Orbital awarded Iridium systems integration contract

Orbital Sciences Corporation has signed a systems integration and test contract with Thales Alenia Space, the prime contractor for Iridium NEXT, the next-generation satellite constellation of Iridium Communications Inc. Under the new contract, Orbital will integrate the communications payloads and platforms of the low-Earth orbit Iridium NEXT satellites being built by Thales Alenia, and then test the systems at its manufacturing facility in Gilbert, Arizona.

Michael Larkin, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Orbital's Space Systems Group, said, "Orbital's extensive experience in spacecraft assembly, integration and test for customers around the world, combined with the capacity of our Gilbert operation, made Orbital a natural fit to serve as the systems integrator for the Iridium NEXT program in the US. Our team is eager to begin this exciting and long-term program and is committed to providing high-quality services to our customer."

"The selection of Orbital is the result of a competitive process to identify the most efficient approach to meeting the challenging requirements for the production of a large constellation such as Iridium NEXT," said Reynald Seznec, president and CEO of Thales Alenia Space. "Orbital and Thales Alenia have been working together for several years, establishing a long relationship through multiple successful joint programs."

Iridium CEO Matt Desch said, "We are delighted that Thales Alenia has selected Orbital as systems integrator, which represents another major step forward in the development and construction of Iridium NEXT. With this contract, Orbital becomes part of the most significant commercial space project in the world. Orbital - like Iridium - is a long-time and trusted US Government partner, which should advance the objective of hosting payloads on our new satellites for projects such as Earth observation, scientific monitoring and space situational awareness.

"We believe that the hosted payload concept will grow significantly in the future as government space programs look for opportunities to carry out their mission in the most cost-effective and time critical manner," said Michael Hamel, Orbital Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy. "We are already seeing numerous examples of government space program customers taking advantage of the regularity of commercial satellite deployments and their demonstrated high rates of reliability. In a time of tight budgets, we see hosted payloads as great value to the customer community and intend to be at the forefront of the growth trend."

New members add reach

Representing the diverse stakeholders in the multichannel video delivery market across the Asia Pacific, CASBAA continues to build its profile by welcoming four additional companies to its membership roster: MCOT Public Company Limited of Thailand, Times Television Network of India, Great Wall Industry Corporation of China and Dolby Laboratories of the United States.

“The CASBAA Board of Directors is delighted to welcome four major players into the CASBAA fold,” said Marcel Fenez, Chairman, CASBAA. “MCOT, Times Television Network, Great Wall Industry Corp. and Dolby Laboratories truly represent the range of interests directly influenced by the ongoing development of the multichannel video market in Asia.”

MCOT, a new Patron member of the Association, is a Bangkok-based multi-media company encompassing television stations, including Channel 9 and Modernine, and a burgeoning multi-channel television platform.

Times Television Network - TNN is an English-language, satellite-based news television provider through its Times Now brand and part of media conglomerate Bennett, Coleman and Co. Ltd. TNN also runs several TV channels including Times NOW, ET NOW, Movies NOW and Zoom.

China Great Wall Industry Corp – Established in 1980, CGWIC is the sole commercial organization authorized by the government of China providing satellite launch services. CGWIC also undertakes the international marketing of civilian products and services for China's space technology and services.

Dolby Laboratories – As an innovator for audio entertainment, Dolby Labs was established by Ray Dolby with noise reduction systems to enhance recorded sound quality. Today, Dolby is synonymous with quality audio for broadcast services throughout the world.

"The addition of these dynamic market makers underlines CASBAA’s reach across multiple industries," said Marcel Fenez, Chairman, CASBAA. "The technology and geographic impact of the CASBAA Membership continues to grow in line with the influence of the Association's key messages in the age of multi-platform distribution."


KA-SAT undergoes in-orbit testing

KA-SAT, Eutelsat’s high throughput satellite built by Astrium, is now undergoing comprehensive in-orbit testing following its launch at the end of last month. All systems are operating nominally.

Astrium successfully completed its key participation in the initial operations of KA-SAT on 21 January 2011. Eutelsat is now in full control of the satellite to complete payload testing and the final phase of integrated validation with the network of ground stations prior to entry into commercial service.

Astrium will continue to support Eutelsat and monitor the KA-SAT satellite throughout its more than 15 year mission from its satellite control centre in Toulouse, which currently monitors more than 40 geostationary satellites, including 11 for Eutelsat.

