Apscc monthly e-Newsletter April 2012

March 5, 2012 - The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) - R Series Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) spaceflight instrument Engineering Development Unit completed optical-electronic lightning sensitivity testing in January at the Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto and showed excellent performance. System gain, linearity, and dynamic range all exceeded specifications. Within the next few months, the GLM Engineering Development Unit will complete thermal and thermal-vacuum testing. GLM is a new GOES capability. It is a near-infrared instrument that maps total lightning (cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground) over the Americas and adjacent oceans to provide improved tornado warning lead time and early indication of storm intensification and severe weather.

March 9, 2012 - International Launch Services (ILS) announces a new contract for launch of the MEXSAT-1 satellite on an ILS Proton for the Mexican government’s Ministry of Communications and Transportation, the Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT). The satellite is under construction by Boeing Satellite Systems. ILS and Khrunichev are implementing a mission integration schedule to support a ILS Proton launch of MEXSAT-1 into geostationary transfer orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in 2013-14. MEXSAT-1 is a high-power, 5800 kg satellite built on Boeing’s 702 HP platform for GEO-Mobile services, designed for a lifetime of 15 years. The satellite will carry a 22-meter L-band reflector for mobile terminal links, complemented by a 2-meter Ku-band antenna. Located at the orbital location of 113 degrees West, MEXSAT-1 will join the country's current satellite fleet to offer mobile satellite services and fixed satellite services to support governmental, civil and humanitarian efforts.

March 12, 2012 - Eutelsat Communications and Es'hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company, have selected Arianespace to launch their EUTELSAT 25B / Es'hail 1 satellite in the second quarter of 2013 on board an Ariane 5 launcher. The contract signed with Arianespace to deliver EUTELSAT 25B / Es'hail 1 into orbit marks a further step forward in Eutelsat and Es'hailSat's joint programme to operate a high-performance satellite at 25.5 degrees East, a longstanding orbital position serving expanding markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. The new satellite will provide superior coverage and power to follow on from Eutelsat's EUTELSAT 25A satellite. In addition to securing Ku-band continuity for Eutelsat and Ku-band resources for Es'hailSat, it will initiate a Ka-band capability to open business opportunities for both parties. The satellite is under construction by Space Systems/Loral.

March 12, 2012 - Eutelsat has assigned the launch of its EUTELSAT 70B (ex. W5A) communications satellite to Sea Launch to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2012. The launch will occur from Sea Launch’s launch platform Odyssey at its equatorial launch site, located at 154 degrees West longitude, in the international waters of the Pacific Ocean. The EUTELSAT 70B satellite is being built by Astrium, and is based on the Eurostar-3000 platform. Weighing over 5,200 kilograms at lift-off, it will be lofted into an optimized geosynchronous transfer orbit on board the Zenit 3SL whose high performance should enable the satellite to exceed its designed in-orbit lifetime of 15 years. EUTELSAT 70B is designed to optimize resources from a single orbital slot at the crossroads between Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. With high frequency reuse, four powerful regional beams connected to 48 Ku-band transponders will be located on a single platform. It will more than double current Eutelsat capacity at 70.5 degrees East for data and government services, broadband access, GSM backhauling and professional video exchanges.

March 12, 2012 - Sea Launch has been selected to launch the Intelsat 27 communications satellite in early 2013. Intelsat 27 will be placed into an optimized geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) utilizing the highly-proven Sea Launch Zenit 3SL launch system. The launch will occur from Sea Launch’s launch platform Odyssey at its equatorial launch site, located at 154 degrees West longitude, in the international waters of the Pacific Ocean. Built by Boeing Satellite Systems Inc., the 702-MP Intelsat 27 satellite will serve Intelsat’s customers throughout the Americas and Europe, and will provide increased and enhanced capacity for media, network and government services. It will be located at 304.5 degrees East, and is designed for 15 years of service. At the time of lift-off, the spacecraft will weigh approximately 6,241 kilograms, making it the heaviest spacecraft to be lifted by the Sea Launch Zenit-3SL launch system.

March 13, 2012 – Arianespace and NewSat Limited (NewSat) signed the launch services contract for the Jabiru-1 satellite. Jabiru-1 will be boosted into geostationary transfer orbit by an Ariane 5 launch vehicle from the Guiana Space Center, Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, during the fourth quarter of 2014. Jabiru-1 is currently being built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems using an A2100 platform. Weighing 5,900 kg at launch, it will be fitted with 50 Ka-band transponders configured in a variety of multi-spot, steerable and regional beams. Jabiru-1’s high-powered capacity will provide flexible communication solutions to enterprise and government customers across Asia, the Middle East and eastern Africa. It offers a design life of 15 years.

