Our Space Café WebTalk “33 minutes with Matthias Wachter - Departure or standstill – Why 2023 will be decisive for European space?” took place on Tuesday, 17th January. Matthias is Managing Director of the German NewSpace Initiative and Head of International Cooperation, Security Policy, Raw Materials and Space at the Federation of German Industries (BDI).

A group of Scottish global space industry experts have formed a committee, the Scotland International Space Advisory Committee (SISAC), consisting of members of the Scottish Government’s GlobalScot program. GlobalScots are Scots around the world voluntarily providing expertise to identify opportunities to achieve a £4 billion (US $5 billion) share of the global space market.

Active phased array communications technology company, CesiumAstro has acquired United Kingdom-based communications company TXMission. Founded in 2018, TXMission develops software-defined radios and modems for satellites, ground stations, HAPS (high-altitude platform systems), and airborne platforms.

The Sultanate of Oman is planning to build the Middle East’s first space rocket launch centre in the port town of Duqm this year, as reported by The National. The National Aerospace Services Company’s Etlaq Space Launch Complex could launch its first rocket as early as next year.

Arianespace has appointed Steven Rutgers as Chief Commercial Officer as of 16th January, 2023. Rutgers reports to Stéphane Israël, Chief Executive Officer of Arianespace, and joins the company’s Executive Committee, Arianespace said.

Euroconsult released a report on the Optical Communications Market, with market-leading in-depth analysis of the equipment and solutions using optical links, the intelligence firm said.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order adopting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s plan to establish a Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs. The reorganization will better support the needs of the growing satellite industry, the FCC said.

Virgin Orbit has provided an update on why the first horizontal orbital launch from UK soil failed on 9th January. The company says that the preliminary analysis of data is starting to shed light on the anomaly.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and SpaceX reached an agreement to reduce the impact of Starlink Gen2 satellites on astronomy. SpaceX was granted a licence from the Federal Communications Commission in December to deploy a quarter of its planned 30,000-satellite Gen2 system.

Optical communications terminal producer, Mynaric, entered into a definitive agreement with an undisclosed US-based customer for the delivery of CONDOR Mk3 optical communication terminals. The order has a value of approximately US $24 million.