Immediately after separation of KA-SAT from the ILS Proton Breeze M launcher on 27 December 2010 in the morning, initial in-orbit operations were executed from the Eutelsat centre in Rambouillet by the control team integrating Eutelsat and Astrium engineers, with Astrium in charge of flight operations, flight dynamics and specialist support. The satellite acquired its geostationary orbit on 2 January 2011, fully deployed its solar panels and the four antenna reflectors. Platform tests were completed successfully, the payload and antenna tracking system were initiated as planned, and the antenna pattern verified. The satellite has now reached its operational position at 9° East.

Built for Eutelsat by Astrium on the Eurostar E3000 platform, and weighing 6.1 tonnes at launch, KA-SAT is the first satellite for Europe and the Mediterranean Basin fully optimised for broadband Internet access, targeting homes and businesses beyond range of terrestrial networks, and capable of making a core contribution to bridging the digital divide. KA-SAT is the world’s most powerful satellite ever built, with a total capacity of more than 70 Gbps, 35 times the throughput of traditional Ku-band satellites. KA-SAT will provide ubiquitous complete coverage of Europe and the Mediterranean Basin through its 82 spotbeams in Ka-band.


Digital transition in France boosts Eutelsat Fransat platform

As France enters its second year of transition into a fully digital broadcasting environment, with complete analogue switch-off set for 30 November, Eutelsat's FRANSAT subsidiary reports that over 800,000 set-top-boxes have been shipped to receive Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) channels by satellite via the FRANSAT platform. A further 200,000 FRANSAT connections have been installed in community buildings (hotels, retirement homes, hospitals, clinics …). Users selecting satellite reception of France's DTT channels are mainly located beyond range of the national Digital Terrestrial TV network, in areas where terrestrial reception is made more difficult by the landscape or by interference in frontier areas.

This milestone has been reached as analogue switch-off has been completed in 10 regions in metropolitan France. A further 14 regions, accounting for two thirds of French TV viewers, will transition in 2011. This second wave includes mountainous regions in the south of France (Auvergne, Alpine regions, Provence, Corsica, Rhone valley, Midi-Pyrenees) where a satellite solution will be needed to provide complementary coverage, ensuring that no home is excluded from access to Digital Terrestrial Television.

Yves Blanc, Chairman of FRANSAT remarked on the performance: "We are extremely gratified by the response to FRANSAT during our first year of active contribution to France's move into a digital broadcasting environment. FRANSAT is clearly meeting a need to complement France's terrestrial network so that all homes can benefit from digital. We are committed to further evolving the platform, with the addition of regional and thematic channels."

The rapid sales of boxes to receive FRANSAT underscore the intrinsic value of satellites for providing national broadcast coverage, with no need to build out additional terrestrial infrastructure, and for delivering optimal signal quality. For homes in metropolitan France beyond range of terrestrial reception, the viewer only needs to make a one-off investment in a FRANSAT-labelled set-top-box and a dish pointed to the ATLANTIC BIRD™ 3 satellite at 5° West for access on a subscription-free basis to all free national DTT channels, including HD channels. Eutelsat's 5° West location has been used for more than 20 years by France's six historic analogue channels for reaching homes in regions with inexistent or poor terrestrial reception. This installed base of analogue-equipped homes can upgrade to digital with no need to change their outdoor unit.

For collective housing and community dwellings, FRANSAT provides a solution called "FRANSAT PRO". Located at the headend of a distribution network, FRANSAT PRO converts and redistributes TV signals in the standard DTT format to individual residential connections. Users receive the channels by plugging a terrestrial DTT adapter or a TV set with a built-in DTT tuner into their connection.

The FRANSAT model is also based on offering viewers the opportunity to access 11 local and thematic free-to-air channels, which have been progressively added to the basic package of national DTT channels and all 24 regional channels of the France 3 network.

With a range of 20 decoders carrying the FRANSAT label and community products, commercialised by a network of 6,000 dealers, FRANSAT is well-equipped to deliver a simple complement to the terrestrial network in metropolitan France and to contribute to making Digital Terrestrial Television a universal service accessible to all.

Boeing concludes successful testing of Ka-band phased array antenna system

Boeing has successfully conducted its first over-the-air ground test of a Ka-band satellite communications (SATCOM) phased-array antenna system that will enable wideband SATCOM on aircraft, providing increased bandwidth for networking in flight.

