Microcom's Space Newsfeed 16 March 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 />ATCi Awarded Distance Learning Teleport Contract<br />DirecWay Enables Virtual Music Stores to Revolutionise Retail Music Industry<br />Intelsat Sharpens Focus on Three Growing Customer Segments<br />Mobile Satellite Ventures Offers New SpaceCom Antenna For Land Mobile, Marine Users<br />Qualcomm Successfully Tests High Data Rate Service<br /><br />Earth Observation:<br />GSA Selects 3D/I to Manage Construction of NOAA Control Centre<br />QuickBird Satellite Imagery Allows Foresters to Discern Individual Trees<br />SSTL Supplies TerraSAR Antennas<br /><br />Manned Space:<br />Wyle Laboratories Selected by NASA for Life Sciences Contract<br /><br />Technology:<br />Surrey Satellite Achieves Remarkable 19 Years In-Orbit<br /><br />Launches:<br />DSCS III A3<br /><br />Business:<br />Spacehab Moves Forward After Columbia Disaster<br /><br />Products and Services:<br />Globalstar Introduces Data Monitoring Service in North America<br />Space Imaging Introduces Standard Ortho Satellite Imagery Product Line<br /><br />People:<br />NASA Names Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Flight<br />New General Manager to Head Norsat's OmniLink Business Unit<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 />We have been approached by a number of students looking for industrial placements later this year as part of their university courses. Their backgrounds are in telecommunications, electronics, physics, signal processing, software engineering and electrical engineering. Any of our readers who can help with a placement can email me on mikeas@microcomsystems.co.uk.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Satcoms<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />ATCi Awarded Distance Learning Teleport Contract<br /><br />(11 March 2003) Antenna Technology Communications Inc (ATCi) has been awarded a US$ 2.8 million contract from the Mexican Ministry of Education, (Secretaria de Educacion Publica (SEP) for Direccion General de Television Educativa), to install the largest distance learning network in Latin America. ATCi will build a fully redundant, state-of-the-art teleport in Mexico City for dispersing distance learning programming to secondary education institutions throughout Latin America.<br /><br />The teleport project will be designed and installed by ATCi to cover over 30,000 remote sites and reach more than 5 million students in the region. ATCi will handle the entire scope of the project from turn-key design to installation, testing and integration. The equipment requirements of this fully redundant 16-channel video uplink system include two 7.3-meter antennas, one 7.6-meter antenna, encoders, as well as conditional access and monitoring systems. ATCi will handle all equipment testing and on-site training of personnel to ensure successful teleport operations. The teleport will allow SEP to both send original programming and provide universal coverage for video and audio distribution to audiences throughout the region.<br /><br />Prior to contracting its own teleport through ATCi, SEP had outsourced all of its uplink capabilities. This new platform affords SEP increased flexibility, allowing them to control and the ability to specialise and handle programming on-site 24/7.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />DirecWay Enables Virtual Music Stores to Revolutionise Retail Music Industry<br /><br />(12 March 2003) Hughes Network Systems Europe (HNSE) has signed a multi-year contract with Virtual Music Stores (VMS) for DirecWay broadband satellite services. VMS will utilise DirecWay to distribute music content to its "On Demand" manufacturing kiosks situated in retail stores across Europe.<br /><br />Customers can listen to a vast library of music, including video samples, and instantly select either chart CDs, with original artwork and full CD audio quality sound, or create their own CDs from individual tracks. Custom CDs are made on demand within minutes.<br /><br />The VMS system allows retailers to offer a virtually unlimited choice of chart albums, artist catalogue albums and chart singles, without having to invest in the expense of fixed stock. Each CD is coded with a UPC label and individually priced, based on negotiations between the individual retailers and their music supply companies, and executed on a store-by-store basis.<br /><br />Broadband, two-way satellite terminals from HNSE are readily installed at VMS retail store locations and provide the "always on" link to the DirecWay Network Management Centre (NMC), where the extensive music library is hosted and from where selections can be transmitted to any location virtually instantaneously. DirecWay utilises cost-efficient transmission algorithms to simultaneously multicast to many locations, or to unicast selectively, allowing stores to be individually customised. Point-of-sale transaction data, including credit verification and payment, is transmitted back from each store via the two-way satellite terminal, providing a fully secure and auditable royalty payment record for the copyright owners.