SpaceX CRS-1 Payload, Internet From Satellite

SpaceX CRS-1 is the third flight for the uncrewed Dragon cargo spacecraft, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, an American private space transportation company based in Hawthorne, California; a partially reusable spacecraft by Space X (also known as the Space Exploration Technologies Corporation).

It is the fourth overall flight for the company’s two-stage Falcon 9 launch vehicle, a rocket-powered spaceflight launch system. Aside from that, it is also the first Space X operational mission under their Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA, or the “National Aeronautics and Space Administration” (“NASA”), the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation’s civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research, for the delivery of cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) by commercial firms. The launch occurred on 7 October 2012 at 20:34 EDT (8 October 2012 at 00:34 UTC).

In May 2012, it was reported that the CRS-1 Falcon 9 had already been transported to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (“CCAFS”), an installation of the United States Air Force Space command’s 45th Space Wing, headquartered at the nearby Patrick Air Force Base. The CRS-1 Dragon later arrived on August 14, 2012. On August 31, 2012, a Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDH) was completed for the CRS-1 Falcon 9 to test out the systems of the rocket prior to spacecraft integration and launch, and on September 29, a static fire test was completed; both of these tests were completed without the Dragon capsule attached to the launch vehicle stack. The mission passed its Launch Readiness Review on October 5, 2012.   

When launched the CRS-1 Dragon will be filled with about 1,995 lb (905 kg) of cargo, 882 lb (400 kg) without packaging. Included is 260 lb (120 kg) of crew supplies, 390 lb (180 kg) of critical materials to support the 166 experiments onboard the station and 66 new experiments, as well as 232 lb (105 kg) of hardware for the station as well as other miscellaneous items.

The Dragon will return 1,995 lb (905 kg) of cargo, 1,673 lb (759 kg) without packaging. Included is 163 lb (74 kg) of crew supplies, 866 lb (393 kg) of scientific experiments and experiment hardware, 618 lb (235 kg) of space station hardware, 69 lb (31 kg) of spacesuit equipment, a garment worn to keep a human alive in the harsh environment of outer space, vacuum and temperature extremes, and 55 lb (25 kg) of miscellaneous items.

A 150 kg (330 lb) prototype second-generation Orbcomm satellite (“OG2”), intended to supplement and eventually replace the current first generation constellation, is planned to be launched as a secondary payload from Falcon 9’s second stage.  

See: Internet From Satellite for customers on remote locations 

Hughes to deliver three HughesNet Gen 4 Business Internet service plans

Hughes communications subsidiary for satellite broadband, Hughes Network Systems, is gearing up for the introduction of 3 satellite broadband plans tailored for businesses. The internet from satellite solution will deliver up to 15mbps speeds coupled with higher data allowances under three service plans: the Business 200 plan, the Business 300 plan, and the Business 400 plan. The price range for the services sit between $80 to $130.

According to Hughes Network Systems, the business internet service plans include business grade support, commercial installation, free anti-virus software for up to three computers, and of course, the HughesNet Express Repair Premium which comes free for the first year.

The Maryland-based company said that satellite technology will help enterprises with business operations in remote regions where access to broadband is limited via the terrestrial networks. With satellite broadband, small and medium-sized business will no longer have to rely on DSL connections or expensive options like T1 lines.

Blue Sky Satellite Communications to launch prepaid Internet from satellite

South-African satellite communications provider Blue Sky announced plans to launch an Internet from satellite service on a prepaid basis early next year. According to the company, the new service will primarily serve mining companies across the country.

According to Blue Sky CEO Pedro Camacho, offering a prepaid-based satellite internet service will be a first in the market, and aims to provide coverage to budget conscious mining companies. Prepaid satellite bandwidth will allow organizations in the resource industry to monitor their spendings.

One-fourth of Blue Sky’s revenue comes from the mining industry, as well as several oil and gas projects relying on satellite technology to deliver crucial communications to work sites. Satellite internet technology allows even the most remote mining sites to have email services, voice communications, and other messaging applications that improves operational efficiency.

Unfortunately, smaller mining companies are unable to benefit from the technology because of the cost. Blue Sky’s offering is looking to change all that. The prepaid internet from satellite allows monthly service fees to be more affordable. Mr. Camacho also said that the company offers on-site personnel to help maintain the communications equipment.

 

Options for internet access in remote communities still limited

Rural folks face a lot of problems connecting to the Internet despite the rise in technology. Many still rely on slow and unreliable DSL connection to access the world wide web. Despite plans from a few providers to extend services, many rural communities are still beyond the reach of wired-service, or in recent developments and trends, fibre networks.

 

Usually, residents in the said areas turn to satellite internet. Back then, the technology was considered a last resort due to the high-costs of getting satellite hardware and having a satellite dish installed. Usage limits were also pretty strict in the technology, and latency issues plagued the service, worsened only by radio or rain fade interference.

 

Satellite Communications trailer

The past years, however, have seen a rise in satellite internet service. Hughes Network has already penetrated the market while just recently, Dish Network announced its own broadband via satellite service aimed at rural communities. Companies like ViaSat are also looking to tap into the increased demand for the wireless technology, transitioning from a revenue mostly based on Government-satellite service, to high-speed internet solutions.

 

Recently, the rise of the ka band spectrum as a commercial opportunity has also contributed to more operated offering internet from satellite service. Ka band is said to be the logical successor to C-band and Ku band, both of which are already inevitably on the way to saturation. The latest spectrum will deliver more powerful capacity with the launch of equally powerful birds in the coming years.

 

However, it is important to note the fine print in many of today’s satellite internet services offered to rural clients. For example, Dish Network’s DishNet service requires you to bundle the broadband package with its TV packaged unless you want to shell out an additional $10. Plus, if you’re a new customer, hardware installation fees can also add up to another $10. Other conditions also limit the use of the allocated data cap to specific time periods only.

 

Other options for rural folks include broadband from cellular-data service but the technology too, fails to reach the remote countryside. The Federal Communications Commission is looking on a National Broadband Plan to deliver Internet access to the nearly 20 million American cut off from high-speed broadband connections.

 

Some plans include reclaiming no unused or underused TV channels to create more spectrum room for wireless data connection. But until any of these plans materialize, rural folks may just have to rely on satellite broadband and hope for improvements in the service, and the fine-print.

 

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Satellite plays a crucial role in broadband access in Sub-Saharan Africa

 

 

A recent report by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization or CTO in Africa revealed that 40% of the population in the Sub-Saharn region remain without broadband access. Most of these areas are beyond the reach of telecom providers and pose significant geographic challenges that make it difficult to build terrestrial fibre network.

 

The CTO’s report suggested the use of satellites to complement the terrestrial networks, and fill in the gaps in broadband projects. The cost of using VSAT systems to harness the power of satellites have gradually gone down over the years making internet from satellite more affordable, and thus, more practical.

 

Aside from the drop in cost, the emergence of more powerful birds using the Ka band spectrum also presents opportunities. Ka band satellites are the logical successors to the Ku band birds, and they provide higher-capacity that could mitigate the strain on older spectrums. Bandwidth-intensive applications can look into the service too, especially with the increase in smartphone users across the globe.

 

What the study by the CTO points out is how satellite communications has become crucial for the success of broadband projects being implemented in the African continent. Improved technologies have made it an ideal alternative that is suited to solve last mile coverage problems.

 

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