Forecast International

Spacecraft, Launch Vehicles & Satellites

AIRBUS WINS DARPA CONTRACT TO DEVELOP BUS FOR BLACKJACK PROGRAM
Monday, January 14, 2019

Source: OneWeb

HERNDON, Va. -- Airbus Defense and Space Inc. has been awarded a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop a satellite bus in support of the Blackjack program. DARPA describes the Blackjack program as an architecture demonstration intending to show the military utility of global low-earth orbit constellations and mesh networks of lower size, weight and cost. DARPA wants to buy commercial satellite buses and pair them with military sensors and payloads. The bus drives each satellite by generating power, controlling attitude, providing propulsion, transmitting spacecraft telemetry, and providing general payload accommodation including mounting locations for the military sensors. This contract positions Airbus Defense and Space, Inc., of Herndon, Va., and its strategic joint venture partner, OneWeb Satellites, of Exploration Park, Fl., as the ideal service providers for Blackjack. High production rates and design-to-cost management techniques enable OneWeb Satellites to offer low cost constellation solutions for the U.S. government and current customers. Constellations of inexpensive satellites permit wide scale disaggregated architectures enhancing survivability across many different mission areas. OneWeb Satellites is pioneering new value propositions in space. They are leading the design and manufacturing of ultra-high performing satellites at high-volumes. OneWeb Satellites brings to bear capabilities which dramatically lower the cost and shorten acquisition timelines for customers thanks to a modular design and agile serial production of satellites. The OneWeb Satellites satellite manufacturing facility in Florida is the latest step in Airbus’ continued and long-standing commitment to growth in U.S. manufacturing, job creation and investment. This facility, which will ultimately support thousands of jobs and follows the opening of our U.S. Manufacturing Facility for A320 aircraft in Mobile, Alabama, from which we delivered our first aircraft in 2016. An A220 assembly line on the same site in Alabama will break ground in January of 2019. With our extensive network of U.S. suppliers, Airbus is the largest consumer of U.S. aerospace and defense goods in the world - buying more than any other company or even country. Airbus invested $16.5 billion with U.S. companies in 2017, supporting 275,000 American jobs.

Source: Airbus
Associated URL: www.airbus.com
Source Date: January 14, 2019
Posted: 01/15/2019

IRANIAN SATELLITE FAILS TO REACH ORBIT
Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Source: CIA

TEHRAN -- The Iranian satellite Payam has failed to reach orbit in a launch on January 15, 2019. According to Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad, the satellite did not reach the necessary speed in the third stage of launch. The first and second stages reportedly functioned properly.

The Payam, or "message" in Farsi, was an imagery satellite. There is another satellite, Doosti, waiting for launch; however, it is unclear as to its mission. Whether the Payam failure will have any effect on the Doosti launch remains to be seen.

The United States opposes such launches as the rockets used in the launch could aid development of a ballistic missile, which is a violation of international agreements.

Source: The Associated Press
Associated URL: www.apnews.com
Source Date: January 15, 2019
Posted: 01/15/2019

KONNECT AFRICA TO CONQUER THE IVORIAN MARKET FOR HIGH-SPEED SATELLITE INTERNET ACCESS
Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Source: Airbus/SSTL

PARIS -- Konnect Africa, an initiative of the satellite operator Eutelsat dedicated to satellite broadband on the African continent, announced the launch of its Internet access offers in Côte d'Ivoire.

According to the Telecommunications Sector Observatory of the Telecommunications Regulator/ICT of Côte d'Ivoire (ARTCI), the number of fixed Internet subscribers (Ethernet cable, wifi and fibre) in Côte d'Ivoire stood at 155,541 in the second quarter of 2018, representing 0.6% of the total population.

At the same time, according to Deloitte's TMT 2017 report, the country has 9 million mobile Internet subscriptions, notably thanks to the 4G network. Some areas of Ivorian territory, however, are not properly served by mobile technology.

Thanks to the latest satellite technologies, Konnect Africa is now helping to bridge the digital divide in Côte d'Ivoire by offering its broadband Internet offers to individuals and professionals, particularly outside major cities, where no reliable broadband solution is available. The Konnect range includes eight Internet access offers, ranging from 5GB to 30GB of data for Konnect Home residential offers, costing from 9,000 to 35,000 CFAF and adapting to all needs. Konnect Pro offers which provide superior performance corresponding to the expectations of professionals, offer between 50 and 500GB of data and are marketed from 58,000 CFAF.

These offers will be made available on a prepaid basis in order to meet the needs of the Ivorian market. The speeds offered will be up to 20 Mbit/s downstream and up to 3 Mbit/s upstream. For the launch, Konnect Africa is also setting up a promotion on this new range.

In order to make its services accessible to as many people as possible, Konnect Africa has joined forces with local partners in several major cities in Côte d'Ivoire, but also in remote areas: Lifi-Led, Watec, Open Services, HubLive and Ecosat. Specialized in the telecom and technology sector, education, money transfers or audiovisual, these companies with various professions will enable Konnect Africa to address its future customers as closely as possible to their consumer habits.

Konnect Africa is targeting rural areas in particular by offering an adapted and lightweight solution called Konnect wifi, which provides shared Internet access through a single point of reception. Konnect wifi will provide Internet access at points of traffic such as shops, villages, schools, farms, hospitals, etc. in rural areas. Access to the service will be through the purchasing of recharge vouchers, valid from a few hours up to 1 month. Currently undergoing the final testing phases, Konnect wifi will be available soon.

Source: Eutelsat
Associated URL: news.eutelsat.com
Source Date: January 15, 2019
Posted: 01/15/2019

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