Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT_ZIP/spacedig/V16_9/V16NO888.ZIP/V16NO888

Text File | 1993-07-18 | 46KB | 1,078 lines

Space Digest                Sat, 17 Jul 93       Volume 16 : Issue 888

Today's Topics:
                        Data Broadcasting News
                       Hubble, Why the hurry?
                            Satnews 112-2

    Welcome to the Space Digest!!  Please send your messages to
    "[e-mail]", and (un)subscription requests of the form
    "Subscribe Space <your name>" to one of these addresses: listserv@uga
    (BITNET), rice::boyle (SPAN/NSInet), utadnx::utspan::rice::boyle
    (THENET), or [e-mail] (Internet).
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1993 15:06:15 +0000
From: Darren Ingram <[e-mail]>
Subject: Data Broadcasting News
Newsgroups: sci.space

*********************************************************
******************
                    DATA BROADCASTING NEWS

                  Edited by Darren P. Ingram

                        News in English
                   Issue number 30 - 28/06/93
                       Published Biweekly
                           ----------
Editorial contact: Darren Ingram
                   M2 Communications Limited
                   184 Brookside Avenue
                   Coventry CV5 8AD UK
                   Telephone: [phone]
                   Facsimile: [phone]
                   E-Mail   : [e-mail]
                           ----------
(C) Copyright 1992-3 M2 Communications, All rights
reserved
                           ----------
VW TO INSTALL 6000 SITE VSAT NETWORK
Volkswagen AG has signed a contract with Scientific
Atlanta for a 6000-plus site two-way VSAT network in
Europe, aimed at the motor conglomerate's dealer network.

SA is set to announce the contract's existence in the
near future and is presently remaining tight-lipped over
the whole affair.  Once the network is completed, it will
be the largest network of its kind in Europe, easily
shadowing the yet-to-be-launched AXA Equity and Law 3000+
terminal VSAT network (DBN passim).

VW is no stranger to the use of interactive VSAT services
as its North American offshoot has a 900 terminal network
provided by SA.  The company says that the decision to
install such a large two-way VSAT network was made
because it needed time-critical communications for its
dealers, and national PTTs could not guarantee the
availability and backup of a terrestrial network.
Logistically the operation of such a wide on-line
terrestrial network was also problematical.

Many network operators, who declined to be identified in
print, were shocked at the enormity of the network, but
hardware manufacturers are gleefully pointing out that
they will benefit from the increased awareness, and
business, that such large systems will bring.

Presently the largest two-way VSAT network operating in
Europe is a 150-site service for the Italian government's
department of social security.  Renault operates a 140-
site VSAT network for its French dealers and Daimler Benz
has a limited 20-site VSAT network.

LATIN VSAT NETWORK PLANS TAKE SHAPE
Three European aerospace companies are planning to build
a private VSAT network for South America which will be
used to carry video, data and voice telephony.

Deutsche Aerospace AG, Aerospatiale and Alenia have
signed a contract with the Argentine state-telecomms
company CNT.  CNT is overseeing the contract, which will
provide service in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.

The three European companies have set up a joint venture
company called Nahuelsat SA, based in Buenos Aires, which
will operate the service for a maximum of 24 years before
licences are terminated.  Financial terms have not been
disclosed, but one report suggests that up to US$200
million has been pledged by Deutsche Aerospace, with the
company failing to take a significant majority stake.

A new satellite will be built and launched, either by
Arianespace or General Dynamics, to rival the existing
telecommunications services operated within the four
target countries.

Network capacity will be sold onto interested companies
once the service is operational, and interim bandwidth
will be purchased and provided on Anik and Brasilsat 2B
satellites.

IDB OPENS UK C-BAND EARTH STATION
IDB Communications Group has formally commenced service
to its 11-metre C-band earth station in the United
Kingdom.  The station, located at Brookman's Park outside
London, is the first privately-owned C-band uplink in the
UK and the first IDB owned and operated facility outside
of the US.

The earth station will be utilised by IDB Worldcom, the
telecommunications arm of IDB, in cooperation with the
Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) to
operate StatCom, a voice and data communications service
linking the US and other European cities with the Russian
Federation and CIS countries.

A Russian Statsionar 5 satellite located at 53 degrees
east longitude will be used to host the service.
Customer premises equipment providing connectivity to the
network will comprise of integrated 3.8 and 4.5 metre C-
band earth stations.  StatCom has been running since May
1993 with a temporary 7 metre antenna.

IDB hopes that emerging and isolated businesses, such as
the oil and gas companies, will find the service a more
viable and cost-effective method of communications
compared to present-day alternatives, such as the
Inmarsat system.

Edward Cheramy, president of IDB, said: "The oil and gas
industry is expected to spend over US$20 billion in the
next decade, developing oil and gas fields in the Russian
Federation and the newly independent states.  It is
estimated that telecommunications expenditures will
surpass US$300 million during that time period.  IDB and
RSCC are well positioned to serve these major
telecommunications requirements."

