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Technology Stocks : Loral Space & Communications -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SirAlexx who wrote (2034)	2/22/1998 2:09:00 PM
From: Valueman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10852

OUCH! The Japanese Space industry takes a big hit(they are very real potential competitors to Loral): Tokyo - February 22, 1998 - National Space Development Agency of Japan President Isao Uchida expressed "shock, deep disappointment and sincere apologies" at a press conference at Tanegashima Space Center almost exactly three hours after a second stage engine failure on the H2 rocket wrecked Japan's latest satellite launch. The 6th launch of the H2 began perfectly as the first stage burn hoisted the 3.9 ton 44.2 billion yen Communications and Broadcasting Engineering Test Satellite (COMETS) through storm clouds into a 171 km orbit. The second stage LE-5A engine then fired correctly 6 minutes after launch with a 5 minute burn which raised the propelled the satellite into a 249 km orbit and coasting speed of 7.3 km/s. However failure occurred 23 minutes into the mission during the apogee raising second stage refire cut out 44 seconds into a planned 3 minute 12 second burn, stranding COMETS in an elliptic orbit with an apogee of 1,900 kilometers. "Getting to geostationary orbit is now impossible," Hiromi Hayashi, Associate Senior Vice President of NEC told Japan Space Net. NASDA will attempt to raise the satellite to as high an orbit as possible using COMETS apogee raising maneuvers, but as of Saturday night it was too early to tell what sort of orbit was attainable, according to NASDA's Eiji Sogame, director of the satellite development division. The second stage failure was a shocking event and both the Science and Technology Agency would seek to investigate the cause of the failure as soon as possible, STA minister Sarakazu Tanigaki told journalists. Tanigaki said that a special emergency meeting of the Space Activities Commission would be convened Sunday to begin what is likely to be a massive investigation into the cause of the failure. Sogame said that the cause was completely unknown, partly due to lack of telemetry data. Unluckily tracking and control systems had switched from NASDA to a tracking station on Christmas Island just before the failure. However, according to data so far analysed, both the engine appeared to be burning normal right up until the cut off. Sogame refused to speculate on what the cause might be. Early speculation could indicate some sort of electrical subsystem failure, but Sogame refused to confirm this. A very tired and strained looking Uchida admitted that the failure had came as a great shock, especially given the H2's and Japan's vaunted launch vehicle reliability. Uchida promised a full, thorough and speedy investigation. Uchida refused to speculate on the short and longer-term impact of the failure, which one NASDA official only half-jokingly characterized as "a disaster." In the short-term NASDA will not say whether the failure will delay the launches of MT-SAT and Adeos-2 due next August and possibly next December. However the failure is almost certain to have some impact on both launches if, as looks probable, NASDA will have to recheck LE-5A and LE-5B designs. In the immediate future, COMETS failure will certainly impact on the troubled ETS-7 mission, which will now be forced to use a NASA TDRS communications satellite. Sogame confirmed that payment for TDRS use will now be taken from COMETS' insurance. COMETS has been insured by a consortium of some 20 companies lead by Tokyo Fire for 1 billion yen ($8 million). Takashi Endo of NASDA's publicity department said that the disaster would not impact on Adeos-2's mission as the satellite could find alternative communications link satellites to conduct its earth observation duties.

To: SirAlexx who wrote (2034)	2/22/1998 2:18:00 PM
From: Valueman	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 10852

Here is a press release from Comstream--we should all keep up to date with these type of developments: ComStream and DiviCom to Collaborate On Multimedia Delivery for Satellite Broadcasters SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 19, 1998--ComStream, an international provider of digital transmission solutions for data, audio, and video applications, today announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with DiviCom Inc., a leading provider of digital multimedia networking solutions. Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly market ComStream's MediaCast(TM) PC/server receiver card, and DiviCom's DiviCast headend system. Used together, these products will enable satellite network operators to transmit data, audio and video at speeds of up to 45Mbps. This high-speed pipeline can transmit data files, web pages, new push and streaming video broadcasts, and other multimedia applications. Interoperability tests have been conducted to ensure a flexible, reliable end-to-end broadcast solution. ''Joining forces with DiviCom enables us to offer the marketplace an end-to-end, DVB-compliant solution for delivering multimedia applications,'' said Alex Robertson, General Manager for ComStream's Broadband Products division. ''More importantly, we've incorporated sophisticated technology advances that maximize bandwidth utilization and help operators minimize transmission costs.'' Robertson went on to note that both companies embrace open architecturer and industry standards including MPEG-2 and DVB, thereby ensuring a non-proprietary platform that will support future industry developments. ''The close technical collaboration between DiviCom and ComStream will ensure a powerful easy-to-use system with seamless integration,'' said Robertson. ''ComStream has long been recognized for their expertise in satellite receiver technology,'' said Tom Lookabaugh, President of DiviCom. ''By working together, we can simplify the sales process for the customer and facilitate integration of the equipment at their site.'' How the System Works The combined ComStream/DiviCom system allows satellite service providers and corporate customers to build private datacasting networks that deliver distance learning, streaming video, internet web pages, software and other large data files in either multicast (point to multipoint) or unicast (point to point) mode. The DiviCast system takes IP data from an ethernet network, and encapsulates it into an MPEG-2 transport stream at speeds of up to 15 MBps. The DiviCast software controller then routes the stream to a DiviCom multiplexer (if multiple services are being provided), and on through to the satellite modem and upconverter to the satellite. The DiviCast software also allows the operator to control the flow of information to receiver cards, and interface to subscriber management, billing, and scheduling systems. The satellite signal is then amplified and downconverted from the Ku-band RF frequency to L-band using a standard LNB. The MediaCast PC receiver card then demodulates and demultiplexes up to 32 data streams at a time and delivers the appropriate digital bit stream to the PCI bus of the computer. DiviCom develops and integrates products that make digital video networking possible. Products include audio/video encoding and decoding systems, and integration consulting and implementation services. Based on the MPEG-2, DVB and ATSC international standards, DiviCom's products enable digital video broadcasting over a variety of networks including satellite, wireless, fiber, and cable. DiviCom is a wholly owned subsidiary of C-Cube Microsystems Inc. (NASDAQ:CUBE - news), and both companies are based in Milpitas, Calif. C-Cube is the leading provider of digital video silicon solutions for the communications, consumer electronics and convergence markets. DiviCom can be reached by phone at 408/490-6700 or by fax at 408/490-6705. Website address: www.divi.com. ComStream is an international provider of digital transmission solutions for voice, data, audio, and video applications for the satellite industry. Products include satellite modems and earth stations, broadcast systems for private business and public networks, VSATs, and the MediaCast satellite PC/server receiver card. With offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Indonesia, China, Russia, and the United Kingdom, ComStream is a wholly owned subsidiary of Spar Aerospace Limited. Website address: www.comstream.com. Spar is a leading Canadian advanced technology company with businesses in the space, communications, aviation services, and software industries. It is listed on the Toronto and Montreal stock exchanges. Stock symbol: SPZ. Website address: www.spar.ca.