TECHNOLOGY

Envivo Rolls Out Three-Screen Encore

Envivio Inc. has begun shipping its mobile TV configuration of its 4Caster C4 three screens — TV, PC and mobile device — encoder as the product enters commercial service.
    The 4Caster C4 simultaneously delivers four channels of video to up to 32 different mobile TV profiles, providing a compression platform for operators launching new services or upgrading early generation services based on software encoding platforms. The encoder supports digital, analog and MPEG-2 transport stream over IP inputs as well as a range of video and audio encoding options.

Global Satellite USA Unveils Solar-Powered Laptop Bag

Global Satellite USA has released the Generator, a bag that produces enough solar power to charge a laptop from less than a day in the sun.
    The Generator features a 15-watt solar panel and a battery that holds the equivalent of a full laptop charge and also can be charged from a wall outlet.
    For each hour in the sun, the Generator extends laptop run time by 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the efficiency of the laptop, according to Global Satellite USA. An hour in the sun also generates enough power to fully charge most phones, MP3 players and small cameras.

SERVICES

RRSat, CB Networks Launch Free-to-Air TV Channel in Mali

RRsat Global Communications Network has partnered with CB Networks to launch a free-to-air satellite television broadcast channel over the North American region for Office de la Radio et Television du Mali (ORTM), Mali’s national public broadcasting authority.
    The channel’s mostly French programming schedule includes news, sports, art and cultural programming and is distributed on the Galaxy-19 satellite.ORTM said the Galaxy-19 satellite was selected for its optimal footprint covering North America and for its high quality satellite signal throughout the United States.

Thuraya Launches New Location Services

Two new Thuraya location services have been launched by the company.
    Geonix, a U.K.-based location services and equipment provider, has launched ThurayaAssist and ThurayaRelay, which are are deployed on the GPS feature built in Thuraya handsets. Every satellite phone developed for the Thuraya network contains an embedded GPS positioning system used to report the handset’s position to the Thuraya location service servers.
    ThurayaAssist caters to corporate clients, non-governmental organizations (NGO) and government organizations and is a fully manned and managed emergency position and response services. ThurayaRelay provides the same service for clients that want relaying of routine and emergency position reports and the ability to manage the response center themselves.

CONTRACTS

Orbital, SpaceX Win NASA Space Station Cargo Delivery Contract

Orbital Sciences Corp. and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) were selected for a long-term contract by NASA to provide cargo transportation services to and from the International Space Station.    
    The contracts have an expected value of abpit $1.9 billion for cargo transportation missions to be conducted between 2011 and 2015. This contract amount covers International Space Station cargo transportation services for about 20 metric tons of cargo.

SES New Skies Signs Brazilian Broadcast Deal

SES New Skies signed a capacity deal with TV Record, a Brazilian broadcaster, which will use the NSS-806 and NSS-7 satellites for the distribution of its international and domestic channel line-up.
    TV Record has contracted capacity on NSS-806 to broadcast its international channel, Record Internacional, to audiences in North America. The contracted capacity on NSS-7 will be used to distribute several new regional channels as well as a 24-hour news channel (Record News) as well as TV Records’ first high-definition channel for distribution in Brazil.

AsiaSat Sells C-band capacity to b4u bROADBAND

AsiaSat has signed a C-band capacity deal with B4U Broadband in India for the delivery of two Hindi television channels, B4U Movies and B4U Music, through AsiaSat’s C-band transponder on AsiaSat 3S.
    Under the agreement, AsiaSat will provide C-band capacity and transmission services to deliver B4U’s television signals to AsiaSat’s Tai Po Earth Station in Hong Kong, for uplinking onto AsiaSat 3S , providing B4U with access to all cable and pay-TV platforms in India and extending its service reach in Asia.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Integral Systems Names President of RT Logic

Integral Systems has named John Monahan president of its subsidiary, RT Logic, a provider of products for ground-based applications for satellite test.
    Monahan will have management responsibility for RT Logic operations and its 150 employees.
    Monahan previously served as RT Logic’s vice president of signals, navigation and satellite test.

SpaceX Appoints President

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) named Gwynne Shotwell president.
    Shotwell will be part of the company’s office of the chairman and CEO and report to SpaceX CEO and CTO Elon Musk.
    Shotwell joined SpaceX in 2002 as vice president of business development and serves on the executive committee of the California Space Authority Board of Directors. She previously worked at Aerospace Corp. for 10 years.

AWARDS

GMV Receives Product Certification from The Space Foundation

The Space Foundation has certified three GMV space products: insightArthroVR, Moviloc, and Sagran, as certified space technologies.
    insightArthroVR is an arthroscopy surgery simulator that combines space image enhancement software, virtual reality and computer-aided training techniques to provide surgeons with highly realistic training. Moviloc GPS system is a fleet tracking and management service. Sagran is a GPS-based naval landing approach system which provides approach and landing phase navigation information to aircraft landing on mobile platforms such as aircraft carriers.
    The Space Foundation’s space certification program was created in cooperation with NASA to raise awareness about the benefits of technologies originally developed for the space program.