This third-generation antenna system gives commercial and military aircraft operators worldwide the ability to offer communications using the growing fleet of commercial K- and Ka-band satellites. The low-profile antenna is also an option for government operators using military satellites such as the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system. The active phased array system uses electronically controlled beams to transmit and receive signals from a designated satellite.

The test demonstrated the new system’s ability to support a range of applications, including file transfer and a Voice over Internet Protocol videoconference.

“This Ka-band phased-array antenna system supports a significant increase in bandwidth with a smaller antenna than previous Ku-band antennas, while still providing the same low profile, low drag, and lower cost of installation,” said Charles Toups, vice president and general manager, Boeing Network and Tactical Systems (N&TS). “Boeing is continuing to invest in secure data-communication technologies that will improve our customers’ ability to remain networked while mobile.”

Boeing has more than 15 years of experience designing phased array antenna systems flying on commercial and military aircraft. Boeing developed the antenna as a joint effort between N&TS, part of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, and Boeing Research & Technology, a division of Boeing Engineering, Operations & Technology.


AVIATOR 200 certified to fly with King Air 200

Thrane & Thrane has announced that its innovative AVIATOR 200 SwiftBroadband solution has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). The STC follows the successful installation and test of the AVIATOR 200 aboard a Beechcraft King Air 200 aircraft, which is owned by Thrane & Thrane founder Lars Thrane. The STC has been developed by Hawker Beechcraft Services Chester and includes the system's use for WiFi.

Thrane & Thrane's AVIATOR 200 is an exceptionally compact, lightweight system that offers reliable, affordable connectivity to provide users with a range of services including data, video and voice. With built-in WiFi capability, the AVIATOR 200 makes it exceptionally easy for aircraft operators to offer wireless connectivity aboard, to support the use of WiFi enabled devices such as laptops, tablets and smart phones. Thrane & Thrane is the first satellite communications equipment manufacturer to receive STCs for its SwiftBroadband 200 system, placing the company firmly at the forefront of the industry.

Lars Thrane, Thrane & Thrane Founder said: "As the owner of the aircraft used for developing the STC, I am delighted that the installation and testing of the AVIATOR 200 has been successfully completed. The introduction of the AVIATOR 200 has been very exciting as it offers users of smaller aircraft including myself, access to a range of in-flight communications services. The system's approval for WiFi is a key development, as it will support the use of WiFi enabled devices aboard. Receipt of this STC is a milestone in the launch of the AVIATOR 200 solution, enabling the system's use aboard the popular range of King Air 200 aircraft."

Japanese Aerospace Agency selects Spirent for Multi-GNSS testing

To further the development of the Quazi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) program, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has selected Spirent Communications’ testing solutions to verify performance of its satellite receivers. Responsible for the development of initial QZSS receivers, JAXA is using Spirent's GSS8000 Multi-GNSS Constellation Simulator to verify QZSS receiver performance.

The highly elliptical orbits of QZSS allow satellites to dwell at high elevations, improving coverage in urban canyons and providing additional overhead ranging sources in Japan. JAXA needed to design receivers that supported multiple satellite technologies. To that end, it turned to Spirent for a solution that not only included testing capabilities for GPS at L1, L2 and L5 signals but also tested performance of QZSS signals at the same frequencies.

“Spirent GNSS simulators are the first choice of commercial and government organizations to evaluate navigation and positioning system performance,” said John Pottle, marketing director at Spirent’s Positioning and Navigation business. “Our engagement with JAXA will enable the agency to play a critical role in QZSS receiver development work.”

The Spirent simulator includes a wide range of software modeling capability to enable the receivers to be tested under extreme and error conditions as well as in normal performance test cases.

IDA announces contract for Canadian Forces Radio and TV Network

International Datacasting Corporation has announced that it has received a contract from the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) valued at $2.8 million CDN for the continued operation of Canadian Forces Radio and Television (CFRT). This contract represents the second of two renewal options, as part of the overall contract IDC won in a competitive tender process in December, 2008.

"This marks the eleventh consecutive year that IDC has been chosen to provide this valuable service to our Canadian troops serving overseas. It is truly gratifying to know that our IDC Teleport services are keeping our troops informed, entertained and connected throughout the world," said Frederick Godard, IDC President and CEO. "IDC is honoured to continue providing rich and reliable content in radio and television programming through the operation of the CFRT".

