MICROCOM'S SPACE NEWSFEED 6 October 2002<br />Space Industry News from Around the World<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Brought to you by Microcom Systems Ltd, consultants in satellite communications since 1985. http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk<br /><br />Publishers of the Handbook of Satellite Services in Europe, the definitive guide to European satellite communications: http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk/pubs/ssie.html. July 2002 issue now available. Also available online - get a temporary password to review the Handbook by sending a blank email to review@microcomsystems.co.uk.<br /><br />Check out other web resources from Microcom Systems:<br /><br />Satellite Industry Links: the largest free satellite and space industry directory on the web http://www.satellite-links.co.uk<br /><br />Satellite on the Net: white papers, industry events, launch information and book reviews http://www.satelliteonthenet.co.uk<br /><br />Jobs in Space: space industry recruitment http://www.space-jobs.co.uk<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />CONTENTS<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SATCOMS:<br />HNS Supplies Rural Telephony Satellite Network Throughout Dominican Republic<br />Intelsat Acquires US West Coast Teleport Facility<br />Loral CyberStar to Provide Innovative Voice, Data and IP Solution to the University of San Martin, Colombia<br />MIPS Technologies' Low-Power Core Delivers Performance Needed for Thrane & Thrane Satellite Mobile Phone<br />NASA's TDRS-I Reaches Geosynchronous Orbit<br />Satamatics Sets Production for Next-Generation Satellite Telematics Terminals<br />Star One Orders Additional 2,000 SkyBlaster 360 VSAT Terminals<br />Teledesic Suspends Work Under Satellite Contract<br />Training Systems Network Launches New Business Training Channel with Educational Satellite Services as Exclusive Broadcaster<br /><br />EARTH OBSERVATION:<br />ITT Industries Wins US$ 113 Million Satellite Instrument Contract<br /><br />NAVIGATION:<br />Thales Navigation Launches New Brand Strategy for Professional Products<br /><br />MILITARY SPACE:<br />Raytheon to Upgrade US Navy's Space Tracking System<br /><br />TECHNOLOGY:<br />Boeing-Led Team Wins Contract to Advance Nuclear Electric Power For Space<br /><br />LAUNCHES:<br />Launch Schedule<br /><br />BUSINESS:<br />Aerojet Completes Acquisition of General Dynamics Space Propulsion<br /><br />PRODUCTS AND SERVICES:<br />Immeon Announces Multicast Service for Low-Cost Multimedia Transmission for Business Services<br />Maxwell's New Radiation-Hardened Super Computer<br />Telenor Launches "Sealink" Suite of Communications Services for Global Maritime Industry<br />Telenor Satellite Services Announces Next Generation Inmarsat High-Speed Data Communications Service<br /><br />PEOPLE:<br />Connexion by Boeing Names Wyse Director of Deployment and Installation<br />Michael E Wetmore Named Director, Shuttle Processing at KSC<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Bolton Associates - Corporate Strategies applies 21st. Century thinking for the Earth Observation, SatCom and Environment Industries that penetrate new markets using creative commercial Risk models and innovation.<br /><br />Visit us at http://www.BoltonAssociates.com and/or download our Power Point presentation http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk/ads/EOConsult.ppt [131Kb]<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SATCOMS<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />HNS Supplies Rural Telephony Satellite Network Throughout Dominican Republic<br /><br />(1 October 2002) Hughes Network Systems Inc (HNS) has announced that Compania Dominicana de Telefonos (CODETEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon, has contracted for 500 TES Quantum Direct remote satellite terminals to provide rural telephony service throughout the Dominican Republic. This initiative was funded through the Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones (INDOTEL), the Dominican regulatory agency.<br /><br />The TES Quantum family of very small aperture terminals provides on-demand voice, fax and data services with mesh connectivity through a single satellite hop as well as multi-gateway access into the public switched telephony network (PSTN), virtual private networks and international circuits.<br /><br />The addition of TES Quantum Direct will complement CODETEL's existing portfolio of local, long-distance and wireless voice communications. They will now be able to extend their service offerings to include "toll-quality" voice for rural locations nation-wide where terrestrial solutions are difficult or not available.<br /><br />Installation is already underway and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Intelsat Acquires US West Coast Teleport Facility<br /><br />(2 October 2002) In its latest step to assemble a world-wide terrestrial infrastructure to complement its global satellite fleet, Intelsat has acquired PacAmTel teleport, located outside Los Angeles, California.<br /><br />The new teleport, now to be known as Riverside Teleport, has terrestrial links to one of the US . West Coast's major telecom point of presence (PoP) - the Meet Me Room (MMR) at One Wilshire in Los Angeles, where a community of service providers interconnect. It also has terrestrial links to a second PoP at 818 West 7th Street, Los Angeles that is connected into Intelsat's global terrestrial fibre links. Intelsat's world-wide end-to-end network now consists of teleports in California, Fuchsstadt, Germany and Clarksburg, Maryland, as well as fibre interconnected PoPs in Los Angeles, New York, Frankfurt and London.