E-letter: Briefs

ATK will become the lead contractor for Rocketplane Kistler’s K-1 launch vehicle, the companies announced Nov. 8. ATK will provide vehicle development, assembly, integration and test of the launch system […]

Commercial satellite operators, service providers, resellers, ground equipment suppliers, and manufacturers will meet with leaders from Department of Defense (DoD) combatant commands, services and agencies during the Satellite Industry Association […]

Arianespace and Terrestar Networks Inc., a mobile communications operator and subsidiary of Motient Corp., signed Nov. 8 a launch-on-demand contract for Terrestar 1, touted as the largest-ever commercial communications satellite […]

DirecTV Group Inc. reported Nov. 8 that its third-quarter revenues increased 13 percent to $3.67 billion, and its operating profit before depreciation and amortization more than doubled, to $894 million, […]

In its numbers report for the third quarter of 2006, Iridium Satellite LLC saw subscriptions increase by 22.9 percent over the same period last year, the company announced Nov. 8. […]

Microsat Systems Inc. announced Nov. 8 the completion of spacecraft system testing and the delivery of the responsive satellite bus, Tacsat-2, scheduled for a Dec. 11 launch. The micro satellite […]

The market for very small aperture terminals (VSAT) in the Asia Pacific region has grown steadily even as markets in other regions have begun to slow, reports Frost & Sullivan, […]

Echostar Communications Corp. posted a profit of $140 million on revenues of $2.5 billion in the 2006 third quarter, the company announced Nov. 7. In 2005’s third quarter, the satellite-TV […]

Research and Markets announced the release of its "State of the Space Industry 2005" report on Nov. 7. Designed to provide industry, government, and financiers with an independent assessment of […]

Raytheon Co. announced having reached two technological milestones: Its Navy Multiband Terminal (NMT) is the first advanced, next-generation satellite communications (satcom) system to successfully log onto and communicate with the […]

Microsoft Corp. announced Nov. 6 the launch of Virtual Earth 3D, a new online mapping interface providing consumers with a three-dimensional (3-D) experience to search, browse and explore the real […]

Norsat International Inc., a provider of compact portable satellite terminals, and TC Communications, a provider of integrated satellite communications systems, have formed a strategic partnership, Norsat announced Nov. 3. TC […]

In a move designed to signal an aggressive, new strategy to generate more national ad sales and revenue, DirecTV announced Nov. 7 it is streamlining its advertising sales division by […]

C2Sat announced Nov. 7 that it will equip a GG505 Polar vessel with a C2Sat stabilized VSAT antenna. "It is a revolution having the C2SAT system installed," Lars-Uno Bryngeld, captain […]

XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. cuts its third quarter loss as revenues improved 57 percent, the company announced Nov. 6. XM lost $84 million in the 2006 third quarter, which […]

Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. signed a contract with the National Space Research and Development Agency of Nigeria for a small Earth observation satellite, Surrey Satellite announced Nov. 6. Nigeriasat-2 will […]

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) upheld its earlier ruling that Canadian satellite-TV providers cannot include satellite radio services in their offerings, the CRTC announced Nov. 3. The ruling […]

A Boeing Delta 4 rocket placed a Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite into orbit for the U.S. Air Force, Boeing announced Nov. 4. The launch of DMSP-17 from Vandenberg […]

Northrop Grumman Corp. and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) filed complaints with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over pending approval of the United Launch Alliance (ULA). The joint venture, which […]

Orbcomm Inc. priced its initial public offering (IPO) of 9.2 million shares of common stock at $11 per share, the company announced Nov. 2. The offering was scaled back, as […]

Soundexchange, the non-profit organization that collects and distributes royalties from digital music services on behalf of artists and record labels, is seeking higher fees from Sirius Satellite Radio and XM […]

The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a $299.9 million contract change to further the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite (WGS) program. This funding exercises an option for production of WGS Space Vehicle […]

ViaSat Inc. posted record revenues of $131.5 million in its 2007 second quarter, up from revenues of $104.1 million in the same period a year ago, the company announced Nov. […]

Cingular Wireless LLC and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. announced a partnership Nov. 2 to stream 25 XM music channels to Cingular handsets. Beginning Nov. 6, Cingular Wireless customers may […]

Globalstar Inc. priced its initial public offering at $17 per share, the company announced Nov. 2. The company has also added 1 million shares to the offering, bringing the total […]

Orange UK will launch a GPS navigation system for corporate customers that will be powered by Webraska, a provider of mobile GPS navigation systems and geospatial software for wireless carriers […]

Launch preparation is underway in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, for the launch of BADR-4, a Eurostar E2000+ satellite built by Astrium for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat). Liftoff on a Proton […]

Apax Partners has completed the acquisition of France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications (FTMSC), a deal commenced in July. Apax also recently announced its acquisition of Telenor Satellite Services, bolstering its […]

International Datacasting Corp. and SES Americom announced Nov. 2 the integration of IDC’s next-generation DVB-S2 satellite receivers aboard the IP-Prime IPTV service. As part of the agreement, IDC will be […]

Patriot Antenna Systems unveiled Nov. 2 its 1-meter Back-Pack Flyaway Antenna system. The system provides transmit-and-receive operation in Ku- or Ka-band frequencies and is designed for frequent travel. The antenna […]