Fourth space launch center of China to be operational by 2015

The People’s Republic of China has made a recent announcement that its fourth launch center, located at the tropical island province of Hainan, will be ready for use in a period of two years. The Wenchang center has been under construction since 2009.

According to Zhou Jianping, designer-in-chief of China's manned space program, the launch center will be utilized for Long March-7 and Long March-5 rockets to send space station capsules and cargo ships into orbit, as well as heavy satellites, deep space probe satellites, big space stations and synchronous satellites. The Wenchang center is designed to administer up to twelve rocket launches in a year.

As of the moment, China has three other space launch centers. However, these bases are located in western or northern plateau and mountainous regions, needs commercial development and are inconvenient for transportation. The fourth space launch center is expected to address these issues and help rockets consume less fuel to get into space because of its improved location.

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Ball Aerospace completes $75 million expansion of satellite manufacturing facility

The 90,000-square-foot expansion project of Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. -- a principal manufacturer of spacecraft, components and instruments -- has finally been finished, signaling the company’s aim to be one of aerospace prime contractors.

The expanded facility, which Ball Aerospace started building in 2005, will be used as a new satellite manufacturing center that will work on contracts for NASA’s Joint Polar Satellite System, the B612 Foundation’s Sentinel Mission, DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-3 remote-sensing satellite, and various U.S Department of Defense and national security missions.

The company also stated that the expanded aerospace manufacturing center in Boulder includes new environmental testing systems, 60 percent more cleanroom space, as well as added built-out capacity for a bigger thermal vacuum chamber used to test spacecraft.

"We've been able to win a large number of (government) contracts because of our cost-effective model," said David Taylor, president and chief executive of Ball Aerospace. "We are going to grow that market while looking for other sources."

Taylor added, “The expansion we proudly unveil today also affirms our commitment to growing Colorado’s dynamic aerospace economy.”

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Champion Entertainment launches state-of-the-art satellite uplink facility in West Houston

Champion Entertainment Inc. recently announced that the company will be opening its Vyvx satellite uplink system in West Houston using cutting-edge fiber optic. The facility will provide Energy Corridor and West Houston with the only high definition (HD) broadcast uplink and Internet Web broadcasting system available for private use. The company also accomplished a share exchange agreement recently with ACIE Corporation, scheduled to be finalized later this year.

In a statement, CEO Kurt Neubauer said, "No longer do individuals have to travel in excess of 25 miles from the energy corridor, battle traffic and parking issues to be interviewed by networks on stories of regional and national importance. Our uplink facility is state-of-the-art network capable HD and provides the absolute finest equipment available to get the story to the networks. Being 25 miles closer and located just off the West Sam Houston Toll way in the convenient WestChase area will save an executive or celebrity valuable time."

Once the satellite uplink facility is established in West Houston, individuals appearing on network shows like MSNBC, CNN, the Today show and more, will no longer have to go downtown just to perform a remote live broadcast.

Champion Entertainment Inc. has numerous original properties for production, co-production and sale currently under development. Its new Vyvx uplink studio is expected to be up and fully operational sometime in February of this year.

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Norwegian Space Center announces request to build platform for NORSAT-1

The Norwegian Space Center is now accepting bids to create the platform for NORSAT-1, the new Norwegian satellite that will investigate solar radiation, space weather and monitor shipping traffic.

Magne Osmundsen, Senior Advisor for Industry Coordination at the NSC and project manager for the new satellite said that during this year, the Norwegian Space Center will procure a new small satellite, initially named NORSAT-1, to carry out different scientific experiments.

NORSAT-1 will be carrying an AIS receiver to be able to accomplish ship detection from space. The new satellite will be a more advanced version of the AISSat-1, launched last July 2010, so that it can test out new detection algorithms. The new AIS receiver will require a bigger satellite platform to allow the satellite to detect and track maritime traffic in both Norwegian waters and international waters.

The new satellite will also measure Total Solar Irradiation (TSI) and electron plasma coming from the sun, with the help of two instruments currently developed by Norwegian and international research teams.

The Norwegian Space Centre will coordinate the development and the integration of the instruments for the new satellite platform.

In a statement, Norwegian Space Centre Director Bo Andersen said, “Several Norwegian companies make satellite components, but because no Norwegian company produces entire satellite platforms, we are publishing a call for bids internationally.”

NORSAT-1 has its launch set for 2015 to a polar orbit at approximately 600 kilometers height.

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NEC plans on investing ¥10 billion to create factory for satellites

Japanese multinational IT company NEC Corp. is rumored to be planning on investing ¥10 billion yen (approximately $114.5 million) to establish a new factory in Tokyo that will produce low-cost space satellites for emerging countries. Sources are claiming that the multi million company is looking to begin the production in fiscal 2014, which begins in April of that same year.

NEC plans on manufacturing small satellites at the plant to be erected in the suburb of Fuchu, as part of the country’s joint effort with the central government to help Japan obtain contracts from other countries that are looking to build and launch their own satellites. While the ¥10 billion yen figure is seen as a competitive cost on the worldwide scale for building and launching a commercial satellite factory, NEC has already been successful in cutting down the cost of producing small satellites and other related equipment to prices between ¥6 billion and ¥8 billion (approximately $68.7 million to $91.6 million).

Japanese engineering firm IHI Corp. has already developed a rocket worth ¥3 billion yen ($34.4 million) that is able to carry a small satellite into space. When merged with NEC’s satellite, the Japanese public-private consortium will be able to offer a launch package that is competitive.

The new plant of NEC, which will be outfitted with a vacuum chamber for durability and performance testing, will have the capacity to manufacture and assemble eight satellites at a time.

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Iridium teams up with Cambridge Consultants for next gen satellite constellation

 

 

One of the world’s leading supplier of innovative product development has been chosen by Iridium Communications for their next generation satellite constellation. Cambridge Consultants will play a crucial role in the deployment of the Iridium NEXT, which has been slated for a 2015 launch.

The US and UK based tech company will develop the subscriber equipment technology necessary for the NEXT satellite constellation. Cambridge will also be providing the ground infrastructure system for the project.

Iridium currently boasts of the widest satellite constellation coverage on earth at 90%. The company provides terrestrial and cellular connectivity even in the remotest of areas. Iridium Communications also delivers low-latency voice and data communications.

 

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Google in talks with Dish for high-speed wireless network

Tech giant Google is reportedly in talks with satellite TV provider Dish Network Corporation for a partnership in the building of a wireless network that would make high-speed Internet services more widely available across North America. The development reveals Google’s plans to expand beyond gadgets, software and electronic devices, and consider venturing into wireless network services. Wall Street Journal said the two companies are in talks to build infrastructure that could rival those of Sprint and AT&T.

Dish had already filed a proposal to the Federal Communications Commission for the use of the spectrums it had bought to be used for wireless services. The company is still waiting for the FCC’s regulatory approval. Google, on the other hand, had been testing earlier this week a fibre network system in Kansas, that would connect residential homes to the company’s broadband service.

 

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