Search results
Leading Satellite Industry CEOs & Top Execs to Gather in Paris for World Satellite Business Week
Countering the prolonged economic slump affecting most of the world, top executives of the global satellite communications industry will be looking back at another year of steady growth and profits as they gather in Paris September 6-10 for World Satellite Business Week.
The week-long meeting, viewed as a must-attend event for the satellite industry’s CEOs and other leaders, draws over 500 top executive delegates from 40 countries. The main event, the World Summit for Satellite Financing, is now in its 14thyear, while the Symposium on Earth Observation Business is entering its 2ndyear. The conference is produced by Euroconsult, the leading international research and analyst firm specializing in the satellite sector.
The multi-billion dollar satellite industry is made up of companies that build, launch, and operate satellites vital to the global networks used by broadcast companies, telecommunications networks, defense and security agencies, Earth observation firms and a wide range of service provider companies. Over the course of the week-long conference, top executives from these companies will share insights and opinions on where the industry may be headed for the coming year and what opportunities may lay ahead for firms that can secure financing for major new projects and expansions. CEOs and business leaders from companies such as SES, Intelsat, Eutelsat, Telesat, Inmarsat, AsiaSat, RSCC, Iridium, HNS, Viasat, O3B Networks, Lockheed Martin, EADS Astrium, Arianespace, Société Générale, Morgan Stanley and Coface will be represented at the World Summit for Satellite Financing.
Despite the global economic downturn that began in late 2007, the satellite sector has continued to post a strong performance; with steady growth in most industry segments (see Table 1 below). Digital broadcasting and broadband satellite communications for a variety of uses continue to require increasing transponder capacity, driving growth in the years to come. New satellite projects from emerging regional operators and space countries continue to boost transponder supply and demand, with a record of 30 commercial GEO comsats ordered in 2009 and still solid prospects for 2010. Government demand for commercial satellite communications, driven by the conflict in Afghanistan, has reached record levels, as have security agency and environmental requirements for satellite imagery with government demand for commercial data projected to reach $2.6 billion by 2019, up from only $735 million in 2009.
Entering its second year, the Symposium on Earth Observation Business will examine the factors driving growth in this rapidly-expanding sector. Euroconsult forecasts that overall procurement of commercial satellite Earth observation (EO) data will reach over $4 billion by 2019. This forum will feature top-level speakers from DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Astrium Services, Ball Aerospace, Google Total, NOAA, Eumetsat, NGA, the UK MoD among others, discussing their business models and providing insight into the opportunities they see in the Earth observation industry.
GSLV-D3, PSLV-16 Will Be Launched By SRO In Two Months
Thiruvananthapuram The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has finally planned to launch its Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle – GSLV D3 and its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV – 16) by March 2010.
The launch of GSLV- D3 was earlier scheduled for December 2009 and later postponed for launch in January 2009. The launch of PSLV – 16 was planned prior to that of GSLV- D3.
The director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre-SHAR, MC Dathan informed: “The launch of GSLV – D3 was delayed as we are reviewing the indigenous cryogenic stage. The GSLV-D3 will be powered by an indigenous cryogenic stage built for the first time by the Indian Space Research Organisation. It will put in orbit a communication satellite, GSAT-4.”
He said that the PSLV – 16 will also be launched in March to put in orbit Cartosat-2B; Alsat, a small satellite from Algeria; two nano-satellites from the University of Toronto, and another nano-satellite, Studsat (Students’ satellite), built by several Indian universities.
Dathan, who is participating in the 97th Indian Science Congress at Thiruvananthapuram informed: “In January, this year we will do the ground testing of the biggest solid booster for GSLV Maitri which is scheduled to be launched in 2011. ISRO also has a programme to use reusable launch vessel to carry hygrogen to produce water in combination of oxygen extracted from the atmosphere. As we would not carry water this would help us to reduce the weight of vessel at the take off stage.” He informed that ISRO was exploring the possibility of using kerosene as a fuel option.
The CMD of the Cochin International Airport Ltd, Dr CG Krishnadas Nair informed that India would soon make a headway in the areospace industry by producing a light helicopter which would fly at a level of 6 km. He urged the government for a proactive aeronautic policy and setting up of adequate institutes for aeronautic study.
The former Chairman of ISRO, Prof. U R Rao said “the next 50 years of space activities would be spectacular. There are nine challenges which are food security, energy security, environmental security, resource security, space security, space transportation, search for life, exploration of the universe and colonisation of Mars. The space scientists would have to bear this responsibility. Space technology should play the role in helping agriculture and food production. It can be used for better meteorological forecasting and give advance warning of any natural disaster.”
He stressed the importance of energy security for industrial expansion, agriculture and infrastructure growth. He explained with figures that per capita energy usage of India is far lower than many other developed and developing nations. Space technology can play a significant role in coping with India’s energy deficit by better utilisation of energy resources. He added that space technology can help in the learning of the effects of global warming, carbon dioxide emission
He envisaged a “Vision for Space Exploration”, which includes Chandrayaan-2 and manned missions. Other space activities like hunting for extra terrestrial life/ intelligence and extension of human presence across solar system could be taken up in the future.
The director-general EUMETSAT, Dr Lars Parhm informed that a number of collaborative activities have been undertaken by space agencies across the globe for disaster management. He said that ISRO and EUMETSAT have agreed for sharing and management of earth observation data. He said that EUMETSAT has also agreed to discuss with ISRO for the sharing of ocean wind vector data from the recently launched Oceansat-2.
EUMETSAT Cooperates In Sharing Of Meteorological Data.
Inter-planetary exploration, global warming, the predicted boom in the Indian aerospace sector and the relentless search for dark energy were some of the topics that dominated the Space Summit organised on the second day of the 97th Indian Science Congress here on Monday.
With natural disasters on the increase, global co-operation between agencies is necessary in sharing meteorological data, Dr Lars Prahm, director general, EUMETSAT, informed.
EUMETSAT – European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites – supplies weather and climate-related satellite data, images and products to member and co-operating states in Europe.
The reception of “global and timely’’ data is critical with weather-induced disasters on the rise.
According to the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, global sea levels have been rising by 3.3 mm per year for the past 50 years. “And this rise seems to be fairly constant,’’ he informed.
As part of building partnerships, EUMETSAT is in talks with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for the sharing of ocean wind vector data from the recently-launched Oceansat-2.
Former ISRO chairman Prof U.R.Rao, who spoke on the `Challenges in Space Technology’, laid out nine specific challenges: food security, energy security, space security, environmental security, resource security, space transportation, search for extra-terrestrial life, space exploration and colonisation of Mars.
Nobel Laureate Dr John C.Mather, who spoke on `From Big Bang to Life and the End of the Universe’, spoke about NASA’s plans for the new James Webb Space Telescope and the need for a mission for ascertaining the existence of dark energy.
Cochin International Airport Ltd managing director Dr C.G.Krishnadas Nair spoke on `Aviation Technology and Business in India – Role of R&D.’
He said that immense opportunities existed for industries participating in R&D with the nation’s aerospace sector witnessing a boom.
What was needed, he said, was “mission-oriented R&D.’’
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) director (projects) Dr S.Ramakrishnan outlined the growth of Indian space transportation systems over the decades.
The proposed Human Space Flight Mission, he said, was the next logical step in the nation’s space programme. That capability will “take us to the pinnacle of space technology,’’ he said.
Dr March Pircher, director of the Toulose Space Centre of the French Space Agency CNES, gave a brief overview of CNES’s future programmes. Building of a worldwide programme for manned and robotic exploration of space, preparation of formation flying missions in an affordable way, and sharing of resources by space agencies were some of the challenges, he said.