Hasta La Gadget!

While the whole world is too occupied and busy with their own lives, the Japanese unmanned H-2 Transfer Vehicle-3 that was launched last week, is poised to arrive at the International Space Station today, Friday – just in time for the London Olympics. Apart from the usual cargo that it brings, the vehicle is also bringing on board a set of tiny amateur radio satellites that can write Morse code messages in the sky. If you think that’s way too unrealistic, Japan’s Fukuoka Institute of Technology (FIT) has a name for the cubesats – FITSAT-1.

The Japanese researchers said that its FITSAT-1 will be used to write messages in the night sky using Morse code, helping researchers test optical communication techniques for satellites. FITSAT-1 is just under 3 pounds and it is outfitted with high power LEDs capable of producing extremely bright flashes. The signals from FITSAT-1 will be received by a ground station at the Fukuoka Institute of Technology. For now, FITSAT-1 will remain on the ISS until September. FIT professor and project leader Takushi Tanaka says that the cubesat will likely be deployed on the 6th of September by Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide using a robotic arm.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: CleanSpace One janitor satellite set to clean our atmosphere, Project Calliope wants to turn atmospheric measurements into music,

Avanti has been beaming satellite broadband to Europe for awhile, but it’s been tied to a subscription through carrier deals. That’s a tough sell to customers who, by definition, don’t want to be tied to anything — which is why the company just launched prepaid satellite internet access for the continent. Although the Ka-band service’s 4Mbps downstream and 1Mbps upstream speeds won’t have anyone dropping their 330Mbps fiber anytime soon, the pay-as-you-go strategy will let travelers and rural dwellers get broadband in a pinch, no matter how spotty terrestrial access might get. Imagine Skype calls during Swiss ski vacations and you’ve got the gist of it. Carriers will resell the data in healthy doses of 1GB or larger, and Avanti is adamant that there won’t be any nasty throttling surprises waiting in store. While exact prices will depend on partners, the provider isn’t waiting for those details before it covers much of the Old World: its upcoming HYLAS 2 satellite (what you see above) will share the speed with Africa, the Caucasus region and the Middle East as of August 2nd, making it almost too easy for us to update Google+ in Georgia.

Filed under: Wireless, Networking

Avanti launches prepaid, Ka-band satellite internet access, wants us Yelping from the Alps originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s easy to assume that the greater mysteries of the universe should require our space agency’s utmost attention — take that mission to Mars, for example. But not all of NASA’s endeavors are focused on the bookends of the cosmos. In fact, the ISERV Pathfinder (short for International Space Station SERVIR Environmental Research and Visualization System), a new imaging instrument developed and constructed by its Marshall Space Flight Center, will turn a fixed eye on planet Earth from its ISS berth when it goes operational this coming November. A scheduled July 20th launch aboard Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s H-II Transfer Vehicle will ferry the device to its final destination, making it the first of an eventual series of sensor-laden “Earth-observing instruments” designed to track natural disasters, as well as climate change across various populations. Once assembled by the crew and affixed to the station’s Destiny window, the system’s camera will be used to map the globe and disseminate satellite imagery and data to developing nations for preventive planning and relief purposes. Sure, it’s not as exciting as a fly by of Pluto’s newly discovered moon, but this one’s for the greater good, folks. Check out the official presser after the break.

Continue reading NASA ISERV Pathfinder to link up with ISS, keep an eye out for natural disasters

NASA ISERV Pathfinder to link up with ISS, keep an eye out for natural disasters originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 00:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’d probably all agree the Internet is the real revolution of the modern era, but today marks an older, parallel milestone that also brims with significance. On July 10th, 1962 — back when JFK fretted over Russian missiles in Cuba and Bob Dylan sang In My Time of Dying — NASA pelted the Telstar 1 satellite out into orbit, following a team effort by AT&T, Bell Labs and the British and French post offices. Two days later, the world’s first transatlantic TV signal made its way from Maine to Brittany, via a quick stop-over in the heavens, and a new age of international communication was born. Kennedy forgot his troubles for a moment to tidy his hair and grin at France, who replied with a chirpy performance by Yves Montand. It didn’t last long: Telstar 1 gave up its spherical ghost after just a few months and 400 transmissions, but by then, of course, the message had been delivered.

Continue reading July 12th, 1962: the day two continents smiled at each other

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Science

July 12th, 1962: the day two continents smiled at each other originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As we feared, DirecTV and Viacom didn’t work things out and before the clock struck midnight ET, all of the network’s feeds went dark for the satellite company’s customers. Of course, both sides are throwing barbs with Viacom saying DirecTV was not interested in engaging in “meaningful conversation” and that their last contact was at 11AM. On DirecTV’s side, it’s claiming it sent proposals but never heard anything back and as such was forced to pull the channels. Viacom has been running ads and notices all day to make sure kids big and little call DirecTV to apply pressure about missing their television shows. DirecTV is firing back with the Kids Mix channel (shown above) that replaces the pulled children’s programming and points out content on other stations, and even suggests customers check out sources like Amazon Prime or Netflix to keep watching their shows in the meantime. There’s no telling who may blink first, or when, but you can look at each company’s statement and hear the sabres rattling for yourself after the break. Any bets as to who will work out a deal first between these two and Dish Network / AMC?

Continue reading Viacom channels disappear from DirecTV after the two companies can’t reach a deal

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Viacom channels disappear from DirecTV after the two companies can’t reach a deal originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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