https://spacewatch.global/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Thu, 22 Oct 2026 09:04:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/espi-ac-2026-are-we-alone-why-europe-could-lead-the-search-for-life-with-dr-sarah-rugheimer/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79286 Astrophysicist Sarah Rugheimer joins Judith Delany to discuss LIFE, Europe’s opportunity to lead the search for extraterrestrial life, and what might actually happen if we discovered it.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/spacewatchgl-recap-espi-at-20-europes-aspirations-are-big-now-it-needs-the-nerve/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79264
Written by Judith Delany and Torsten Kriening
At ESPI’s 20th Annual Conference in Vienna, Europe’s aspirations met the realities of a fragmenting world. The capabilities, partners and public support are there. What Europe still needs is the confidence to set its own agenda and act before the next crisis forces it to.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/marble-imaging-reflex-aerospace-and-odysseus-space-partner-on-laser-enabled-high-res-earth-observation-mission/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79312 German Earth-observation company Marble Imaging has partnered with Reflex Aerospace and Odysseus Space on a satellite mission combining high-resolution Earth observation with laser-based data transmission. The mission will use Marble Imaging’s first satellite, Marble Sat-1, scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2027, to demonstrate optical communications for transferring Earth-observation data from orbit to the ground.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/nordspace-secures-c20-million-canadian-defense-contract-for-responsive-space-launch/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79299 NordSpace has been awarded a C$20 million contract by Canada’s Department of National Defense to provide access to launch infrastructure at its Atlantic Spaceport Complex. The 10-year agreement is intended to help maintain launch facilities in a state of readiness, supporting the Canadian Armed Forces’ future need for responsive access to space from Canadian soil.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/remondo-and-meissa-partner-to-advance-ai-powered-earth-observation-solutions/ Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79294 Remondo and Meissa have signed an MoU to explore the integration of AI-powered satellite operations, image processing and Earth observation analytics. Announced on October 21, 2026, the agreement covers potential collaboration across the satellite mission lifecycle, from observation planning and data acquisition to imagery processing and information delivery. The companies also plan to pursue joint business development opportunities in South Korea, Israel and other international markets.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/espi-ac-2026-etienne-schneider-on-why-europe-needs-a-space-resources-law-of-its-own-2/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 15:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79283 Étienne Schneider joins Judith Delany to discuss how legal certainty helped build Luxembourg’s space ecosystem, why it matters for investment and what Europe can offer in an increasingly fragmented world.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/espi-ac-2026-the-moon-is-not-yours-its-ours-ricardo-conde-on-europes-future-in-space/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79280 Could lunar exploration help unite Europe? Ricardo Conde, President of the Portuguese Space Agency, joins Judith Delany to discuss Europe’s political gaps, Portugal’s role in space and why the Moon could offer humanity a chance to reset.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/espi-ac-2026-e35-billion-for-space-is-germany-entering-a-new-space-era-klaus-peter-willsch/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79277 Germany is investing billions in space. Klaus-Peter Willsch joins Torsten Kriening to discuss defence, European independence, parliamentary oversight and whether today’s investment could transform Germany’s space industry.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/espi-ac-2026-trust-as-a-national-asset-dr-bianca-lins-on-liechtensteins-place-in-european-space/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:30:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79237 From the 20th ESPI Annual Conference in Vienna, Dr. Bianca Lins of Liechtenstein’s Office for Communications joins Torsten Kriening to explain why a country of 41,000 is making the case for European space federation, and previews a national space strategy built on industry, partnerships and trust.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/espi-ac-2026-etienne-schneider-on-why-europe-needs-a-space-resources-law-of-its-own/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:15:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79253 From ESPI’s 20th Annual Conference in Vienna, Étienne Schneider, former Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg and Chair of the ESPI Advisory Board, joins Judith Delany to explain how a space resources law unlocked private capital for a small country - and why Europe should follow, playing stability as its strongest card.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/spacewatchgl-space-unromanced-closeted-in-the-cosmos/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79188
