News and Notes of Interest to the Satellite Community

News and Notes of Interest to the Satellite Community

Following the successful launch on July 5, 2012 of EchoStar® XVII with JUPITER™ high-throughput technology, Hughes Network Systems has put into orbit one of the world’s highest capacity satellite systems. Designed with a flexible, Ka-band multi-spot beam architecture and well over 100 Gbps capacity, it is the cornerstone of a new generation of HughesNet® high-speed satellite Internet services for consumers and businesses in North America. Let’s briefly summarize the key milestones achieved in reaching this significant threshold and the promise of high-speed satellite Internet technology globally.

David Bettinger joined iDirect as the Director of Hardware Engineering in 1996 and took over responsibility of all hardware and software development as VP of Engineering in 2002. In 2005 he became Chief Technology Officer and is now responsible for the oversight of all technology decisions within iDirect, and serves to drive the strategic direction for product development, technology alliances, along with mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Bettinger currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Global VSAT Forum and is an active member of the Telecommunications Industry Association, IEEE and the IPv6 Forum.

Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES is well-known for its global supply of capacity. Back in 2004, SES acquired Digital Playout Centre, founded in 1996 by Leo Kirch, and created to supply Kirch Group’s Premiere pay-TV operation, and then Sky Deutschland with technical services including playout, Asset Management and up-linking to its satellites.

Stefan Gardefjord became president and CEO of SSC on May 1, 2012. Most recently, he served as CEO of Logica Sweden, the country’s largest IT services company, as well as served on Logica’s executive committee.

There has been a great deal of discussion over the past year in regard to how the commercial space industry can be leveraged by the U.S. Government to achieve the following goals: – Resilience – Affordability – Risk reduction – Increased flexibility, capability, and capacity

Ten years ago, a weatherman’s best friend was launched and on-orbit has delivered unprecedented data about the Earth’s climate, water cycle and much more. Aqua is one of the primary satellites in NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS), designed to help scientists understand the Earth and make more accurate weather and climate predictions.

The Modern University of Humanities (MUH), Eurasia’s largest open university with 170,000 students, provides higher education to 830 towns and cities that include some of the most remote regions in Russia. Gilat’s SkyEdge, through the company’s Teleport Services, provides the communication network that powers MUH satellite e-learning applications.

Success is accompanied by an exhilaration that lifts the spirits of all involved. Such is especially true of launches... whether a client is commercial or a member of the mil/gov markets, placing into orbit a crucially needed satellite is an accomplishment requiring intense scrutiny for each and every aspect of the launch build and satellite placement. A company that has certainly enjoyed its fair share of such success is... United Launch Alliance (ULA).

The introduction of Gallium Nitride High Electron Mobility Transistors (GaN HEMT) in early 2000 has left an undeniable mark on the entire satellite communication landscape. It is now possible for the first time since the introduction of the Solid State Microwave Technology to design and manufacture Power Amplifiers that exceed by several orders of magnitude the reliability, linearity, power density and energy efficiency of all existing technologies, being GaAs, LDMOS, or TWT. A comparison study between these technologies is presented in this article, with emphasis on linearity and efficiency.

Imagine a fully-instrumented satellite the size of a half-gallon milk carton. Then imagine that milk carton whirling in space, catching never-before-seen glimpses of processes thought to be linked to lightning.

I fear the Republic no longer functions, but we must keep our faith.

If you’re planning to start your own space transportation company, you’ll need a few things. First and foremost is positive attitude and faith in your own abilities. A close second requirement is developing a simple, robust rocket design that actually can be built using mass production techniques. You must take the sage advice of the Apple ad campaign “Think Different” and, simultaneously, grasp how to think like a member of the established space dinosauria as they exercise majority control of the gravity-well escape business. These skills are required for both a competitive edge and your own survival.