<br /><br />VMS has successfully conducted trials of its unique offering in the UK over the past two years with leading music retailers, WH Smith, Sainsburys and Tesco. It is currently negotiating contracts with all the key music supply companies so that it can introduce the world's first comprehensive digital distribution supply channel to retailers across the UK.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Intelsat Sharpens Focus on Three Growing Customer Segments<br /><br />(14 March 2003) Intelsat has announced the creation of three business units to sharpen its focus on the data/carrier/Internet, video and government customer segments.<br /><br />The three new business units, reporting to Ramu Potarazu, President & Chief Operating Officer, Intelsat Ltd, represent key opportunities for growth in fixed satellite services and all are sectors in which Intelsat has a solid market presence. The creation of these business units will help sharpen the company's marketing and customer service focus on these segments, and is in alignment with senior management appointments announced last month.<br /><br />As President of the Data, Carrier & Internet business unit, John Stanton will concentrate on the strategic development of these key Intelsat customers, who comprise the largest customer base. The business unit will encompass Intelsat's regional sales teams and will focus on the changing needs of telecommunications companies around the globe. Stanton and his global team, operating from 12 office locations around the world, will drive new solutions to current customers as well as those emerging in the marketplace.<br /><br />Intelsat Video Solutions, headed by Jon Romm, President, will streamline all video operations at Intelsat, with the goals of accelerating response times to broadcasters and other video customers while continuing to provide them with high-quality customer service. The new Video Solutions unit is identifying opportunities to grow Intelsat's video business across all regions around the world and introduce the latest video products and services to customers. A dedicated Video Operations Center has also been created to manage all video customer bookings, inquiries and billing.<br /><br />Intelsat Government Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intelsat USA Sales Corp. will focus on maintaining and developing government customers located in North America and Europe. Susan Miller will serve as President of this unit. Intelsat, which has been providing communications services to governments world-wide for decades, attributes approximately 10% of its total revenue to this customer segment. Intelsat Government Solutions will continue to provide specialised and complete satellite-based solutions - bandwidth, infrastructure and networking - to government agencies.<br /><br />As a support to the three new business units, a centralised Strategy, Business Development and Global Marketing group, led by Amer Khouri, Vice President of Strategy and Global Marketing, has been created to drive Intelsat's corporate strategy. By combining Intelsat's strategy, planning and marketing functions, the group will drive growth by focusing on new business and product development and all other elements comprising Intelsat's "go-to-market" strategies.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Mobile Satellite Ventures Offers New SpaceCom Antenna For Land Mobile, Marine Users<br /><br />(12 March 2003) Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) has announced that the 2 and 3 axis SpaceCom antennas have been approved for use with mobile terminals on the MSV Satellite Network.<br /><br />The SpaceCom tracking system is based on a patented beam-squint technology, which ensures rapid and accurate tracking. The unit is completely self-contained, needing no input from outside sources to acquire and track satellites.<br /><br />SpaceCom, based in Denmark, designs, develops and manufactures satellite tracking antenna systems for use on mobile platforms. SpaceCom AS, headquartered in Hobro, Denmark, was founded 15 years ago and today, is a leading developer of tracking satellite antenna systems used in the maritime and trucking industries throughout the world. Since its founding, SpaceCom has produced more than 15,000 maritime and land mobile antennas for the L-band satellite frequency. The company also designs a variety of microwave electronics, amplifiers and receiver systems.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Qualcomm Successfully Tests High Data Rate Service<br /><br />(10 March 2003) Qualcomm Inc has announced the successful testing of high data rate technology over its satellite network allowing a peak data transmission rate at up to 200 times the existing rate that Qualcomm customers enjoy today.