From: Satjournal@aol.com
10
Satellite Journal International
Volume Five
June, 23
1997
"Anyone who enjoys the privilege of publishing and
broadcasting in open societies should demonstrate their
unshakeable belief in the universality of free speech should
they ever seek to broadcast in societies that are closed."
Seven IRIDIUM satellites launched
Ariane 5 Will Launch Two Key Scientific Missions
Hughes to build Sirrus 3
Ariane Announces Four New Launch Contracts
ComStream new VSAT contract
New World-Wide VSAT Industry Forum
Hero Productions
Mexico To Launch Satellite Auction
PanAmSat selects Arianespace for launch of Galaxy XI
PanAmSat Customers Expand Video Services
Loral and Alcatel combine forces
New universal Ku-band combiner
Telefonica Selects DiviCom Digital Video
DBSI Chooses Launch Provider
Head Start programs via satellite
Motorola to Build Global Satellite System
Ariane 5 gets the "green light"
LATE EDITION NEWS
Upcoming Launches
New files and documents at our WebStand
In Brief
YET ANOTHER NEW VERSION AVAILABLE
Satellite Journal is pleased to announce that SJI has opened
a "channel" on the Pointcast service. Currently in beta
testing, Pointcast 2.0 offers readers all the latest news,
weather, sports, Internet news and now Satellite Journal
Weekly. To receive this "channel" you need to install
Pointcast 2.0
To do this, go to our website at
http://members.aol.com/satjournal and click on the Pointcast
logo on our home page. Follow the instructions and you will
be up and running. Pointcast is a FREE service. (Ed note:
While this is beta software, I have had no problems with at
all.)
MINING COMPANY WEB SITE
Thanks to those who are visiting
http://satellite.miningco.com The site also offers the
latest in news and information and in the near future will
have chat and message board areas. This site is advertiser
supported so please visit it often and send your comments to
satellite.guide@miningco.com.
Seven IRIDIUM satellites launched
Seven IRIDIUM satellites were launched into orbit on a
Russian manufactured Proton rocket. After 88 minutes, the
satellites separated from the launcher and will spend the
next two weeks undergoing in orbit testing.
The satellites were put in orbit with the following
initial parameters:
" period of revolution_one hour 35 minutes; -- maximum
distance from the Earth's surface (in the apogee) -- 536
kilometres;
" minimal distance from the Earth surface (in the
perigee) -- 514 kilometres;
" inclination of the orbit -- 86.4 degrees.
These satellites are part of the IRIDIUM 66-satellite
network (420 nautical miles) and will be placed into an
adjacent plane to the orbital plane containing the first
five satellites successfully launched on May 5.
This launch is the first of three scheduled Proton
launches to take place in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The
next Iridium launch will be on a Delta 2 rocket on July 7.
Ariane 5 Will Launch Two Key Scientific Missions
The Ariane 5 launcher will be used for two new
scientific missions. Following an earlier contract for the
Envisat 1 Earth observation satellite, the European Space
Agency will use Arianespace for the launch of XMM (X-ray
Multi-Mirror) observatory.
The Ariane 5 heavy-lift launch system was chosen
because of the XMM's size; weight and mission
characteristics. The launch is scheduled for either mid 1999
or the winter of 1999-2000.
Weighing 3,900 kg (8,580 lb.) at lift-off, the XMM
satellite is part of the ESA's Horizon 2000 scientific
program, along with the Rosetta, Soho and First missions.
This spaceborne telescope will be placed in a very highly-
inclined elliptical orbit, and carry out spectroscopic
measurements of X-ray sources in the universe.
The Envisat 1 multimission polar platform (PPF) will
ensure continuity with current ERS Earth observation
missions, but with enhanced terrestrial and maritime
surveillance capabilities. Built by Matra Marconi Space in
Bristol, UK, Envisat 1 will weigh approximately 10,000 kg
(22,000 lb.) at launch. Scheduled for launch by the end of
1999, Envisat 1 will be placed in a sun-synchronous polar
orbit at an altitude of 800 km (500 miles).
Hughes to build Sirrus 3
Hughes has been awarded a contract for a
telecommunications satellite and ground-station support
services from Nordiska Satellitaktiebolaget (NSAB), a joint
venture among Swedish Space Corp., Tele Danmark A/S and
Teracom AB.
Sirius 3, will be an HS 376 high-power model satellite
and will provide direct-to-home television services to the
Scandinavian region. Hughes will also upgrade NSAB's
satellite-control centre at Esrange, Kiruna, and will
provide training to the satellite controllers.
The current NSAB constellation includes Sirius 1, also
an HS 376 model, which was built for British Satellite
Broadcasting and sold to NSAB in-orbit in 1993, and Sirius
2, which is being built by another manufacturer and will be
launched later this year. Sirius 3 will replace Sirius 1
and will be located at 5 degrees east longitude.
Sirius 3 will have 15 Ku-band transponders and will use
gallium arsenide solar cells to generate 1400 watts of
spacecraft power. Hughes will deliver the satellite on-
ground to NSAB in July 1998. Planned service life is 12
years.
Ariane Announces Four New Launch Contracts
Arianespace will launch Sirius 3 during the third
quarter of 1998. Sirius 2 is scheduled to launch later this
summer, and Sirius 3 by the end of 1998." Sirius 3 is being
built by Hughes Space & Communications in El Segundo,
California. Based on the HS 376 HP platform, it will weigh
about 1,450 kg (3,190 lb.) at lift-off and carry 14 Ku-band
transponders. The satellite will provide direct-to-home
digital TV broadcasts to all Scandinavian countries.
