Microcom's Space Newsfeed 2 February 2003<br />Space Industry News from Around the World<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Published 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. January 2003 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 />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 />ADB Passes DVB-MHP Test Suite<br />Artemis Finally Reaches Operational Orbit<br />FCC Grants Ancillary Terrestrial Component to MSS Providers<br />Gilat Deploys Data and Voice VSAT Networks in Nigeria<br />Globecomm Selects CosmoCom ACD Technology for its New Agility Deal<br />Low Cost Satellite Return Channel for Interactive TV<br />New Skies Creates Complete Service Offering for Reliance Infocomm<br />Odebrecht Selects Kingston inmedia as Global VoIP Gateway<br />Tandberg Television Brings Video Down to Earth<br /><br />Earth Observation:<br />NASA Joins Snow Study Over the Sea of Japan<br /><br />Military Space:<br />Integral's Skylight 'Nowcasting' Weather Technology<br />Lockheed Martin Demonstrates New Satellite Range Extension Capability<br /><br />Manned Space:<br />Shuttle Columbia Lost During Re-entry<br /><br />Launch Services:<br />ILS Investigation Panel Releases Results of Initial Review<br />Orbital Selected for $475 Million Launch Vehicle Program by USAF<br /><br />Launches:<br />GPS 2R-8, XSS-10<br /><br />Business:<br />EADS Buys Out Astrium Partner<br />Globalstar Creditors Committee Withdraws Support for New Valley Deal<br />Sirius Launches Exchange Offer for Outstanding Debt<br /><br />People:<br />Orbital Promotes Jack Danko<br />Radyne ComStream Appoints Richard P. Johnson as Chief Financial Officer<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 />ADB Passes DVB-MHP Test Suite<br /><br />(27 January 2003) At the end of December, at ADB’s Research and Development labs in Zielona Gora and Katowice in western Poland, the company's DVB-MHP implementation successfully passed the DVB-MHP Test Suite. ADB has now become the first company to have fully compliant MHP branded product.<br /><br />ADB first showcased their MHP implementation in Munich in early 2002. This was followed by a successful IBC where ADB’s robust and fast MHP set top boxes graced some 12 different companies’ stands. This was closely followed by a launch into retail in Finland and a further outing in December 2002 at the European Commission interoperability event in Brussels. ADB’s MHP set top boxes once again out-performed many of its competitors.<br /><br />To date, ADB, an international company, based in Switzerland, Poland, Taiwan and the USA, has shipped over two million set-top box units and has contributed with leading edge and cost-effective technology to the development of digital TV markets in more than 15 countries around the world. ADB has now secured MHP deals in the terrestrial as well as pay-TV cable and satellite industries and has recently established offices in the USA.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Artemis Finally Reaches Operational Orbit<br /><br />(31 January 2003) Artemis has finally reached geostationary orbit, some 36,000 km above the Earth, at 21.5° E some eighteen months later than intended.<br /><br />Artemis (Advanced Relay and Technology Mission) was left in a lower than intended orbit when the Ariane 5 upper stage malfunctioned.<br /><br />Fortunately, Artemis carried an experimental ion propulsion system to correct orbit drift once Artemis was on station, which was used to raise the satellite's orbit from 31 000 km to 36 000 km.<br /><br />Before the orbit-raising operations could get underway, a huge reprogramming effort was required and it even proved necessary to develop completely new software from scratch, against the clock. Those operations began with an initial, rapid shift to a safe parking orbit beyond the upper Van Allen Radiation Belt, the required thrust coming from the satellite's conventional, chemical-powered apogee boost motors. The small ion motors then took over in February 2002 and, at an average of 15 kilometres a day, Artemis rose in spirals towards geostationary orbit.<br /><br />Artemis has now taken up its operational station in Earth orbit and its instruments, placed in hibernation throughout the recovery campaign, have been reactivated.<br /><br />Once all systems are fully active Artemis will be ready to embark on what may prove to be a ten-year operational career, barely less than the service life that had been planned before the recovery mission became necessary.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />FCC Grants Ancillary Terrestrial Component to MSS Providers<br /><br />(30 January 2003) The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted 2GHz Mobile Satellite System (MSS) operators an ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) to their spectrum licenses.<br /><br />The ATC will allow mobile satellite operators to site terrestrial repeaters in urban areas to boost their signals, permitting the reception of their calls inside buildings and in areas shielded by buildings. Without these terrestrial repeaters, the signals from the satellites can be too weak for good reception effectively vetoing the use of satellite phones in many built up areas. The repeaters will reuse the frequencies used to transmit calls to and from the satellites.