<br /><br />Intelsat anticipates that Riverside will be one of several key ground facilities utilised in Intelsat's GlobalConnex Solutions, a new portfolio of hybrid services that combines Intelsat's global satellite fleet with terrestrial capabilities - including teleport services, fibre and PoPs at strategic exchange points. GlobalConnex Solutions is already delivering end-to-end voice, data, Internet and video solutions efficiently and reliably to customers around the world.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Loral CyberStar to Provide Innovative Voice, Data and IP Solution to the University of San Martin, Colombia<br /><br />(3 October 2002) Loral CyberStar has signed a three-year contract with one of Latin America's leading educational institutions, the University of San Martin, in Bogota, Colombia. CyberStar will provide the University with a flexible, pan-regional network that integrates broadband Internet access, videoconferencing, telephony and data transfer capabilities for campuses throughout Colombia, Peru, Panama, Aruba and Brazil.<br /><br />The University of San Martin's network uses two integrated services: CyberStar's Virtual Integrated Sky Network (VISN) - a fully meshed very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system that will provide voice, data and video services - and WorldCast, CyberStar's flexible one-way or two-way connection to the Internet backbone.<br /><br />To meet the diverse voice and data needs of the University's 21-site network, CyberStar has combined two of its VSAT services onto a single, comprehensive platform. The VISN/WorldCast network will provide:<br /><br />* Internal communications for University administration needs.<br />* Internet access for students and staff.<br />* Videoconferencing to provide for one and two-way broadcasts to remote sites.<br />* Private voice communications network within the University capable of<br /> supporting simultaneous voice calls.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />MIPS Technologies' Low-Power Core Delivers Performance Needed for Thrane & Thrane Satellite Mobile Phone<br /><br />(1 October 2002) MIPS Technologies Inc, a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer and business applications, has licensed its MIPS32 4KEm processor core and new SOC-it system controller to Thrane & Thrane, one of the world's leading manufacturers of terminals for global mobile satellite communications.<br /><br />Thrane & Thrane chose the MIPS solution after a competitive analysis of other IP cores. All featured the low power consumption required for a mobile application but not the requisite performance. The company needed performance of at least 200 Dhrystone MIPS. The highly configurable MIPS32 4KEm core and SOC-it system controller achieved 230 DMIPS.<br /><br />Thrane & Thrane chose MIPS Technologies' system-level solution to meet the demanding power and performance requirements of the new services enabled by the next-generation Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network (B-GAN). Scheduled for launch in 2004, the B-GAN is intended to be compatible with the UMTS protocol for 3G mobile phones. It will deliver standard voice as well as high-speed packet services at up to 432 kb/s, which will provide Internet access, mobile multimedia and other advanced applications to remote, land-based mobile users such as those in international aid organisations, government, the media, and the oil and gas industry. Thrane & Thrane received US$ 15 million from Inmarsat to partly fund development of the terminals, as well as a user terminal core module that will be marketed to third-party manufacturers.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NASA's TDRS-I Reaches Geosynchronous Orbit<br /><br />(2 October 2002) After a challenging seven-month planning and recovery effort led by Boeing Satellite Systems the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-I (TDRS-I) reached geosynchronous orbit on September 30 early in the morning.<br /><br />The recovery effort was prompted when one of the two fuel tanks aboard the satellite did not properly pressurise shortly after its March 8 launch.<br /><br />Satellite controllers at Boeing Satellite Systems re-routed fuel tank pressurant around a blocked valve and conducted a series of engine burns over the past four months to raise TDRS-I's orbit to 22,300 miles. The last burn was performed early Monday morning, September 30.<br /><br />The satellite will now deploy its antennas and undergo at least eight weeks of in-orbit testing. Based on the remaining amount of propellant, the satellite is expected to fulfil its contractually required 15-year service life.<br /><br />TDRS-I is the second of three spacecraft BSS has delivered for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The first satellite, TDRS-H, was successfully launched in June 2000. The third satellite, TDRS-J, is scheduled for launch in November 2002.