18 April 2012

Satwest signs Agreement with NM Space Grant Consortium

Las Cruces – Would you like to send something to space?  New Mexico Space Grant Consortium (NMSGC) announces a partnership with SatWest LLC to sell space on their rocket launched from Spaceport America.  SatWest will help individuals or companies send an experiment, memorabilia, or a family heirloom to space.  Participants will receive certification their items have flown to space.  NMSGC Director Pat Hynes said “I am very exciting about this partnership.  New Mexico has been launching to space for sixty years. Finally, everyone has an opportunity to participate!â€�

Satwest founder and CEO, M. Brian Barnett said, “Satwest is thrilled to have the opportunity to work as NMSGC’s exclusive agent to launch research and commercial payloads into space from Spaceport America.  NMSGC and Spaceport America are leaders in the growing commercial space market, and Satwest is proud to be a part of this pioneering business activity.â€�  Through the agreement, customers can purchase spaceflight reservations on-line at satwest.com.  “We believe Satwest’s shopping cart to purchase spaceflight services on-line is the first of its kind on the planet.  It is truly a game changer when it comes to providing commercial access to spaceflightâ€� said Barnett.

Space on the rocket may be purchased for:

·         PTS - 10 canisters for $50,000 each

Diameter = 24.8 cm, height = 23.5 cm, volume=11,323 cm³

·         PTS - 4 canisters for $25,000 each

Diameter = 24.8 cm, height = 8.3 cm, volume = 3,982 cm³

·         1/4 of PTS-10 canister for $12,500 each

Diameter = 24.8 cm, height = 5.8 cm  

·         NC-l for $6,000

Diameter maximum = 8.4 cm, height = 35.6 cm, volume = 868 cm³   (nosecone shaped)

·         NC-2 for $20,000

Diameter maximum = 15.9 cm, height = 34.3 cm, volume = 5,915 cm³ (nosecone shaped)

·         NC-3 for $28,000

Diameter maximum = 20.3 cm, height = 21.6 cm, volume = 6,980 cm³ (nosecone shaped)

·         2in³ for $I,000

About The New Mexico Space Grant Consortium

New Mexico Space Grant Consortium (NMSGC), a member of NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program was founded in 1989. NMSGC is a statewide network of universities, colleges, industry, museums, and federal, state, and local agencies within the State of New Mexico. The mission of NMSGC is to encourage every citizen of New Mexico to participate in the economic, education, and scientific benefits of space; to encourage and recruit citizens of New Mexico into aerospace-related math, science, engineering, and technology careers; and to establish commonalities among the programs of consortium partners.    

NMSGC’s statewide Student Launch Program offers annual access to space for student experiments launched from Spaceport America.  Students enrolled in middle school, high school, community colleges, and universities are given an opportunity to build experiments that use the environment of suborbital space to answer scientific and engineering questions.

About Satwest

Satwest is an innovative satellite communications and aerospace company founded in 1999. Satwest’s vision has been clear from the beginning: Provide access to the most advanced satellite and space technology to help our world class customer base solve communications problems and make new discoveries. Satwest is an established leader in the mobile satellite communications industry, providing solutions to customers in multiple industries including aviation, oil & gas, utilities, military and security agencies, federal, state, and local governments, adventure travelers, and emergency response.

Satwest is a recognized leader in the development of the emerging commercial, suborbital spaceflight industry. Satwest’s professional services include mission planning, production and management, payload development and integration services, and spaceflight access services enabling companies, universities and government agencies to fly their commercial and scientific payloads onboard suborbital launch vehicles.

For additional information, visit www.launchnm.com

Contact Judith McShannon at jmcshann@nmsu.edu or call + 1 (575) 646-6414

Contact Brian Barnett at barnett@satwest.com or call + 1 (505) 255-2499, ext. 1

21 MAY 2011

Satwest Launches first Commercial Satellite Phone into Space

View the Launch

Satwest CEO M. Brian Barnett beams with pride as technicians remove the Satwest satellite phone from the rocket payload canister that just took it to space. Barnett's daughter, Isabella, looks on.

Satwest rocket phone launch, May 20, 2011, 07:21 AM, from Spaceport America in New Mexico.

28 JAN 2011

Satwest among first to sell cell-satellite smart phone

Satwest LLC, a local distributor of satellite phones and airtime, has been selected by Virginia-based TerreStar Networks Inc. to be one of four firms licensed to sell the world’s first cell and satellite smart phone combination.

The device, dubbed the Genus by TerreStar, functions both a cell and satellite phone, said Satwest President and CEO Brian Barnett. When cell phone service is unavailable, customers can make satellite calls, send text messages or access the Internet through TerreStar I, the planet’s largest commercial communications satellite, which TerreStar launched in 2009.

The TerreStar satellite blankets the U.S. and Canada and up to 200 miles off the North American coastline. That means Genus users can access service anywhere, anytime, Barnett said.