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Gilat Deploys Data and Voice VSAT Networks in Nigeria<br /><br />(27 January 2003) Gilat Satellite Networks has announced the deployment of several Nigerian two-way satellite data and voice VSAT networks based on its FaraWay and Skystar Advantage VSAT platforms. The networks are provided by Gilat's local partners, SEC and DCC, and include applications for major Nigerian banks and petroleum companies.<br /><br />The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has deployed a FaraWay network connecting its Abuja headquarters with two hubs and 44 remote sites throughout Nigeria. The solar-operated network provides high-density mesh telephony and fax and data interconnectivity. NNPC controls 60% of the Nigeria's oil exploration and production and is a major generator of the country's income. The network, originally deployed several years ago by Gilat's partner SEC, was recently upgraded with additional sites and features.<br /><br />SEC, in a joint venture with Philips Projects Center (PPC), procured a FaraWay Network from Gilat for a large petroleum company, which includes fifty on and off-shore locations throughout Nigeria. The network, which includes a hub in Lagos, has two nodal stations (in Port Harcourt and Wari) and 28 remote sites in the initial phase, and will provide data and telephony services.<br /><br />Two banking networks were deployed using shared-hub resources provided by Gilat's partner DCC. A 24-site FaraWay network connects Oceanic Bank International's main headquarters in Lagos to 24 regional branches throughout the country. The applications employed on the network include Microsoft Outlook-based email and Finacle, an HTML-based Oracle software program that serves as the core banking application. In the future, Oceanic Bank International has a requirement for broadband video applications where video information at the branches will be transmitted to the Head Office for monitoring purposes as well as a need for Internet access to be hosted centrally and extended to the remote branches.<br /><br />New Nigeria Bank PLC is also using a FaraWay network to connect its headquarters in Lagos to nine regional branches. The applications employed on the network include Microsoft Outlook-based email and Equinox software that serves as the core banking application. The bank also plans on providing Internet access hosted centrally and extended to its branches.<br /><br />Gilat's local partners, DCC, has commissioned a Skystar 360E hub. The hub will provide services for corporate customers including banks and enterprise clients, providing data, IP applications and broadband Internet access. The Skystar 360E network will offer a variety of service packages, tailored for specific customer needs. Installed in December 2002, the Skystar 360E network will provide complimentary services to DCC's existing Gilat FaraWay VSAT network.<br /><br />Additionally, another corporate enterprise network, deployed by another of its local partners, SEC, based on its Skystar Advantage VSAT platform has also been upgraded. The network is providing data services for corporate customers, mostly banks. Deployed several years ago, the network was recently upgraded to handle additional traffic and customers.<br /><br />Gilat's FaraWay VSAT employs a full-mesh, DAMA network architecture that maximises the use of available satellite and ground-based resources.<br /><br />The Skystar 360E platform offers a flexible, two-way satellite-based solution enabling interactive broadband IP and multicasting applications. With DVB standards and extensive IP capabilities, the 360E supports virtually any data and IP multicast application.<br /><br />The Skystar Advantage network is a private VSAT network designed for data, multimedia and voice applications, providing highly reliable communication between a central hub and almost any number - tens or thousands - of geographically dispersed sites. Skystar Advantage is a versatile and modular VSAT product that integrates the features of several different applications into a single platform.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Globecomm Selects CosmoCom ACD Technology for its New Agility Deal<br /><br />(27 January 2003) CosmoCom Inc's CosmoCall Universe has been selected as the automatic call distribution (ACD) platform supporting the newly expanded agreement between Globecomm Systems Inc and Agility Recovery Solutions.<br /><br />Globecomm provides global end-to-end satellite-based communication solutions from its Long Island teleport, and Agility is the premier provider of on-site recovery and business continuity solutions across the US and Canada. Under their agreement announced on January 9, Globecomm will provide Agility with dedicated bandwidth, teleport and network services needed for disaster recovery, and design, implement and maintain an automated call distribution (ACD) network based on CosmoCall Universe.