Scott Chase Conference Co-Chairman
SATELLITE 2017 Government & Military Forum Tackles the Big Questions

The “news cycle” for the global satellite-enabled marketplace over the next few days will be dominated by the successful launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 with ten Iridium NEXT satellites, culminating in the dramatic upright landing of the Falcon 9 first stage and then the picture-perfect deployment of the spacecraft.

Iridium’s expanded capabilities will affect all of its customers, including military and government users who depend on 24/7/365 communications access. Here at SATELLITE 2017, we’re supporting the continued development of the marketplace for this critically important client base with a comprehensive sequence of expert sessions designed for executives serving the market and users seeking to understand up-to-the-minute and planned capabilities.

It all kicks off Monday, March 6, with Milspace in the 21st Century: Smallsats and Disaggregated Space Architectures The general direction of space segment evolution seems to be heading toward smaller satellites and disaggregated architectures for both commercial and government services. How… Read More»

NASA is directing a Hosted Payload Interface Guide Forum and Workshop on Wednesday, March 8 at 9:45 a.m. as part of our Government & Military Forum.  A team of NASA speakers will introduce the agency’s Common Instrument Interface Project and provide an overview of the changes to their Hosted Payload Interface Guide (HPIG) document. This document provides a prospective Instrument Developer with technical recommendations to assist them in designing an Instrument or Payload that may be flown as a hosted payload on commercial satellites flown in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), or Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO).  NASA speakers include:

• Gaj Birur, Thermal Systems, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
• Randy Hein, Mechanical Systems, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
• Eric Ianson, Associate Director of Flight Programs, Earth Science Division/Science Mission Directorate, NASA
• Lowell Primm, Goddard Flight Center, NASA
• Randy Regan, Chief Engineer Earth System Science Pathfinder Program Office, NASA Langley Research Center
• Eric… Read More»

If you’re planning to exhibit at SATELLITE 2017 and want your company information featured in the printed Program Guide distributed on-site to more than 14, 000 satellite and space professionals, we need to hear from you now! The deadline for inclusion in the Program Guide is Friday, January 27, and exhibit space options in prime locations on the show floor are decreasing daily.

Start the year off right by positioning your company at the world’s largest gathering of high-level attendees involved in access to space, imagery/sensing, connectivity, hardware and finance. Contact Michael Cassinelli today at mcassinelli@accessintel.com or +1 (301) 354-1691 to discuss the best available location for your company.

Ready to reserve your space? Download and submit your exhibit space contract for the booth of your choice while it’s still available!

Stay connected - join the SATELLITE social media communities!  Connect with thousands of communications professionals via LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  Have you checked out our YouTube channel?  Coupled with videos and interviews from Via Satellite, you'll find plenty to entertain yourself for hours!  Or, for just a few minutes while you let your mind take a break from the daily grind.

MELBOURNE, Fla. – Jan. 12, 2017 – The U.S. Navy’s AN/AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System, designed and manufactured by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), has achieved Initial Operational Capability. ALMDS provides rapid wide-area reconnaissance and assessment of mine threats in sea lanes, littoral zones, confined straits, choke points and amphibious areas of operations.

“With Initial Operational Capability, the ALMDS program has delivered a new and important capability to the Navy and to our nation—the first of its kind for mine warfare, ” said Erik Maskelony, assistant program manager, Airborne Laser Mine Detection System, PEO LCS, Mine Warfare Program Office (PMS 495).

The ALMDS system features several capabilities that make it the first of its kind. It leverages a sensor pod to rapidly sweep the water using laser technology. The sensor pod can also be rapidly installed… Read More»

SpaceX Successfully Returns to Flight with Iridium Launch
[Via Satellite 01-17-2017] January 14 saw a successful return to flight for SpaceX after the company suffered a launch anomaly in September 2016…

Gilat, Air Esurfing Partner to Bring IFC to China’s Domestic Airlines
[Via Satellite 01-17-2017] With the aim to transform the domestic In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) market in China, Gilat Satellite Networks has announced a strategic partnership with Air Esurfing, a fully owned subsidiary of Air Media Group. 

GEE Buys SES Mobile Communication Payload
[Via Satellite 01-13-2017] Global Eagle Entertainment (GEE) has acquired Ku-band payload on the SES AMC 3 communication satellite in a move to boost capacity for its customers in North America, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean…

3D Printing Rocket Fuel Could Cut Launch Costs in Half
[Via Satellite 01-11-2017] Rocket Crafters (RCI) Co-founder, President and Chief Technology Officer Ronald Jones has been granted a U.S. patent for a method of designing and fabricating fuel grains for hybrid rocket engines using additive manufacturing technology, also known as 3D printing…

Auburn University Sees Success in Undergrad Cubesat Program
[Via Satellite 01-06-2016] Auburn University’s Small Satellite Program is looking to foster energy and growth in the small satellite sector…