About 9,000 objects larger than 10 cm are being tracked in the Earth’s orbit, Futron said in a report on space debris. Jan. data from NASA show orbital debris is a growing problem for govt. and commercial satellite operators and makers, the report said. The number of objects in orbit the size of a bowling ball or larger is up nearly 10% since 2000, NASA said. Nearly 80% of debris can be traced to the U.S. and Russia, the agency said. High orbital velocities mean collisions with even small hunks of junk pose significant peril to spacecraft, said Futron. U.S. agencies “are paying increasing attention to this issue,” the report said. The FCC recently revised its debris mitigation requirements and “expects to maintain this new level of oversight and enforcement at least for the near term,” it said, noting the same is true at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration and Federal Aviation Administration. NASA is expected to release new requirements this year.
Russia export controls and sanctions
The use of export controls and sanctions on Russia has surged since the country's invasion of Crimea in 2014, and especially its invasion of Ukraine in in February 2022. Similar export controls and sanctions have been imposed by U.S. allies, including the EU, U.K. and Japan. The following is a listing of recent articles in Export Compliance Daily on export controls and sanctions imposed on Russia:
Moody’s upgraded the ratings on Russian carrier VimpelCom Fri., from Ba3 to B1. VimpelCom’s corporate family rating remained the same, Moody’s said. The ratings service cited a combination of solid financial performance, strong market position in Russia and Kazakhstan and high retention levels as reasons for the re-evaluation, and noted its stated interest in acquiring smaller carriers in the region.
The U.S. has 413 satellites in space, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) said. A new UCS database details satellites -- commercial and defense-related -- using data from firms, academics, govts. and buffs who eyeball the skies for fun, UCS said. Russia follows the U.S. in terms of raw satellite numbers, with 87, they said.
Globalstar said the State Dept. approved it for up to 8 satellite launches, starting in early 2007. Globalstar said it has contracted with Soyuz launch vehicle provider Starsem for at least one launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome. Globalstar said it also contracted with Eurockot for a launch from the Plestetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. Globalstar called the new satellites “orbital spares.”
A confidential Request for Information (RFI) issued in June by DirecTV and EchoStar and obtained by Communications Daily posits 2006 creation of a national wireless broadband network. DirecTV, when queried, called the document “indicative of one of the many areas we've been exploring in the broadband arena.” But the firm has made no commitments “to EchoStar or to anyone else, regarding the contents of the RFI or other broadband plans,” DirecTV said. EchoStar didn’t comment by our deadline. No information was immediately available on who responded to the RFI, or what information was provided.
APCO said it would lead a U.S. public safety communications delegation to Russia Nov. 1-10. The People to People Ambassador Program’s Public Safety Communications Delegation will visit Moscow and St. Petersburg will hold discussions on spectrum allocation, public safety funding, interoperability, training requirements, operational procedures, technical standards and the impact of wireless technology.
Sea Launch said it won a bid for 2 PanAmSat launches in 2006 and 2007. The satellites, Galaxy 16 and Galaxy 18, will be built by Space Systems/Loral. Sea Launch officials said Galaxy 16 is headed for 99 degrees W, to provide cable TV, data and telecom services to the continental U.S., Ala., Hawaii, Mexico and Canada. Galaxy 18 will be at 123 degrees W with a similar footprint. Under the agreement, Sea Launch said, it will offer PanAmSat with a Land Launch option, plus options for more Land Launch missions. A collaboration between Sea Launch and Space International Services, Land Launch missions take off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Russia. Sea Launch officials also said PanAmSat will use Land Launch to lift the PAS 11 satellite by mid-2007.
The Global Broadband Satellite Initiative (GBSI) will call at Nov.’s 2nd World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS) for a common open standard for satellite broadband and for relaxation of satellite landing rights worldwide, among other measures. WSIS, a United Nations-endorsed and ITU-coordinated summit, is convened in 2 phases as an international effort to bridge the digital divide. As part of the WSIS agenda, GBSI wants to encourage development of an international market for satellite broadband services, officials said.
Scot McLernon, ex-MarketWatch.com, named CBS Digital Media senior vp-advertising… Doug Briggs plans to retire in March 2006 as pres.-CEO of QVC… Michael Benson, ex- Businessedge Solutions, becomes DirecTV exec. vp-CIO… Tim Chen, ex-Great Wall Investments, becomes Telecom Communications pres.-CEO and board member… Ascent Media names Jim McGrath, ex-A.F. Assoc., chief technology officer… Michelle Tack, ex-Stellent, joins Apani Networks as vp-sales… Golden Telecom promotes Nikolay Tokarev to vp-finance dir., Russia… Joseph Tracy, ex- WVTM-TV Birmingham, Ala., becomes gen. mgr., KMWB-TV Minneapolis.
The European Commission sought Council approval to negotiate with Argentina on development of a Civil Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), said a European Commission statement Mon. The European/Latin American collaboration would be part of the GALILEO Joint Undertaking, launched by the EC to develop satellite radio navigation on par -- and interoperable with the U.S.’s GPS system and Russia’s GLONASS system. Unlike the U.S. and Russia, GALILEO will be controlled and run by civilian authorities.