<br /><br />The TDRS fleet serves as the primary means of continuous, high-data-rate communication with the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station and dozens of unmanned scientific satellites in low earth orbit including the Hubble Space Telescope. The three new TDRS satellites will add Ka band capability to the TDRS fleet, which will boost flexibility and allow transmissions at higher data rates.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Satamatics Sets Production for Next-Generation Satellite Telematics Terminals<br /><br />(2 October 2002) Satamatics Ltd and part of the Richtec plc group of companies, have established a strong working partnership with DDi Technologies for the production design and volume manufacture of its next-generation intelligent satellite data terminal.<br /><br />Satamatics holds a unique market position in satellite-delivered telematics services, and to meet the rapid growth in market demand, the company required a manufacturing partner capable of fast-track production for its new design of miniature mobile terminal.<br /><br />Satamatics elected to develop its own terminals in order to tap into the market potential of hundreds of thousands of units. The company's new terminal was designed specifically to address that market potential, using the latest technology combined with increased features and rugged reliability. The terminal's 18-month development programme will culminate in test trials during November, with full-scale production in February 2003. The first production-run features will include:<br /><br />* Multiple and configurable input/output options, for remote control,<br /> sensing and monitoring applications<br />* Powerful scripting language for developing specific applications<br />* Low operating power consumption<br />* Integrated battery power for stand alone operation<br />* Modular design for flexible antenna and power pack configurations<br /><br />With this most advanced mobile satellite terminal and four state of the art satellite gateways located around the world, Satamatics' Telematics Services offer real-time access to the remotest locations anywhere and any time.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Star One Orders Additional 2,000 SkyBlaster 360 VSAT Terminals<br /><br />(4 October 2002) Brazilian service provider, Star One, has expanded its broadband satellite network by adding 2,000 of Gilat's SkyBlaster 360 VSAT terminals to its existing network of 3,700 VSAT terminals.<br /><br />The additional VSATs will allow Star One to expand its services of broadband Internet access for consumers and small businesses throughout Brazil. The delivery of the new VSAT units is immediate.<br /><br />In May of 2001, Gilat and Star One entered into an agreement to provide Brazil's first consumer, two-way satellite broadband Internet service. The service offers always-on, high-speed Internet access to selected consumer markets and small office/home office (SOHO) users in Brazil. Star One is a partnership of Embratel, Brazil's largest telecommunications company and satellite operator SES Global.<br /><br />SkyBlaster is an interactive satellite networking solution designed for IP applications. It combines industry-standard Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) technology with Gilat's inbound satellite access technology to provide high-performance, cost-effective, two-way connectivity for a wide array of content delivery and other multicast and interactive applications. SkyBlaster's broadband satellite platform provides content delivery speeds capable of scaling up to 52.5 Mb/s, with a high-speed, always-on 153 kb/s satellite return channel.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Teledesic Suspends Work Under Satellite Contract<br /><br />(30 September 2002) Teledesic LLC has suspended work under its satellite construction contract with Italian satellite manufacturer Alenia Spazio SpA and will significantly reduce its staff as it evaluates possible alternative approaches to its business.<br /><br />Early this year, Teledesic engaged Alenia to build the first two satellites of its planned 30-satellite constellation of mid-earth orbiting satellites designed to provide broadband communications to any part of the globe. However, after continually reviewing the foreseeable financial markets and the commercial prospects for satellite point-to-point communications, the company does not believe that it is prudent, purely on speculation, to continue the substantial capital expenditures required to construct and launch the satellites consistent with the timing required to meet FCC and ITU regulatory milestones. Over the past ten years, Teledesic has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on design and development of global broadband satellite system concepts.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Training Systems Network Launches New Business Training Channel with Educational Satellite Services as Exclusive Broadcaster<br /><br />(2 October 2002) Training Systems Network LLC and Educational Satellite Services Inc launched The Professional Development Channel on October 1 2002 to provide business and professional development programming targeted at the needs of government organisations and corporations throughout the United States and Canada.<br /><br />The Professional Development Channel is a private, digital, satellite channel broadcast exclusively by Educational Satellite Services Inc. TSN is in the process of acquiring the Professional Development Channel from its current owners, National Technological University (NTU) and Sylvan Ventures, the investment arm of Sylvan Learning Systems Inc.