<br /><br />CosmoCom is the leading provider of all-IP, universal access contact centre platforms. CosmoCall Universe supports multi-channel customer interactions including telephone, web chat, web voice, web video, web collaboration, email and voicemail in one high capacity, high availability, multi-tenant platform. CosmoCall Universe is a complete, unified contact centre suite that includes CTI, predictive dialling, multimedia recording and a complement of powerful management applications. Service Providers use CosmoCall Universe to offer network-hosted Contact Center On-Demand solutions to their end user customers.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Low Cost Satellite Return Channel for Interactive TV<br /><br />(27 January 2003) SES Astra, Canal Satellite, Canal+Technologies, Newtec, STMicroelectronics and Thomson are to develop a low cost satellite-based response channel for direct-to-home set-top-boxes.<br /><br />The 49 million Euro project will be funded both by the consortium and by the European Space Agency (ESA), through a contract under its ARTES program, which supports the development of advanced-technologies related to both the satellite and media industries.<br /><br />The product, called Satmode (for satellite modem), will provide an always-on satellite return path, in Ka Band via Astra 1H, between a digital TV set-top-box in a user’s home and content providers. The interactivity enabled by the Astra return link will greatly enhance future applications such as video-on-demand, messaging, gaming and growing audience interaction in various types of shows. Since Satmode is fully integrated into the set-top box and connected to the satellite system, the use of telephone return channel or other terrestrial technologies will no longer be necessary on these set-top boxes.<br /><br />Satmode is a satellite return link system providing ‘always-on’ connectivity between digital TV set top boxes - the interactive version of commercial satellite TV receivers - and content providers. This interactive terminal should add less than 50 Euro to the actual cost of a commercial set top box and antenna providing the possibility of real time interactivity and more. The Satmode system will enable permanent, real time responses by millions of TV viewers to content provider’s programmes. It will also allow additional services such as SMS, televoting, management of personal video recorders, access control, pay per view and other impulse transactions.<br /><br />Within the development team, SES Astra will provide overall leadership and day-to-day project management and is the responsible vis-à-vis ESA for the execution of the work. Canal+Technologies and Newtec will design, test and integrate a Satmode test system prior to the end of 2003. Newtec will also manufacture the interactive antenna components. Technical field trials are expected in early 2004, while commercial roll out is planned in late 2004. Thomson will manufacture prototypes and consumer terminals of the fully modem-equipped interactive set-top boxes with chips built by STMicroelectronics.<br /><br />ESA and SES Astra are focusing on a market driven development, reflected by the partners cofinancing the development. Furthermore, SES Astra is committed to the emergence of an "open system" which can be freely adopted by broadcasters all over Europe, through the release of the system interface specifications.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />New Skies Creates Complete Service Offering for Reliance Infocomm<br /><br />(30 January 2003) New Skies Satellites NV has signed a multi-year, multi-transponder deal with Reliance Infocomm Ltd, one of India's leading telecom companies offering basic (fixed and CDMA mobile), national long distance, international long distance and data services.<br /><br />The agreement creates a complete, end-to-end value-added service enabling Reliance to launch international long-distance telephony services to the United States. The bundled offering includes multiple transponders on the NSS-703 satellite, uplinking/downlinking services at New Skies' partner mediaport northwest of London, and local loop as well as trans-Atlantic fibre capacity linking the European gateway with Reliance's facility at 60 Hudson Street in New York City. The service will be used along with Reliance's growing fibre network, which covers over 600 cities across India.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Odebrecht Selects Kingston inmedia as Global VoIP Gateway<br /><br />(27 January 2003) Kingston inmedia is providing Internet backbone connectivity and VoIP services to the Odebrecht Group, world leaders in Engineering, Construction, Chemicals and Petrochemicals. The solution will be routed via Kingston inmedia's Gerrards Cross teleport, allowing fast and reliable voice and data communication between Odebrecht's Angolan office and its Head Office in Brazil, as well as offices in North America and Europe.