* RSCC is a state enterprise of the Russian Federation
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

EC TO ADOPT COMMON APPROACH ON EARTH STATIONS
A recent meeting of the Telecommunications Council of the
European Community has passed a draft directive aimed at
creating a single market for satellite earth station
equipment.

If approved, the directive will assist the manufacturers
of satellite communications equipment achieve the
economies of scale necessary to compete effectively in
European and world markets.

The directive, COM(92)451, would extend the ruling of
directive 91/263/EEC on telecommunications terminal
equipment to include the harmonised certification and
testing of equipment and to guarantee the use of approved
satellite communications in all member countries.

"The development of satellite communication has been up
to now held back by the fragmentation of the Community
market, in contrast to the situation in the US where this
technology is more widespread," said an EC statement.

COMSTREAM INTRODUCES SCPC RECEIVERS
A new range of SCPC digital audio receivers has been
launched by Comstream Corp.

According to the company, the receivers feature
configurations that are tailored for two specific digital
audio market segments -- radio broadcasting and business
music.

Delivery of the units will commence in August, and they
will be priced below the ABR200 SCPC receiver, presently
Comstream's flagship product.  The ABR75 receiver,
designed for radio broadcasting reception, operates at a
single data rate of 128kbit/s, although users can specify
a rate of 64, 96, 192 or 256kbit/s alternatively at the
time of order.  The ABR75B is designed for use by
business music and includes circuitry permitting the
remote control (off/on) of the receiver's audio output.

All units are fully compatible with each other within one
network, and can be varied in accordance with local
operating needs.

TELETEXT JOURNAL TO BE LAUNCHED
William Overington, the researcher and scientist behind
the pioneering research into Telesontext, is planning to
launch The Journal of Teletext, Telesontext and
Telesoftware Research.

Overington hopes that the 24-page A5 newsletter will
appear every six weeks, and will address research by
broadcasters into teletext-related topics.

Selected advertising will be carried in the publication,
which is destined to be read by academics and corporate
research staff.  A library of telesoftware will be held
and maintained, being made available to broadcasters who
wish to carry telesoftware broadcasts or trials at a
later stage.

STANFORD GETS VSAT PROTOTYPE ACCEPTANCE
The ASOC and Custom Products division of Stanford
Telecommunications Inc. has received prototype acceptance
of VSAT equipment designed for use within wireless
communications applications.

The approved STEL-9236 receiver module has been produced
to provide a 'L-band to datastream' receiver board and
the first OEM contract has been signed by an unnamed
manufacturer for it to form part of a commercial
background music delivery service.  Orders for over 5000
units have already been received.

"The introduction of the receiver product opens up a
range of VSAT applications that require high-performance
satellite communications at aggressively low costs," said
Hatch Graham, vice president and general manager of
Stanford Telecom's ASIC and Custom Products division.

"We are pleased with the initial response to our VSAT
receiver product and believe our product offers state-of-
the-art performance, yet priced below US$1,000 offers an
attractive alternative for VSAT manufacturers."

GCI EXTENDS NA KU-BAND SATELLITE CONTRACT
General Communications International has signed a new
agreement with Hughes Communications Inc. to extend its
transponder lease aboard a Hughes Ku-band SBS 5 satellite
until the end of the satellite's lifetime, presently
estimated to be 1999.

GCI currently uses the transponder to provide end to end
data connectivity to customers in Alaska.  GCI's GCI
Network Systems subsidiary offers integrated
communications systems using private telephone lines,
VSATs and computer connections.

"We are very pleased that GCI has extended its lease
agreement on our SBS 5 satellite, which provides coverage
for customers in Alaska, Hawaii and the lower 48 states,"
said Carl Brown, vice president of Galaxy Satellite
Services for HCI.

And Brad Spees, director of marketing at GCI, says that
the satellite link is important because of the limited
terrestrial communications services available in Alaska.

"This system allows us to reach areas of Alaska where
communications might otherwise be non-existent, such as
oilfield drilling rigs, mine sites and logging camps.

AT&T MOVES INTO INDONESIA
AT&T Tridom is to provide Citra Sari Makmur, an
Indonesian network operator, with a VSAT network to
provide its customers with enhanced voice and data
services.

The first applications are likely to be for the financial
and oil industries.  Unrestricted build licences have
been granted by the Indonesian government to CSM
permitting the build of VSAT systems.

Under the terms of the contract, CSM is scheduled to buy
a AT&T Clearlink hub and 150 Clearlink System 400
terminals.  A Clearlink voice link module is also to be
provided for the service which will be hosted on the
Palapa B satellite.

