E-letter: Briefs

Spanish industrial group Abertis has completed the purchase of a 32 percent stake in Eutelsat Communications 1.1 billion euros ($1.4 billion), Abertis announced Jan. 23. Abertis subsidiary Abertis Telecom acquired […]

Globecomm Systems Inc. has received a $13.1 million notice of award from NATO to provide additional systems in support of a multi-national GPS friendly force tracking system, the company announced […]

France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications (FTMSC) signed a new deal with Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) to develop an emergency mobile satellite communications system. The deal was announced at International Aid […]

Sea Launch has set the launch of the NSS-8 communications satellite for SES New Skies for Jan. 26, Sea Launch announced. The 37-minute launch window opens at 6:22 p.m. EDT. […]

William Freeman will be named chairman of TerreStar Networks Inc., Robert Brumley, president & CEO of parent company Motient Corp. said Jan. 24. A formal announcement will be made Thursday […]

The Svobodny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East will be closed after a launch scheduled for later this year, the commander of the Russian Space Forces said Jan. 22. The facility […]

The People’s Republic of China has confirmed that it did perform an anti-satellite weapon test but has no plans to participate in an arms space race, according to Xinhua news […]

Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) has been awarded a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office covering use of GPS positioning data in hybrid satellite-terrestrial networks, MSV announced Jan. […]

Telenor Satellite Services has signed a three-year extension with Hurtigruten Group for at-sea maritime broadband communications on board Hurtigruten’s fleet of cruise and transport vessels. Norway-based Hurtigruten is an international […]

TeleCommunication Systems Inc. (TCS) has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army to provide satellite communication terminals and maintenance, the company announced Jan.23. The VSAT terminals will provide the […]

The U.S. Air Force awarded a contract to Aerojet-General Corp. to provide technology for the Hydrocarbon Boost Technology Demonstration (HBTD) program, the Air Force announced Jan. 17. Under the $109.7 […]

Spacehab Inc., which provides commercial space services to NASA, has eliminated 36 jobs as the company’s contract to support space shuttle operations nears completion, Spacehab announced Jan. 18. The elimination […]

A prototype structure that holds the primary mirrors for the optical element of the James Webb Space Telescope passed a series of cryogenic tests, Webb prime contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. […]

International Datacasting Corp. (IDC) has been awarded a contract by Shin Broadband Internet of Thailand to provide software for a next-generation Internet protocol TV service in Asia, IDC announced Jan. […]

Kudelski Group has acquired a controlling stake in OpenTV, the company announced Jan. 16. Kudelski, a supplier of conditional access system to pay-TV operators, announced in October that it had […]

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has chosen BAE Systems to lead a team of 10 companies in the next development phases of the Novel Satellite Communications (NSC) […]

SkyPort International Inc. announced Jan. 17 a strategic partnership with Comdex Inc. in which the two companies will jointly provide secure satellite communications services to Comdex customers around the globe. […]

Comtech EF Data Corp. will supply components, including modulators and redundancy switches, to DirecTV under a contract valued at about $1 million, Comtech Telecommunication Corp. announced Jan. 16. The components […]

Integral Systems Inc. has been awarded a contract modification to upgrade several command and control subsystems for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) N-P Program, the company announced Jan. 17. […]

Merrimac Industries Inc. received an order valued at $430,000 to supply its Multi-Mix microtechnology products for a next-generation military communications satellite program, the company announced Jan. 16. The unnamed U.S. […]

Eagle Broadband Inc. lost $3.5 million in its 2007 first quarter, up from a loss of $2.6 million in the same period a year ago, the company announced Jan. 16. […]

Lars Persson has been appointed president and CEO of Swedish Space Corp. effective Feb. 16, the company announced. Persson previously served as CEO for Marratech AB and will replace the […]

U-blox America Inc. delivered its 5 millionth GPS receiver to Mobile Crossing Inc., a manufacturer of rugged handheld GPS computers and personal navigation devices, u-blox announced Jan. 15.

Inspired as a response to rumors of a potential merger between XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio, law students at George Washington University have created a consumer advocacy group […]

Norsat International Inc. has issued 1 million common shares of stock and nearly 533,000 non-transferable common share purchase warrants in connection with its Employee Share Ownership Plan that was unveiled […]

NASA has increased the value of its Canadarm shuttle remote manipulator system contract with MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), the company announced Jan.  16. The increase, valued at 28 […]

The Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI) will induct six members into its Satellite Hall of Fame during a Feb. 20 ceremony preceding the annual SSPI Gala which coincides with […]

Al Majd Satellite TV, an Arabic entertainment and news channel, has surpassed 200,000 subscribers, the company announced Jan. 15. The three-year-old channel, based at Dubai Media City, serves households primarily […]

Camping World will sell and service King Controls’  new King-Dome line of high definition-ready automatic and in-motion satellite television antennas, King Controls announced Jan. 15. King Controls is a Bloomington, […]

Lockheed Martin has received a contract from Inmarsat to develop enabling technology for Inmarsat’s mobile satellite network, Lockheed Martin announced Jan. 15. Under the $36.5 million contract, Lockheed Martin will […]