Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has developed a full-mold package low noise GaAs high electron mobility transistor (HEMT), the MGF4921AM, highly suitable for low noise amplifiers in satellite digital radio reception systems. This product can also be used in low noise amplifiers for C-band direct broadcast satellite (DBS) reception systems, with shipments to start on January 26, 2009.
Mitsubishi Electric will begin shipment of a HEMT with low noise characteristics that are top-level in the industry at a wide range of frequency waves from S- to C-bands. By optimizing gate width and by improving stability at low frequency bands, Mitsubishi Electric has improved device noise figure to 0.35 dB, an industry top-level low noise characteristic and 0.1 dB lower than the company’s 12 GHz model, the MGF4953A, when measured at 2.4 GHz on a stable matching circuit. Using this product in the first stage of amplifiers, which strictly requires low noise characteristics, improves sensitivity in reception converters for satellite digital radios, helping to expand radio coverage area and decrease production costs in reception converters. The MGF4921AM has an industry standard 4-pin full-mold package. An unchanged foot pattern from the previous model will shorten development periods for satellite communication equipment manufacturers. Mitsubishi Electric will increase its lineup of low noise GaAs HEMTs for the second and third stage in amplifiers with improvements in output power and distortion characteristics.
LNA Mobility Transmitter Released By Mitsubishi Electric
Multi-UAVs — Single Commander — Proxy Aviation Systems Technology Funded
Proxy Aviation Systems received $4.4 million in federal funding to advance their unmanned aerial systems and unique cooperative flight technology.
Draco Is All Fired Up For Dragon
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has marked another significant advance with the performance of its smallest rocket engine, Draco. Known as a "thruster," the new engine fired continuously for ten minutes in a specially constructed vacuum test chamber that simulates the space environment. After a ten-minute thermal soak period, Draco was restarted for an additional minute, simulating its typical use in space. Performed at the SpaceX Texas Test Facility outside McGregor, this marks the longest firing of the Draco thruster, as well as the longest test on the new vacuum test stand, built by SpaceX and first put into operation in March 2008. SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft uses a total of 18 Draco thrusters for maneuvering, attitude control, and to initiate the capsule's return to Earth. The SpaceX-developed Draco thruster generates up to 90 pounds (400 Newtons) of force using monomethyl hydrazine as a fuel and nitrogen tetroxide as an oxidizer — the same orbital maneuvering propellants used by the Space Shuttle. These storable propellants have very long on-orbit lifetimes, providing the option for the Dragon spacecraft to remain berthed at the ISS for a year or more, ready to serve as an emergency "lifeboat" if necessary. The first Dragon spacecraft is scheduled for flight in 2009 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from the SpaceX launch site at Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Image is an artist's concept of Dragon spacecraft in orbit, courtesy of SpaceX.)
Boldly Brazilian TV Distributes Via Scopus
Scopus Video Networks [NASDAQ: SCOP] announced that Brazilian broadcasting company RMT chose Scopus digital networking solutions to upgrade the video distribution networks for two regional RMT television stations, TV Centro America and TV Morena. The combination of Scopus encoding, multiplexing, DVB S2 channel coding, and network management equipment has helped RMT significantly reduce its bandwidth costs and raise its quality-of-service levels for viewers throughout two large Brazilian states.
"With the Scopus solutions and their support of the DVB S2 standard, we've been able to reduce our bandwidth costs by 30 percent, in fact, we expect to see a complete return on our investment in 18 months," said Luis Botello, RMT's engineering director. "We've also seen significant improvements in service quality, and Scopus' ability to provide a reliable, turnkey solution with access to local support puts it head and shoulders above other vendors."
TV Centro America broadcasts to 120 cities in Mato Grosso state and TV Morena broadcasts to 100 cities in Mato Grosso do Sul state. Both stations are regional affiliates of TV Globo, Brazil's largest television network. Prior to installing the Scopus equipment, the stations' satellite distribution system was based on leased equipment that had become outdated and could no longer meet RMT's standards for reliability and quality of service. After evaluating multiple vendors, RMT chose a combination of equipment from Scopus, installing UE-9000 encoders, the IVG 7304 Intelligent Video Gateway, IRD-2900 integrated receiver decoders, and the NMS 4000 centralized network management system.