"Indonesia is one of the fastest growing countries in the
world.  With a population exceeding one billion and a
geographic coverage extending over more than 13,000
islands, Indonesia is a prime candidate for satellite
communications," said Ray Robinson, chief executive
officer of AT&T Tridom.

NEWS IN BRIEF
Reports from India say that the Indian Department of
Telecommunications is planning to launch its own VSAT
network to counter a plan by Hughes Escorts
Communications, an Indian offshoot of General Motors.
Tenders have been requested from hardware vendors for
equipment compatible with the planned 200 terminal C-band
system. The DoT plans to use the Insat-1A satellite for
the service.

The Second European Space Agency Electronic Components
Conference was recently held at ESTEC in Noordwijk, the
Netherlands, and attended by over 300 specialists from 20
countries. The conference concluded that the market for
high reliability space components is rapidly changing,
that the complexity of electronic components used in
space programmes is increasing, that programmable
integrated circuits are needed in space programmes and
that the exchange of data and information regarding
components in space applications is necessary.

AlphaServ has won an order from British Rail's Network
South East region to supply a turnkey maintenance service
for its satellite information system.  The maintenance
will cover the pilot service introduced by BAeComm (with
the data section bought out by AlphaServ) in 1992.

Muzak has signed a multi-year contract worth US$2 million
with Antex Electronics Corp. for a new satellite
downloadable message system.  The digital system allows
the recording and playback of digitized audio messages
and schedules for use within retail shopping
organisations.

Word has it that AlphaServ has signed a contract for a
UK-wide satellite data broadcasting service. Details on
the client are presently unknown, but it is hoped that
further information will be in the next issue of DBN.
ICV sources suggest that it has placed an order with
AlphaServ for satellite hardware and services. ICV has
signed a contract with Maxat for satellite capacity and
services.

Hughes Network Services is reportedly planning a US$6
million deal which will see a VSAT network launched in
Russia using capacity from Ruduga in C-band.    Further
details are expected soon.

BT Visual & Broadcast Services has just concluded a major
training programme for over 200 staff on broadcast
services (VSAT, BTV and SSS). The core unit of sales
staff will act as an interface between BT's national
telecomms sales force, providing expertise and support as
required.

Hughes STX Satellite Mapping Technologies has signed a
contract with an unnamed energy exploration firm to
manage and provide a range of enhanced satellite
services. Details of the contract, worth US$1 million,
have been classed as confidential, but work duties will
include satellite sensing, archiving, distribution and
management.

Peter Martin has been appointed business manager of BT's
SatStar VSAT offering, while Andrew Joyce takes over the
reins as business manager for business television. BT is
presently looking at integrating BTV over a two-way VSAT
network.

The National Stock Exchange in India is looking at
launching a satellite communications network providing
the delivery of financial information to dealing rooms
and brokers through VSAT. A service would be launched
late in 1994, once specifications have been made.

CORRECTION: In the last issue of DBN under an article
entitled "Coventry Set to be teletext capital of world?"
a number of editing errors were made. The work into
Telesontext is being conducted by the Management Division
of the School of Engineering, and not the Business School
as stated.  Our apologies to Coventry University and
William Overington.

SPECIAL REPORT
Intelsat: The Reuters Connection to Latin America

Reuters has been using Intelsat's Intelnet service for
the past six years to speed news and information to over
500 small dish antennas throughout Latin America.
Operating 24 hours per day, the network pulls in and
distributes raw material for colour news pictures, news
reports and real-time financial in formation from the
world's major exchange markets.

Using the Intelsat 601 satellite at 332.5 degrees east
longitude, with a fractional transponder lease operated
between COMSAT in the U.S., EMBRATEL in Brazil and
Telintar in Argentina, the Reuters network delivers data
in real-time to areas as far south as Patagonia in
Argentina, and to as far north as the densely populated
suburbs of Mexico City.

"We were the first in the world to use Intelnet for
direct satellite delivery internationally," says Horacio
Pardo, Reuters technical manager for the project. "The
Intelnet service bounces signals from a single point at
Reuters technical centre on Long Island, New York to an
unlimited number of subscribers."

Reuters' VSAT network has been a key element in the
agency's business strategy for Latin America, providing
reliable, versatile and cost-efficient alternatives. The
network began operation in 1987 using 9.6 kbit/s of a 5
MHz segment on the hemispheric beam of the 332.5 degrees
east longitude satellite. Several months later, a 19.2
kbit/s carrier (9 MHz lease) was added. This capacity is
used to provide the Reuters SDS2 service, which carries
wire data providing stock quotes, cash market prices,
news coverage, futures quotations, weather, OPEC
reporting, energy statistics, and regional and
international market reports.