<br /><br />TSN will feature over 100 hours of broadcasting on professional development topics such as Leadership, Change Management, Customer Service, Communications, Wellness in the Workplace, Diversity, Stress Management, and Safety just to name a few.<br /><br />Each week TSN will feature a different theme to enhance the learning experience. In its inaugural year, TSN will provide 24 new programs to its growing customer base. In addition, TSN will feature its weekly premier talk show called Success @ Work, a two-hour, interactive broadcast that will highlight "real life heroes" on the job.<br /><br />Training Systems Network LLC (TSN) designs, produces, and delivers high-quality satellite programming. The management team has over 20 years of combined experience in satellite programming, and more than 30 years combined experience in designing and delivering professional development programs.<br /><br />Educational Satellite Services Inc (ESS) is a leading broadcaster of educational content to corporations and government organisations. For the past 17 years, ESS' satellite technology has provided managed satellite services for National Technological University, the largest and most sophisticated distance learning network in the United States. ESS was spun off from NTU in February 2002. Both ESS and NTU are in the process of being acquired by Sylvan Ventures, the investment arm of Sylvan Learning Systems Inc.<br /><br />ESS provides a comprehensive line of products and services including private satellite network engineering/design, space segment, uplink services, network management, studio services, videotaping, and hardware sales/service.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />EARTH OBSERVATION<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />ITT Industries Wins US$ 113 Million Satellite Instrument Contract<br /><br />(3 October 2002) ITT Industries Inc has been awarded a US$ 113 million contract by TRW to produce three high technology, space-based measurement instruments to improve weather forecasting world-wide. The instrument, known as the Cross Track Infrared Sounders (CrIS) provides improved measurements of temperature and moisture in the earth's atmosphere. Forecasters use this data to help improve both global and regional predictions of weather patterns and storm tracks.<br /><br />ITT Industries has been developing technology for space-based sensors and payloads for more than a quarter century. Its Imagers and Sounders form the backbone of the US weather forecasting system and its navigation payloads are at the heart of GPS. The CrIS has several new advanced technology applications ITT has developed for existing and future programs. It includes one of the first space applications of a Michelson Interferometer. This scientific tool is used to split light into hundreds of spectral channels and allows for more precise measurements of the earth's atmosphere at various altitudes. Current technology permits measurement in only a few channels while CrIS will measure 1300. This provides a major improvement in the quality of data used by forecasters to predict the weather.<br /><br />The NPOESS Integrated Program Office recently named TRW as the prime contractor with Shared System Performance Responsibility (SSPR) for developing the new National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). As SSPR, TRW has end-to-end responsibility for providing complete packages of data to support mission requirements of both the Departments of Commerce and Defense.<br /><br />CrIS is scheduled to begin flying on-board NASA's NPOESS Preparatory Project spacecraft beginning in 2006. The mission will aid in the merging of missions of the current civil Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites with those of the military's Defense Meteorological Satellite System.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NAVIGATION<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Thales Navigation Launches New Brand Strategy for Professional Products<br /><br />(30 September 2002) Thales Navigation is to consolidate all its professional GPS products, including its well-known Ashtech brand, under the Thales Navigation brand name.<br /><br />The re-branding, which will be phased in beginning this month, is designed to unify Thales Navigation's professional product offerings and help streamline the company's marketing communications efforts. The move will also allow Thales Navigation to leverage the strength of its corporate parent, Thales, a US$ 10 billion global company, in the marketplace.<br /><br />Thales acquired Magellan Corporation in 2001, along with its Ashtech brand, and combined it with France-based Thales Navigation SA to form Thales Navigation. The company restructured its organisation to create two distinct business units, one for professional products and one for consumer products; appointed industry veteran Neil Vancans as general manager of the Professional Products Business Unit; and brought on Stig Pedersen, a leading product development and positioning expert, to drive the company's GIS efforts.<br /><br />To enhance its marketing efficiency, the company recognised that consolidation under one professional brand would be advantageous. It has now reached that milestone as well by bringing all professional products under a brand well recognised on a world-wide basis - Thales Navigation.