E-letter: Briefs

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has received the first signals from the Engineering Test Satellite No. 8 (Kiku-8), which was launched Dec. 18 from the Tanegashima Space Center, JAXA […]

Croatia has become the 20th full member of Eumetsat’s community of states, the organization announced Dec. 15. Under an agreement signed earlier this year, Croatia will be able to fully […]

Orbital Sciences Corp. launched the TacSat-2 satellite for the U.S. Air Force aboard a Minotaur I space launch vehicle Dec. 16, the first mission from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), […]

SeaMobile Inc. announced Dec. 18 that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Geolink, a satellite-based broadband communications and networking services provider to the European market. Terms of the […]

A Delta 2 rocket placed a classified payload into orbit on Dec. 14 for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, the first mission for the newly formed United Launch Alliance. The […]

NovAtel Inc. has become the first company outside of Europe accepted as a full member of Galileo Services, a non-profit organization promoting the development and use of Galileo-enabled businesses, NovAtel […]

Eagle Broadband Inc. has received a contract to provide an emergency communications system to Fort Bend County, Texas, the company announced. Eagle will provide its SatMax system and also pre-wire […]

DigitalGlobe has appointed Steve Milton as vice president of software and systems, the company announced. Milton will direct DigitalGlobe’s software and systems business office, leading the development of software systems […]

SES Astra announced Dec. 18 its establishment of a wholly owned subsidiary, SES Astra TechCom Belgium, through which it intends to boost revenues derived from the Belgian satellite market. SES […]

Avanti Screenmedia, a U.K. satellite, media and telecom business, announced plans Dec. 14 to separate its satellite operations from its core digital advertising screen business. The proposed action is expected […]

Harris Corp. received a contract from the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC) to develop an encryption device that could be used on satellite communication terminals, the […]

DigitalGlobe Inc. awarded a contract to MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) to supply ground station systems for the WorldView imagery satellite, MDA announced Dec. 14. MDA will provide DigitalGlobe’s […]

Hughes Network Systems announced the next phase of a contract with Enlaces Integra and Globalstar de M�xico to deliver an additional 10,860 broadband satellite terminals for the Mexican Ministry of […]

Hughes Network Systems announced Dec. 13 that the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has approved the Internet Protocol over Satellite.v2 (IPoS.v2) air interface standard, which incorporates the DVB-S2 industry standard […]

The Saskatchewan Communications Network (SCN) and OmniGlobe Networks Inc. (OGN) have formed a strategic alliance to deliver satellite-based wireless broadband Internet to rural and remote communities across Canada, the companies […]

ViaSat Inc. will supply its LinkStar DVB-S2 satellite networking system to Unete Telecomunicaciones S.A. of Bolivia, ViaSat announced Dec. 13. The contract, valued at about $6 million, includes installation and […]

The Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications signed a contract with TV-Novosti for the lease of capacity aboard the Intelsat 904 satellite, Intersputnik announced Dec. 13. The capacity will be […]

Integral Systems Inc. announced Dec. 13 that it has added EchoStar Communications Corp.’s EchoStar-11 satellite to the satellite operator’s existing Epoch IPS satellite control system. EchoStar’s entire fleet of satellites […]

Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Corp. have established a test bed intended to demonstrate network-centric missions that will be enabled by the Transformational Satellite Communications (TSAT) system, Northrop Grumman announced. […]

The Measat-3 satellite was placed into orbit Dec. 12 by a Proton launch vehicle, marking the final 2006 mission for International Launch Services (ILS), the launch provider announced. The satellite […]

Telenor Satellite Broadcasting announced details Dec. 12 of a request for proposal (RFP) for a new satellite to replace Thor 3. The new satellite, scheduled to be launched in 2009, […]

Academic researchers can now scan the United States and Canada via a newly available, high-resolution satellite image catalog developed under a deal between the University of California at Santa Barbara […]

Raytheon Co. delivered the first rapid-development, space-optical payload to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, the company announced. The $14 million ARTEMIS (Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer) program […]

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. announced Dec. 12 that its Maryland-based subsidiary, Comtech Mobile Datacom Corp., has received orders totaling $1.9 million for its mobile satellite data communications transceivers. The orders are […]

Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) announced Dec. 11 that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded MSV its 16th patent relating to ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) technology. The latest patent identifies […]

Shin Satellite Public Co., operator of the IPStar satellite system, has partnered with RaySat Antenna System LLC, a provider of satellite antenna technology for two-way mobile applications, to offer a […]

Intelsat announced Dec. 11 that it has renewed and expanded its agreement with the National Basketball Association (NBA) for international distribution of the league’s games. The NBA’s distribution network will […]

The mobile unit of RTL Interactive has signed a contract to use SES Astra’s Blucom service, which allows broadcasters to provide interactive services, SES Astra announced Dec. 11. The Blucom […]

Archetype Corp. of Birmingham, Ala., has appointed Alva Wright as director of West Coast sales, the company announced Dec. 11. Wright will manage operations at Archetype’s satellite offices in San […]

Arianespace performed the fifth and final Ariane 5 mission of 2006, placing the WildBlue-1 and AMC-18 spacecraft into orbit Dec. 8, Arianespace announced. WildBlue-1, manufactured by Space Systems/Loral, will triple […]