Mark Rawlins, Eutelsat’s Director of Communication System Operations, has been elected as the new Chairman of the Space Data Association (SDA), an international non-profit association of satellite operators that supports the controlled, reliable and efficient sharing of space environment and RF spectrum data.
Mark succeeds the current SDA Chairman, Ronald Busch who is Vice President of Network Engineering for Intelsat.

Astrotech Corporation (Nasdaq:ASTC) today announced that it has appointed Raj Mellacheruvu as Chief Operating Officer ("COO") of the Company. Mr. Mellacheruvu’s appointment is effective as of February 2, 2015. In this new role,  Mellacheruvu will report to Thomas B. Pickens III, Chairman & CEO of Astrotech Corporation and help lead business operations for Astrotech and its subsidiaries.

Emerging Markets Communications (EMC), a satellite and terrestrial communications services provider, announced that  it acquired General Industry Systems (GIS) AS, a Norwegian-based provider specializing in energy and maritime connectivity services for offshore operations. The consolidated portfolio of products, services, experience, locations and engineers of the companies strengthens EMC’s energy and maritime business segments.

NETIA announced the appointment of Jérémie Mekaelian as the company's head of international sales. In this new position, Mekaelian will supervise NETIA's worldwide sales force and lead continued development and implementation of sales and presales programs.

NSR’s Energy Markets via Satellite, 5th Edition report finds that although near-term challenges exist for some segments of the Energy market, the long term opportunities remain strong.  At over US$ 3.8 Billion in retail revenues split between Oil & Gas, Mining, and Utility Markets by 2024 - new capacity, terminal form factors, and the ever-increasing focus on improving productivity of remote operations will drive demand for satellite communications across the Energy Sector.  

Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), announces the successful launch of its second Global Xpress (GX) satellite (Inmarsat-5 F2) on board an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton Breeze M rocket launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Sunday, February 1st at 12:31 GMT.

Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) has strengthened its partnership with twofour54, the commercial arm of the Media Zone Authority - Abu Dhabi, through the acquisition of its current playout business, initially providing playout services for nine different channels.

The agreement, which comes as part of a long-term partnership, recognizes the important role of the private sector in supporting twofour54 in building Abu Dhabi's media industry ecosystem. For Ericsson, the acquisition provides an ideal springboard for its expansion into the region from its base in Abu Dhabi.

Ross Video announced today that Matthew Allard has joined the company as Marketing Product Management Content Creation Manager.

Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), today announced that Dr. Hamadoun Touré will join the Board on March 1, 2015 as a non-executive director. Dr. Touré was Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the specialised agency of the United Nations dedicated to the information and communication technologies from 2007 to 2014.

Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) today announced that at a special meeting held this morning, the company’s stockholders voted overwhelmingly to approve the proposed merger with the Aerospace and Defense Groups of Alliant Techsystems Inc. (NYSE: ATK), pursuant to the definitive transaction agreement dated April 28, 2014.