The Canadian Forces Radio and Television (CFRT) network delivers content in entertainment programming, sports and news over two television channels, English and French, as well as FM radio. IDC provides this reliable service to Canadian Forces and peacekeeping troops deployed in several regions around the globe including the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa. Today, the CFRT serves Canadian Forces stationed in Afghanistan and in other areas around the world.

International Datacasting Corporation (IDC) is responsible for all aspects of programming including; negotiating rights and permissions, scheduling, recording, and uplinking the secure and reliable content distribution network from its Ottawa-based network operations centre.

SES ASTRA provides Albanian Post Offices with ASTRA2Connect

SES ASTRA will provide the Albanian Post with its satellite broadband service ASTRA2Connect to offer customers free internet access in rural areas throughout the country. In addition, ASTRA2Connect will be used by the Albanian Post for its daily operations. Together with Starsat, the ASTRA2Connect distribution partner in Albania, broadband access via SES ASTRA’s innovative satellite broadband platform will be installed in 300 post offices, which is more than half of all the post offices in the country.

The Albanian Post is the first postal operator to use the ASTRA2Connect satellite technology on such a wide scale. With the new service, customers in rural regions of Albania will get access to fast and reliable communications via the internet. Satellite broadband terminals in these post offices will enable them to use the internet for business and communication activities, such as internet browsing, e-mail, e-commerce, e-learning, e-payments and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) telephony. The project is a cornerstone of the government program “Digital Albania” which was launched in 2005.

SES ASTRA’s satellite-based broadband service ASTRA2Connect is offered via distribution partners to end customers and businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The service is independent from any terrestrial network and is immediately available anywhere within the footprint of the satellite. To date, ASTRA2Connect has more than 70,000 end-users in Europe, and represents the largest satellite-based broadband network on the continent.

“We are honoured that the Albanian Post has decided to trust our successful satellite service ASTRA2Connect,” said Norbert Hölzle, Chief Commercial Officer at SES ASTRA. “The technology is highly reliable, yet easy and fast to install. The internet has become an essential tool for social and economic activities, and every citizen should have access to it. We are proud to be able to support the digital progress in Albania with our solution.”

The Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha praised the project as “a major event in the history of our endeavour for ‘Digital Albania’.” With the satellite broadband solution, “the Albanian Post has managed to become an important service provider valued by all citizens of Albania.”

EMS Aviation introduces Aspire Portable AirMail

EMS Aviation has introduced the Aspire Portable AirMail System. The product, the latest addition to the Aspire family of user-friendly communications products, is a device which operators carry on their aircraft with them. It is easily connected to an existing Iridium antenna for near-instant access to e-mail through personal smartphones.

Weighing just three pounds, the system is used specifically for sending and receiving text e-mail in-flight, to help operators and passengers fly like they live. The Portable AirMail unit is not permanently installed on the aircraft, but can be carried on as required and connected to the aircraft’s existing Iridium antenna. Once the system is connected, up to four passengers can send and receive e-mail. And because permanent installation is not required, an operator can effortlessly carry the device from airplane to airplane, retaining connectivity on each flight, providing the pilot-in-command approves its use.

“This new portable system is designed to take advantage of low-bandwidth devices, such as BlackBerry®s and iPhones®,” says John Jarrell, vice president and general manager of EMS Aviation. “With an Iridium antenna, any operator can begin using the system immediately, and in today’s connected world, Portable AirMail offers a cost-effective in-flight e-mail only solution. Its portability makes it ideal for Iridium antenna-equipped fixed-wing or helicopter operators who want to experience in-flight e-mail without having to modify their aircraft.”

The system will be available in the second quarter this year.

US looking at extending Russian ISS contract

According to Roscosmos head Anatoly Perminov the Agency is studying proposals from the US for the further purchase of seats on Soyuz and Progress missions to the ISS after 2012 for crew transportation and cargo deliveries. Talking to news media he said NASA transport support by Russian vehicles before 2013 is covered with relevant contracts, and NASA may prolong this support into a 2013-2017 timeframe.


Kounotori2 connects to the ISS

The unpiloted Japanese Kounotori2 H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV2) has been successfully attached to the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module by the station’s robotic arm. Expedition 26 Flight Engineers Cady Coleman and Paolo Nespoli used the station’s robotic arm to attach the unpiloted cargo vessel to the ISS at 9:51 am EST.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched HTV2 aboard an H-IIB rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan on Saturday. HTV2 is the second unpiloted cargo ship launched by JAXA to the station and will deliver more than four tons of food and supplies to the station and its crew members.