March 13, 2012 - Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has signed contracts with Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) and Satelites Mexicanos (Satmex) for two launches aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. This announcement marks SpaceX's first launch contract in Mexico. It is also the second launch contract in Asia that SpaceX has signed in the last month. Satmex is positioned for a new era of growth with the anticipated launches of Satmex 8 in 2012 and Satmex 7 in late 2014 or early 2015. The addition of Satmex 7 (C and Ku band satellite) will expand its fleet to three satellites covering the Americas. Satmex 7 will be a cornerstone of the Satmex fleet designed to provide direct-to-home (DTH) and data services with increased power levels and improved elevation angles from any location within the coverage. These benefits will provide better performance to deliver media content directly to homes as well as broadband services.

March 13, 2012 - The Boeing Company has been awarded a four-satellite contract, with options for four additional satellites, through a joint procurement by Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) and Satélites Mexicanos (Satmex). The first two satellites, ABS-3A and Satmex 7, are scheduled to be delivered together in late 2014 or early 2015. The satellites, which will be built in Boeing’s El Segundo factory, are designed to operate in a geostationary orbit. The 702SP is compatible with all major launch vehicles, including Falcon 9, Ariane 5, Sea Launch, Proton, Soyuz, Atlas 5 and Delta IV. The 702SP is designed to be flexible and affordable, with next-generation technology that enables increased performance. Its avionics architecture simplifies operations and provides improved access to data for evaluation of the spacecraft’s health. The new satellites will enable ABS to become a global satellite operator by expanding its current fleet to serve the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.

March 14, 2012 - Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) completed on time delivery of a new propulsion system to NASA. The propulsion system for the Lunar Atmosphere Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft was delivered to NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., on Thursday, March 8 following successful completion of the final delivery reviews and sign-off. The LADEE mission to collect lunar dust and study the moon's atmosphere is key to helping researchers plan for future exploration. The propulsion system, which SS/L delivered, will enable LADEE to reach the moon. Using SS/L to provide the system leverages the capability of commercially proven technology for U.S. Government missions.

March 16, 2012 - Azerbaijan is planning to launch its first satellite in late 2012. Azerbaijan's Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies has chosen Arianespace to launch the country's first communications satellite. Azerbaijan in November, 2010 signed a deal with Arianespace to launch the ex-Soviet republic's first satellite AzerSpace into space. The satellite, fitted with 36 active Ku- and C-band transponders, will be built by Orbital Sciences Corporation of the United States, using a STAR-2 platform. It will deliver a wide range of communications services for all of Azerbaijan, as well as Central Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa. The ground segment architecture is made up by 3 control centers, two in Azerbaijan and one on Measat's Malaysia site. The contract includes the supply of equipment for real-time satellite monitoring and control. The satellite will improve the quality and stability of Azerbaijan's television broadcasts and communications while also turning Azerbaijan into a relay site for signal transmission between Europe and Asia.

March 23, 2012 - The European Space Agency’s third Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV3) was successfully launched by an Ariane 5 from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The ATV3 is named in honor of the great Italian physicist and space science pioneer, Edoardo Amaldi. These cargo vehicles are developed by European industry on behalf of the European Space Agency as part of its contribution to the International Space Station (ISS). The pressurized ICC (Integrated Cargo Carrier) service module, built by Thales Alenia Space in Turin, carries over two tons of cargo, as well as 860 kg of propellant to be transferred to the ISS, 285 kg of water, and 100 kg of air. The ATV also carries three tons of propellant to reboost the Space Station into its nominal orbit in its propulsion module. The ATV cargo transfer operations will be carried out by the ISS crew using control and monitoring systems in the ICC service module, also developed by Thales Alenia Space.

March 25, 2012 - International Launch Services (ILS) announced that an ILS Proton M vehicle successfully launched the Intelsat 22 satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Built by Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems, the satellite will provide C- and Ku-band capacity for media, government and network services customers in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. In addition, Intelsat 22 will host a specialized UHF communications payload for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Once operational in May, it will replace Intelsat 709 at 72 degrees East and is expected to have a useful life of approximately 18 years.