The Scopus solutions form the basis for a new transmission infrastructure that enables RMT to leverage the lower cost and reliability of content delivery over an IP network. Content is delivered via IP from TV Globo to TV Centro America's operations center in Cuiaba and TV Morena's center in Campo Grande. The video feeds (four channels for TV Centro America and three for TV Moreno) are received and decoded by the IRD-2900 integrated receiver decoders and then multiplexed for insertion of local content by the IVG 7304. The UE-9000 provides local content encoding for distribution to viewers' homes. The Scopus NMS 4000 provides a centralized, holistic view of each network to simplify troubleshooting and help RMT maintain consistent, high-quality transmissions.
Voluminous VSAT Venture By CapRock
As CapRock Communications begins transitioning Transocean's offshore rig fleet into its global satellite network, such marks the official beginning of the world's largest global deployment of these services for a single drilling contractor.
Under the terms of the new agreement, CapRock Communications will consolidate Transocean's different VSAT systems and services across its geographically dispersed fleet and shore base facilities into one network. This common network will support Transocean's rigs moving seamlessly from one region to the next, providing true global mobility without the burden of changing satellite equipment or dispatching field service personnel. CapRock will leverage its strategically located teleports and regional support centers around the globe and will tap its large pool of trained global field personnel to provide worldwide service and response. The deal represents an expansion of the existing partnership between Transocean and CapRock Communications where CapRock has provided broadband services to Transocean's fleet in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and certain rigs in West Africa and Brazil. With the new contract, CapRock's VSAT connectivity will support Voice over IP (VoIP), secure access to the corporate network and Internet access.
Spot On... QuickSpot Moves To On Call Communications
On Call Communications has assumed management of the QuickSPOT satellite bandwidth-on-demand service from Intelsat.
Starting immediately, On Call will manage the marketing, sales, and technical operations of the award winning service platform. QuickSPOT is a bundled service consisting of a line of versatile, fully automated satellite terminals and a unique management system which provides satellite bandwidth on an on demand basis. The service has multiple service packages where users can pay for dedicated bandwidth by the minute, hour, day, week, or month. With more than 200 terminals in the field, QuickSPOT is the proven choice for broadcast news, emergency responders, webcasters, and enterprise users. No technical knowledge is required and the system is “on-air” within five minutes of pressing a single button virtually anywhere in the U.S. Using an IP based protocol, the service works with all internet devices. The service supports standard and high definition video, VoIP telephone & facsimile, video conferencing, file transfers, and fiber restoration.
Stratos To the Defence of the Canadians
Stratos Global Corporation has been selected by the Canadian Federal Government to provide a wide range of Inmarsat mobile satellite systems over a multi-year period. The contract, valued at $25 CAD million, was awarded to Stratos subsidiary Stratos Wireless Inc. by the Information Technology Services Branch (ITSB) of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC). The agreement enables Stratos to provide products and services to all departments of the Canadian Federal Government, including the Department of National Defence, from 2009 through 2011, followed by two additional one-year options.
Among the systems Stratos is providing to the Canadian Federal Government is Inmarsat's BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network), a mobile satellite service that uses portable, lightweight terminals to provide simultaneous, high-speed data (up to 492 kbps) and voice connectivity anywhere in the world. BGAN is ideally suited to enable communications in areas where terrestrial or cellular networks are damaged, congested, or non-existent.
In June, Stratos became the first company licensed to offer BGAN to the Canadian market. Since its introduction in late 2005, BGAN from Stratos has been widely adopted by military and NGO agencies, media organizations, first responders and professionals in many other industries worldwide. Stratos now boasts BGAN customers in 185 countries, which cover 95 percent of the BGAN footprint. Those customers fully utilize The Stratos Advantage, a suite of value-added services that help make BGAN usage more productive and affordable.
With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, BGAN from Stratos provides value-added services, including Stratos Dashboard for BGAN, provide users with cost control, firewall management, full traffic information, pre-paid facilities, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and full IP range.
"This new contract recognizes the high level of service that Stratos has provided to the Canadian Federal Government in the past and ensures that we can continue to serve all of its important agencies well into the future," said Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm. "The Canadian government and many other governments worldwide have learned that Stratos is ideally qualified to provide the most sophisticated mobile satellite systems, along with superior service, to support a wide range of mission-critical applications."
