Milsat News and Products of Note

Milsat News and Products of Note

Already, 2012 has distinguished itself as a year of severe storms, with record-breaking tornado outbreaks this past winter in the United States. With the hurricane season’s official start in June, first responders are preparing for the worst... last year’s biggest event, Hurricane Irene, caused more than $15 billion in damage and killed 49 people. Meteorologists predict fewer named storms, but those that do form will have a greater proximity to the U.S. coastline, making forecasting more difficult and reducing warning lead-times. This makes emergency alerts to the public all the more important.

The shifting global military agenda and challenging fiscal picture have signaled decreased procurement from many countries for peacekeeping purposes. However, agencies in the humanitarian assistance sector (the NGO community as well as vendors serving these customers) are seeing increased demand for commercial SATCOM services. Additionally, in recent years, the impetus to support operational requirements as well as fund poverty alleviation programs, over the long term, could lead to increased spending

Communications On The Move (COTM) allows for warfighters to receive timely communications anywhere, and at any time. COTM is critical to winning battles, protecting forces and supporting overall military operations. It helps warfighters achieve instant access to information in a mobile environment on the ground, at sea or in the air.

Each passing year brings advances in space systems and technologies, as well as new applications and services that rely on them. There is a natural evolution of capabilities as governments and companies push the boundaries of what is possible, seeking ways to improve the lives of their citizens or customers. A number of events in 2011 marked a period of transition during this long-term process of capacity-building, as some major programs ended while others started or expanded, often leveraging the knowledge and physical assets left behind by their predecessors.

Our nation’s and our allies’ armed forces and government agencies are highly dependent upon the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data beamed to them by various MILSATCOM satellites. Retasking flexibility, observation without detection, the delivery of near-instant communication and data, and critical reliance upon a satellite’s capabilties are just four reasons for the continuance of satellite build programs, with the end result being saved lives and operational successes.

These are extremely challenging times for employers who need to acquire top level talent as well as for those seeking a career change. Today, companies’ economics compel them to re-assess their talent needs in order to remain competitive and drive growth. The satellite communications industry is ripe with new opportunities. Employers are challenged with making a “great hire.” For the candidate, finding an opportunity can sometimes be a rather difficult proposition.

Growing up in a ranch family, I heard plenty of cowboy wisdom about “closing the gates after the horses have all run off.” So, I naturally tend to think about U.S. “protection” of space technologies in similar terms.

Two nanosatellites designed and built by NRL’s Naval Center for Space Technology were placed in orbit to evaluate nanosatellites as platforms for experimentation and technology development. They were launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on December 8, 2010, as secondary payloads on board a Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), Inc., Falcon 9 launch vehicle.