<br /><br />With this brand change, Thales Navigation will begin a renewed and focused marketing effort. It will support its dealers and customers during the transition through a variety of marketing activities, including advertising beginning in November, a comprehensive web site update, and other key communication programs.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />MILITARY SPACE<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Raytheon to Upgrade US Navy's Space Tracking System<br /><br />(2 October 2002) Raytheon Company has been awarded an initial US$ 17 million contract to upgrade the US Navy's low-earth orbit space object tracking system. With options, the award has a potential value of US$ 396 million through 2010.<br /><br />The US Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command of San Diego awarded the contract to Raytheon's Integrated Defense Systems business. The Naval Space Surveillance System (NSSS) supports multiple space-related missions aimed at protecting the Navy's surface fleet from space threats. NSSS produces and maintains a space object catalogue using data collected from its space tracking system. To upgrade the 40-year-old system, Raytheon will replace the current VHF sensors across the southern United States with more sensitive S band radars. This upgrade will dramatically improve the system's capability for tracking and cataloguing smaller space objects.<br /><br />Raytheon won the contract in competition with teams from ITT, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. Work on the contract will be performed in Andover and Sudbury, Massachusetts.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />TECHNOLOGY<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Boeing-Led Team Wins Contract to Advance Nuclear Electric Power For Space<br /><br />(3 October 2002) A team of government, industry and academia, under the leadership of The Boeing Company, has been awarded a NASA contract to meet the challenge of developing nuclear electric power for deep space exploration.<br /><br />Boeing and a team consisting of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Glenn Research Center, Honeywell, Swales Aerospace, Auburn University and Texas A&M will develop power conversion technologies that enable future reactor electric propulsion missions.<br /><br />The focus of the Boeing team's approach is on the Brayton Power Conversion System (BPCS) technology as the baseline concept solution. Critical features of the BPCS have been proven in jet aircraft and terrestrial power plants, and integrated system testing, on a reduced scale, has been performed under separate NASA programs.<br /><br />The contract calls for an initial study to define a conceptual design and development plan. This will be followed by two one-year options. The result will be minimal development risk and high-yield technology advancement toward operational reactor electric power for space.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />LAUNCHES<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launch Schedule<br /><br />October 7: ISS 9A/BA, ITS S1 on the Shuttle Atlantis (STS-112) from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida<br />October 15: Foton M-1 on a Soyuz from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia<br />October 17: Integral on a Proton from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />October 22: military satellite on a Molniya-M from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia<br />October 28: Soyuz (ISS 5S) on a Soyuz U from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />October 29: Mozhaets, AlSat 1 on a Kosmos 3M from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia<br />November: GPS 2R-8 on a Delta 2 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />November: Hotbird 7, Stentor on an Ariane 5 from CSG Kourou, French Guiana<br />November 3: Eutelsat W5 on a Delta 4 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida: first EELV launch<br />November 10: ISS 11A, ITS, P1 on the Shuttle Endeavour (STS-113) from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida<br />Q4: AMC 9 on a Proton from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />Q4: Astra 1K on a Proton from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan<br />November 20: TDRS J on an Atlas 2AS from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />December: Galaxy XIII/Horizons-1 on a Zenit 3SL from Sea Launch's Odyssey platform in the Pacific Ocean<br />December: SMART-1 on an Ariane 5 from CSG Kourou, French Guiana<br />December 1: SORCE on a Pegasus XL from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />delayed: DSCS-B6 on a Delta 4 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />December 10: Adeos 2, Micro-Lab Sat, WEOSS, FedSat on an H-2A from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan<br />December 15: Coriolis on a Titan 2 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California<br />December 15: ICESat/CHIPSat on a Delta 2 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California<br />December 17: Nimiq 2 on an Atlas 5 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />BUSINESS<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Aerojet Completes Acquisition of General Dynamics Space Propulsion<br /><br />(2 October 2002) Aerojet-General Corporation (Aerojet), has completed the acquisition of the assets of General Dynamics' Ordnance and Tactical Systems Space Propulsion and Fire Suppression business.