Convergence of a New (Intelsat) Dawn for Africa
It's in the works — Intelsat, Ltd., announced a joint venture with a South African investor group led by Convergence Partners that will utilize project financing to build and launch a new satellite into the 33º East orbital location, ideally positioned to serve the African continent. The satellite, to be called “Intelsat New Dawn,” will feature a payload optimized to deliver wireless backhaul, broadband and television programming to the continent and is expected to enter service in early 2011. The satellite will be operated and marketed as part of the global Intelsat fleet. The manufacture and launch of the Intelsat New Dawn satellite is expected to be completed by 2010, after which the satellite will join the other 25 satellites within Intelsat’s global fleet that provide Africa with critical transmission services. Photo: Telephone Bureau, Malawi Near Salima, Malawi May 2007 www.africaguide.com
It is known that Africa has been one of the fastest growing regions for fixed satellite services in recent years, fueled by demand for critical infrastructure from communications providers and television programmers. Wireless telecom operators, broadband service providers, corporate network service providers and direct-to-home television operators have experienced growth along with the economic development of the region. The New Dawn joint venture was established to provide solutions for African communication needs, and is expected to deliver new capacity for voice, wireless backhaul, Internet and media applications.
The joint venture recently concluded agreements for financing of the project, which is expected to cost a total of about $250 million. The project is to be funded approximately 15 percent with equity and 85 percent with debt, the debt being in the form of non-recourse project financing provided by African institutions. Nedbank Capital, part of the Nedbank Group (one of South Africa’s largest banking groups) and a leading telecom project financier in South Africa has arranged the debt financing. Nedbank and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa, a self-financing national development finance institution, are the largest participants in the debt funding consortium. The equity is to be provided by Intelsat (74.9 percent) and the Convergence Partners-led group (25.1 percent), which also includes Altirah Telecoms. Intelsat’s cash contribution to the project is expected to be approximately $25 million.
Over 50 percent of the satellite’s 28 C- and 24 Ku-band 36 MHz transponder units are under contract, with pre-launch commitments received from leading wireless, network and video service providers such as Vodacom International Ltd., Gateway Communications Africa (UK) Ltd., Zain Nigeria and Gilat Satcom. Pre-orders for satellite capacity, or backlog, currently total more than $350 million, with some contracts for up to 15 years of service on the satellite.
Andile Ngcaba, Chairman of Convergence Partners said, “Today marks an important milestone in the development of Africa’s infrastructure. The New Dawn joint venture, with its optimized satellite and African-led financing, represents a solution for Africa by Africa. Over the course of this satellite’s life, it will provide world-class connectivity, allowing businesses to grow and rural communities to connect. Convergence Partners believes that investments in African projects of this nature can offer superior returns while also accelerating the socio-economic development of the continent.”
“Intelsat has provided satellite communications to Africa for more than 40 years. We have witnessed the economic growth realized by our customers when they have access to reliable communications,” said David McGlade, CEO of Intelsat. “The New Dawn joint venture is a great example of the type of creative investments Intelsat will use to further develop our fleet in regions where we believe there is unmet demand. Once in service, Intelsat New Dawn will be an integral part of our global, resilient satellite network, providing growth capacity and allowing us to further expand our services to our long-time customers in Africa.”
Hubble Bubbles With Info of Carbon Dioxide on Planet
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has been busy as of late, most recently discovering carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a planet orbiting another star. This breakthrough is an important step toward finding chemical biotracers of extraterrestrial life. Previous observations of HD 189733b by Hubble and the Spitzer Space Telescope found water vapor. Earlier this year, Hubble found methane in the planet's atmosphere.
While the Jupiter-sized planet, called HD 189733b, is too hot for life, the Hubble observations are a proof-of-concept demonstration that the basic chemistry for life can be measured on planets orbiting other stars. Organic compounds also can be a by-product of life processes and their detection on an Earthlike planet someday may provide the first evidence of life beyond our planet. "Hubble was conceived primarily for observations of the distant universe, yet it is opening a new era of astrophysics and comparative planetary science," said Eric Smith, Hubble Space Telescope program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "These atmospheric studies will begin to determine the compositions and chemical processes operating on distant worlds orbiting other stars. The future for this newly opened frontier of science is extremely promising as we expect to discover many more molecules in exoplanet atmospheres."
Mark Swain, a research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, used Hubble's near infrared camera and multi-object spectrometer to study infrared light emitted from the planet, which lies 63 light-years away. Gases in the planet's atmosphere absorb certain wavelengths of light from the planet's hot glowing interior. Swain identified carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. The molecules leave a unique spectral fingerprint on the radiation from the planet that reaches Earth. This is the first time a near-infrared emission spectrum has been obtained for an exoplanet.
