Mark Posen's SatCom Blog

Satellite collision creates copious space junk - space - 12 February 2009 - New Scientist

A further update on the satellite collision.   It seems that that the debris will take a long time to decay and burn up, and there could be a risk of further collisions in a "chain-reaction" effect!

News clipping: Satellite collision creates copious space junk - space - 12 February 2009 - New Scientist.

Two space satellites smashed into each other on Tuesday in an unprecedented orbital accident. Government agencies are still assessing the aftermath, but early radar measurements have detected hundreds of pieces of debris that could pose a risk to other spacecraft. As first reported by CBS News, a defunct Russian Cosmos satellite and a communication satellite owned by the US firm Iridium collided some 790 kilometres above northern Siberia on Tuesday. "This is the first time that two intact spacecraft have accidentally run into each other," says Nicholas Johnson, chief scientist of NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office in Houston, Texas.

Russian and US satellites collide

Interesting, although worrying, to read that an old Russian military satellite has collided with an operational Iridium satellite, completely destroying both satellites.   The accident has generated a large cloud of debris, but since the crash happened in low earth orbit (LEO) the debris will, over time fall to earth and burn up.   There must be some ongoing risk, however, of possible damage to Iridium, and other, satellites as the cloud of debris spreads out.   Fortunately the accident did not happen in the geostationary orbit (GEO), where the risk of a spreading cloud of debris could be potentially much more damaging (since objects in GEO do not fall to earth and burn up, as the orbit is much too high).

I'll be watching the repercussions of this event with interest!

News clipping: BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Russian and US satellites collide.

US and Russian communications satellites have collided in space in the first such reported accident. A satellite owned by the US company Iridium hit a defunct Russian satellite at high speed nearly 780km (485 miles) over Siberia on Tuesday, Nasa said. The risk to the International Space Station and a shuttle launch planned for later this month is said to be low.

Procurement Of Full Galileo System Begins

After much uncertainty, it's good to see that the procurement of the Galileo GNSS system is now underway. We have become so reliant on satellite positioning technology for so many applications that the establishment of a civilian system to supplement the US military GPS system has become essential.

News clipping: Procurement Of Full Galileo System Begins.

The European Commission - with the support of ESA - has launched the procurement of Galileo, a global navigation system composed of 30 dedicated navigation satellites and a ground infrastructure with the main control centres in Europe and a network of dedicated stations deployed around the world. The overall programme objective for Galileo is the deployment, by 2013, of a European navigation system providing five main services, namely the Open Service, the Safety of Life Service, the Commercial Service, the Public Regulated Service, and the Search and Rescue Service.

No, No, No! No Terrestrial Service In Ku-Band : Satnews Publishers

More on what looks like being the hot satellite vs. terrestrial issue of 2008.

News clipping: No, No, No! No Terrestrial Service In Ku-Band : Satnews Publishers.

The global satellite communications sector has opposed a proposal made at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow terrestrial fixed services to operate in the 14.0-14.5 GHz band. This is a move that would cause harmful interference to fixed and mobile satellite-based services currently being provided to millions of users throughout the nation. Following successive meetings held recently with the FCC, the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) filed comments late last week jointly with the European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA), calling upon the U.S. regulatory agency to dismiss a Petition for Rulemaking submitted by the Utilities Telecom Council and Winchester Cator, LLC. The two non-profit associations called upon the FCC to determine that the petition to permit shared, secondary terrestrial fixed service (FS) use of the 14.0-14.5 GHz band is “ill-conceived, technically flawed, and glaringly unjustified.” As GVF and ESOA show in their opposition, the petitioners’ proposal would not protect present and future fixed-satellite service (FSS) operations from harmful interference, and indeed would likely result in harmful interference even at modest deployment levels. The proposed secondary FS would likely cause significant amounts of harmful interference whose source primary FSS licensees in the 14.0-14.5 GHz band would not be able to identify.

Orbiting robots could repair satellites on the fly - space - 28 June 2008 - New Scientist Space

Manned missions may be more glamorous, but this seems to be the likely way forward for the future.  