<br /><br />At the request of the parties, the Federal Trade Commission granted an early termination of its pre-merger review of the transaction under the Hart-Scott-Rodino statute on Friday September 26 2002. The companies have now completed the transaction. Deutsche Bank Securities served as financial advisor to GenCorp in connection with the transaction.<br /><br />The acquisition strengthens Aerojet's position in spacecraft propulsion and emerging missile defence applications, expands the company's role on the NASA Space Shuttle Program, and enables expansion into new growth areas such as electric propulsion.<br /><br />Located in Redmond, Washington, the acquired business employs about 300 people. It will continue to operate in Redmond as an integrated component of Aerojet's operations.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />PRODUCTS AND SERVICES<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Immeon Announces Multicast Service for Low-Cost Multimedia Transmission for Business Services<br /><br />(1 October 2002) Immeon Networks LLC is adding Immeon Content Delivery Service to its line of wireless, bandwidth-on-demand communication services. Immeon Content Delivery Service is a reliable, managed multicast service that delivers multimedia content from a single point to multiple, targeted remote locations simultaneously. The new Immeon service will use the zBand Content Delivery platform from SkyStream Networks.<br /><br />The Immeon service will be able to transmit audio, video, graphics, and large data files to any number of locations at a fraction of the cost of terrestrial networks. Customers using the service can send data equivalent to a full CD-ROM in minutes, with available rates of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 20 Mb/s.<br /><br />SkyStream's zBand is a content delivery software platform built on open standards and a secure server-client architecture. zBand will provide an integrated platform for the Immeon Network Operations Center to manage content, bandwidth, and network resources for Content Delivery Service customers. The open API architecture of zBand provides easy integration with other systems, and the software platform's flexibility and innovative features scale with network infrastructure as requirements grow.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Maxwell's New Radiation-Hardened Super Computer<br /><br />(3 October 2002) Maxwell Technologies Inc has introduced a family of radiation-hardened single board computers (SBC) for the space and military markets that guarantee extremely high reliability in radiation-intense environments while delivering 10 to 1,000 times the usable processing power of currently available space-qualified SBCs.<br /><br />The new Super Computer for Space (SCS) 750 SBC family incorporates the latest IBM PowerPC 750FX silicon-on-insulator (SOI) processors in a unique triple redundancy configuration, combined with error-corrected and radiation-shielded memory and additional advanced radiation mitigation design methods.<br /><br />The SCS750 has been engineered to perform complex data processing, digital imaging and broadband transmission functions aboard satellites and military aircraft. According to industry sources, the current market for rad-hard SBCs targeting space and military applications is estimated to be approximately US$ 150 million annually.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Telenor Launches "Sealink" Suite of Communications Services for Global Maritime Industry<br /><br />(3 October 2002) Telenor Satellite Services has announced the global availability of "Sealink," the company's suite of digital high-speed communications solutions that extend corporate networks and make other broadband communications available on a leased basis to ships at sea.<br /><br />Sealink provides turn-key managed communications solutions for a wide variety of maritime industries including ferry and cruise lines, drilling, energy exploration, and scientific research projects, as well as ocean-going transportation and supply operations.<br /><br />Sealink provides totally integrated system solutions where Telenor takes responsibility of all elements including equipment, space segment for C and Ku band, gateway functions, installation, and operation and maintenance of each system. All communications are delivered through Telenor's gateways and earth stations in Europe and the United States.<br /><br />Sealink combines Telenor's former Norsat Sealink service with the C band services of Telenor's US-based business that together provide essential communications at sea to more than 230 vessels globally. By using resources of both the Intelsat and Thor satellite systems, Sealink provides complete data, video, Internet, and voice shipboard communications that are always available at a fixed price. Sealink communications solution via satellite are based on proven technology that has been developed for more than 10 years to satisfy today's maritime requirements for modern and reliable business communications.