In 1992, Reuters further expanded the network with a 168
kbit/s carrier (18 MHz lease), which currently provides
the SDS3 service. SDS3 is a multiplexed service offering
stock market ticker and price quotes through a custom
financial monitoring software. This customized software
allows the user to set price limits on particular stocks
to alert the customer for buying and selling decisions.
SDS3 also provides a 1200 bit/s wire service, which can
interface to a computer or directly to an ASCII printer,
and a laser photo service for both black and white and
colour photograph delivery. The photo service is Reuters
first approach to a multi-media feed. Eventually, this
feed could include audio signals, television clips and
TIFF layout files, used for importing photographs and
other graphic images.

"The SDS3 market and news feeds are swept into 386 or 486
PCs that use Windows to sort and display information on a
real-time basis, cross-referencing to create graphics
showing market trends," says Enrique Jara, Reuters
manager for Latin America and the Caribbean. "The news
feeds can also be funnelled into client systems running
applications, including Lotus or Excel, for selective and
detailed analysis of those factors of interest to the
user." In parallel to the SDS services, which are receive
only systems, Reuters also began operation of two-way
service between four of its offices in Latin America and
the company's area headquarters in New York, using the
Intelsat satellite at 335.5 degrees east longitude.

Through COMSAT in the U.S. and CNT in Argentina, the
interactive service began in 1990 between New York and
Buenos Aires, and was the first international IBS
communications system operated interactively by a private
company in Argentina. Since that time, the service has
been expanded to include Reuters offices in Chile, Brazil
and Venezuela.

The 7-meter customer-premise terminals now carry
point-to-point wideband applications, such as connecting
Reuters Spanish Language Service's central editing desk
in Buenos Aires to the main System 55 host in New York.
The desk, which was put into operation in 1992, marked
the first time that a LAN had been used over a satellite
link to connect remote PCs with a System 55 central
editing system.

Reuters executives state that using the on-site terminals
has helped reduce in-house communications costs by
offering digitized voice and electronic mail circuits
between the two offices and providing a cost-effective
alternative for the delivery of digital pictures to
Reuters pictures desk.

"With both the SDS and the point-to point wideband
services, Reuters has met its business goals by providing
clients with quality service at reasonable cost. The
company has also benefitted by achieving economies of
scale in the management of its intensive use of
communications," Jara says. "Without Intelsat, much of
the region, particularly outside the major urban areas,
would be outside the flow of information and data that is
so sorely needed for doing business."

* This article originally appeared in Intelsat News, the
house magazine of the International Satellite
Organisation.

----------------------------------------------------------------
DBN is published biweekly by M2 Communications Limited and is (C) copyright
with all rights reserved. The NON-SUBSCRIBER VERSION is a limited, delayed
subset of the printed subscription version. To subscribe to the printed
version, please contact M2 Communications Limited at 184  Brookside Avenue,
Coventry CV5 8AD, UK.  Subscription rates are 300 (UK/EUR), 350 (North
America) and 400 (rest of the world). Discounts available for non-
corporate subscribers, with subscriptions starting at 50. Further
discounts for delivery of DBN b electronic mail are available.

Articles and contributions are welcome.  Weekly deadline 1800 GMT Wednesday
prior to publication.  All articles submitted remain the property and
rights of the publisher unless agreed otherwise, and may be edited for
clarity, brevity etc.  The views of contributors do not necessarily
represent the views and opinions of DBN, M2 Communications or its staff.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1993 16:05:50 +0000
From: "David M. Swain" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Hubble, Why the hurry?
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:

>In article <[e-mail]>, masticol@scr (Steve Masticola) writes:
>>Hubble is running on only one gyro; two (maybe three?) others have
>>failed. If the last gyro fails, it loses attitude control and starts
>>to tumble. It'd then be unserviceable, as well as useless for
>>observation. I'd think NASA would want to put in new gyros before that
>>happens.
>
>It's not that bad.  First, I don't think something that massive would start
>tumbling -- where would the force come from?  The danger is that science
   [ stuff deleted ]
>--
>Chris Jones    [e-mail]
>

I think there are two places the force would come from, firstly there will
be the solar radiation pressure on the satellite combined with the residual
atmosphere that could cause the HST to start to rotate.

Secondly there are electrical torques caused by the satellite passing
through the Earth's magnetic field lines. The evidence for this is the
tumbling of upper stages whose tumbling rates vary due to just these forces.

--
David M. Swain                      |   "Once is happenstance,                "
23 Partridge Way                    |   "Twice is circumstance,               "
Cirencester, Glos                   |   "But the third time it's enemy action "
England, [phone]          |
Internet: [e-mail] |   James Bond, 007

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 16 Jul 1993 15:06:06 +0000
From: Darren Ingram <[e-mail]>
Subject: Satnews 112-2
Newsgroups: sci.space

FCC GIVEN CABLE REGULATION FUNDS
After moaning, screaming and complaining, the US Federal
Communications Commission has been given US$11.5 million more
to enforce the new, and somewhat controversial, cable television
legislation.