<br /><br />Despite improvements in de-regulation, connectivity in Angola is still relatively difficult, particularly in areas affected by war and a ravaged economy. In selecting an easily deployed satellite-based solution to transmit voice and Internet data, Angolan based companies such as Odebrecht can overcome the problems associated with the lack of a high quality communications infrastructure.<br /><br />Founded in 1945, The Odebrecht Group is active in Engineering & Construction and Chemicals & Petrochemicals. In these areas, it directly manages its own businesses. In partnership with other business groups, Odebrecht also has affiliates that are active in Infrastructure & Public Services, Oil & Gas, Tourism and Pulp Manufacturing. Odebrecht has over 36,000 members of staff working in South America, North America, Africa and Europe. Brazil is its home base.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Tandberg Television Brings Video Down to Earth<br /><br />(30 January 2003) Tandberg Television has commenced its contribution towards the installation of an ATM network for the European Space Agency under contract with the German Space Agency, DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt). The ATM video contribution and distribution network will provide access to video from the International Space Station (ISS) and from other ESA (European Space Agency) facilities to ESA intranet users, International Partners and if required to broadcasters for public use.<br /><br />Tandberg Television's solution enables DLR and ESA to distribute broadcast quality video, as follows:<br /><br />* Connectivity between ESA's mission control centres (Oberpfaffenhofen<br /> near Munich, Germany and Toulouse, France), Houston (NASA), Huntsville<br /> (NASA) and Moscow (RSA) mission control centres and facilities throughout<br /> Europe<br />* Internet ready video feeds through an IP over ATM network<br />* Feeds to broadcasters of live transmissions from the space station and<br /> from Mission Control<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Earth Observation<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NASA Joins Snow Study Over the Sea of Japan<br /><br />(29 January 2003) NASA and two Japanese government agencies are collaborating on a snowfall study over Wakasa Bay, Japan. Using NASA's Earth Observing System Aqua satellite, research aircraft and coastal radars to gather data, the joint effort is expanding scientific knowledge about where precipitation falls.<br /><br />Until now, the north Pacific's contributions to the global hydrologic cycle have been difficult to quantify. Precipitation measurements by satellite over open water are very important, because there are very few other ways to obtain the data. Snowfall is particularly difficult to measure from space even over the relatively uniform background of the ocean. New satellite instruments, that can detect precipitation over water, will give scientists data to help interpret how the hydrology of the Pacific Ocean impacts the U.S. and the world.<br /><br />The Wakasa Bay Field Campaign is a combined research effort among NASA, the National Space Agency of Japan (NASDA), and the Japanese Meteorological Research Institute (MRI). The campaign began January 3 and runs through February 14.<br /><br />Wakasa Bay, located North of Osaka on the Sea of Japan, is known for its diverse weather in winter months. Ranging from extreme cold, that brings Siberian air and accompanying snow into the region, to fast moving extra-tropical low pressure systems, that consist primarily of rain at the surface, but originating as snowfall at higher altitudes.<br /><br />A NASA P-3 Orion aircraft, from Wallops Island, is flying over the bay and collecting data on snowfall and rainfall to compare to data being gathered by the Aqua satellite orbiting over the same area. The aircraft payload consists of five microwave sensors, each capable of uniquely observing precipitation and cloud properties.<br /><br />On board Aqua is a Japanese-built Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) instrument.<br /><br />Some of the measurements will also be used for another field campaign concerning sea ice in the Sea of Okhotsk and to compare with data from the AMSR instrument aboard the Japanese ADEOS-II satellite.<br /><br />The Wakasa Bay experiment is designed to test the calculations and methods that scientists use to process satellite data. The P-3 Orion observations will be used to get precise values for the cloud and precipitation properties, such as the size distribution of the ice particles or raindrops, that are currently assumed in the satellite calculations. By replacing the assumed data with precise observations from the P-3, scientists can determine the accuracy of the Aqua AMSR-E rainfall and snowfall estimates.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Military Space<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Integral's Skylight 'Nowcasting' Weather Technology<br /><br />(29 January 2003) The US armed forces are increasingly interested in new methods of accessing near-real-time weather information for military operations - a concept known in meteorological circles as "nowcasting."