"The carbon dioxide is the main reason for the excitement because, under the right circumstances, it could have a connection to biological activity as it does on Earth," Swain said. "The very fact we are able to detect it and estimate its abundance is significant for the long-term effort of characterizing planets to find out what they are made of and if they could be a possible host for life."
This type of observation is best done on planets with orbits tilted edge-on to Earth. They routinely pass in front of and then behind their parent stars, phenomena known as eclipses. The planet HD 189733b passes behind its companion star once every 2.2 days. The eclipses allow an opportunity to subtract the light of the star alone, when the planet is blocked, from that of the star and planet together prior to eclipse. That isolates the emission of the planet and makes possible a chemical analysis of its atmosphere.
"In this way, we are using the eclipse of the planet behind the star to probe the planet's day side, which contains the hottest portions of its atmosphere," said team member Guatam Vasisht of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "We are starting to find the molecules and to figure out how many there are to see the changes between the day side and the night side."
This successful demonstration of looking at near-infrared light emitted from a planet is very encouraging for astronomers planning to use NASA's James Webb Space Telescope after it is launched in 2013. These biomarkers are best seen at near-infrared wavelengths. Astronomers look forward to using the James Webb Space Telescope to look spectroscopically for biomarkers on a terrestrial planet the size of Earth or a "super-Earth" several times our planet's mass.
"The Webb telescope should be able to make much more sensitive measurements of these primary and secondary eclipse events," Swain said. For further information about the Hubble space telescope
NATO Extends Globecomm's GPS FTS Project
Globecomm Systems Inc. [NASDAQ: GCOM], has received a contract modification from NATO valued at $7.3 million to extend communication services for on site support for the Company’s previously deployed GPS-Based Force Tracking System (FTS). Globecomm provides satellite-based communications infrastructure solutions and services on a global basis.
Globecomm previously announced approximately $27.5 million in contracts from NATO to design and install a GPS FTS, bringing the combined contract value to $34.8 million. The FTS provides NATO with high levels of tracking data and messaging traffic, and enables NATO to identify where its personnel are located at all times, identify other multi-national forces and have the ability to do so in routine and operational situations. This is critical in assisting with the identification of friendly versus enemy forces and helps prevent fratricide or “blue-on-blue” incidents.
Paul Knudsen, Vice President of Globecomm’s Eastern Atlantic Team, said, “Globecomm’s relationship with NATO continues to expand. This on-going project demonstrates how Globecomm’s infrastructure business units complement the Company’s service operations and validates our end-to-end solution business model.”
HOT BIRD-9 Now Atop Ariane 5 SatDispenser
The first satellite for Arianespace's year-ending mission of 2008 began its final integration phase on December 9th, with HOT BIRD-9 installed atop the launch vehicle's dual-payload dispenser at the Spaceport in French Guiana. HOT BIRD-9 is one of two spacecraft to be orbited for Europe's Eutelsat telecommunications organization on the December 20 flight, joining W2M aboard the heavy-lift Ariane 5 ECA. During the morning's activity inside the Ariane 5 Final Assembly Building at the Spaceport, HOT BIRD-9 was lowered into place atop the SYLDA dispenser. This positions the satellite in the upper portion of the payload "stack" and readies the HOT BIRD 9/SYLDA element to be encapsulated inside the payload fairing. The next step will be to install W2M on the Ariane 5's central core stage, after which the HOT BIRD 9/SYLDA/payload fairing combination will be placed over the satellite. This activity will completed complete the Ariane 5 for launch. Arianespace's December 20 launch with HOT BIRD-9 and W2M will be the sixth flight of the workhorse Ariane 5 in 2008.
Pyroshocking Success For SBIRS Sat Solar Array
GEO-1 Spacecraft Solar Array Deployment Pyroshock testing is used to demo the operational deployment of critical satellite components. The U.S. Air Force's first geosynchronous Space Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) satellite successfully completed Pyroshock deployment testing Nov. 26th at the development site, Lockheed Martin, Sunnyvale, Calif, propelling unprecedented early missile warning capability one step closer to the warfighter. Pyroshock testing proves satellite survivability during the rigors of launch and the initial deployment operations necessary to successfully achieve orbit. Pyroshock testing verifies the proper operation of the separation mechanism between the spacecraft and the launch vehicle, the deployment of the satellite's solar arrays and communication antennas, as well as the SBIRS unique deployable light shade and contamination door assembly, used to protect the highly sensitive optical sensors. (Photo, right, is courtesy of SMC/L.A.F.B. and shows the GEO-1's satellite solar arrays deployment, an integral element of Pyroshock testing.)