March 27, 2012 - Astrium has been awarded two contracts from the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) for the delivery of two telecommunication satellites Express AM4R and Express AM7. Astrium will build the satellites based on the Eurostar E3000 platform and a Khrunichev-built Proton launcher will deliver them to orbit in 2014. Express AM4R is a copy of Express AM4, a high power communications satellite which was lost following a launch failure in August 2011. Express AM4R will be the most powerful Russian telecommunication satellite with a 63 active transponders communications payload (30 in C-band, 28 in Ku-band, 2 in Ka-band, 3 in L-band). Express AM4R will be positioned at 80°E on the geostationary orbit. Express AM7 is a new satellite with similar design and a payload adapted to a mission at 40 degrees East to extend RSCC capacity at that position. Express AM7 will have a 62 active transponders communications payload (24 in C-band, 36 in Ku-band, 2 in L-band).

March 28, 2012 - Orbital Sciences Corporation congratulated NASA on the successful launch of five sounding rockets in a stream of launches that took place in less than seven minutes for the Anomalous Transport Rocket Experiment (ATREX) program. All five launches took place from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) in Virginia and were supported by Orbital’s Technical Services Division (TSD), which serves as the prime contractor on the NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract II (NSROC II). Orbital TSD worked in conjunction with NASA’s Sounding Rocket Program Office and other WFF operations for launch and mission operations. Each of the five rockets were built and tested by Orbital TSD for this unique mission.

March 30, 2012 - Bangladesh will launch its first satellite into space by 2015 in a landmark move towards opening a new era in communication and broadcasting and creating new businesses. Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission signed a consultancy deal with a US firm, Space Partnership International (SPI). The firm will design the satellite, named Bangabandhu. The satellite will reduce reliance on foreign satellites for cable channels and improve telecom services to the remote areas of the country. Moreover, meteorological data, including disaster warnings, will be easily available via the satellite. It might also be used for mapping natural resources.

March 5, 2012 - Newtec announced that Giuliano Berretta, the former CEO of Eutelsat, has been appointed as an external member of its Strategic Committee. The Strategic Committee advises and assists the Newtec Board of Directors with company policy and strategy. Berretta brings significant industry experience with him and will be instrumental in assisting Newtec's continued international expansion as well as strengthening the skill set of the Strategic Committee. Berretta has been central to the design of many of Europe's pioneering communications satellite programs, including Eutelsat's Ka-Sat satellite; the largest Ka-band spot-beam satellite covering Europe.

March 5, 2012 - MTN Satellite Communications (MTN) announced the addition of two key executives to its management team in support of the company's momentum and aggressive growth plans; including the company's impending launch of its Next Generation Network. This Network will solve the capacity, price and performance constrains the industry is facing today, across market segments, delivering the highest quality of products and services customers want. Robert Wise, previously an engineering vice president in HP's public cloud computing effort, will serve in the newly created position of Chief Innovation Officer, and former Head of Intelsat General, Susan Miller will serve as Executive Vice President of Strategy & Corporate Development.

March 8, 2012 - NovelSat has announced the appointment of Ilana Lurie in the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). As CFO for NovelSat, Lurie is responsible for overseeing all of the fiscal activities for the company as well as mitigating potential risks. Lurie is a senior finance executive who comes to NovelSat with over a decade of experience in Finance and Operations with several global companies active in Israel, the US, Europe, Singapore, Thailand and India. Lurie has held senior managerial positions at high-tech companies such as Hewlett Packard where acted as the Israel ES Finance Manager. Prior to HP she spent five years with Ness Technologies Global as Director of Finance and Operation for APAC, the Director of Corporate Business Development and Corporate Planning, and the Controlling Director. Prior to that, Lurie has also acted as a Controller in Amdocs Israel.

March 16, 2012 - TrustComm Inc. has appointed satellite industry veteran Bob Roe as its new CEO. Roe has more than 30 years experience in government and commercial satcom, including senior management positions with Stratos Global Corp. from 1998-2011. Most recently, Roe served for more than five years as CEO of Stratos Government Services Inc. (SGSI) where he led programs to meet the ComSatCom needs of the DoD and federal agencies. Further strengthening TrustComm's new management team is the addition of Ian Canning as COO. Canning has more than 25 years experience as a senior executive with Stratos Global Corp., Inmarsat, Iridium and other leading companies in the satellite and telecommunications sectors. Canning most recently served as Stratos' vice president, global product marketing. Former TrustComm President and CEO Robert Kubbernus will serve as Chairman of the Board.

