NewSat, Lockheed Martin, celebrate milestone in Jabiru-1 Satellite Project

NewSat Limited (ASX: NWT), Australia’s satellite company, is pleased to advise of the successful completion of the Jabiru-1 Preliminary Design Review (PDR) by Lockheed Martin as announced on 18 June 2012. This is a major milestone for the Jabiru-1 Program's development and a significant step towards the launch of NewSat’s next generation Ka-band satellite.

Read more on the latest NewSat milestone in their blog

Welfare communications to assist staff retention

Military and Defence 


NewSat provide welfare communications for US Military personnel in over 15 locations throughout Afghanistan. Welfare communications for soldiers is extremely important. Defence forces around the world are now “committed to soldier retention”. A decade ago soldiers had ½ an hour once a fortnight to utilise satellite communications for personal use. This placed enormous strain on soldiers and families which meant soldiers retention rate was low. Now defence forces around the world have the mentality “recruit the soldier, retain the family” and will provide an “always-on broadband connection, no matter where they are, for phone and Internet”. 


Military is completely reliant on satellite communications to meet their needs in their difficult and dangerous environment. Mission critical communications in war zones require constant transmission and delivery of highly sensitive and secure information. Satellite communications are the paramount for military and defence operations worldwide. 

The 2012 International Telecommunications Satellite Organization Conference

The 35th Assembly of Parties of the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization will conduct a three-day conference that aims to review and set the agenda on the universal access of satellite communications. ITSO was established in 1971 with the mandate of overseeing public service obligations of Intelsat Ltd through inter-governmental relations.

Uganda is one of the 150 ITSO members which help Intelsat ensures it is providing quality public telecommunications services. ITSO states are getting public telecommunication services which include data, voice, and video on a global and non-discriminatory basis.

The term of the current ITSO agreement will be one of the issues to be discussed in the meeting. The United Nations General Assembly of September 2010 calls for the creation of broadband communications infrastructure worldwide in fulfillment of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

President Museveni will be in the opening ceremony. There would be 250 foreign dignitaries that will attend the event, said the Ugandan Communications Commission (UCC).

Uganda is set to become the first African country to be an ITSO host. The event will be an integral part of a medium-term strategy to grow satellite communications technology. Satellite communication plays a key role in implementing broadband services.

UCC said satellite communication is not only a secondary Internet option, it is also the primary means of accessing international network in areas where terrestrial networks are not available.

Major strategic issues will also be addressed in the event, including orbital satellite slots protection, ITSO strategic plan, budget and election. Patrick Masambu, founding executive director of UCC, is the present director for technical services at the Washington DC-based institute.

Hughes HX System Employs New IPoS-B Open Satellite Standard

Hughes is now employing the new IP-over-satellite 1008-B air interface, also know as the (IPoS-B). The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) approved technology has several new feature which improved performances in fixed and mobile markets. Some of the features of the IPos-B include mobility support, closed loop timing (CLT), mesh communication with peer-to-peer synchronization, and inroute control signaling security.

Read more about this wireless communication update

'Voyager 1" Mission Background: Scientific Instruments

These are the scientific instruments used by “Voyager 1:”


Imaging Science System (ISS) (disabled) which utilized a two-camera system (narrow-angle/wide-angle) to provide imagery of Jupiter, Saturn and other objects along the trajectory.


Radio Science System (RSS) (disabled) which utilized the telecommunications system of the Voyager spacecraft to determine the physical properties of planets and satellites (ionospheres, atmospheres, masses, gravity fields, densities) and the amount and size distribution of material in Saturn’s rings and the ring dimensions.


Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer (IRIS) (disabled) which investigates both global and local energy balance and atmospheric composition. Vertical temperature profiles are also obtained from the planets and satellites as well as the composition, thermal properties, and size of particles in Saturn’s rings, the most extensive planetary ring system of any planet in the Solar System. Interferometry refers to a family of techniques in which waves, usually electromagnetic, are superimposed in order to extract information about the waves, while a spectrometer (spectrophotometer, spectrograph or spectroscope) is an instrument used to measure properties of light over a specific portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, typically used in spectroscopic analysis to identify materials.  
Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS) (active) was designed to measure atmospheric properties, and to measure radiation.


Triaxial Fluxgate Magnetometer (MAG) (active) was designed to: investigate the magnetic fields, a mathematical description of the magnetic influence of electric currents and magnetic materials, primarily in the near field, of Jupiter and Saturn; the interaction of the solar wind, a stream of charged particles ejected from the upper atmosphere of the Sun, with the magnetospheres (formed when a stream of charged particles, such as the solar wind, interacts with and is deflected by the magnetic field of a planet or a similar body), of these planets; and the magnetic field of interplanetary space, the space around the Sun and planets of the Solar System, the region dominated by the interplanetary medium, extending out to the heliopause where the influence of the galactic environment starts to dominate over the magnetic field and particle flux from the Sun, out to the boundary between the solar wind, a stream of charged particles ejected from the upper atmosphere of the Sun, and the magnetic field of interstellar space (the physical space within a  galaxy not occupied by stars or their planetary systems), if crossed. A magnetometer is a measuring instrument used to measure the strength or direction of magnetic fields.


Plasma Spectrometer (PLS) (defective) instigates the macroscopic properties of the plasma ions and measures electrons ion the energy range from 5 ev to 1 keV.


Low Energy Charged Particle Instrument (LECP) (active) measures the differential in energy fluxes and angular distributions of ions, electrons and the differential in energy ion composition.  