<br /><br />Integral's Skylight system is a direct broadcast satellite terminal for remote sensing of weather data. It is a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solution, enabling near-real-time nowcasting of critical weather and atmospheric data anywhere in the vicinity of a Skylight node.<br /><br />With war in Iraq on the horizon, Skylight enables military operations to conduct more efficient and effective Battle Systems Management. For example, if Skylight terminals were placed in Tel Aviv and Bahrain, those terminals could provide field commanders and warfighters with Iraqi weather information that is no more than two hours old, taking the guesswork out of deploying troops, military resources and laser-guided munitions in fast-changing weather scenarios.<br /><br />Available today from Integral Systems and its technology partners, Skylight can be deployed anywhere in the world within 60 days. Skylight can cover a battlefield like the Middle East with roughly half a dozen installations. Security is handled through commercial or NSA technology encryption, allowing the relay of weather data over commercial communications satellites.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Lockheed Martin Demonstrates New Satellite Range Extension Capability<br /><br />(27 January 2003) Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company has successfully tested a proof-of-concept system that will extend the range and effectiveness of the US Navy's Co-operative Engagement Capability (CEC) by thousands of square miles.<br /><br />CEC significantly improves battle force anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) capabilities by integrating the sensor data of co-operating ships and aircraft into a single, real-time, fire-control-quality composite track picture that supports integrated engagements. By simultaneously distributing sensor data on airborne threats to each ship within a battle group, CEC extends the range at which a given ship can engage hostile aircraft and missiles to well beyond its own radar horizon, significantly improving area, local, and self-defence capabilities.<br /><br />Funded by the Missile Defense Agency and managed by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA - PMS465), the CEC Space Systems Integration contract is a joint effort between The Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) and Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. The effort is developing a prototype CEC satellite range extension (SRE) capability using the DoD's Milstar satellite constellation with both anti- aircraft warfare and ballistic missile defence applications. The Milstar constellation provides protected, global communication links for the joint forces of the US military and can transmit voice, data, and imagery, in addition to offering video teleconferencing capabilities.<br /><br />Two of three progressively more challenging anti-air warfare/ballistic missile defence virtual engagement demonstrations have been completed at land-based sites using CEC satellite range extension hardware. The team working on the new architecture recently completed the first two tests, which confirmed that CEC with Milstar II satellite range extension enables Aegis cruisers to defend against air breathing threats beyond their own radar horizons.<br /><br />The tests employed land-based ship simulators to represent two CEC-equipped Aegis cruisers and one CEC-equipped aircraft carrier, and made the first live use of Milstar II's medium data rate (MDR) satellite to provide the equivalent of a ship-based force multiplier. The first test, completed in March 2002, demonstrated an Aegis anti-air warfare cued engagement over the horizon using Inmarsat. In the second test, conducted in October, an Aegis anti-air warfare launch-on-remote and engage-on-remote dual communications network, consisting of the organic CEC Data Distribution System and Milstar II, successfully tracked hundreds of airborne targets.<br /><br />A third experiment is planned for mid-2003 to demonstrate ballistic missile composite tracking, again using Milstar II.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Manned Space<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Shuttle Columbia Lost During Re-entry<br /><br />(1 February 2003) The space shuttle Columbia broke up and was destroyed on Saturday morning as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere over Texas on its way to landing in Florida at the end of a sixteen day science mission. All seven astronauts on board were killed.<br /><br />Mission control lost contact with Columbia at 1400 GMT (0900 EST) approximately 16 minutes prior to its planned landing in Florida.