The crew will open the hatch and begin retrieving the supplies from inside HTV2 at about 7:30 am Friday. In the coming days, a pallet loaded with spare station parts will be extracted from a slot in the cargo ship and attached to an experiment platform outside the Japanese Kibo module. Other cargo will be transferred internally to the station. The cargo vehicle will be filled with trash, detached from the station and sent to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere at the end of March.

Busy 2011 for Esrange Space Center

2011 will be full of interesting space missions at Esrange Space Center - Swedish Space Corporation’s (SSC) operational base for rocket and balloon launches, testing of new aerospace vehicles as well as control and operations of satellites.

Seven international rocket campaigns

There will be seven big rocket launches. All flights are performed to obtain scientific measurements within various disciplines.

In February, two student rockets REXUS 9 and 10, are planned to be launched. European university students will fly their own experiments designed and built within their university study programmes. This REXUS programme is funded by the Swedish National Space Board and the German space organization DLR.

PHOCUS, is run by a Swedish team from the Department of Meteorology at Stockholm University, led by Professor Jörg Gumbel. The rocket will be launched this summer with the aim to study the interaction of particles in the atmosphere and their chemical environment. This mission is funded by the Swedish National Space Board.

Four microgravity rockets will be launched during 2011. TEXUS 49 in March/April (funded by DLR), MAPHEUS-3 in May (funded by DLR) and in November MASER 12 (funded by ESA) and TEXUS 48 (funded by ESA and DLR). The provided microgravity time varies between 3 and 7 minutes depending on the rocket motor used.

Five international balloon campaigns

From February to October this year, 19 large balloons will be launched throughout five international balloon campaigns. The campaigns are carried out on behalf of scientists and students from universities and institutes in Europe, Japan and the US. Most of the balloon flights have the aim to conduct scientific measurements and others will perform technical flights to develop the launch technique itself. Simultaneous measurements will be performed from our ground based instruments at Esrange Space Center.

One of the scientific balloon flights - PoGoLite - will be circumpolar and fly around the North Pole at an altitude of 40 km. PoGoLite, that will carry a telescope, is a Swedish mission, funded by the Swedish National Space Board and led by Mark Pearce, Professor of Physics at the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology. PoGoLite stands for”Polarised Gamma-ray Observer” and the Swedish team is collaborating with science teams from the U.S. and Japan. PoGoLite will open a new window to Universe by measuring the polarization of gamma-rays (photons with very high energies). The research team will study neutron stars, active galactic nuclei and black holes.

Three new satellite missions

Today SSC is handling around 180 satellite passes per day from the three satellite stations located at, or very near, Esrange Space Center. For the coming year, three new satellite missions are planned, which means around forty satellite missions all together.

Most of these satellites have a scientific objective and they are owned by customers from all over the world. SSC provides satellites services such as ground control, routine support and reception of scientific data or satellite images.

To secure the accessibility to the ground communication systems, SSC has installed several new antennas in the last years. At the end of 2011 another three antennas will be in place at the site. In total there will be 25 full motion and 4 limited motion antennas for satellite communications.

SSC also offers reliable solutions for satellite operations world wide. Besides operating the busiest civil ground station in the world at Esrange Space Center, SSC also give customers access to PrioraNet, a global network of ground stations in strategic locations around the world.

Avanti seeks arbitration to settle SpaceX dispute

The UK-based Avanti Communications Group owners of the Hylas 1 Ka-band broadband satellite which was launched in November 2010 has asked a New York arbitration panel to settle a dispute with launch-services provider SpaceX over a retained a $7.6 million launch-contract deposit. The deposit was paid when Avanti signed with SpaceX for the launch of its Hylas-1 satellite but Avanti, could not wait for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to be qualified and contracted with Arianespace for the launch. The arbitration panel is expected to announce a decision in the very near future.

The Hylas-1 satellite has now had all systems turned on and the first transmissions have been received at Avanti's primary Gateway Earth Station in the UK. The launch was highly efficient and as a result HYLAS 1 is expected to achieve longer useful life than planned because of fuel efficiency during transfer to geostationary orbit. Avanti is continuing with a pre-service mission which is using HYLAS to demonstrate certain capabilities that are relevant to future business, and then will prepare for the launch of commercial service in Europe towards the end of March.