SBIRS is the nation's nexgen early missile warning system, replacing the legacy Defense Support Program satellite with unrivaled missile warning capability; delivering a new generation of space-based satellites providing missile warning, missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness to combatant commanders. SBIRS is revolutionizing space based infrared monitoring of the earth with its wide field of view, increased sensitivity, fast revisit rate and persistent presence. The deployment of the deployable light shade (shown above) is a key objective of Pyroshock testing. Here, Pyroshock test engineers inspect the deployed light shade to verify its successful deployment. The SBIRS program develops both the highly elliptical orbiting payloads and geosynchronous orbiting satellites, as well as the ground systems to support mission operations. (Photo, left, is courtesy of SMC/L.A.F.B. and shows the GEO-1's deployable light shade.)
Water ice glaciers spotted on Mars
An artist's concept of how glaciers on Mars might look.
(Credit: NASA/JPL)The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has detected what NASA scientists believe are huge glaciers of water ice lying beneath a layer of rocky debris.
The finding is significant because it helps scientists better understand a feature of the Martian surface that has puzzled them for decades. In the 1970s, the Viking orbiters sent back images that showed what have been dubbed "aprons," or large, gently sloping deposits of debris situated at the base of tall geographic formations like cliffs. Several theories for what created these aprons have been posed over the years. This research indicates that what's just beneath that debris is of much greater interest.
To investigate the planet's surface, the MRO spacecraft uses a radar instrument, donated for the project by the Italian Space Agency, that can penetrate the Martian ground. The instrument detected radio waves bouncing off a layer of material beneath the surface that were consistent with what is found in areas covered with water ice glaciers.
One of the things that makes the glaciers so interesting is their location. They're in the middle latitudes, far from the planet's polar caps where other signs of water ice have been discovered. The glaciers observed in this study are in the southern hemisphere, but similar features have been spotted in the same latitude bands in the northern hemisphere. That led researchers to believe that, however the glaciers got there, they're the result of a climate-based phenomenon.
And they're big, too. The glaciers reach for dozens of miles. One is three times larger than the city of Los Angeles and is up to a half-mile thick.
"Altogether, these glaciers almost certainly represent the largest reservoir of water ice on Mars that is not in the polar caps," lead author John W. Holt, of the University of Texas at Austin, said in a report.
Next-gen Mars rover mission delayed until 2011
NASA will delay the launch of the next-generation Mars rover two years due to technical difficulties and cost overruns.
The mission, which was originally scheduled for late next year, is now slated for 2011, officials said Thursday, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. The new target date was the earliest available because missions to Mars can be launched only every 26 months, when the Earth and Mars are properly aligned.
The SUV-size rover, known as the Mars Science Laboratory, is designed to explore the planet's surface for the possibility of habitability, both current and past. But problems developed in the design and operation of the 31 actuators that control the mechanics of the craft, including the steering mechanism and its robotic arm, according to the report.
Meanwhile, NASA plans to try to contact the Mars Phoenix lander in the Martian spring, according to a Reuters report. The Phoenix, which landed on Mars in May, last communicated with the Mars Odyssey orbiter on November 2, when the lander lost power and shut down.
NASA had expected the Phoenix to lose power during the harsh Martian winter, when temperatures dip to negative 150 degrees Fahrenheit. But NASA said there is a chance that the lander survived the winter and will try to re-establish contact in the Martian spring.
Lunar satellite mission on track for 2014 launch
A United Kingdom-led mission to put a satellite in orbit around the moon, potentially enabling lunar colonists to use mobile phones to communicate with each other, has inched a step closer to blastoff.
The British National Space Centre has announced that it will undertake a technical-feasibility study of the MoonLITE, or Moon Lightweight Interior and Telecom Experiment, mission, which Lord Drayson, the U.K. minister of state for science and innovation, said could help answer fundamental questions about the composition of the moon.
The study will report with a full mission schedule and costs late next year. It is expected to take nine months, with the support of NASA, which is assessing any potential contribution it could make to the science and technology of the mission. A tender process for the feasibility study contract will run until March.