Cosmic Ray System (CRS) (active) determines the origin and acceleration process, life history, and dynamic contribution of interstellar cosmic rays, the nucleosynthesis of elements in cosmic-ray sources, the behavior of cosmic rays in the interplanetary medium, and the trapped planetary energetic-particle environment; cosmic rays are energetic charged subatomic particles, originating in outer space.


Planetary Radio Astronomy Investigation (PRA) (disabled) utilizes a sweep-frequency radio receiver to study the radio-emission signals from Jupiter and Saturn; radio astronomy is a subfield of astronomy that studies celestial objects at radio frequencies.


Photopolarimeter System (PPS) (defective) has utilized a telescope with a polarizer, an optical filter that passes light of a specific polarization and blocks waves of other polarizations, to gather information on surface texture and composition of Jupiter and Saturn and information on atmospheric scattering properties and destiny for both planets; a polarimeter is a scientific instrument used to measure the angle of rotation caused by passing polarized light through an optically active substance.


Plasma Wave System (PWS) (active) provides continuous, sheath-independent measurements of the electron-density profiles at Jupiter and Saturn as well as basic information on local wave-particle interaction, useful in studying the magnetospheres; in physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized.


See: VSAT

CASBAA Organization: Committees And Issue Groups

Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA), the association for digital multichannel television, content, platforms, advertising and video delivery across Asia, is led by a Board of Directors, supported by the CASBAA Council of Governors--its leading advisory group.


THE CASBAA Council of Governors comprises 50% Patron Governors matched by representatives of non-patron Members. The Chairman, along with the Board of Directors who are responsible for the management of the Association, are elected for a two-year term. Both Chairman and Directors are elected from the Council of Governor.


On the operational side, CASBAA is managed by the Chief Executive (CEO) who is responsible for the Association’s membership and committee activities and for the organization of industry events such as the annual CASBAA Convention.


The following CASBAA committees play a key role in establishing the priorities and initiatives of the Association: Advertising and Research Committee, CSR Committee, OTT and Connected Media Group, Operator’s Group, Regulatory and Anti-Piracy Committee, Satellite Industry Committee, and Technology Advisory Group.


The CASBAA committee system plays a key role in establishing the priorities and initiatives of the Association and of the industries that CASBAA represents. The Chairman of each committee is responsible for inviting representatives from member companies to join their committee. An individual member of the board of Directors has oversight of each committee’s activities and liaises directly with its Chairman.


According to Simon Twistin Davies, CASBAA CEO, the Committee rules are:


First, each CASBAA Committee shall elect a Chairman at the start of each operating year, such year to commence from that of the first meeting of the CASBAA Council of Governors following the Annual General Meeting of the Association and end twelve months following. Until such time, the previous year’s Committee Chairman shall be in office.


Second, at the first meeting of each operating year, each Committee shall identify a minimum of three Goals and Objectives and provide the Chief Executive Officer with a draft timeline for the delivery of such Goals and Objectives. These Goals and Objectives will be generally agreed with the nominated CASBAA Board Member charged with oversight of the Committee’s activities.


Third, the Board member responsible the committee shall report directly to the Board of Directors and will ensure that the committee standing orders are adhered to.


Fourth, each committee shall meet a minimum of five times each year.


Fifth, Committees, led by their Chairman, may invite any voting member or nominee member of the Association to sit on such Committees.


Sixth, each Committee shall seek to reach consensus on every matter considered by the Committee. However, each Committee shall make final decisions based on a majority vote of the members of such Committee. The Chairman must also provide the opportunity for a “minority position” to be registered and ensure that such position is recorded in the minutes of the meeting for such Committee.


Seventh, in the event of a disagreement in any measure or action recommended by the majority of the Committee, the minority shall have the right to request the Chairman of such Committee to bring the disagreement and the view of the minority to the attention of the Board of Directors through the Chief Executive Officer. With the approval of the Board of Directors, the minority supported initiative may also be implemented by the Chief Executive Officer.


Eighth, it is the duty of the Chairman of each committee to ensure that minutes are taken and then distributed to all Committee members and the Executive Office no more than ten working days after each meeting of his/her committee and to provide, at minimum, a bi-monthly report to the Chief Executive Officer on progress against the stated/agreed objectives of the committee.


See: Teleports with Cutting-Edge Technology

CASBAA Organization: Committees And Issue Groups

CASBAA Organization: Committees And Issue Groups

The Advantages of Wireless Communication

Plainly speaking, wireless communication is a transfer of information without any physical connection between two or more points. Because of this absence of any “physical infrastructure”, wireless communication has certain advantages. This would often include collapsing distance or space. Since there is no need for physical connections like cable or fibre, communications is not limited to an area. Case in point, are your smartphones. Without wireless communication technologies like in most landline phones, you’d be stuck at home, and the convenience of carrying a device anywhere would be impossible. Wireless communications services can also be seen in Internet technologies such as Wi-Fi.

With no network cables hampering movement, you can now connect with almost anyone, anywhere anytime. On-demand services is thus possible with wireless communication systems. Improvements can also be seen in speed. Notice how wireless internet connectivity is far more efficient than dial-up.

Geographic distance is no longer a problem as well. You can find yourself in the middle of the desert or in some remote, tropical rainforest and still manage to connect to the Internet or make important calls thanks to technologies like satellite broadband and satellite communications trailers.

This mobility and convenience offered by wireless communications present opportunities to improve various industries and sectors of society. In rural regions, online education is now possible. Educators no longer need to travel to far-flung areas to teach their lessons thanks to live streaming of their educational modules. Miners in the outback can rely on satellite phones to call their loved ones, and thus, help improve their general welfare by keeping them in touch with the people who mean the most to them. Costs are dramatically reduced in wireless communications because there is no longer any need to build expensive terrestrial infrastructure like fibre or cables.