<br /><br />Qualcomm's OmniTracs system is a satellite-based mobile communications and tracking system that provides real-time messaging and position reporting between fleets and their operations centres. Messages are sent via satellite through Qualcomm's Network Management Center (NMC) to dispatch centres throughout the United States. The OmniTracs system is an interactive, fully integrated information management system that includes two-way mobile communications, satellite tracking and fleet management software.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Earth Observation<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />GSA Selects 3D/I to Manage Construction of NOAA Control Centre<br /><br />(10 March 2003) The General Services Administration (GSA) has selected 3D/International Inc (3D/I) to provide construction management services for a US$ 61,198,000 facility to control the world-wide satellite operations and house a state-of-the-art computer centre for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.<br /><br />3D/I was awarded the contract through GSA's "best value source selection process" which evaluates technical qualification factors in addition to price and cost factors. Design was provided by a joint venture, Morphosis/Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture and Engineering.<br /><br />On March 19, there will be a groundbreaking ceremony for the 208,000-square-foot building. It will be a gateway to the Suitland Federal Center in Suitland, Maryland. The facility will house the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Services (NESDIS) Satellite Operations and Data Processing. The building will provide a high-security environment for US$ 50 million in computer equipment. The computer equipment will be used to manage and control environmental satellites valued at more than US$ 3 billion.<br /><br />The building design consists of a slender, three-story tower, festooned with futuristic antennae, to house the satellite operations and computer centre. Beneath the tower is high-tech office space that is topped with a domed roof. The roof supports a park-like setting of living plants and is pierced by numerous skylights.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />QuickBird Satellite Imagery Allows Foresters to Discern Individual Trees<br /><br />(13 March 2003) DigitalGlobe's QuickBird satellite imagery is being used by Canada's CLC-Camint Inc to identify individual tree crowns in forest areas. With the ability to delineate and classify tree crowns, forestry professionals will have a better methodology for generating forest inventories and managing forestry practices, potentially saving the forestry industry millions of dollars.<br /><br />Over the past few years, CLC-Camint has validated and is bringing to the market the Individual Tree Crown (ITC) methodology using high-resolution space photos. This unique methodology was developed by Dr Francois A Gougeon, from the Canadian Forest Service (CFS), a well-known researcher in the international scientific community. Gougeon and CLC-Camint have worked closely over the past three years to get the most pertinent forest information out of high-resolution imagery using the ITC methodology.<br /><br />CLC-Camint uses QuickBird imagery to develop a geographic information system (GIS)-based, ready-to-use information product called the ITC Forest Cover Map. Using 60 cm panchromatic and 2.44 m multispectral QuickBird imagery, CLC-Camint creates a digital information layer depicting each tree crown as a unique entity, which is further classified by species type, such as fir, white pine, aspen, birch, spruce, cedar or maple. Yielding a highly precise portrait of the forest cover, these maps help forestry professionals create accurate inventories and could be useful for environmental stress assessments, change detection and wildlife habitat management.<br /><br />Several forest management applications will benefit from the ITC Forest Cover Maps, including:<br /><br />* Analyzing species spatial distribution in forests<br />* Monitoring forest cover fragmentation<br />* Optimizing forest fire management<br />* Assessing wildlife habitats<br />* Planning forest road networks<br /><br />The ITC Forest Cover Map will be valuable to the forest industry because it will help reduce forest planning costs and eliminate the need for the costly aerial surveys traditionally used for map updating.<br /><br />CLC-Camint purchased its QuickBird imagery through Radarsat International, DigitalGlobe's sole Canadian reseller of DigitalGlobe products.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />SSTL Supplies TerraSAR Antennas<br /><br />(13 March 2003) SSTL has won a contract from Astrium GmbH to supply two S-band patch antennas for the TerraSAR mission - these antennas have previously flown on the GRACE and CHAMP missions.<br /><br />The contract, valued at just over 40,000 Euros, has a delivery date of January 2004. TerraSAR is a joint venture by Astrium and DLR to develop an X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar observation spacecraft. Weighing 1,023kg, with a ground resolution of approximately 1.5 metres, the project is being financed by the German government and will be built by Astrium and operated mainly for commercial purposes. The spacecraft will be launched on Dnepr in mid-2005.