In Demand renews C-band capacity agreement with SES

World-leading satellite operator SES announced that content distributor In Demand renewed its capacity deal with the company to continue with the delivery of pay-per-view and Video On Demand sports and entertainment television content to cable headends in North America.

Under the terms of agreement, In Demand will make use of a full transponder of C-band capacity aboard the AMC-1 satellite of SES to provide programming like movies, events and sports packages to cable audiences throughout the United States and beyond. All in all, the content distributor relies on five transponders aboard three SES satellites for its full-time satellite distribution capacity.

“SES represents the foundation of our overall North American satellite distribution capabilities and strategy,” said In Demand CTO John Vartanian in a statement. “Our audiences have come to rely on the availability and quality of In Demand sports and entertainment programming. In turn, we have come to trust in our longstanding partnership with SES for the reliability and flexibility we need in our satellite distribution platform.”

The C-band payload aboard AMC-1 satellite does not only deliver North American coverage, but is also home to national television networks broadcasting to several cable headends. The Ku-band beam also supports national broadcasters and VSAT and broadband services for enterprise clients.

Belarus, Russia collaborate to launch new satellite constellation

Two powerful countries Belarus and Russia announce its plan of launching a new satellite fleet to enhance the image resolution of one meter, this according to Piotr Vityaz, head of administration of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.

The new satellite constellation is expected to capture images from the outer space, with the resolution of one meter to provide for the high detailed imagery demands of the two countries. Presently, the leaders of Belarus and Russia are in talks of the possibility of launching these satellites.

Meanwhile, the existing satellite constellation that makes up the Belarusian-Russian integrated space system for live monitoring of the Earth will undergo expansion. Currently, it includes the Belarusian satellite BKA, the Russian satellite Canopus-B, and the ground-based infrastructure. In the future, the existing satellite constellation will gain one Belarusian satellite and two Russian satellites.

On July 2012, Belarus sent its own satellite into space. With this move, the country became a space power and later created the Belarusian space system for the remote sensing of the Earth. The system is made up of the satellite and the ground-based control center.

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Iran plans on launching seven satellites

Iran Space Agency Director Hamid Fazeli made an announcement that the country aims to send seven satellites into space during the current Iranian calendar year, which commenced on March 21. Various Iranian universities will be contributing in the satellite manufacturing project.

Director Fazeli said that one of the satellites scheduled for launch this year is the Nahid spacecraft, using a special kind of technology. Weighing 50 kilograms, the Nahid satellite is designed by experts at the research centre of Iran Space Agency, along with scientists at Amirkabir University of Technology.

Among the other satellites that will be launched this year include the reconnaissance satellite Fajr (Dawn), powered by solar energy, and the Zafar (Triumph) satellite, to be produced by the University of Science and Technology. Mesbah, a communications satellite weighing 69 kilograms, will also be sent into orbit by the end of 2013.

Zafar, known as the second version of the Navid (Promise) satellite, is outfitted with colour cameras and has the capability to survey jungles, mines, natural disasters and oil reserves.

Fazeli added that the Iran Space Agency is also working to produce carrier rockets that can carry heavier satellites into space.

In February 2009, Iran launched its very first satellite called Omid (hope), while the Rasad (Observation) satellite was sent into space in June 2011. A year after that, the country sent its third locally manufactured satellite called Navid (Promise), which sent its first image in February 8, 2012.

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Intelsat taps ILS to launch two satellites

International Launch Services (ILS) has been chosen by satellite services provider, Intelsat S.A, for two future ILS Proton satellite launch missions.

In a company statement, Intelsat EVP and CTO Thierry Guillemin noted, “Intelsat enjoyed another steady year in 2012, which included five successful satellite launches and the completion of the world’s first global broadband mobility platform, which will enable increased bandwidth to support our customers’ growth plans.” Guillemin added that the company is looking forward to building its momentum, hence choosing ILS for two satellite launches which will allow the company to reach developing regions and eventually meet the ever-increasing demand for highly efficient and reliable connectivity.

Recently, ILS successfully launched the first satellite aboard the Proton vehicle. The spacecraft took the Satmex 8 satellite into orbit.

“ILS is honored to be selected by Intelsat for these future missions. We are pleased to have Intelsat’s confidence and commitment to support their plans for growth and expansion of their business,” ILS President Phil Slack said in a statement.

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Arianespace announces successful launch of 1801st Soyuz launch vehicle

Arianespace, a French commercial space transportation company, made a recent announcement that the Soyuz launch vehicle successfully sent its 1801st flight into space. The launch took place on Friday, March 29, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 00:43 Moscow time.

As the third Soyuz family mission for this year, Arianespace together with its Russian associates reported that the Soyuz TMA-08M manned transport spacecraft was placed accurately on its intended orbit for yet another mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

After the introduction of Soyuz at the Guiana Space Center (CSG) two years ago, the famed Russian medium-class launch vehicle instantly became an essential part of the European launch vehicle fleet, along with the lightweight Vega and heavy-lift Ariane 5. Offered to the commercial market, the French Guiana Soyuz is said to be Europe’s reference medium-class launch vehicle for commercial and governmental missions.

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Intelsat extends capacity agreement with Lebanese distributor ART/IND

Intelsat, a leading satellite service provider of voice, data and Internet solutions, extended its multi-year contract with ART/International Network Distribution. The Lebanese company is known as a leader in aggregating and distributing niche and international channels in the global market.

ART/IND extended its initial agreement on the Intelsat 21 satellite, which is located at 302 degrees East, so that the company will be able to contribute and distribute its key programming channels in the U.S. The company, an Intelsat customer for more than ten years now, will be added to the list of other leading media companies on the satellite in providing a combination of various content.

Together with Intelsat 805, Intelsat 21 provides excellent video neighborhoods and DTH platform to media companies, therefore allowing excellent access to viewers.

“Through this agreement, we are able to continue serving our growing number of channel affiliates and customers and enjoy the global coverage that we require,” said Karim Abdallah, ART/IND’s CEO. “With its reliable satellite fleet and expansive coverage, Intelsat is uniquely capable of providing the access we need to serve our channel affiliates and customers.”

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House of Representatives approves increase in weather satellite program funding

The U.S House of Representatives recently approved a legislation that will help the budget shortfall threatening to delay the geostationary weather satellites of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

With a vote of 267-151, lawmakers voted to pass a spending bill that would keep the federal government operating after the current stopgap funding legislation expires on the 27th. Although the house bill would keep funding flat at the 2012 level for most of the federal agencies and departments, the geostationary weather satellites of the NOAA are an exception.

With two geostationary spacecraft orbiting at fixed points above Earth, these weather satellites help transmit crucial data for use in weather forecasts and for tracking storms. Once the spending bill is passed, it would approve an extra $186 million more than NOAA’s program received last year, setting aside a total of $802 million for the agency’s next-generation weather satellite, GOES-R.

Without the funding for the geostationary satellites, the spacecrafts could face further delays, translating into a longer and more severe weather satellite gap expected to occur in the next few years. However, before NOAA can receive the capital for the program, the Senate must approve the legislation first for it to become a law.

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