

Advantech To Provide Satellite Communications To Saudi Aramco.(Advantech Satellite Networks Inc.)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Advantech Satellite Networks Inc. has been awarded a contract to provide a VSAT communications network for Saudi Aramco in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Advantech announced. The contract includes the delivery of redundant hubs with...

Missile Warning Satellite Completes Environmental Testing.
February 12, 2007... The first Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous orbit spacecraft platform has completed engineering thermal vacuum testing, Lockheed Martin announced Feb. 5. SBIRS will provide early warning of missile launches and support...

Foxtel, Austar Combine In Sports Right Deal.(Australian Football League )(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Australian direct-to-home operators Foxtel and Austar have signed a four- year rights deal to broadcast Australian Football League games. The deal is between Seven Network, Ten Network and Foxtel and runs from 2007 to 2011. Foxtel will...

Stratos Adds Henoch To Legal Team.(Stratos Global Corp., Bruce Henoch)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Bruce Henoch has joined Stratos Global Corp. as vice president for legal and regulatory affairs, the company announced Feb. 7. Henoch comes to Stratos from the law firm of Shulman, Rogers, Gandal, Pordy & Ecker, where he was a shareholder...

Motient Appoints Freeman To Board.
February 12, 2007... Motient Corp. has appointed William Freeman to its board of directors, the company announced Feb. 5. Freeman is chairman of TerreStar Networks Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Motient. He previously served as the CEO of Leap Wireless...

Near Earth Creates Investment Banking Service.(formed Near Earth Advisory unit)(Brief article)
February 12, 2007... Near Earth LLC has formed Near Earth Advisory as a distinct business unit focusing on advisory services, the company announced Feb. 5. Services will include valuations, fairness opinions, custom research projects, business planning and...

Orbiting Wall Street.
February 12, 2007... DirecTV Group Inc. DirecTV Group Inc. posted a profit of $1.4 billion on revenues of $14.8 billion, the company announced Feb. 7. In 2005, DirecTV attributed the revenue gains to subscriber growth at DirecTV U.S. and DirecTV Latin...

Premiere Still Scoring Well Despite Soccer Loss.
February 12, 2007... Despite initially losing the key soccer (Bundesliga) rights in Germany, pay-TV operator Premiere has bounced back in style, ending 2006 with a subscription base totalling just shy of 3,410,000 million. Despite the soccer contretemps,...

Boeing Designing Smaller Satellite Platform.(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Boeing Co. is designing a smaller, more versatile spacecraft platform intended to appeal to the commercial and military markets, company spokeswoman Diana Ball confirmed. The new offering, first reported by a financial newspaper, will be...

The 'Next' Thing: Iridium Considers Its Next-Generation Constellation.
February 19, 2007... Iridium Satellite will spend more than $2 billion to build and deploy its second-generation satellite constellation, dubbed Iridium Next, the company announced Feb. 15. Plans call for the 66-satellite system to be rolled out...

GE To Trade SES Global Stake For Interests In Other Satellite Ventures.
February 19, 2007... SES Global has agreed to repurchase 103.1 million shares of SES from GE in a transaction valued at 1.2 billion euros ($1.6 billion), SES announced Feb. 14. In exchange for its stake, GE will receive shares in a new company, SES...

Chinese Anti-Satellite Test Means Space 'No Longer A Sanctuary'.(Air Force Michael Wynne at the Air Force Association conference)(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... China's Jan. 11 test of an anti-satellite weapon marked "a turning point" in how the United States should view space, the U.S. Air Force's top official said last week. "The Chinese have sent the message that our guard must be stronger,"...

SES New Skies CEO Remains Confident Despite NSS-8 Loss.(Rob Bednarek)(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... What was supposed to be a banner start to 2007 has turned into somewhat of a challenge for SES New Skies CEO Rob Bednarek. The company's NSS-8 satellite was destroyed by the January failure of a Sea Launch rocket, and Bednarek must...

ILS Proton To Launch Ciel-2 Satellite.(International Launch Services contracts with Alcatel Alenia Space)(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... International Launch Services (ILS) signed a contract to launch the Ciel- 2 satellite on a Proton Breeze-M vehicle in late 2008, the company announced Feb. 15. Ciel-2, built by Alcatel Alenia Space, will be the inaugural launch for...

Ariane 5 Steps Up Production.(by Arianespace Inc.)(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Ariane 5 production is being increased to meet growing demand in the launch services marketplace, Arianespace announced Feb. 15. In a declaration signed in Bremen, Germany, production of Ariane 5 ECAs - - the most powerful version of the...

Raytheon To Deliver Navy Multiband Terminal For Testing.(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Raytheon Co. will deliver the Navy Multiband Terminal satellite communication system to the U.S. Navy for formal tests, the company announced Feb. 15. The terminal will be used for submarine, shore-based and shipboard communications for the...