<br /><br />Seven minutes before contact was lost telemetry indicated that temperature, hydraulic and tyre sensors in the left wing gave readings at the ends of their ranges indicating sensor or sensor interface avionics problems. Flight controllers first detected indications of a loss of hydraulic system temperature measurements associated with Columbia's left wing, followed three minutes later by an increase in temperatures on the left main gear tyres and brakes. Two minutes later, flight controllers noted a loss of bondline temperature sensor data in the area of the left wing followed a minute later by a loss of data on tire temperatures and pressures for the left inboard and outboard tyres. The crew had just acknowledged the final sensor alarms when communications were lost. Sensor loss is not unusual, but flight controllers realised that there was a potential problem because the sensors fed different interface avionics units and this indicated that some event had caused multiple failures. At the time NASA was not visually tracking the re-entering shuttle and flight controllers were not aware of the seriousness of Columbia's problems.<br /><br />Observers on the ground watching the re-entry saw the shuttle's re-entry trail split into several trails as the shuttle broke up under the aerodynamic stresses of re-entry. At the time of the break up, Columbia was travelling at 20,000 km/hr at an altitude of 62 km. Debris fell over a wide area of Texas. No injuries to people on the ground have been reported.<br /><br />NASA currently is collecting and securing data from the mission in preparation for a formal accident investigation which will begin shortly.<br /><br />Questions have already been raised about a piece of insulating foam which fell off the large external tank during launch and which hit the leading edge of the left wing of the orbiter. NASA assessed the potential for damage and decided that the probability of serious damage to the heat resistant tiles and structure was not significant. NASA also decided that there was no need to investigate possible damage in a spacewalk or by photography from the ground because they had no capability to repair damage to the tiles if they found any.<br /><br />Columbia's crew, who were all killed in the disaster, were:<br /><br />Commander: Rick Husband<br />Pilot: Willie McCool<br />Mission Specialists: Dave Brown, Kalpana Chawla and Laurel Clark<br />Payload Commander: Mike Anderson<br />Payload Specialist: Ilan Ramon<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launch Services<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />ILS Investigation Panel Releases Results of Initial Review<br /><br />(29 January 2003) The Failure Review Oversight Board convened by International Launch Services (ILS) has completed its initial review of an investigation into a failed Russian rocket launch blamed on a Block DM upper stage.<br /><br />The ILS board met last week in Moscow with members of the Russian State Commission that investigated the November 26 launch of a Proton/Block DM vehicle from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The failure left the Astra 1K satellite in a lower-than-planned orbit. The ILS board also met with representatives from Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, RSC Energia and hardware subcontractors.<br /><br />The State Commission exonerated the three-stage Proton vehicle built by Khrunichev. The failure was attributed to contamination in engine components of the Block DM upper stage, made by Energia. The propellant used was not cited as a potential root cause. The fuel used in the Block DM, a synthetic kerosene known as syntin that was developed by Energia, was tested before launch as part of normal pre-flight processing, and after the failure. The fuel met all Russian government specifications.<br /><br />The anomaly occurred at the start of the second Block DM main engine burn. There was excessive fuel in the main engine when it was ignited, which led to extraordinarily high temperatures that destroyed the engine, the commission found.<br /><br />In the final report, the State Commission was unable to pinpoint a single root cause for the failure. It identified two possible scenarios for the fuel build-up, both attributed to contamination that interfered with the normal operation of fuel metering components, resulting in excess fuel in the gas generator.<br /><br />In one scenario, "stray particles" clogged the manifolds through which fuel is drained from the starting-fluid feed line after the first burn. In the other, the contaminants clogged a valve designed to supply fuel to the gas generator injector, causing the valve to leak.<br /><br />The ILS review board is continuing its evaluation of the two scenarios, pending the receipt of additional data from the State Commission this week. The review board will also evaluate a corrective action plan being developed by Energia to address the State Commission's concerns.<br /><br />The State Commission made several recommendations in such areas as Block DM testing and inspection for contaminants. The corrective action plan is due to the commission by mid-February. The commission in turn will review the plan to determine the validity and sufficiency of the proposed remedies.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Orbital Selected for $475 Million Launch Vehicle Program by USAF<br /><br />(31 January 2003) Orbital Sciences Corporation has been awarded a major contract by the US Air Force to provide space launch and missile defence target vehicles using deactivated Peacekeeper ICBM assets under the Orbital/Suborbital Program-2 (OSP-2).