President Clinton bowed to FCC complaints that it would need to
take on more staff to enforce the law affecting the nation's 10,000
cable television operators and 57 million subscribers.  Congress
stipulated that the FCC must begin enforcement immediately and
start the 'rate relief' rule which can see cable prices fall in
September.

Even though the FCC has been given the money it required, it has
yet to retain a plethora of lawyers, accountants and administrators
required for the cumbersome task.

Whatever happens, it is unlikely that the majority of cable
television subscribers will even note a drop in rates until the first
quarter of 1994 at the earliest. Cable television operators can
mandatorily appeal against FCC rulings, which in turn have to be
initiated by viewers and local certification agencies.

The National Cable Television Association previously threatened
that each of its 10,000 operator members would seek a full appeal,
causing massive disruption in the process.

TAIWAN AND CHINA TO LAUNCH SATELLITES
According to a report carried by the Taiwanese Central News
Agency, Taiwan and China are to form a joint company, based in
Hong Kong, to launch two communications satellites by the end of
1995.

The newly-formed Chinese Engineering Development Trust would
participate in the Asiasat satellite consortium with US$20 million
funding.

Satellites will be purchased from GE in the US and launched at the
Xichange Space Centre, Sichuan province, south-west China.

Taiwan's own National Space Programme is looking for a foreign
partner to develop its own satellite, a 400kg research satellite set to
be launched by 1998.

MCM DISAPPEARS OFF TDF SATELLITE
Radio Monte Carlo's MCM Euromusique service has disappeared off
the TDF 1 satellite, much to the surprise and chagrin of viewers.
One of its largest audiences was in the UK, where viewers were
tuning in using obsolete converted British Satellite Broadcasting
receiving apparatus.

Details on the disappearance are scarce, and MCM was not
answering its telephone when contacted.  It is believed that its
transponder was up for renewal and price negotiations over the cost
broke down with MCM being unable to pay the required rate.
Relatively poor takeup of the service was also cited as a
contributory factor.

Some sources suggest that if MCM returns it will encrypt its
transmissions at a later stage.  The audio subcarriers are
continuing to transmit RFI and RF Hector, with the vision caption
saying that MCM is temporary absent from the transponder!

EUROSPORT GOES DIM ON SWEDISH SCREENS
Eurosport, the pan-European sports television network, has came
off the air of Sweden's largest cable network following a dispute
with owners Swedish Telecom, reports Sweden Calling DXers and
PAA TV.

Eurosport has advised Swedish Telecom that it was withdrawing
rebroadcast rights for its cable network because ST would not pay a
licence fee to carry the service even though ST was expected to offer
it as a free channel to viewers.  Eurosport is broadcast in the clear
on the Astra satellite.

A special Nordic version of Eurosport will be broadcast on the Thor
satellite from September, and this will be encrypted, but many
Nordic citizens are expected to forgo the Nordic commentary and
watch it free from the Astra satellite.

Nobody from Eurosport would comment when contacted by Satnews.

COUNTDOWN TO SHUTTLE LAUNCH
At the time of going to press the countdown for the Space Shuttle
Discovery launch last Saturday was without any hitches.

The 57th mission carrying a five-man crew is set to feature a
spacewalk training exercise to test equipment needed for the
Hubble Space Telescope repair mission scheduled for December.

The shuttle is carrying an Advanced Communications Technology
Satellite, worth around US$363 million, to pioneer the next
generation of communications satellite.  Over the next two years the
satellite will conduct 69 experiments including high definition
television, microbiology, telebotic operation and astronomical tests.

A US$57 million science pallet containing a pair of ultraviolet
telescopes will also be deployed for a six-day observation.  The
pallet will be placed into space and retrieved at the end of the
flight.

RUSSIA TO SELL "ROCKET" ENGINES TO INDIA
Despite strong protests by the US government, Russia has agreed to
honour a contract and sell rocket engines and technology to India
for use within satellite communications satellites.

Officials at the US State Department are concerned that the sale
would encourage the spread of ballistic missile technology,
especially as India and Pakistan are enemies.

Sources say that the US$350 million contract, payable in hard
currency, is to irresistible to the cash-strapped Russians.
Throughout the debacle the Indian government has continually
stressed that the rocket engines would be used for communications satellites.

Two cryogenic engines ordered through a 1991 contract are slated to
be delivered by the end of 1995.

President Bill Clinton and President Boris Yeltsin discussed the
sale of rocket technology while at a recent economic summit in
Tokyo.  The US is trying to exert pressure on Russia over the sale
of rocket and military equipment, but cash-strapped Russia is facing
tremendous internal pressures and requires all the money it can
get.

CASIO DEVELOPS WATCH REMOTE CONTROL
Engineers at Casio in Japan have developed a wrist watch with a
built-in remote control unit.  The CMD-10 device will be available
from 17 August at around US$85.