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Manned Space<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Wyle Laboratories Selected by NASA for Life Sciences Contract<br /><br />(12 March 2003) Wyle Laboratories Inc has been awarded a prime contract by NASA to provide astronaut-related medical support and operations, flight hardware development and research services for the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs. The award has a potential value of US$ 1 billion and is expected to last 10 years.<br /><br />Wyle and its principal Bioastronautics subcontractor, Lockheed Martin Space Operations, both have existing contracts supporting NASA's Johnson Space Center. This new award will combine contracts currently held by Wyle, Lockheed and others.<br /><br />The purpose of the Bioastronautics procurement is to establish a long term, integrated contract for support of the broad range of NASA activities in the Office of Bioastronautics in the Space and Life Sciences organisation at the Johnson Space Center.<br /><br />The Office of Bioastronautics is responsible for the health and productivity of crews living and working in space, for the overall excellence of science on human space missions and for the transfer of new knowledge to practical applications on Earth.<br /><br />The work includes fundamental and applied biomedical research; biotechnology development; operational space medicine; clinical laboratories; behavioural sciences; human factors engineering; spacecraft environment monitoring and management; space food laboratory; biomedical engineering; biomedical flight hardware requirements, design, fabrication, and testing; payload and hardware integration with Shuttle and the International Space Station; and space flight operations.<br /><br />Other members of the successful Wyle-Lockheed team include Barrios Technology, Inc., Enterprise Advisory Services, Inc. (EASI), Bastion Technologies, Futron Corporation, the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston and Muniz Engineering.<br /><br />Wyle's Life Sciences business unit has provided life sciences services and flight-related hardware to NASA at Johnson Space Center since the late 1960s, and the Wyle corporation has supported the US space program since its inception in the late 1950s.<br /><br />The company has worked on every significant US space program in the past 40 years. It currently operates under long-term NASA contracts at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, NASA-Ames and at NASA-Langley, as well as Johnson Space Center in Houston.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Technology<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Surrey Satellite Achieves Remarkable 19 Years In-Orbit<br /><br />(13 March 2003) Surrey's UoSAT-2 microsatellite has clocked up 19 years operating in Earth orbit. Designed and built by Surrey engineers in just 6 months in response to a launch opportunity offered by NASA, UoSAT-2 was launched on a Delta rocket from Vandenberg USA on 01 March 1984.<br /><br />Weighing 65kg, UoSAT-2 was the first microsatellite to provide modern digital store-and-forward (email) communications with the use of advanced onboard re-programmable microprocessors and solid-state memories. The satellite remains operational and is used by the amateur satellite and educational communities world-wide.<br /><br />SSTL specialises in the design, manufacture and operation of high-performance yet low-cost small satellites provided on rapid timescales to meet both civil & military Earth observation, communications and space science applications. During 22 years SSTL have launched 21 small satellite missions into low Earth orbit for international customers, pioneering use of 'commercial-of-the-shelf' (COTS) technologies and resulting in an experience and heritage of missions and in-orbit operations unmatched by any other commercial satellite manufacturer.<br /><br />Four spacecraft are currently under construction at the SSTL’s purpose-built facilities at the Surrey Space Centre in England: three satellites for the international disaster monitoring constellation (DMC), plus an enhanced, agile microsatellite to demonstrate 2.5-metre resolution Earth imaging for the UK MoD.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Launches<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />DSCS III A3<br /><br />Launched: 10 March 2003<br />Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida<br />Launcher: Delta 4 Medium<br />Orbit: GEO<br />International Number: 2003-008A<br />Name: DSCS III A3<br />Owner: US Air Force<br />Contractor: Lockheed Martin Space Systems - Missiles & Space Operations<br /><br />Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) III A3 is a US military communications satellite. It has a design life of 10 years.