Arianespace Wins Sicral 2 Launch
Telespazio has selected Arianespace to launch the Sicral 2 satellite into geostationary orbit on an Ariane 5 launched from the Guiana Space Center in November 2013.
The launch deal, Arianespace’s 11th of 2011, will fall under the framework of a $375.6 million turnkey contract Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space signed with the Italian Defense Ministry and the French DGA Armament Agency for the development and ground segment for Sicral 2 in May.
The Sicral 2 Program aims to support European military satellite communications and is designed to meet the needs expected to develop in the near future. The planned satellite and ground segment provides strategic and tactical communications links for both domestic operations and foreign deployments. It supports all military, terrestrial, naval and aerial platforms, operating in a single integrated network. The satellite also will ensure additional backup for current SHF-band capacity provided by Syracuse 3 and Sicral 1B intended for NATO communications.
ATK Selected by NASA for Continued Launch Support
ATK Launch Systems has won a $42 million contract extension with NASA to continue to provide pre- through post-launch support through 2011.
The extension also signals the completion of ATK’s contract with NASA to process flight hardware after the last scheduled space shuttle flight. ATK will provide post-flight services, including maintenance and preservation of the shuttle’s reusable solid rocket motors. All work will be performed at ATK’s facilities in Brigham City, Utah.
The contract brings the total potential value of ATK’s cost-plus-award fee/incentive fee contract structure with NASA to $4.13 billion based on an extension to the current space shuttle program launch schedule, which the last two scheduled missions shifted into fiscal year 2011.
Nevion, Juniper Provide End-to-End IP for CNBC Asia Pacific
Video transport solutions provider Nevion has installed an end-to-end, video-over-IP solution for the CNBC TV channel in the Asia-Pacific region.
Nevion partnered with Juniper Networks to deliver the solution, which will support multiple real-time video links for live broadcasting from the Singapore Exchange. Juniper supplied it EX4200 Ethernet switches to provide the IP network connection between the Nevion solution at the Singapore Exchange and Starhub’s Gigabit Ethernet network.
RigNet Named Librestream’s Mobile Solution ReSeller
Oil and gas industry managed communications provider RigNet was selected by Librestream, a mobile collaboration solutions provider, to resell its Onsight mobile collaboration system.
The Onsight mobile video collaboration system operates in ultra-low bandwidth environments for complex drilling and production. RigNet will provide clients with all connectivity services required to support Onsight, along with the equipment manufactured by Librestream, including its 2000Ex hand-held wireless camera and Onsight Expert software.
Spacenet Contracted by LAPD for Emergency Satellite Service
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has selected Spacenet to provide emergency communications services and associated high performance equipment to support police operations.
Spacenet, a subsidiary of Gilat Satellite Networks, is providing the LAPD with satellite service based on Spacenet’s Connexstar series equipment, which is integrated with a transportable fly-away antenna system.
The services will be used to help the LAPD manage emergency situations across the city, provided on a usage-based model. The solution provides dedicated bandwidth, service level agreements and the ability to support connected land mobile radio and voice and fax lines.
Thales Alenia Space To Build W3D Satellite for Eutelsat
Eutelsat has ordered a satellite from Thales Alenia Space to replace the W3B spacecraft, which was lost in October due to a propulsion leak.
The new satellite, W3D, will be completed in two years and ready for service by early 2013. The satellite will carry 53 Ku-band and three Ka-band transponders and be co-positioned with Eutelsat’s W3A satellite to boost capacity at the 7 degrees East orbital slot.
The W3C spacecraft, also under construction by Thales Alenia Space, is scheduled for launch by mid-2011 by a Chinese Long March rocket and will be placed at 16 degrees East.
Eutelsat will receive a full insurance payment of about $331 million for the loss of W3B.
GeoEye Names Ballhaus to Board of Directors
William Ballhaus will serve on GeoEye’s board of directors.
Ballhaus, who served as president and CEO of DynCorp until it was acquired by affiliates of Cerberus Capital Management in July, was appointed to GeoEye’s board following the close of GeoEye’s financing arrangement with Cerberus in March. The deal provided GeoEye with financing for its bid on the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s EnhancedView program, which it won in August.
Ballhaus serves on the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation board of directors and as a director on a number of Cerberus portfolio company boards.
Intelsat Promotes Bachabi to Lead Luxembourg Office
Flavien Bachabi has been appointed to head Intelsat’s Luxembourg headquarters office as vice president of business operations and intergovernmental initiatives.
Bachabi will oversee all major business operations, joint venture agreements and regulatory filings. In addition, Bachabi also will be responsible for managing new business activities with inter-governmental entities, development banks and similar organizations.
Jon Osler will take over Bachabi’s former position as managing director of Intelsat’s Africa sales team, though Bachabi will continue to have a role in the African region supporting major sales initiatives.
Honeywell donation establishes new lab at space foundation
A corporate donation from Honeywell will be used to establish a lab at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Honeywell Mars Robotic Experience will provide robots for a future simulated Martian terrain mission laboratory, scheduled to open in 2011, incorporating student-designed-and-built robots.
“The idea behind this lab is to have students build and learn how to program robots to complete specific missions,” Space Foundation Director – Education Bryan DeBates, says. “What makes this experience unique is the Mars Yard in the lab, enabling students to operate their robots as if they were operating robots on the actual red planet.”
Harris Supports Penn State Geospatial Media Project
Penn State Public Broadcasting (PSPB) launched its Geospatial Revolution Project with support from Harris Corp., which provided funding and contributed the animation skills of a Harris technicians.
Rob Lowe, geospatial technician at Harris, created the cosmic zoom animation for the opening segment of the Web-based video series, which sends viewers from space, through the Earth’s atmosphere and down to street level. The goal of the program is to help educate the public about the creative applications of digital mapping
“The Geospatial Revolution Project offers the public insight into the world of geospatial technology and how it affects everyone,” Mark Luttrell, vice president, Mission Information Systems, Harris Government Communications Systems, says.