The remote control can be programmed to act like a universal
remote control, and it will remove in an instance the problems of
losing the numerous remote control devices that are now
compulsory on television, video and audio apparatus.

Casio expect over 100,000 devices to be shipped monthly, and it is
presently gearing up for major export orders.  Apart from the
remote control facilities, the watch will contain the usual wide
range of time and date-keeping functions.

A number of buttons on the watch will turn TV and VCR power off,
alter volume, fast forward and rewind tape, record and play.  It will
also change the channels on television sets.  Many other buttons
can be programmed dependent on the users requirements.

NEWS IN BRIEF
Ten Japanese and European electronics companies have worked
together to formulate a proposed international digital video cassette
recorder format. An association or alliance is expected to be formed.
The players -- Matushita Electronics, Sony, Philips, Thomson,
Hitachi, Toshiba, JVC, Sanyo, Mitsubishi and Sharp -- claim that
the digital VCR will use a tape half the size of a conventional VHS
unit with greater resolution than previous units.  Prices and
agreements have yet to be formed.

Scientists in India have reportedly managed to improve the image
location accuracy of the IRS-1B remote imaging satellite by 1km.
The improved level of accuracy allows greater examination of
captured satellite data, as well as providing enhanced capturing and
analysis options for Indian scientists.

Magnetech Corp. has signed a contract with Live Entertainment
Network Systems (LENS) to provide uplink services to the channel
in South America.  LENS is also set to launch a service in Spain,
and Magnetech has been given the first option to provide the
transatlantic uplink service.  Magnetech is a major supplier of
uplink service to North American broadcasters including ABC, CNN
and ESPN.

Korean Broadcasting System has signed a cooperation agreement
with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, covering the
exchange of news and co-production of programmes.  A KBS
spokesman said that it was the first time that any broadcasting
cooperation had existed between firms of the two countries, and that
they both had great hopes of successes in the future.

Reed Exhibitions in the UK have announced that Cable & Satellite
'94 will be situated in a larger hall at London Olympia.  A number
of new features are to be added including integral workshops and
seminars. Over 200 exhibitors and 8000 visitors attended the event
in 1993, and already 50 percent of the stand space has been booked
by the exhibiting companies.

According to figures released by the UK Broadcasting Standards
Council, complaints about taste and decency rose by one percent
compared to the previous year (49%) while complaints about sex fell
one percent (23%).  Complaints about violence and violence rose
11% to 19% at the same time.

The European Space Agency's Eureca reusable satellite has landed
back on earth with the Space Shuttle.  After nearly 11 months in
orbit the satellite has conducted many microgravity experiments
and has outperformed the original expectations of ESA engineers.

MTV will see the 10th anniversary of its MTV Video Music Awards
on 3 September.  The awards will be held at the Universal
Amphitheater in Los Angeles. Special categories have been
introduced for Europe with the European viewers' choice award.

Edouard Balladur, the French prime minister, said that European
countries should make an effort to cooperate on space projects as
progress in technology was a way to assert themselves on the world
stage.  Balladur spoke at the finalisation of contracts between ESA
and NPO Energia (see separate story) last week.

The US National Weather Service and Department of Defense are
combining images from their satellites to monitor the floods
currently hitting the Midwest of the US.  According to the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) this is a prime
example of civilian-military partnerships in action.

DirecTV Inc. has signed an agreement with Universal Pay
Television/Universal Pictures giving it the right to provide
Universal with current release films and events for a pay-per-view
service on the yet-to-be-launched 150-channel DBS service.

The ESA's ERS-1 satellite captured the Landers Earthquake in
California during 1992 it has been announced. By using radar data
it was able to measure with hugh precision the slip of the Earth's
surface, said an article in Nature magazine, published in the UK.

Turner Broadcasting Systems has confirmed a 17 September launch
for TNT and Cartoon Network to launch on Astra 1C, transponder
37.

Pace Micro Technology has appointed Madrid, Spain-based A-Z
Productos SL as its exclusive Spanish distributor for satellite
television products. The company is Spain's leading satellite
television distribution company and Pace hopes to increase its share
of the market as a result of the agreement.

Filmnet has been taken off Sweden's second largest cable channel
Kabelvision service because it was felt that its monthly charges
were too high for subscribers.  TV1000 has been offered as a
replacement.

A television programming advisory committee in Singapore is
considering recommendations that the US TV series Beverly Hills
90210 not be broadcast by the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation
because the series may transmit the wrong impression to
Singapore's youngsters.

BET Holdings and its subsidiary Black Entertainment Television
has acquired an 80 percent interest in Avalon Pictures Inc., owner
of Action pay-per-view, a national satellite pay-per-view channel
based in Santa Monica, US.

Satnews bids a fond farewell to Odelle Smith from Maxat. Smith
handled Maxat's PR and marketing activities, and she kept agencies
under an iron fist. Good luck with your move back to New Zealand.