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Business<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Spacehab Moves Forward After Columbia Disaster<br /><br />(14 March 2003) Spacehab, which derives much of its revenue from supporting NASA's Shuttle fleet, is adjusting the its business plan after the Columbia disaster. With over US$ 173 million in business backlog and a strengthened balance sheet, Spacehab continues to focus on the utilisation of its existing asset base and the delivery of strong financial and operating results going forward.<br /><br />In support of NASA, Spacehab continues with day-to-day operations under the Research and Logistics Mission Support (ReALMS) contract for the STS-116 and STS-118 missions, important contributions to the completion of International Space Station (ISS) assembly. Spacehab is providing a Logistics Single Module and an Integrated Cargo Carrier to support resupply requirements for the orbiting space station. Once NASA announces new launch dates for these flights, the Company will negotiate adjustments to the contract to compensate for expenses incurred from launch delays.<br /><br />For the upcoming STS-114 mission Spacehab is providing a unique cargo carrier, known as the External Stowage Platform 2, or ESP2, that will be deployed and mounted to the space station. This platform will be attached to the ISS airlock and used by the astronaut crews as a permanent spare parts stowage facility. Under contract to The Boeing Company for these services, Spacehab also anticipates receiving compensation for expenses resulting from launch delays.<br /><br />Spacehab remains committed to the ISS Program in support of NASA's initiatives and is able to provide logistics, research, or a combination of both services within a single mission. By fully utilising the Company's pressurised modules and unpressurised carriers, Spacehab is equipped to support NASA in its transition from ISS assembly to operations. Spacehab is further prepared to add existing functionality to its fleet of assets to enhance the capabilities already vital to the human spaceflight mission.<br /><br />Building on 18 years of service to the launch industry, Spacehab's Astrotech subsidiary is projecting an increase in payload processing activity at all three of its operating locations during the coming fiscal year. Long- term contracts are in place with Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and United States Sea Launch in support of the Atlas, Delta, and Sea Launch programs respectively. Additionally, active negotiations are underway to secure processing contracts in support of government customers thereby expanding Astrotech's existing business base. Two missions are currently in the processing queue, the Astrium-built HellasSat spacecraft and the Boeing-built AsiaSat-4 spacecraft, both projected for lift-off on Atlas launch vehicles later this spring. Astrotech's sales have more than doubled over the past two years and are expected to continue growing going forward.<br /><br />NASA is in the process of consolidating 26 current contracts into seven in an effort to optimise synergies within the ISS Program, competitive sourcing, and program accountability. Of the seven procurement opportunities outlined by NASA, the Company is poised to effectively compete on at least three of the ISS Program Management contracts classified as 'A' through 'G'. Contracts targeted by Spacehab include Program Integration and Control, ISS Mission Integration, and ISS Cargo Missions.<br /><br />Configuration management is a critical element of the ISS Program Integration and Control, or 'A' contract, and Spacehab is vying to capture US$ 30 million of this US$ 155 million effort as a subcontractor to the ARES Corporation Team that includes Booz Allen Hamilton. Given the strong core competencies of Spacehab and this Team, the Company is confident that it will win this five-year contract and continue to provide configuration management services to the ISS Program.<br /><br />As an incumbent prime contractor in crew station operations providing ISS stowage integration services, Spacehab is also proposing to be NASA's prime contractor for ISS Mission Integration under the 'B' contract. As prime contractor, supported by major subcontractor and team-mate United Space Alliance, the Company will propose to perform program management, ISS stowage integration, Russian Language and Logistics Services (RL&LS), and other portions of the Statement of Work depending on additional teaming arrangements currently in discussion. This contract is valued at approximately US$ 140 million over a five-year period.<br /><br />For Cargo Mission, the ISS 'C' contract, Spacehab plans to compete as a subcontractor in one or more of the following areas: stowage integration, International Partner integration, sustaining engineering of pressurised payload accommodations for the MPLM, and program integration support. The Company is currently in negotiations with potential prime contractors in support of this solicitation valued at approximately US$ 200 million over a five- year period.