<br /><br />Orbital also made the sole offer for the other half of OSP-2, providing space and target launch vehicles using deactivated Minuteman assets similar to the work that the company is performing for the Air Force under the current OSP-1 contract. Orbital was awarded the OSP-2 Peacekeeper contract by Detachment 12 of the Space and Missile Systems Center, located at Kirtland Air Force Base. The OSP-2 Minuteman contract will be negotiated as a sole source acquisition. Together, these announcements include potential orders for as many as 41 launch vehicles for a total combined maximum value of US$ 475 million.<br /><br />On January 29, 2003, the Air Force announced the award to Orbital of a 10- year contract, potentially worth about US$ 238 million, to design, manufacture and integrate US government-supplied Peacekeeper rocket motors to develop target vehicles for missile defence testing. Orbital will also combine Peacekeeper rocket motors with commercial launch vehicle technology derived from its Pegasus and Taurus rockets to develop and operate low-cost vehicles to launch US government-funded satellites into low-Earth orbit. The company was also selected for sole source procurement for the Minuteman portion of the OSP-2 contract, which is also a 10-year contract, with the same potential value of about US$ 238 million, to provide similar services utilising US government-supplied Minuteman rocket motors. Under the Minuteman portion of the contract, Orbital will continue to provide target and Minotaur space launch services as it has for the past five years under the existing OSP-1 contract.<br /><br />The OSP-2 contract will build on the initial OSP-1 contract awarded to Orbital in 1997. Under the initial five-year OSP-1 contract, which did not include Peacekeeper assets, the Air Force ordered nine long-range target vehicles and five Minotaur space launch vehicles based on decommissioned Minuteman rocket motors, with a current contract value of over US$ 140 million. The Air Force expanded the scope of the OSP-2 contracts to include the Peacekeeper motors in addition to the Minuteman assets.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launches<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />GPS 2R-8, XSS-10<br /><br />Launched: January 29 2003<br />Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />Launcher: Delta 2<br /><br />International Number: 2003-005A<br />Orbit: LEO<br />Name: GPS 2R-8<br />Owner: US Air Force Space Command<br />Contractor: Lockheed Martin Navigation Systems<br /><br />International Number: 2003-005B<br />Orbit: LEO<br />Name: XSS-10<br />Owner: Air Force Research Laboratory<br /><br />GPS 2R-8 is a US Air Force navigation satellite which will join the existing GPS constellation of 26 satellites, replacing SVN-22.<br /><br />XSS-10 is a 28 kg experimental microsatellite which carries new technologies including a miniaturised communications system, a lightweight propulsion system and lithium polymer batteries. It will test autonomous and manual control of the satellite, perform autonomous navigation, and visually inspect the Delta II second stage.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Business<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />EADS Buys Out Astrium Partner<br /><br />(31 January 2003) European Aeronautic Defence and Space (EADS) is to buy the 25% shareholding of BAe Systems in satellite manufacturer Astrium, making Astrium a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS.<br /><br />Astrium was formed in May 2000 when Matra Marconi Space and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace's space division merged.<br /><br />Astrium has suffered, along with most of the rest of the space industry, from the downturn in the commercial space sector over the last couple of years. To compensate for this, the deal includes a joint recapitalisation of 84 million Euros for Astrium.<br /><br />Following the recapitalisation, EADS will purchase BAe Systems' 25% shareholding in Astrium for 84 million Euros.<br /><br />In addition, BAe Systems' shareholding in Paradigm Secure Communications, a joint venture between EADS and BAe Systems, will also be transferred to EADS. Paradigm Secure Communications was created in 2002 to bid for the provision of the Skynet 5 military communications satellite and its operational support to the UK ministry of Defence.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Globalstar Creditors Committee Withdraws Support for New Valley Deal<br /><br />(31 January 2003) The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Globalstar, LP has withdrawn its support for New Valley Corp's proposed debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing and investment in Globalstar due to the significant contingencies in the transaction. The Committee believes that a more beneficial transaction can emerge, and as a result, certain Committee members, in addition to satellite industry companies, have proposed an alternative DIP financing.