Telstar 6 will be the first satellite to be launched
under the multiple-launch contract signed between Space
Systems/Loral and Arianespace. It will be put into orbit in
the fourth quarter of 1998. Both launches will use Ariane
5 launchers.
The Telstar 6 satellite, which is being built by Space
Systems/Loral using the FS 1300 platform with a total of 52
high-powered C- and Ku-band transponders, is part of a turn-
key contract with Loral Skynet. This advanced spacecraft
will allow Skynet to add to its current broadcast
syndication neighbourhood on Telstar 4 and 5, and to deliver
direct-to-home and satellite news-gathering services. The
satellite's payload will be configured like the recently
launched Telstar 5, creating redundancy for Skynet's
customers. The launch mass of the satellite will be
approximately 3,600 kg and its final orbital location will
be 93 degrees West.
Arianespace and Space Systems/Loral multiple-launch
long-term contract signed in May 1996 has been extended
another year, to 2001.
Arianespace has also signed two more communications
satellite launch contracts with an undisclosed party.
ComStream new VSAT contract
ComStream Corp. reports a contract with Samart
Corp. to supply VSATPlus II technology to the Telephone
Organisation of Thailand (TOT) for a large time division
multiple access (TDMA) VSAT satellite rural telephony
network.
At each remote site, a VSATPlus II terminal will be
connected to three or more pay telephones and/or standard
telephones. The remote VSATPlus II terminals transmit to
the Thaicom II satellite, which then directs the traffic to
its specified address or closest gateway, whether within the
region or beyond. The pay telephones are located near a
public service, such as a post office, so that the people of
the area can have easy access to the new telephone system.
New World-Wide VSAT Industry Forum
A June 4 meeting in London attracted 25 companies
representing all segment's of the VSAT market. The initial
charter for the non-profit and independent forum, known as
the Global VSAT Forum, is to represent all elements of the
VSAT industry in international, regional, and national
organisations; to lobby for fair and consistent
telecommunications regulations and related legislation; and
to promote VSAT technology and services world-wide as a
mainstream communications medium. The Forum is focused on
telecommunication by satellite and does not include radio or
television broadcast.
In the next few months, the Forum expects to establish
communications with important regulatory organisations such
as the ITU, WTO, FCC and European Commission. The Forum
also plans to devote considerable time to promoting itself
to prospective members and other interested parties,
establishing a World Wide Web site and preparing a general
meeting to introduce the Global VSAT Forum to the industry.
Hero Productions
Hero Productions has signed a five-year agreement with
Hallmark Entertainment Networks, Inc. to provide the
programmer with additional satellite capacity, uplink and
master control services for its Latin American network as of
August 1. The deal is valued at $53 million.
Hallmark Entertainment Network is a 24-hour Spanish and
Portuguese channel comprised entirely of made-for-television
movies and miniseries produced by Hallmark Entertainment,
Inc. The network currently serves nearly two million
subscribers in Mexico, Central America and the northern tier
of South America,
Hero will provide Hallmark digital capacity on Intelsat 601,
to be transferred to Intelsat 806 currently scheduled to
launch in the first half of 1998. Intelsat 806 will allow
the networks coverage into Spain and Portugal, as well as
Latin America, under the same high-powered beam.
Mexico To Launch Satellite Auction
The public bidding for Mexico's satellites will
start early next month as part of a partial privatisation
drive The Mexican government however will retain a minority
(25%) stake in the satellites through a new state-owned
entity, Satelites Mexicanos SA.
The auction will include, Morelos I, Solidarid I and
II, their control centres and the launch replacement
satellite for Morelos II. Winners will likely be announced
late this fall.
PanAmSat selects Arianespace for launch of Galaxy XI
PanAmSat has signed an agreement with Arianespace to
launch a new PanAmSat satellite in early 1999.
The new launch, which was exercised as part of a
previously signed multi-launch agreement between the
companies, will take place on an Ariane launch vehicle from
the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. PanAmSat
plans to use the launch to deploy a high-power HS 702
satellite.
PanAmSat intends to use the launch for its second HS
702 satellite, built by Hughes Space and Communications Co.
PanAmSat is currently determining the communications payload
and expected orbital location for the satellite. The HS 702
is Hughes' next-generation satellite and offers the highest
transmissions power available on any commercial spacecraft.
PanAmSat plans to launch its first HS 702 satellite, called
Galaxy XI, in 1998.
PanAmSat Customers Expand Video Services
Good news for wild feeds watchers this week. Three
PanAmSat customers will continue to use PanAmSat satellites
to distribute their programming. Buena Vista Television will
continue to use its current transponder on Galaxy IV
satellite for distribution of syndicated programming
throughout the United States. In addition, Vista Satellite
Communications, Inc., and Vyvx, Inc., have extended their
long-term service agreements for transponder capacity on
PanAmSat's Galaxy VI satellite. Vyvx also has increased its
capacity on Galaxy VI from one transponder to two.
Loral and Alcatel combine forces
Loral Space and Alcatel have formed a strategic
partnership to jointly develop, deploy and operate high-
speed global multimedia satellite networks.
The agreement includes cross investments in Loral's
geostationary (GEO) satellite-based CyberStar project and
Alcatel's low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite-based SkyBridge
project. Each company will participate in the development
of the two projects, initially committing to invest $30
million in the other's respective project. Each project
will be managed separately, but the two companies have
agreed to facilitate a co-ordinated approach to the two
networks, including integrated marketing.
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