Videotron has reported a net profit of C$22.1 million for the nine
months to 31 May 1993, an increase of 91 percent over the previous
year, for its Canadian company.  Videotron is Canada's second
largest cable TV operator and a formidable player in the UK cable
TV industry.

Several journalists have been shot and attacked while covering the
fighting in Mogadishu.  Reuters Television cameraman Mohammed
Shaffi was shot twice when he tried to visit the scene of a US
helicopter gunship attack but fortunately he survived. Reuters
photographer Dan Eldon was beaten to death and a Reuters
photographer and sound recordist are missing along with a German
Associated Press photographer.  Other news personnel in the area
have gone missing, say press reports.

Showtime Networks Inc., a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. and Tristar
Pictures Inc. have entered into a five year agreement whereby SNI
has the exclusive premium television rights to Tristar feature films.
Showtime operates three US premium television networks --
Showtime, The Movie Channel and Flix -- as well as SET Pay Per
View, Showtime Satellite Networks and through another joint
venture All News Channel.

Production work has now started at Pace Micro Technology's new 5
million satellite receiver factory in Saltaire, West Yorkshire. Work
on the premises started only four months ago and an initial run of
3,000 satellite TV receivers has already been produced three weeks
ahead of schedule.  During July a night shift will be introduced, and
in August a second production line will be opened.

Preparations for the death of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in
the UK carried on recently with ITN trying a live outside broadcast
link with members of the crew posing as famous people talking
about a Mrs Robinson who died after a great and gracious career.
Throughout the broadcast the crew had to hold a paper sign reading
"rehearsal".

A failure in the Redundant Crystal Oscillator aboard the NOAA-I
satellite has forced a postponement of its launch from 13 July. It
has now been rescheduled to launch on 21 July say NASA.  The
oscillator is a timing device that regulates activities aboard the
spacecraft.  At the time of going to press no further delays have
been reported.

The Assembly Education Committee in California, US has approved
a measure that will ban public schools from airing television
programs that feature commercials, expressly hitting Whittle
Communications' controversial Channel One 12-minute daily
current affairs programme that includes two minutes of advertising.

MTV has launched a marketing kit for cable television companies in
a bid to increase its brand awareness and gain additional viewers
for its range of services throughout Europe. The kit includes
profiles, merchandise, product information and sales guides.

Eutelsat has produced its 1992 annual report in printed form, and
copies are available from the organisation.

A BBC TV and radio crew has been show at with automatic
weapons while covering violence in a black South African township
on 5 July. The crew escaped unhurt.

Bravo in the UK is rescheduling its transmission times from 12
noon to 12 midnight daily, and the channel is being repositioned as
a niche entertainment channel focusing on young, upmarket adults.
Following extensive research the new programming strategy is to
cater for adults aged 20-44.

Ariane flight 58 carrying Hispasat 1B ad Insat 2B is expected to
take place on 22 July at 2247GMT. At the time of going to press
there were no known problems with the Ariane 44L launcher.

Private television and radio stations will now be able to open in
Turkey, following a parliament approval of a constitutional
amendment. State-run company TRT has faced stiff competition
from Turkish channels beamed in by satellite from outside the
country.

Trimble Navigation, PenStuff and GO and joined forces with AT&T
and IBM to make it easier for software developers to integrate
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology into their PenPoint
applications (hand/pen-based computer systems).

US cable television operator Nostalgia Network Inc. says that
Excellerated Learning Institute has made it a buyout offer worth at
least US$21.5 million.

William Geist has been appointed as vice president, information
technology and services at Scientific Atlanta. He joins from
Reichbold Chemicals, and takes his appointment on 21 July.

Telesat Mobile has been taken over by BCE, Canada's largest
company and parent of Northern Telecom, after falling into
bankruptcy during April.

MTV Europe has now moved to its new headquarters at Hawley
Crescent, London NW1 8TT. Telephone: [phone] Fax: +44
71 284 7788

NORTH AMERICAN SIGHTINGS
by Robert Smathers

It has been a real quiet two weeks in the North American  satellite
sky, but activity is expected to pick up in the second  half of July
and into August.

The CTVN (Commodities Television Network) has launched on
Galaxy  3/13.  CTVN is a place where one can buy or sell things.
Rates  are US$15/line/hour.  So far, only an introduction slate has
been  up.  CTVN has also occasionally pulled themselves off of
G3/13  and let other uplinkers uplink infomercials.  The infomercial
I  caught there last week dealt with DBS.  United DBS had their
"Your Future in the DBS Industry" infomercial for dealers on July
8.