<br /><br />Sealink's "always on" and "always available" ship-to-shore satellite services offer simultaneous multiple phone, fax, and data access at speeds up to 2 Mb/s. Sealink provides two satellite communications technologies, C band and Ku band. Both are ideally suited for a myriad of business and entertainment communications including TV and radio reception; Internet access; video conferencing; large volume data communications; and crew, client, and passenger telephone calls.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Telenor Satellite Services Announces Next Generation Inmarsat High-Speed Data Communications Service<br /><br />(2 October 2002) Telenor Satellite Services has announced that it will be among the first to offer Inmarsat's new Regional Broadband Global Area Network (Regional BGAN), due for launch by the end of this year.<br /><br />Regional BGAN offers reliable, 24-hour a day Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity at data speeds of up to 144 kb/s via a secure channel. The service will be available in Europe, Asia, and northern and central Africa.<br /><br />The service will afford enterprise customers, governments, global and regional businesses, as well as educational facilities the ability to securely extend their corporate networks and access the Internet, via satellite, regardless of the local communications infrastructure.<br /><br />Unlike other services that charge a per minute connection fee, Telenor's Regional BGAN requires the user to pay for only the data sent and received. Regional BGAN offers the additional benefit of using notebook-sized, highly portable satellite IP modems.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />PEOPLE<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Connexion by Boeing Names Wyse Director of Deployment and Installation<br /><br />(3 October 2002) Connexion by Boeing has announced that Beverly Wyse, 40, has been named director of the newly formed Deployment and Installation organisation. In her new role Wyse will lead a team responsible for the planning and implementation of the Connexion by Boeing service on aircraft, production incorporation and installation design procurement decisions.<br /><br />Wyse previously served as the director of Program Management for the Boeing 757 aircraft program within Boeing Commercial Airplanes, to which she was appointed in 2000. In that capacity, she was responsible for all aspects of business operations, program and project management and delivery of customer commitments. Previously she served as senior manager for the Boeing twin-aisle aircraft programs.<br /><br />Wyse received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Michael E Wetmore Named Director, Shuttle Processing at KSC<br /><br />(30 September 2002) Michael E Wetmore has been appointed director of the Shuttle Processing organisation at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), effective Nov 3, 2002.<br /><br />In this position, Wetmore will be responsible for the management and oversight of Space Shuttle processing and launch operations at KSC. He has been the deputy director of Shuttle Processing since 1999.<br /><br />Wetmore earned a bachelor degree in mechanical engineering from the US Naval Academy, Annapolis in 1980. He served seven years in the United States Navy as a nuclear trained submarine officer, including six strategic deterrent patrols.<br /><br />In 1987, he began his career at NASA as a Shuttle environmental control and life support system engineer. Wetmore has excelled in a variety of positions which include Shuttle fuel cells/power reactant storage and distribution engineer, resources management lead for the Space Shuttle Launch and Landing Projects Office, manager, Space Shuttle Launch and Landing Projects Office, and deputy to the director, Process Integration. He has also served one year at NASA headquarters as the chief of the Space Shuttle Resources and Program Evaluation Branch, responsible for the administration of the budgets for the Space Shuttle, Expendable Launch Vehicle, and Payload Carriers programs.<br /><br />Wetmore received a master’s degree in business administration from Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne in 1989.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Press releases should be sent to: newsfeed@microcomsystems.co.uk<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Microcom makes no charge for this service and makes no payments for the use of material. Microcom makes no warranties about the quality of this free service and accepts no liability for mistakes and errors. Use of this service is taken as confirmation of acceptance of these conditions.<br /><br />If you require further information contact Microcom by email: info@microcomsystems.co.uk<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />This newsletter, and archives dating back to January 2000, can be viewed on the web at http://www.spacenewsfeed.co.uk<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />To subscribe and unsubscribe go to: http://www.spacenewsfeed.co.uk/subscribe.html<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Copyright 2002 Microcom Systems Ltd. All rights reserved.<br /><br />Microcom's Space Newsfeed may be freely distributed on condition that it is distributed complete, not edited in any way, and that no fee is charged. All copies must contain this copyright notice.<br /><br />Microcom Systems Ltd<br />PO Box 21<br />Haverhill<br />Suffolk CB9 0NZ<br />United Kingdom<br /><br />info@microcomsystems.co.uk<br />http://www.microcomsystems.co.uk