March 20, 2012 - The Board of Directors of Hispasat has elected Elena Pisonero to be the company’s new chairperson. Elena Pisonero has a degree in Economics from the Autonomous University of Madrid and has completed several graduate courses in leadership and management at Stanford, Harvard and Columbia universities. Pisonero has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. She has worked for large multinational companies such as Siemens and KPMG in the private sector. In the public administration she served as Chief of Staff for Economic Vice President Rodrigo Rato, Secretary of State for Commerce, Tourism and SME’s, National Deputy and Economics spokesperson for the Partido Popular in Congress and Spanish Ambassador to the OECD, amongst other responsibilities.

March 23, 2012 - Eutelsat Communications announces that Jean-François Leprince-Ringuet is joining the Group as Chief Commercial Officer and member of the Executive Committee, succeeding Andrew Wallace who is leaving Eutelsat to pursue other professional interests. Jean-François will join Eutelsat on April 16 to assume overall responsibility for Eutelsat's commercial activities. Jean-François Leprince-Ringuet brings 30 years of experience in IT and telecoms to Eutelsat. He has held commercial strategy, sales and marketing positions in Europe and North America at IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Cap Gemini and Bull, and has also been President of the IDATE Foundation. Jean-François is a French national and a graduate of the Ecole des Mines.

March 8, 2012 - The second annual Satellite Operator Benchmarks report covers interviews with over 80 teleport executives around the world who rated the commercial and operational practices of the major satellite operators. The report tracks, rates and compares performance, as experienced by a major buyer segment of satellite capacity, and examines key elements of the relationship between teleports and satellite providers, including the quality of sales staff, customer communications, pricing consistency, and the degree and fairness of competition with teleports. WTA’s report also looks at operational availability, the handling of interference and of outages, both planned and unplanned.

March 8, 2012 - Euroconsult forecast that the number of satellite communications terminals in the global maritime market will nearly double over the next decade, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% over the 10-year period. While MSS terminals are still expected to account for the majority of terminals deployed over the decade, VSAT service providers should gain significant market share in terms of revenue in the coming 10 years. In the second edition of the report "Maritime Telecom Solutions by Satellite, Global Market Analysis & Forecasts," Euroconsult provides an in-depth view of the dynamics determining growth in the maritime satcom sector, along with analysis and forecasts for the different levels of the value chain. The report offers a detailed review of the merchant shipping, fishing, passenger ship, leisure vessel, offshore and government segments. The breakdown between MSS applications and VSAT frequency bands is explored through each of these sections.

March 20, 2012 - NSR released its newest market survey and forecast report: Hosted Payloads on Commercial Satellites, 2nd Edition. The report provides an in-depth overview of demand trends for military and civil government requirements for creative solutions that address Communications and Earth Observation/Science missions, as well as the emergence of private enterprise risk-taking. This completely updated NSR report re-examines and analyzes the case for hosted payloads across a range of business models and clients. Launches, in-service units and revenue potential for satellite manufacturers, satellite operators and payload developers are quantified using a scenario-based approach that outlines hosted payload opportunities.

March 27, 2012 - In the report, Euroconsult forecasts that world government expenditures for space programs will decline in the coming years as a larger number of governments will likely reduce their investments into space activities. Space expenditures should recover growth in the second half of the decade with the stabilization of public finances and the launch of new procurement / R&D for next generation defense and civil programs.

UPCOMING EVENTS
NAB Show, April 14-19, Las Vegas, USA, www.nabshow.com
Australasia Satellite Forum 2012, April 16, Sydney, Australia, www.talksatellite.com
Global Aerospace Summit, April 16-19, Abu Dhabi, UAE, http://aerospacesummit.ae/
28^th National Space Symposium, April 16-19, Colorado Springs, USA. www.nationalspaacesymposium.org
MilSatCom Asia 2012, May 9-10, Singapore, www.milsatcomasia.com

Hear industry updates at SMi’s 2nd installment of MilSatCom Asia on the 9th and 10th of May 2012 in Singapore. With satellite communications increasing in the region this event will allow fantastic networking opportunities with senior SATCOM professionals from across the region and internationally. The agenda has been developed to bring in decision makers, influencers and those at the forefront of current programs together to give you the crucial feedback and lessons learned. To view the full speaker line-up and program, please refer visit www.smi-online.co.uk/goto/milsatasia75.asp

APSCC is a non-profit, international organization representing all sectors of satellite and space-related industries. The aim of the organization is to exchange views and ideas on satellite technologies, systems, policies and outer space activities in general along with satellite communications including broadcasting for the betterment of the Asia-Pacific region.