<br /><br />The long-awaited FCC announcement granting ATC authorisation to mobile satellite system providers, such as Globalstar, was a significant development. The FCC's ATC authorisation will materially enhance Globalstar's ability to attract investment opportunities.<br /><br />The Committee withdrew its support for New Valley's investment in Globalstar due to the Committee's anticipation of a favourable ruling on ATC; significant outstanding conditions and contingencies in the New Valley transaction; and the uncertainty of the value of the transaction for creditors of Globalstar. In addition, the Committee and Loral Space & Communications Ltd, Globalstar's controlling shareholder, were unable to reach agreement on critical conditions required by the New Valley transaction. As a result, the New Valley proposal appeared unlikely to be completed, while Globalstar would have been prevented from holding discussions with any other interested potential investor.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Sirius Launches Exchange Offer for Outstanding Debt<br /><br />(30 January 2003) Sirius launch an offer on Friday, January 31, 2003, to exchange shares of its common stock for all of its outstanding debt. Holders of approximately 79% in principal amount of Sirius' debt securities have already agreed to tender in the offer.<br /><br />Debt holders will receive 779.5 shares of common stock for each US$ 1,000 of obligation (principal and accrued interest) exchanged. Completion of the exchange offer is conditioned upon, among other things, receipt of valid tenders from not less than 97% in aggregate principal amount of Sirius' outstanding debt. This minimum condition may be reduced with the consent of holders of Sirius' debt securities.<br /><br />Tendering holders will also consent to the adoption of certain amendments to the indentures under which Sirius' outstanding notes were issued to eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants.<br /><br />The exchange offer and consent solicitation will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Tuesday, March 4, 2003, unless extended. The exchange offer and consent solicitation are elements of the company's previously announced recapitalisation. As part of this recapitalisation, Sirius will exchange shares of its common stock (and warrants to purchase common stock) for all of its outstanding preferred stock, and sell shares of common stock for US$ 200 million in cash to affiliates of OppenheimerFunds Inc, Apollo Management LP and The Blackstone Group LP.<br /><br />Concurrent with the exchange offer, the company is also soliciting votes to accept or reject a pre-packaged plan of reorganisation, which will attempt to accomplish the recapitalisation on substantially the same terms as the out-of-court recapitalisation. Sirius only expects to file this pre-packaged plan if the minimum tender condition to its exchange offer is not satisfied or waived.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />People<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Orbital Promotes Jack Danko<br /><br />(31 January 2003) Orbital Sciences Corporation has announced that John M "Jack" Danko has been named Executive Vice President and General Manager of the company's Space Systems Group (SSG).<br /><br />Mr Danko is a 14-year veteran with Orbital, having previously served as Deputy General Manager of SSG since 1999 and before that, as the head of the company's Technical Services Division in Greenbelt, Maryland from 1989.<br /><br />Prior to joining Orbital, Mr Danko worked at RCA's AstroElectronics Division and at OAO Corporation. During his years at RCA and OAO, he held various technical and management positions on numerous satellite programs. Mr Danko also served for four years in the US Air Force in the mid-1960s. He holds a BS degree in Engineering Physics from Lehigh University and an MS degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Radyne ComStream Appoints Richard P. Johnson as Chief Financial Officer<br /><br />(31 January 2003) Radyne ComStream has announced that Richard P Johnson has joined the company as its Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Rich reports directly to Bob Fitting, CEO.<br /><br />Over the past five years, Rich Johnson was co-founder and CEO of two high tech optical and communication equipment start-ups. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, he was Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of BHP Copper Metals and held positions of Assistant Treasurer and Treasurer of Magma Copper Company, a Fortune 500 mining and metals manufacturing company. Rich earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Tulsa.<br /><br />Garry Kline, the company's former Chief Financial Officer, will step into the newly created position of Corporate Controller.<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 />This is an opt-in email newsletter. To subscribe and unsubscribe go to: http://www.spacenewsfeed.co.uk/subscribe.html<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Copyright 2003 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