GlobeCast, Envivio To Bring Mobile TV To Orange Subscribers.(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... GlobeCast and Envivio Inc. have reached an agreement to deliver content to Orange's mobile TV subscribers throughout France, the companies announced Feb. 13. The new solution, based at GlobeCast's Paris technical operations center, will...

Starsys Tests Ground Link Antenna Pointing System for GeoEye-1.(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Starsys Inc., a subsidiary of SpaceDev, has completed testing of part of the antenna-pointing gimbal for the GeoEye-1 imaging satellite, SpaceDev announced Feb. 12. The antenna-pointing gimbal reduces motion created by spacecraft...

Digital+ Numbers Behind Forecasts.(subscribers)(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Digital+, a Spanish direct-to-home operator, ended 2006 with 2 million subscribers, the company reported. The pay-TV provider, owned by Spanish media giant Sogecable, saw slow progress in 2006, adding 84,000 new net subscribers, including...

Loral Skynet Debuts Cellular Backhaul Service.(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Loral Skynet has introduced a satellite-based cellular backhaul service that enables mobile/cellular operators to extend their networks and reduce the operational costs of serving remote and low annual rate per user areas. The new...

SkyPort Launches Partners Program.(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Satellite communications services provider SkyPort International has launched a best-in-class channel partners program to bring its network to more users of voice, data, broadband and wireless services, the company announced Feb. 14. ...

Sirius Canada Adds 100,000 New Subscribers Over Holidays.(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Sirius Canada Inc. added more than 100,000 subscribers since Nov. 22, bringing its total subscriber base to more than 300,000, the company announced Feb. 13. The company launched service in December 2005. Nearly 8 out of 10 satellite...

Space Systems/Loral Completes GOES Program Work.(U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) has completed satellite support operations for U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) program, the company announced Feb. 13. SS/L...

Telenor Teams With Telemar For Marine Communications.(Telenor Satellite Services Inc., Telemar Scandinavia AB )(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Telenor Satellite Services has teamed with Telemar Scandinavia AB to deliver broadband maritime communications aboard 27 vessels managed by Wallenius Marine AB, Telenor announced Feb. 12. Telemar will deliver and install antennas and...

Northrop Grumman Demonstrates GPS Range-Tracking System.(global positioning system based Minuteman-3 ballistic missile)(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Northrop Grumman Corp. demonstrated a GPS range-tracking system developed for the Minuteman-3 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the company announced Feb. 9. The system, one of two independent tracking systems required for range...

Newtec, UDCast To Develop Mobile TV Distribution System.(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Newtec is partnering with UDCast to present a mobile TV system for distribution of digital video broadcasting-handheld signals via satellite for commercial deployments beginning in the third quarter of 2007, UDCast announced. UDCast will...

T-VIPs Wins Russian Space Deal.(contracsts with German Aerospace Center)(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Norwegian technology company T-VIPs will provide its TVG420 IP Video Gateway to the DLR, the German Aerospace Center, T-VIPs announced. The system will be used to send video from the International Space Station to the Russian Space Center in...

SkyWave SureLinx Wireless Controller Approved By Inmarsat.
February 19, 2007... SkyWave Mobile Communications has received Inmarsat type approval for its SureLinx 8100 D+/GPRS integrated wireless controller, allowing for its use throughout the global Inmarsat network, SkyWave announced. [Copyright 2006 Access...

APTS Lobbies Congress To Mandate Satellite Carriage.(Association of Public Television Stations )(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Representatives from public television stations nationwide will urge Congress this week to mandate satellite carriage of local stations' digital signals, the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) announced Feb 12. Public TV...

GlobeCast Completes Florida Move.(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... GlobeCast has moved its South Florida channel origination and master control room operations to newly leased technical facilities at HBO Latin America Group in Sunrise, Fla., GlobeCast announced Feb. 14. HBO and GlobeCast operations will run...

Study: Satellite Navigation Improves Driving, Traffic Safety.(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... A study by Dutch research institute TNO suggests a positive influence from satellite navigation devices on driving and traffic safety, according to results released Feb. 14 by the group of Aon, Athlon Car Lease, Delta Lloyd and TomTom who...

Intelsat Names Shernit To Run Intelsat General Unit.(William Shernit )(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Intelsat has appointed William Shernit as president of its subsidiary, Intelsat General, Intelsat announced Feb. 14. Intelsat General provides communications systems primarily to military and civilian government customers. Shernit has...

SSTL Adds Board Members.(Martin Sweeting, Matt Perkins and John Forrest )(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... SSTL, a designer and manufacturer of small satellites, has added three members to its board: Martin Sweeting will serve as group executive chairman, with Matt Perkins as group CEO and John Forrest as deputy chairman and senior independent...

Northrop Grumman Elects Bush President, COO.(Wesley Bush)(Brief article)
February 19, 2007... Wesley Bush has been elected COO of Northrop Grumman Corp., the company announced Feb. 13. Bush, who also serves as Northrop Grumman's president, joined the company in 2002 as part of the acquisition of TRW Inc. and previously served as...

