[11-06-07 – Satellite Today] Boeing Co. has demonstrated its "one button” start-up U.S. ground station, which will be an essential element of its Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) offering, the company announced Nov. 6.
    The feature, allows a ground station technician or a remote command center operator to use one button on a control panel to go from a full "off" condition to full communications operation within minutes, even under adverse operating conditions, Boeing said. The hardware also supports a U.S. Air Force requirement that TSAT spacecraft operate without constant monitoring and adjustment.
    A team led by Boeing is competing against a team led by Lockheed Martin for the Air Force’s TSAT contract. The program is designed to provide American warfighters secure, interoperable, high-capacity global communications.
    The Air Force is expected to announce the winner of the space segment contract in January.