<br /><br />The competition schedule timeline is the same for all three solicitations with draft Requests For Proposals (RFPs) released in February, final RFPs due out in May, and proposals due from prospective bidders in June of 2003. NASA tentatively expects to announce contract awards in October 2003 with all contract starts anticipated in January 2004.<br /><br />NASA's Space Launch Initiative includes an investigation of an Alternate Access to Station system. Spacehab holds key subcontractor roles on two of the four prime contractor teams. The Company's responsibility is to apply its core competencies in logistics integration and operations. Through Spacehab's participation in this study, the Company has developed strategic partnerships to support NASA's Orbital Space Plane concept development activities set to begin in April.<br /><br />Spacehab's unique capability and existing relationship with RSC Energia in Russia has resulted in a request for the Company's expertise. With the temporary grounding of the Space Shuttle, Spacehab anticipates providing NASA with valuable re-supply services in order to ensure the orbiting ISS crew receives the provisions necessary to sustain operations. Food, scientific equipment, and critical supplies will be shipped by Spacehab for transport to the ISS on upcoming Soyuz and Progress missions.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Products and Services<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Globalstar Introduces Data Monitoring Service in North America<br /><br />(12 March 2003) Globalstar has introduced a new, very-low-cost data monitoring and acquisition service for asset tracking and sensory telemetry monitoring.<br /><br />The new service, which uses palm-size simplex modems developed in co-operation with AeroAstro Inc, is now available across eastern regions of the US and Canada, and will be introduced across virtually all continental regions in these two countries by the end of March. Globalstar is also already working to extend this service to other areas of the world, beginning with parts of Europe and the North Atlantic Ocean, where service is expected to begin by mid-year.<br /><br />Over 400 simplex modems are now being placed into active service with a first group of customers in two important industrial applications:<br /><br />* Asset tracking: Globalstar AeroAstro simplex modems attached to cargo<br /> containers will track their location as they are hauled by truck or<br /> rail around North America. Global positioning system (GPS) information<br /> on each container is automatically sent back to a central control office<br /> via Globalstar's satellite constellation, allowing the customer to track<br /> the position of its container fleet in real time, even when the<br /> containers are in remote locations.<br />* Meter reading: Globalstar AeroAstro modems attached to liquefied<br /> petroleum gas (LPG) tanks in both the US and Canada will automatically<br /> alert the gas supply company whenever tanks are running low of fuel.<br /> Fuel deliveries can now be made precisely when needed without relying<br /> on manual meter reading.<br /><br />The Globalstar simplex modem unit is now available through the company's network of value-added resellers, who package the modems with housings and sensors specifically designed for a wide range of industrial applications, including:<br /><br />* LPG monitoring from Globalstar reseller Xtero Datacom Inc<br />* Tractor and trailer tracking from iNet-Blue Corporation<br />* Asset tracking and remote monitoring from AeroAstro Inc<br />* High-security mobile asset tracking from SARS Inc<br />* Emergency messages from automobiles from Auto-Bolt Security Systems<br /><br />Additionally, an integrated asset tracking product, which comprises a Globalstar AeroAstro simplex modem unit along with batteries and antenna in a single package, is available from Axonn LLC for use in customised solutions.<br /><br />Globalstar expects to continue expanding its network of resellers in the near future to serve a wide range of industries such as pipeline monitoring, oil and gas pumping stations, and utility meter reading.<br /><br />The new modem allows data to be sent at regular pre-set intervals and/or whenever a specific event, such as a rise in temperature or the opening of a lock, triggers an external sensor. The data is sent by the modem over the Globalstar satellite network and then transmitted to the customer's data collection facility via the Internet.<br /><br />For example, the new Globalstar AeroAstro simplex modem makes it possible to economically monitor pipeline conditions such as pressure and throughput, at regular intervals and in real-time across a field or across a continent, allowing extremely rapid notification of a pipeline break or other anomaly. For shippers, the modems can provide the location of their containers, affording immediate notification of any emergency situations.