Orbiting Wall Street.(Eutelsat S.A.'s sales and earnings)(Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd.'s sales and earnings)(Integral Systems Inc. (Lanham, Maryland)'s sales and earnings)
February 19, 2007... XM Satellite Radio XM Satellite Radio agreed to sell its XM-4 satellite to a trust owned by Satellite Leasing LLC and will lease back capacity aboard the spacecraft, XM said in a Feb. 13 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange...

Eutelsat Looks For Further Growth In 2007.(Giuliano Berretta )
February 19, 2007... Eutelsat CEO Giuliano Berretta believes 2007 will prove to be a good year for the Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) sector, with continued strong performance fueled by possible regional consolidation. "2007 will be a year of assimilation for...

SES Moves AMC-21 From Land Launch To Arianespace.(SES Americom Inc.)(Brief article)
February 26, 2007... Arianespace will launch the AMC-21 satellite for SES Americom in the 2008 second quarter aboard an Ariane 5 rocket, the companies announced Feb. 21. The satellite previously had been scheduled to be placed into orbit by Sea Launch's planned...

Decision On Sirius-XM Merger Faces Long Road To Approval.(Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.)(XM Satellite Radio Inc.)
February 26, 2007... A week after the unveiling of the proposed merger of Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio, consensus about its prospects and possibilities remained muddled as federal officials prepare to consider the application. XM and Sirius...

Sourisse Predicts New Orders To Remain Strong Through 2008.(Pascale Sourisse of Alcatel Alenia Space)
February 26, 2007... Alcatel Alenia Space CEO Pascale Sourisse believes the market for satellites will be very strong throughout the next few years and hoped the company could maintain a strong position. According to Alcatel Alenia's estimates, the company won...

A Tift Among Brits: Virgin Media Scolds BSkyB, Warns Of Dropping Basic Sky Channels.(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC)(Brief article)
February 26, 2007... Relations between BSkyB and Virgin Media (formerly ntl Telewest) were trending toward a new low following a Feb. 23 announcement in the United Kingdom. Virgin Media put out a statement saying that by the end of the month it was unlikely...

FSS Operators Seek Ways To Capitalize On Growth Patterns.(Fixed Satellite Service)(Discussion)
February 26, 2007... The satellite industry finds itself in a strong position, top executives said at the SATELLITE 2007 opening session, but there was an undercurrent of caution in their comments. Overall, the panel was increasingly optimistic about the...

EchoStar Affiliate To Provide S-Band Capacity For Mobile Video Project.(China Mobile Broadcasting Satellite Ltd. signed a contract with China Satellite Mobile Broadcast Ltd.)(Brief article)
February 26, 2007... China Mobile Broadcasting Satellite Ltd., a Hong Kong-based affiliate of EchoStar Communications Corp. will provide S-band satellite capacity for a mobile video project in China slated to launch prior to the 2008 Olympics, the company...

CapRock Acquires Arrowhead.(CapRock Communications Corp.)(Arrowhead Global Solutions Inc.)(Brief article)
February 26, 2007... CapRock Communications aims to boost its position in the government and military market through its acquisition of Arrowhead Global Solutions, a supplier of integrated communication systems to the federal government and military. The...

ViaSat Acquires ICT.(Intelligent Compression Technologies)(Brief article)
February 26, 2007... ViaSat is acquiring privately held Intelligent Compression Technologies (ICT), ViaSat announced Feb. 21. ICT provides corporations, Internet service providers (ISPs), and satellite/wireless carriers with patented data-compression...

Artel Signs For $70 Million For Satellite Services To U.S. Central Command.(Brief article)
February 26, 2007... Artel announced Feb. 21 that the U.S. Department of Defense has awarded the company two task orders to provide satellite services to the U.S. Central Command in support of U.S. warfighters in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. The...

Comtech, Thrane & Thrane To Develop BGAN-Based Mobile System For Pentagon.(Broadband Global Area Network)(Comtech Mobile Datacom Corp.)(Brief article)
February 26, 2007... Comtech Mobile Datacom Corp. has signed a joint technology development agreement with Thrane & Thrane A/S to develop next-generation mobile satellite solutions for the U.S. Department of Defense and other military customers, the companies...

International Datacasting Signs Satellite Network Deals.(with Telesat Canada)(Brief article)
February 26, 2007... International Datacasting Corp. (IDC) will provide a next generation DVB- S2 broadband satellite communications system to Telesat Canada. IDC and U.S.-based Efficient Channel Coding, a subsidiary of ViaSat, will supply a hub, terminals,...

NASA, Virgin Galactic To Explore Cooperation.(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief article)
February 26, 2007... NASA officials signed a memorandum of understanding with Virgin Galactic LLC Feb. 20 to explore potential space technology development cooperation, NASA announced. NASA Ames Research Center and Virgin Galactic LLC, a U.S. subsidiary of...