Galaxy 4 update:  There have been test transmissions on Galaxy 4.
Galaxy 4 has been testing at 89.5 degrees west and later in July  it
will drift to its operating orbital slot at 99 degrees West. I  had
problems telling what signals were tests from Galaxy 4 --  Galaxy 4
is right between Spacenet 3R and Galaxy 7 while in the  testing
phase.  Consumer dishes have a tough time with spacing  this close
-- co-satellite interference dashed my hopes of  thinking I saw a
Galaxy 4 test signal.  I did, however, find the  Galaxy 4 beacon so I
had no problems finding the actual position  of Galaxy 4.

Paul Johnson in New Mexico reported on Usenet that he  saw
Galaxy 4 Ku-band testing.  That is the only report I've had  of
Hughes Communications testing the Ku part of the satellite.  All of
the other reports and attempted observations have happened  with
the C-band part of Galaxy 4.

The major networks in the United States fed coverage of the Tokyo
Economic Summary to America using some of the western North
American domestic satellites.  NBC had backhauls on Satcom C1,
ABC had backhauls on Telstar 303/17, CBS had backhauls on
Telstar  303/19, and CNN had backhauls on Telstar 301/sometimes
2 and  sometimes 15.  I wasn't sure which feed on T303 had FOX's
coverage.

SATELLITE TV EVENT OF THE WEEK -- By far, the event of this
week  was the flooding in the midwestern United States.  There
were no  "Special Report" type of local news feeds, but there were
newsfeeds and live satellite uplink coverage that I observed on
Telstar 301, Telstar 302, Telstar 303, Galaxy 7, Galaxy 6, SBS6,
GSTARs 1, 2, and 4, Satcom K2, and SBS5.  The network news
shows  heavily covered the flooding, especially putting their major
news  anchors in the field to cover the story.  It appeared most of
the  uplinks and coverage occurred in the states of Iowa and
Missouri.

DIARY

18-23 July
Satellite Communications Systems
Surrey, UK
Tel: [phone]

19-23 July
New Broadcast Standards & Systems
Warwick, UK
Tel: [phone]

20-25 August
Teleteaching '93 (including distance learning)
Trondheim, Norway
Tel: [phone]

27 August-5 September
Internationale Funkausstellung
Berlin, Germany
Tel: [phone]

14 September
Cable Communications
London, UK
Tel: [phone]

16-20 September
Live '93
Olympia, London, UK
Tel: [phone]

28-29 September
Broadcastech Asia '93
Singapore
Tel: [phone]

29-30 September
UK Telecommunications Policy
London, UK
Tel: [phone]

5-7 October
Vision '93
Olympia, London, UK
Tel: [phone]

12-14 October
Inmarsat Second International Mobile Satellite Communications
Conference:
Paris, France
Tel: [phone]

14-15 October
Cable and Satellite in Education '93
Blackburn, UK
Tel: [phone]

27-29 October
Home Satellite TV Asia
Phuket, Thailand
Tel: [phone]

29-31 October
Broadcast India 93
Bombay, India
Tel: [phone]

29-30 November
A Charter for Public Broadcasting (EBU)
Brussels, Belgium
Tel: [phone]

7-8 December
10th European Satellite Communications Conference
London, UK
Tel: [phone]

1994

16-20 January
16th Annual Pacific Telecommunications Conference
Honolulu, Hawaii
Tel: [phone]

8-10 February
Integrated Communications 94
TBA
Tel: [phone]

15-17 February
Smart Card 94
TBA
Tel: [phone]


Cable & Satellite 94
Olympia, London
Tel: [phone]

Companies are requested to fax information about forthcoming
events to "Diary" on [phone] or through mail in good time
for publication. There is no charge for this facility. Entries used as
space permits.


-----------------------------------------------------
SATNEWS is published biweekly by M2 Communications
Limited and is (C) copyright with all rights
reserved. This electronic version is a based on the
printed subscription version. To subscribe to the
printed version, please contact M2 Communications
Limited at Reptile House, 2nd Floor, 20 Heathfield
Road, Coventry CV5 8BT UK.  Subscription inquiries:
tel. [phone], fax. [phone].
Subscription rates are 200 (UK/EUR), 250 (North
America) and 300 (rest of the world). Discounts
available for non-corporate subscribers, with
subscriptions starting at 50. Further discounts for
delivery of Satnews by electronic mail are available.

This electronic subset of SATNEWS can be received
directly to Internet-compatible mailboxes by sending
a message to [e-mail] with the
first line of the message reading "subscribe satnews
your_name".  To be removed from the mailing list,
spend a message to the same address with the first
line of the message reading "unsubscribe satnews"

Articles and contributions are welcome.  Weekly
deadline 1800 GMT Wednesday  prior to publication.
All articles submitted remain the property and
rights of the publisher unless agreed otherwise, and
may be edited for clarity, brevity etc.  The views of
contributors do not necessarily represent the views
and opinions of Satnews, M2 Communications or its
staff.

We welcome feedback from readers, tips of news and of
course corporate articles.
-------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

End of Space Digest Volume 16 : Issue 888