<br /><br />With these features, assets may be tracked even in very remote locations, and, if co-ordinated with customs officials and electronic locks to create a bonded security environment, these modems can also be used to streamline freight traffic at international border crossings.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />Space Imaging Introduces Standard Ortho Satellite Imagery Product Line<br /><br />(12 March 2003) Space Imaging has released its new Ikonos Standard Ortho product line derived from its Ikonos satellite. Standard Ortho is a cost-effective mapping product that can be produced and delivered quickly. Designed for GIS professionals performing basic mapping projects or image classification and analysis, Standard Ortho is ortho-corrected with a horizontal accuracy of 50 metres (CE90) and obtains a 1:100,000 NMAS. As with all Ikonos imagery products, it is available in 1-metre, 4-metre or 1- and 4-metre bundles, with options of black-and-white, colour or multispectral. Prices start at US$ 22 per square kilometre.<br /><br />Standard Ortho is also available with the same geographic and radiometric options as other Ikonos data products and can be quickly delivered. To produce Standard Ortho, Space Imaging's orthorectifying process utilises an enhanced version of the most accurate, publicly available, global Digital Elevation Model (DEM). This results in the ability to rapidly produce and deliver a consistent product to the end user. Since Standard Ortho is orthorectified, it is ready for immediate use in mapping projects, further reducing valuable project time.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />People<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />NASA Names Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Flight<br /><br />(12 March 2003) NASA has announced the appointment of Lynn F H Cline as Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of Space Flight. Cline previously served as NASA's Deputy Assistant Administrator for External Relations.<br /><br />As the Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Flight, Cline will be involved in planning, directing, implementing policies and allocating resources to enable a broad variety of capabilities across the NASA spectrum of mission areas.<br /><br />Cline has served as Deputy Assistant Administrator for External Relations since June 1997. She was responsible for NASA's interaction with Executive Branch offices and agencies; international relations; administration of export control/international technology transfer functions; and the NASA history office.<br /><br />An experienced spaceflight policy professional, Cline was the NASA lead negotiator with Canada, Europe, Japan and Russia for the International Space Station agreements signed in 1998. She was also responsible for NASA's relations with Russia and other Eurasian States and has held a series of International Relations Specialist and management positions in NASA's International Office since September 1975.<br /><br />Cline received her BA from East Carolina University in 1976 and her MA from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1979 in French language and culture.<br /><br />**********************************************************************<br /><br />New General Manager to Head Norsat's OmniLink Business Unit<br /><br />(13 March 2003) Norsat International has announced the appointment of Mr Chris McCormack to the position of General Manager, Norsat OmniLink Business Unit. He replaces Mr Michael Heaven, who has resigned from the Company.<br /><br />Mr McCormack, who joined the Company in 2002 as the Director of New Product Development for the Norsat OmniLink program, brings to the new role extensive experience managing technology projects, as well as a wealth of strategic planning and project management expertise. At Norsat, he has been working with Mr Heaven and has been responsible for the development of a comprehensive business plan and marketing program for the Norsat NewsLink product. He has spearheaded the execution of the marketing plan, making the first sales to early adopters. In the new role, he will be responsible for overall management and profitability of the OmniLink business unit, including the product development and marketing of all applications for the technology, including the Norsat SecureLink, developed for military and security-related functions.<br /><br />The Norsat OmniLink technology allows the transmission of broadcast quality MPEG-2 video via DVB-S over satellite and is ideally suited for the transmission of video, voice, and IP data in remote or hostile environments. It allows users to communicate from anywhere in the world where there is no infrastructure or it has been damaged - from mountaintops, the desert, mid-ocean, or from the middle of nowhere. The compact and specially designed Norsat NewsLink terminal is carried in two suitcases and deployed easily in the field in several minutes without special tools.<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 />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