News clipping: Orbiting robots could repair satellites on the fly - space - 28 June 2008 - New Scientist Space.

Fewer astronauts, more robots. That's the call from three European aerospace engineers, who argue that crewed satellite repair missions - like the ones flown by NASA to fix the ailing Hubble Space Telescope - are expensive, wasteful and set the wrong agenda for the space community. The trio - Alex Ellery, Joerg Kreidsel and Bernd Sommer - argue in the journal Acta Astronautica that while such missions may be spectacular, they are unsustainable. Space agencies and satellite operators should instead be accelerating their efforts to develop robotic mechanics that can ply various Earth orbits, fixing errant satellites on demand. That way failing spacecraft can be repaired much more economically.

International Satellite Industry Opposes Effort to Introduce Terrestrial Service in Ku-Band

After the C-band fight at WRC-07, it looks as if the battle between satellite and terrestrial operators is moving to the Ku-band.   Not surprising, perhaps, given the general scarcity of spectrum.   Battles over spectrum are likely to be the general state of affairs over the next decade, with a risk that the satellite operators will be pushed towards higher frequencies as the terrestrial and mobile operators move into the lower frequencies.

News clipping: International Satellite Industry Opposes Effort to Introduce Terrestrial Service in Ku-Band.

WASHINGTON - (Business Wire) The global satellite communications sector has opposed a proposal made at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allow terrestrial fixed services to operate in the 14.0-14.5 GHz band, a move that would cause harmful interference to fixed and mobile satellite-based services currently being provided to millions of users throughout the nation. Following successive meetings held recently with the FCC, the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) filed comments yesterday jointly with the European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA), calling upon the U.S. regulatory agency to dismiss a Petition for Rulemaking submitted by the Utilities Telecom Council and Winchester Cator, LLC. The two non-profit associations called upon the FCC to determine that the petition to permit shared, secondary terrestrial fixed service (FS) use of the 14.0-14.5 GHz band is “ill-conceived, technically flawed, and glaringly unjustified.”

Turned Away, But Not Forgotten -€” Telecoms Sans Frontires Leaves Myanmar : Satnews Publishers

It's very unfortunate that an excellent organisation like TSF is finding its activities blocked in Burma. I'm sure that these committed people could have made a real difference.

News clipping: Turned Away, But Not Forgotten - Telecoms Sans Frontieres Leaves Myanmar : Satnews Publishers.

This is a most frustrating situation for all countries and agencies wishing to assist with the tragic aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. The latest word comes from Telecoms Sans Frontieres (TSF), which after 15 days in Myanmar (Burma) decided it was best to leave the country. TSF's requests for authorizations to deploy to the Irrawaddy Delta were not granted, and as the organization was blocked in Yangon, TSF's teams returned to their bases.

RSCC Appoints New Deputy Director General

Interesting to see the management shake-up at RSCC continuing.   The new team faces some challenges, with a poor reliability record for Russian satellites in recent times.  

News clipping: Satellite Today :: RSCC Appoints New Deputy Director General.

[Satellite Today -€“ 6-23-08] The Russian Satellite Communications Co. (RSCC) has appointed Ksenia Drozdova deputy director general, the operator said June 23. Drozdova has been with the company since 1998, worked initially in the corporate financing department. Since 2000 she has served as deputy director of business development.

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Key ocean mission goes into orbit

News clipping: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Key ocean mission goes into orbit.

The Jason-2 satellite will become the primary means of measuring the shape of the world's oceans, taking readings with an accuracy of better than 4cm. Its data will track not only sea level rise but reveal how the great mass of waters are moving around the globe. This information will be fundamental in helping weather and climate agencies make better forecasts.

Thuraya-3 Is Commercially Cranked Up : Satnews Publishers

News: Thuraya-3 Is Commercially Cranked Up : Satnews Publishers.

Thuraya has announced the commercial readiness of its third satellite, Thuraya-3. The satellite will cover the Asia-Pacific region. Thuraya-3 and all related ground network facilities started commercial activities on June 9th, 2008. This heralds a new phase in the Company’s expansion and growth towards Asia.