Depending on the outcome of the study, the MoonLITE mission could launch by about 2014, the BNSC said, reiterating that no decision will be made to proceed with, build, or launch the MoonLITE mission until the study has reported its findings.
The plan for the mission is to put a satellite in orbit around the moon for use as a telecommunications station, relaying data from a network of geophysical instruments on the moon's surface back to Earth.
The instruments will gather data on the strength and frequency of moonquakes, as well as on the thickness of the crust and core. They also aim to determine whether organic material or water is present in the moon's polar regions.
In addition to relaying this scientific data back to Earth, the satellite system should also ensure a full four-bar mobile signal for lunar colonists living in a moon base, which NASA wants to build after 2020.
Attacks on satellites
In recent times satellites have been hacked by militant organisations to broadcast propaganda and to pilfer classified information from military communication networks.[22][23]
Satellites in low earth orbit have been destroyed by ballistic missiles launched from earth. Russia, the United States and China have demonstrated the ability to eliminate satellites.[24] In 2007 the Chinese military shot down an aging weather satellite,[24] followed by the US Navy shooting down a defunct spy satellite in February 2008.[25] Russia and the United States have also shot down satellites during the Cold war.
Jamming
Due to the low received signal strength of satellite transmissions they are prone to jamming by land-based transmitters. Such jamming is limited to the geographical area within the transmitter's range. GPS satellites are potential targets for jamming,[26][27] but satellite phone and television signals have also been subjected to jamming.Launch-capable countries
Main article: Timeline of first orbital launches by nationality
This list includes countries with an independent capability to place satellites in orbit, including production of the necessary launch vehicle. Note: many more countries have the capability to design and build satellites — which relatively speaking, does not require much economic, scientific and industrial capacity — but are unable to launch them, instead relying on foreign launch services. This list does not consider those numerous countries, but only lists those capable of launching satellites indigenously, and the date this capability was first demonstrated. Does not include consortium satellites or multi-national satellites.
Country  | Year of first launch | First satellite |
|---|---|---|
 Soviet Union | 1957 | Sputnik 1 |
 United States | 1958 | Explorer 1 |
 France | 1965 | Astérix |
 Japan | 1970 | Ōsumi |
 China | 1970 | Dong Fang Hong I |
 United Kingdom | 1971 | Prospero X-3 |
 India | 1980 | Rohini |
 Israel | 1988 | Ofeq 1 |
Both North Korea (1998) and Iraq (1989) have claimed orbital launches (satellite and warhead accordingly), but these claims are unconfirmed.
In addition to the above, countries such as South Africa, Spain, Italy, Germany, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Egypt and private companies such as OTRAG, have developed their own launchers, but have not had a successful launch. On September 28th, 2008, the private aerospace firm SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 1 rocket in to orbit. This marked the first time that a privately built liquid-fueled booster was able to reach orbit.[16] The rocket carried a prism shaped 1.5 m (5 ft) long payload mass simulator that was set into orbit. The dummy satellite, known as Ratsat, will remain in orbit for between five and ten years before burning up in the atmosphere.[16]
As of 2008, only seven countries from list above ( Russia and Ukraine instead of USSR, also USA, Japan, China, India, and Israel) and one regional organization (the European Space Agency, ESA) have independently launched satellites on their own indigenously developed launch vehicles. (The launch capabilities of the United Kingdom and France now fall under the ESA.)
Several other countries, including South Korea, Iran, Brazil, Pakistan, Romania, Kazakhstan, Australia, Malaysia[citation needed] and Turkey, are at various stages of development of their own small-scale launcher capabilities.
It is scheduled that in early 2008 South Korea will launch a KSLV rocket (created with assistance of Russia). Iran already has successfully tested its own space launch vehicle (Kavoshgar 1) and is scheduled to put its first domestic satellite (Omid 1) into orbit within a year from February 4, 2008.[citation needed]
While Canada was the third country to build a satellite which was launched into space,[19] it was launched aboard a U.S. rocket from a U.S. spaceport. The same goes for Australia, who launched on-board a donated Redstone rocket. The first Italian-launched was San Marco 1, launched on 15 December 1964 on a U.S. Scout rocket from Wallops Island (VA,USA) with an Italian Launch Team trained by NASA.[20] Australia's launch project (WRESAT) involved a donated U.S. missile and U. S. support staff as well as a joint launch facility with the United Kingdom.