Written by Raoul Cardellini Leipertz
The space sector likes to imagine itself as a glimpse of humanity's future. Some of the people building that future are still deciding how much of themselves the room can handle.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/latitudo-40-raises-e2-9-million-to-advance-agentic-earth-observation-and-physical-ai/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79236 Latitudo 40 has raised €2.9 million to accelerate its technological development and international expansion. Announced on September 30, the investment will fund further development of the company’s technology platform, research and development, and commercial expansion into international markets.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/european-telecom-operators-coordinate-on-spectrum-for-direct-to-device-services/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79225 European telecommunications groups Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone have signed a letter of intent to explore a potential joint bid for future Mobile Satellite Services spectrum rights in Europe. The initiative aims to advance direct-to-device satellite connectivity, which would allow compatible mobile devices to connect to satellites when terrestrial network coverage is unavailable or limited.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/spaceport-cornwall-and-dawn-aerospace-explore-uk-base-for-aurora-spaceplane/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79211 UK-based Spaceport Cornwall and aerospace company Dawn Aerospace have signed an MoU to explore establishing the Dawn Aerospace Suborbital Horizontal UK Launch Program at Cornwall Airport Newquay. The proposed service would use Dawn’s reusable, rocket-powered Aurora spaceplane to offer suborbital flight opportunities for research institutions, commercial customers, and defense organizations, potentially expanding access to high-altitude testing and microgravity experiments.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/obruta-targets-two-isam-bottlenecks-with-c1-5-million-in-canadian-space-agency-funding/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79202 Canadian space technology company Obruta Space Solutions has received C$1.5 million in contributions from the Canadian Space Agency to advance two technologies addressing key challenges in in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing: autonomous spacecraft operations and vision systems designed to function in the challenging lighting conditions of orbit.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/espi-ac-2026-satellites-in-your-car-by-2028-markus-fritz-of-advisorio-on-connected-mobility/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79199 From ESPI’s 20th Autumn Conference in Vienna, ADVISORIO’s Markus Fritz tells Judith Delany that Europe was late on space-enabled mobility but has caught up - with satellite connectivity reaching cars from 2028 - and explains why spectrum has become the most contested real estate in space.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/espi-ac-2026-prof-anu-ojha-on-awe-wonder-and-why-space-needs-better-storytellers/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79195 From ESPI’s 20th Annual Conference in Vienna, Professor Anu Ojha of the UK Space Agency joins Torsten Kriening to argue that awe and wonder are strategic assets - why “are we alone?” reaches people space economics never will, and why the sector needs ambassadors who can humanise the data.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/spacewatchgl-opinion-quo-vadis-europa-a-critique-of-the-moment-in-an-age-of-missing-orders/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79177
Written by K.-P. Ludwig.
Europe speaks increasingly of sovereignty in space, yet its launch capacity, secure communications and defence architecture remain fragmented. Ludwig asks whether Europe can turn strategic autonomy from a political slogan into the capacity to act.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/nvidia-invests-in-reflex-aerospace-as-german-satellite-maker-scales-production/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79161 NVIDIA has announced a planned minority investment in German satellite manufacturer Reflex Aerospace as part of a broader push to expand Europe’s technology and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Announced on October 19, 2026, the investment is intended to support Reflex’s manufacturing expansion in Bavaria and the development of satellite platforms with greater onboard data-processing capabilities. However, the companies have not disclosed the investment amount or detailed terms.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/10/japan-launches-mmx-mission-with-european-built-rover-bound-for-mars-phobos-moon/ Tue, 20 Oct 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=79154 JAXA has successfully launched its Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission aboard an H3 rocket, beginning a five-year journey to explore Mars’ two moons and return samples to Earth. The H3 Flight No. 10 vehicle lifted off from Tanegashima Space Center on October 20 at 4:41 a.m. Japan Standard Time, with JAXA confirming that MMX separated from the rocket and entered orbit approximately 71 minutes later. The mission aims to return the first samples collected from a moon of Mars.]]>